Hitech GP dominate the opening round of the Asian F3 Championship at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia with a triple 1-2 finish.
Following their success in last year’s inaugural Asian F3 Championship, claiming the driver and team’s title, the Silverstone-based team catapulted straight into the lead of the standings, securing three race wins and three second place finishes overall.
With a strong set of qualifying results and three pole positions overall during the first round, team-mates Ukyo Sasahara and Red Bull Junior driver Jack Doohan put on a strong battle in the opening race of the weekend in their fight for the top spot. Despite being their debut in the Asian F3 Championship, 16-year-old Doohan crossed the line in P2, with team-mate Sasahara securing P1.
The team’s winning streak didn’t stop there. The second race saw Sasahara storm into the lead of the 17-strong field. Despite several safety car interventions, the duo were able to maintain their positions, solidifying their efforts into another 1-2 finish. Sasahara secured the top spot yet again, with Doohan crossing the line in P2.
As temperatures soared and the track temperature rose to an eye-watering 64 degrees Celsius, Doohan took a flawless pole-to-flag win in Race 3, with Sasahara attempting to close the gap throughout the race. Hitech GP claimed their third 1-2 finish of the weekend, with Sasahara currently leading the standings and Doohan in second place, with just 7 points sitting between the duo.
Securing the top of the leader board following the first round, Hitech GP have their sights set on continuing this momentum into Round 2 of the Asian F3 Championship, set to get underway at Thailand’s Buriram International Circuit on May 11-12.