Judging from his overall performance at the opening round of the FIA Formula 4 SEA Championship – fuelled by Petron – last weekend, Malaysian youngster Alister Yoong is a strong contender for a podium finish in Round 2 at the Sepang International Circuit this week.
For the 16-year-old, who missed a top three finish last week, the experience from the first four races of the new season two weeks ago will play a big part in his quest to secure a podium in Round 2 from April 19-21.
“The weekend was quite tough for me, in practice we showed promising good pace but the wet qualifying threw us off which is why I had to start P9,” said Alister, who battled back to a fifth placing in Race 1.
Race 2 saw him move into the lead but the rain soon came down but a possible podium finish ended when he was handed a penalty. “Race 2 was bitter sweet, I got up into P1 and then there was some penalties, it was unfortunate and there was nothing I could do.”
A collision early in Race 3 resulted in a DNF while in the last race of the day, he managed an eighth position despite losing his rear wing. “In Race 4, my first lap was mega, I went from ninth to fourth and I was trying for third. And then I lost my rear wing on Turn 9, I was happy I could keep up,” said Alister.
Alister felt he had driven well and made few mistakes throughout the weekend. “Hopefully, in the next round, I will be up there.”
Another Malaysian who had battled hard in the first round was Muizz Musyafa who managed a fourth placing in the second race.
Round 2 of the FIA Formula 4 SEA Championship – fueled by Petron – is scheduled this week with another four races being contested.
France’s Hadrian David was the big winner in the opening round after sweeping three of the four races. Sweden’s Emil Skaras had a great run to claim Race 2.
Others who impressed in the season-opening round were Irish driver, Lucca Allen, Malthe Jakobsen (Denmark), Elias Seppanen (Finland) and Josh Smith (Australia). Armed with the experience from the opening round, the are expected to mount an even stronger challenge this week.
This year’s FIA F4 SEA Championship returns with a world record-breaking season featuring 40 races, starting from Round 1 in Sepang and finishing off in Clark, Philippines in November.
2019 RACE SCHEDULE
| ROUND | DATE | COUNTRY | CIRCUIT | RACES |
| 1 | Apr 5-7 | Malaysia | Sepang | 1 to 4 |
| 2 | Apr 19-21 | Malaysia | Sepang | 5 to 8 |
| 3 | May 10-12 | Thailand | Buriram | 9 to 12 |
| 4 | June 7-9 | Thailand | Buriram | 13 to 16 |
| 5 | July 12-14 | India | Madras | 17 to 20 |
| 6 | July 19-21 | India | Madras | 21 to 24 |
| 7 | Aug 23-25 | Malaysia | Sepang | 25 to 28 |
| 8 | Sept 27-29 | Malaysia | Sepang | 29 to 32 |
| 9 | Nov 15-17 | Philippines | Clark | 33 to 36 |
| 10 | Nov 22-24 | Philippines | Clark | 37 to 40 |
