Duo get taste of race to come

2009/11/08

RAHUL Raj Mayer and Timothy Yeo battled hard but looked to be finding the right pace ahead of the final day of Round Five of the Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC) in Bangkok, Thailand today.

Both 13-year-old Malaysians are in Thailand as part of their end-of-season programme in the KF3 class, but looked promising prospects with pace near the front of the pack throughout yesterday.

Rahul was more fortunate, qualifying sixth in the first session and seventh in the second session, while Timothy posted 12th and eighth fastest times in the two sessions.

The opening three heats of the weekend gave the two Malaysians a taste of what to expect if they decide to venture into the AKOC next season, but the youngsters showed they were able to cope with the pressures with consistent and improving pace all the way.

In the three heats leading up to the pre-final and final today, Rahul placed sixth, sixth and seventh, while Timothy placed 15th, 12th and ninth respectively.

Timothy's 15th place in the opening heat was due to a final lap incident in which he spun off while in a pack of five karters fighting for fourth.

"It was just unlucky, I was fighting for position on the final lap and then my rear wheel touched somebody and I spun off," said Timothy, when contacted.

"This class is quite different from the Rotax class which we're used to racing. The karts are much faster. But we're getting used to it and tomorrow (today)I want to fight all the way and get a result in the final." -- ARNAZ M. KHAIRUL