HAVING seized the JK Racing Asia Series (JKRAS) championship lead after Rounds Five and Six in France, Nabil Jan Al Jeffri headed to Belgium on Sunday, intending to affirm his grip on the title.
Rounds Seven and Eight of the Series at Spa Francorchamps this weekend sees Eurointernational's Nabil start with 97 points, just a seven point cushion over teammate Aston Hare in the title race.
Main rival Afiq Ikhwan Yazid of Meritus GP is a distant third with 53 points despite reviving his hopes of a title challenge when he won Round Six at the Paul Ricard Circuit last month but Nabil does not see him posing any threat.
Nabil won Round Five at the same circuit to leapfrog South Africa's Hare into the championship lead, before finishing second to Afiq in Round Six.
"I think he won because he was lucky, but we're confident with my pace. I've always been half a second quicker than Afiq and it will be the same in Spa," said Nabil, 19.
Qualifying well on a circuit which all the series drivers have tested only on simulators will be Nabil's priority as he seeks to extend his championship lead in the remaining 10 rounds.
"Spa is my favourite circuit and I have a good feeling about it," claimed Nabil. "My target will be to qualify on pole and win both races.
"The key will be qualifying and my number one contender will be my teammate Hare, so it is going to be a good two races."
The series this weekend completes its first ever European leg since beginning as Formula BMW Asia in 2004 before returning to Asia to serve as support events for the Formula One race weekends in Singapore and India.
Championship standings (Top 5): 1 Nabil Jan Al Jeffri (Mas) Eurointernational 97 points, 2 Aston Hare (SA) Eurointernational 90, 3 Afiq Ikhwan Yazid (Mas) MeritusGP 53, 4 Irfan Ilyas (Mas) Eurointernational 48, 5 Akash Neil Nandy (Mas) MeritusGP 45.
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