Matsukura takes title fight to Leg 3

Naoto Matsukura has won the second leg of the A Main here in Bangkok to force the fight to go down to the third & final leg.  The young Japanese ace who suffered cruel luck in the opening race cruised to a comfortable win over his team-mate and Leg 1 winner Juho Levanen.  Although Levanen had the fastest lap of the race he was never a serious treat to Matsukura who appears to have a better handling car over the opening minute of the race.  Levanen has little experience on asphalt and is still trying to find the perfect technique to saucing his tyres while Matsukura has plenty of knowledge having won back to back Japanese National titles on the black stuff.

While the Associated team-mates put on a display of formation driving up front the big battle of the race was for third with Hupo Honigl and Marc Rheinard enjoying a really close tussle.  Running side by side the German eventually ran wide coming onto the main straight and with dirt on his tyres spun at the hairpin allowing Hupo’s CRC to take the place.

Results A-main Leg 2
1. Naoto Matsukura – 41 Laps 8:07.710
2. Juho Levanen – 41 Laps 8:09.179
3. Hupo Honigl – 40 Laps 3:05.346
4. Marc Rheinard – 40 Laps 8:08.627
5. Andy Moore – 40 Laps 8:10.391
6. Simo Ahoniemi – 40 Laps 8:14.450
7. Hideo Kitizawa – 39 Laps 8:01.188
8. Jilles Groskamp – 39 Laps 8:01.759
9. Teemu Leino – 39 Laps 8:03.912
10. Dasiuke Yoshioka – 39 Laps 8:08.297

In the second B Main Viktor Wilck won from US driver Rick Hohwart and Leg 1 winner Atsushi Hara.  Young Finnish talent Christer Andersson had led for much of the race but was forced to retire after Hara challenged him for the lead and they made contact.

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