Mixed Fortune For Kota Sasaki At Sepang

ASTON MARTIN ASIA CUP – ROUND 5 & 6

It was a day of mixed fortune Super GT driver Kota Sasaki, who lost one and won the other at Round 5 and 6 of the Aston Martin Asia Cup that was run as a support race to the Malaysian Super Series at Sepang Circuit today.

Winner of the previous Round 3 and 4 in Sepang last month, Sasaki came to Sepang Circuit as the hot favourite and the Super GT Cusco Racing Team driver lived up to the expectation when he clocked the fastest time in qualifying to take pole position for the opening Round 5 race today.

Starting superbly, Sasaki led the race comfortably until midway through the race when he was challenged by championship leader Dilantha Malagamuwa of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan driver managed to overtake Sasaki; but later had to retire with tyre problems. Sasaki was also forced to retire after his Aston Martin N24 race machine also encountered problems after hitting debris on the track.

As both encountered problems, Melvin Choo of Team Thunder Asia took over the lead and clinched his first win of the season in 24 minutes 1.790 seconds. Team-mate Tunku Hammam Tengku Sulong was second and Stewart Seatter completed the podium in third spot.

Sasaki bounced back in Round 6 as he showed superb skills running on the wet track; as he led from start to finish to 2 complete the 20-lap race in 26 minutes 57.712 seconds. Dilantha was second; coming in more than 15 seconds behind in 27 minutes 13.388 seconds.

After six rounds, Sasaki is second in the championship standings with 72 points – two points short of Dilantha, who has 74 points.

After Sepang, the series would now proceed to its biggest stage at the inaugural Singaporean Formula One Grand Prix in September.

Aston Martin Asia Cup

Round 4 - Sepang Circuit North Track - 2.706km

For details, contact the Press Officer Azhar Ghazali at 019 383 7865.