Asian Motor Sports

Marko Asmer has signed a contract with the Three Bond team to race in Japanese F3 this year. The contract gives Marko the opportunity to develop his career after two seasons impressing in British Formula 3.

“I’m happy to join Three Bond, they have given me a great opportunity to start racing in Japan. I’m glad to be in such a competitive category and looking forward to the season. Many good drivers have gone into F1 via this route and it’s very international with several European and South American drivers. We are racing at a very competitive level.”

“It’s no secret that the last few years have been difficult for me with financing motor racing in Britain, and I thank Three Bond for making that side of things easier so I can concentrate on racing. The team is extremely professional and it is really nice to work with them.”

“The cars are similar but not identical to what I was driving last year in the UK and the one big difference is that we are on Bridgestone tyres so I have been getting a feel for the tyres. We have been quick in pre-season testing and everything looks positive. It’s too early to say how we’re going to do but I’m excited. We’re going for wins!”

The first official Japanese F3 test took place this week on 7 and 8 March at Fuji Speedway, with further testing scheduled for 22 and 23 March at Suzuka. The season proper begins on 1 and 2 April with the first and second rounds of the Championship at Fuji Speedway.

Marko Asmer, a 21 year-old from Tallinn, Estonia, has been racing in British Formula 3 for the last two years with Hi-Tech Racing. He was one of the field’s strongest contesters with a string of podium results in 2005. Asmer is the first Estonian to drive a Formula 1 car, having tested for the Williams F1 team several times in 2003. Marko’s major breakthrough in Europe came in 1999 when he won the Nordic, Finnish, Baltic and Estonian karting championships in one season at the age of 15. Further karting successes with PDB and Tony Kart came in 2000, 2001 and 2002, including the honour of World Karting Champion in 2002. He won two rounds in his first season of British Formula Ford with JLR in 2003, and came second in the Formula Ford Festival at Brands Hatch.

Three Bond, a chemical technology company, has been at the cutting edge of Japanese F3 since 2000. With an extremely competitive engine and a Dallara chassis, the team has been a strong championship contender since 2003. Marko Asmer will race for Three Bond alongside 25 year-old Brazilian Fabio Carbone.