EXCITEMENT APLENTY AT WEEKEND'S AFOS 2010 IN SEPANG
2010-05-13 14:05:32 Author: admin Source:
After a period of cooling off from last season, the Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) returns with pulsating fixtures of Motorsports series this weekend, 15 - 16 May, at the Sepang International Circuit.
This best "bang for your buck" motorsports event is not to be missed as it features five action packed race series; the GT3 Asia, Formula BMW Pacific, Asian Touring Car Series and the newly introduced GT4 Asia Cup and the Classic Car Club of Hong Kong race.
The Formula BMW Pacific, formerly the Formula BMW Asia, remains intact as a regular series within AFOS since its inception in 2005/06. Leading the charge in both the Drivers’ Classification and the Rookie Cup after victory in the first two races is Richard Bradley of Singapore, whose domination of last month’s opening event in support of the 2010 Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix has set the bar for the season ahead.
However, with 22 other drivers all focused on halting his winning run, Bradley will be up against fierce competition in the region’s premier junior single-seater series, including Colombian rookie Oscar Tunjo, Zimbabwean Axcil Jefferies, Indonesian Dustin Sofyan, who's fourth overall in the drivers' standings currently, and Kotaro Sakura, third in the drivers' race. The Malaysian assault is led by Calvin Wong of the Petronas Mofaz team, who's in his second season. Wong suffered an early setback finishing out of the points in Round 1, but bounced back in Round 2. Others to look for include; Australian Jordan Oon and countryman Jesse Dixon.
An anticipated competitive racing is expected in the GT3 Asia race with reigning champion, Tunku Hammam, all ready for an exciting outing. This season, Hammam, who will pilot a Lamborghini Gallardo LP560, can expect sitff challenges from the other LP560s, featuring the likes of Michael Choi (Team SPS Racing).
The LP560s can expect powerful challengers such as the Porsche 997 Cup S, Ferrari F430 GT3 and Ginetta G50 GT3 to wet their appetite for GT3 Asia supremacy. In all, 23 drivers will be vying for glory in the AFOS GT3 Asia round. Team SPS Motorsport is the largest contingent with seven Gallardos. Other notable drivers are Porsche veterans; Dilantha Malagamuwa of Dilango Racing Sri Lanka and Samson Chan. Chan has made a switch to a Ginetta GT3 this year and will be joined by new team-mates Frank Yu and Eric Cheung. Additionally, the AFOS GT3 Asia will unveil two new trophies, the GT Team Champion and the GT Master Trophy for the winners.
New to the AFOS is none other than the GT4 Asia Cup, a spin-off from the FIA GT1 World Championships. The series is part of an agreement between the SRO Motorsports Group and Motorsport Asia in their effort to bring the rapidly expanding GT4 category to Asia, joining the GT4 European Cup and its franchise, the Dutch GT4 Championship.
The series offers some very interesting visuals for the spectators with its 40 minute race format with a mandatory pit-stop in between. The GT4 Asia Cup also allows for driver changes and several teams have confirmed their entries for the Sepang event.
Several Aston Martin GT4 drivers; Daniel Bilski of Team Road & Track, Mark Williamson, Simon Waters, Nasrat Muzayyin and Ryan Marsden have been listed. The list also features the likes of Hong Kong's Frank Yee of S&D/Conca Maca Team, Hu Cheng Wei of Powerdone Racing, Matthew Perry and Nigel Farmer in the factory Ginetta G50, and Malagamuwa, a participant in the GT3 Asia, in a 370Z.
Last, but not least, a regular fixture of the AFOS, the Asian Touring Car series (ATCS) returns for Round 2 at the Sepang track with reigning ATCS champion Cheung Chi Sing trying to defend his crown from rival Man Ting Yu and the rest of the fiery ATCS grid.
Off-track activities to the weekend's AFOS offer plenty of exciting and fun-filled draws for spectators; such as Car Club Gathering & Display, Autoshow and In-Car-Entertainment, KL Drumline Corps, a ‘Roti Canai’ Eating Competition, and don't forget to snap away when you see your lovely AFOS Grid Girls and Angels. .
So make your way to the track for a memorable weekend, entrance to the Asian Festival Of Speed is FREE, while the Pit-Walkabout access is available for only RM10 per person.
(images courtesy: Motorsport Asia and PR Plus)
