Asian Motor Sports

Questnet Team Qi-Meritus driver Rio Haryanto showed just what he is capable of when he won the sixth race of the Formula BMW Pacific season at the Sepang International Circuit this afternoon in sensational style.

The 16-year-old Indonesian driver, who joined the Malaysian team in January, stormed home nearly a second ahead of his rivals despite trailing Fahmi Ilyas, who was on pole, by more than 1.5 seconds after the first lap.

Starting third, Rio gradually began to eat into the lead and once he passed Gary Thompson on lap two to move into second place, there was no doubting he would eventually overtake Fahmi. Rio overtook Fahmi in turn 15 of the six lap and raced to the chequered flag four laps later in 20:01.720s.

Fahmi was second in 20:02.714s while Thompson finished third with a time of 20:03.238s. Rio’s team mate, Dustin Sofyan clocked 2:13.420s for seventh place.

“I’ve worked so hard over the weekend as I didn’t have the pace in the beginning. The whole team worked hard to get me in this position and I would like to thank them for a great job,” said Rio.

“I didn’t achieve my target of taking over the overall lead in the drivers’ championship but at least I got two podiums this weekend and am within touching distance of the leaders.”

Rio, who also won the second race of the season, held during the Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix in April, now has four podium finishes from the first six races of the season. He finished third in the season opener and also in yesterday’s second race of the day.

Dustin said: “I could have done better, but to have finished in the points in all four races is a big achievement for me. I had some problems with the car in the last race of the day. I was aiming for a podium but could only finish seventh.”

In the first race of the day, Rio started from the back of the grid but moved his way up to fourth while Dustin claimed fifth spot.

After Sepang, the series moves to Sentul, Indonesia, for four races from July 17-19, followed by two races each in Singapore (Sept 25-27), Okayama, Japan (Oct 30-Nov 1) and Macau (Nov 20-22).

RESULTS

FORMULA BMW PACIFIC

RACE 3: 1. Axcil Jefferies (Eurasia Motorsport) 22:12.618s, 2. Gary Thompson (E-Rain Racing), 3. Akhil Khuslani (E-Rain Racing) 22:15.286s, 4. Rio Haryanto (Questnet Team Qi-Meritus) 22:16.913s, 5. Dustin Sofyan (Questnet Team Qi-Meritus) 22:22.757s

RACE 4: 1. Rio Haryanto (Questnet Team Q-Meritus) 20:01.720s, 2. Fahmi Ilyas (E-Rain Racing) 20:02.714s, 3. Gary Thompson (E-Rain Racing) 20:03.238s …. 7. Dustin Sofyan (Questnet Team Qi-Meritus) 20:16.288s