KUCHING: Freddy Lawan tasted his fi rst success in touring car racing at the Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) at the Sepang International Circuit last weekend when he claimed three podium fi nishes.
Racing under JC Racing Team, Freddy sped to a third place fi nish in Race 1, fi fth place in Race 2 and third place in Race 3 of the TCR Asia International Series S2000 category in his Honda Integra DC5 car for a fourth overall placing in the championship.
This is his sixth touring car race after having also competed in the Malaysian Championship Series (MCS) at the Sepang International Circuit.
On August 30, he managed 15th place out of 30 racers in Round 4 of the MCS. In his previous race (Round 3) here in Sepang, he did not fi nish the race as he was involved in an accident barely half a lap into the fi nal.
“It was a bit hazy at the track and the weather was fi ne and hot and luckily there was no accident this time around.”
“I am satisifi ed with my performance as I have fi nally managed to get podium fi nishes after my sixth attempt in touring car racing,” said Freddy who felt he could have done better if not for the performance of his car engine. He collected four trophies and a cash prize of RM4,000 for being fourth overall.
“The engine performance was not up to my expectations and I was fast at the bends and corners but lose out to the others in the straights. It looked as if the marshals did not scrutinise the engines for the fi nal race.
I guess that’s why I lose to others in speed in the straight,” he added. Freddy will be taking a break from touring car racing and go-kart racing including skipping a round of the Asia Max Challenge at Sepang this weekend.