[Mikko Nassi]

The CIK-FIA Asia Pacific KF2 Asia Pacific championships are being held in Suzuka this weekend, together with the SKF/KF1 World Cup.

There are a lot of drivers familiar to the SEA region racing.. see if you recognize any of these names:

• Mitchell Gilbert
• Bryan Mehta
• Nanin Indra Payoong (Shogun)
• Stefano Marcelo
• Pasin Lathoras

The KF2 grid is really good, a top 10 won't be easy.

Bryan should be starting to get a hang of the KF2 in Japan, he's done real good in a few races there (2nd and 1st).

edit: I didn't notice before - but there's a Thai driver in SKF - Tin Sritrai.

Live timing, results, etc will be on the CIK SITE HERE.

[Mikko Nassi]

Judging by facebook status updates it looks like the drivers have already faced their first challenge - the suzuka circuit hotel caught fire.

[DMmotorsport]

Hi Mikko,

The level is very very high... at last 15 of the 30best katingdrivers in the world are competing in Suzuka... Still their material is already the 2010 updates... don't look into the deep,,, and think the Japanese or other Asian drivers are not fast enough...

Still the factories come to Asia, only for making good puclicity ...... and they do whatever it takes to win....

[Mikko Nassi]

I think you're mainly referring to SKF? Very good grid there are well. Will be interesting to see who's on top there. You're right it's an important marketing exercise for the euro teams.

Luckily for the Asian drivers in KF2 many of the names mentioned in my first post have factory drives, so equipment-wise they should not be left behind. There is nothing stopping them from getting to the very front. I'd expect at least 1 or 2 of them to be quite impressive - as they have been in similar events before.

I saw the results of one KF2 session form yesterday's. Out of all the Asian drivers Bryan Mehta was fastest in 6th from the 20 drivers. The session was headed by 4 of the Italian drivers. Gilbert was next from the SE-Asian group, in 12th.

[Mikko Nassi]

Direct link to the live timing for the weekend: http://www.cikfia.com/Live/Live_Suzuka_2009.html

KF2 odd numbers going on at the moment. TonyKart driver Smarrazzo well ahead of the rest.

Shogun is in the odd group, the rest of the SEA drivers are in the even group.

[Mikko Nassi]

Only just noticed that there's a Thai driver in Super KF - Tin Sritrai. Driving with a Japanese license.

[DMmotorsport]

Indeed, most of them driving with factory seat... BUT do not forget this is because they pay for it...
I am not going to get too far into this... but anyway, there are a lot of talented un-discovered drivers in Asia..... i am sure of that...
AND also here in Europe the diff between factory and private team is smaller than ever.

You know Fei Hoong, ofcourse, and you know we work together...
I am distributor for JEsolo, for BeNaLux and ASIA, so i am building and developing the chassis together with Jesolo. for this reason i can tell you Fei Hoong is lapping Faster times around here than most of the factory drivers ! (so watch out for 2010)...
But i only want to say, is that the more power you have, the more change you make... and you get power by money....
Talent you can not buy.... Power is a different thing....

ciao, Kristof
DMmotorsport

[Mikko Nassi]

Yeah money can't buy everything .

Here was todays last session:
1 G.Patrono, 48.942
2 P.Suvanto, 48.992
3 T.Da Luz, David Manuel 49.033
4 M.Beretta, 49.051
5 H.Kurosawa, 49.064
6 F.Tiene, 49.151
7 M.Vigano, 49.191
8 K.Suto, 49.413
9 S.Marcelo, J. 49.572
10 G.Blundell, 49.576
11 A.Lynn, 49.586
12 G.Mitchell, 49.622
13 N.Matsushita, 49.642
14 H.Mehta, Bryan 49.651
15 L.Wright, 49.725
16 K.Miyazawa, 49.767
17 S.Iijima, 49.897
18 S.Morishita, 50.231
19 R.Kubo, 50.266
20 P.Lathoras, 50.535


Bryan was 4th in one of the earlier sessions. Tomorrow we'll get some qualifying action and we'll know the true pace of everyone.

[Mikko Nassi]

The action is really heating up. First qualifying heats are underway, and time trial results for KF2:

1 Vigano, Matteo Birel 48.51
2 Maisano, Brandon Intrepid 48.61
3 Kanamaru, Yu Tony Kart 48.65
4 Tiene, Felice Kosmic 48.68
5 Patrono, Giacomo Birel 48.73

12 Marcelo, J. Stefano 48.88
20 Indra Payoong, Nanin 49.01
21 Mehta, Bryan Homi 49.01
25 Mitchell, Gilbert 49.14
41 Lathoras, Pasin 50.09

[SecondKart]

is ben cooper the rotax world finals champion from last year?

from the results so far looks like he's adjusting quite well to KF2.

looks like from the list in the first post Mehta is doing the best so far, 7th in one heat 11th in the other.

[HK]

Only just noticed that there's a Thai driver in Super KF - Tin Sritrai. Driving with a Japanese license.

There's a Hong Kong driver in Super KF too.
Advance Racing HK Wong, Tim Wai
Surpise me to see him in SKF!!
Good try...Tim!!!