Fahrizal Hassan and Keifli Othman of JC Racing made full use of their extensive experience to clock the fastest time in a wet qualifying session for Round 3 of the Malaysia Championship Series (MCS) at Sepang International Circuit (SIC) today.
Clocking 2 minutes 41.253 seconds around the 5,543-metre track in their Honda Civic Type R machine, they will be joined on the front row by Round 2 winner Mark Darwin of Sakura Tedco Racing Team.
While the performance of Fahrizal and Keifli was spectacular, it was, Darwin that was more sensational as he was carrying an additional 30kg success weight ballast – courtesy of his victory in the Touring Production class in the previous round. The young Malaysian clocked 2 minutes 42.605 seconds in his new Honda FD2; finishing 1.352 seconds behind the JC Racing duo.
With a best lap time of 2 minutes 43.965 seconds, Soh Kee Koon of Type R Racing Team clocked the third fastest time to start from the second row along with the partnership of Frederick Soo and Kenvin Low in a Honda Civic Type R.
Touring Production class championship leaders Chris Tan and Alan Wong of Pentagon Racing were 12th fastest on the time sheet in their Honda FD2 while celebrity lady driver Claire Jedrek was 15th on the overall timesheet. Defending champion Damien Dielenberg was eighth overall.
Finishing the session at 6th overall, the partnership of Fariqe Hairuman and James Veerapan of Proton R3 Motorsports was fastest for the Malaysia Touring Car (MTC) class with a time of 2 minutes 46.826 seconds. Teammate and two-time champion Syafie Ali was seventh overall.
Both entries are currently occupying the top two places in the championship standings and looked set to make the battle for the crown a private battle between the Proton R3 Motorsports drivers.
Delayed by almost an hour due to heavy showers, the qualifying session was red-flagged after just eight minutes after an incident involving Freddy Lawan and Winson Eu at Turn 10. Kenny Lee of Wing Hin Motorsports was the leader at that juncture and eventually finished fifth in the timesheet with a best lap time of 2 minutes 46.226 seconds.
Feans can catch all of tomorrow’s MCS actions as well as the Asia Cup Series, Asia Classic Car Challenge and Caterham Championship races for free from the Main Grandstand.
Malaysia Championship Series – Round 3
Top 10 Qualifiers (Sepang Circuit – 5,443 meter)
1. Fahrizal Hasan/Keifli Othman (Honda Civic Type R) 2:41.253
2. Mark Darwin (Honda Integra DC5) 2:42.605s
3. Soh Kee Koon (Honda Integra DC5) 2:43.965s
4. Frederick Soo/Kenvin Low (Honda Civic Type R) 2:44.220s
5. Kenny Lee (Toyota 86) 2:46.226s
6. Fariqe Hairuman/James Veerapen (Proton Suprima S) 2:46.826s
7. Syafiq Ali (Proton Preve) 2:47.713s
8. Damien Dielenberg (Honda Integra DC5) 2:48.157s
9. Tung Wei Hsiao/Desmond Khoo (Honda Integra DC5) 2:49.486s
10. Fitra Eri (Proton Satria Neo) 2:49.569s
