IT was a wonderful sight on the podium as Malaysian drivers – Muizz Musyaffa, Isyraff Danish and Nazim Ahmad, found themselves on the podium on the final day of the FIA Formula Southeast Asia Championship fuelled by PETRON held at the Sepang International Circuit here.
Three final races took place on the final day but it was in Race 6 that fans were treated to great excitement as Muizz and Isyraff concluded the season with a fabulous 1-2 finish, much to the delight of the Malaysian camp and supporters.
Adding to the feat, Muizz was also on the podium earlier after coming in second in Race 4 while Nazim, among the leading contenders in the overall championship, took third spot in Race 5 behind eventual winner Presley Martono of Indonesia and France’s Alessandro Ghiretti.
Muizz himself was in great form and showed composure throughout the final races, starting from pole in Race 4 but was unfortunate to lose his lead at turn 4 of Lap 4 in an incident-filled race. The 16 year-old did well to hold on to his second spot until the end.
The penultimate race of Event 5 took place under blistering heat which saw Japan’s Hibiki Taira starting from pole, followed by Nazim Ahmad and Martono on the second row. It was not long before Martono took over the lead, conclude the race as winner with Ghiretti and Nazim on second and third respectively.
“It was a great and happy day indeed. I did what I had to do, which is to get onto the podium. It’s a great weekend as this is my first achievement as winner since the F4 season started in September last year. I struggled with my tyre earlier but overall, I’m happy with the weekend’s outcome,” said Muizz.
Isyraff, meanwhile, said he had to endure some stiff challenges in Race 6 as Martono and Kane Shepherd were breathing down his neck towards the end of the race: “ It’s very hard in the last four laps but I managed to keep my composure and work hard to avoid any untoward incidents,” he said.
Nazim, who took the third spot in Race 5, was happy that he finally made to the home podium despite few challenges on the track: “I was struggling with my tyre but I managed to hold on to keep my third spot,” said Nazim.
Meanwhile, Alessandro Ghiretti was proclaimed as champion for the weekend event after a great showing over three days while Danial Cao and Kane Shepherd were second and third respectively. “It was great as this is my first year in F4 and what a great outing for me in Sepang,’ said Ghiretti.
Results for the overall season standings and achievement of the 2017-2018 will be made available soon.
RESULTS DAY 3
RACE 4:
- Alessandro Ghiretti (FRA) 21:22.669s
- Muizz Musyaffa (MAS) 21: 22.904s
- Presley Martono (INA) 21:23.333s
- Hibiki Taira (JPN) 21:23.647s
- Kane Shepherd (THA) 21:23.898s
- Nazim Ahmad (MAS) 21:24.051s
- Danial Cao (CHN) 21:25.460s
- Isyraff Danish (MAS) 21:26.031s
- Timothy Yeo (MAS) 21:32.090s
- Luke Thompson (IRL) 21:32.496s
Armand Johany (MAS) 23: 04.791s (DNF)
Arsh Johany (MAS) DNF
RACE 5:
- Presley Martono (INA) 20:24.464s
- Alessandro Ghiretti (FRA) 20:28.837s
- Nazim Ahmad (MAS) 20:32.694s
- Isyraff Danish (MAS) 20: 32.943s
- Muizz Musyaffa (MAS) 20: 33.716s
- Danial Cao (CHN) 20: 34.026s
- Luke Thompson (IRL) 20: 40.142s
- Hibiki Taira (JPN) 20:49.643s
- Arsh Johany (MAS) 20:50.391s
Armand Johany (MAS) (DNF)
Timothy Yeo (MAS) (DNF)
Kane Shepherd (THA) (DNF)
RACE 6
- Muizz Musyaffa (MAS) 20:31.779s
- Isyraff Danish (MAS) 20:36.194s
- Presley Martono (INA) 20:36.945s
- Kane Shepherd (THA) 20:37.187s
- Hibiki Taira (JPN) 20:37. 451s
- Nazim Ahmad (MAS) 20:39.999s
- Danial Cao (CHN) 20:53.672s
- Armand Johany (MAS) 20:57.614
- Arsh Johany (MAS) 20:59.498s
- Alessandro Ghiretti (FRA) 21:03.271s
- Luke Thompson (IRL) 21:03.365s
- Timothy Yeo (MAS) 21:04.878s
EVENT 5 OVERALL RESULTS
- Alessandro Ghiretti (FRA) 21 points
- Presley Martono (INA) 22
- Daniel Cao (CHN) 27s
