Irishman John O’Hara ruled Round 11 from pole position, finishing in 36 minutes, 49.124 seconds, while Macanese Rodolfo Avila, who started fifth on the grid, grabbed second place in 37:05.019.
The day, however, belonged to Mikola, 25, who took 12 more points to jack his total to an unassailable 139 going into Round 12 later Sunday.
Whatever happens in the last race, Mikola, of Fastron Racing with Threebond, will bring home the crown, won last year by Australian Christian Jones, to Indonesia. Mikola’s half-brother, Moreno Soeprato of Denso Hanjin JF3, made it a family double, clinching the promotions class crown for cars with chassis built in 2000 and below.
Filipino young gun Tyson Sy of Speedtech Asia, bidding to score his third straight victory after a golden double in Indonesia last September, began the race from fourth on the grid but an aggressive attack proved costly and relegated him to fifth, good for eight points that improved his total to a second-best 109.
Briton James Winslow of Shell Helix Kinetic PCSO, who went into the race running third, actually finished third but was disqualified for jumping the start, leaving him stuck at 100 points in the race sponsored by Addict Mobile, PLDT myDSL, Boysen Paints, Yokohama Tires and Lima Hotel and broadcast live on Studio 23.
Mikola clocked 37:07.045, followed by Dado Pena of Team Goddard Minardi Team Asia (37:08.016), Sy (37:09.420), Emmet Queenan (37: 26.231), Soeprapto (37:40.564), Pepon Marave of Shell Helix (37:51.429), Lee Farrell (37:54.076), Joel Retuya (37:20.080), Greg Murphy (37:21.900) and Enzo Pastor (38:25.216). Fil-Briton Jonathan Legris managed just 2 laps.
The order of finish in Round 11 will be the grid positions for the last round of the nation-hopping series that has for its media partners Wave 89.1, Magic 89.8, K-Lite 103.5, Jam 88.9, 99.5RT, Celebrity Connect Magazine and Manila Bulletin. Racing enthusiasts can log on to www.asianf3.net and www.mypad.net for regular updates
After jumping the start, Winslow was recalled to the pit but he ignored race stewards and proceeded to finish the 12-lap race on the 3.4-kilometer BRC track, only to be told later he had been disqualified.
