Alex Yoong Donington Qualifying Notes

Donnington Park, GB - Saturday Aug 7, 1999 - Malaysia's Formula 1 hope, Alex Yoong qualified 5th in round 4 of the 1999 Italian F3000 championship at Britain's Donnington Park circuit near Nottingham today.

Yoong clocked a time of 1m 03.117s in the 30 min qualifying session, where the top 10 were only separated by eight tenths of a second.

Seventeen entries from eleven countries will face the start lights tomorrow at 4.10pm GMT.

"The car has progressed a lot and I felt comfortable throughout the session. A podium finish tomorrow for me is now possible." said Yoong.

Yoong's effort was all the more credible as he out qualified his very experienced team mate, Marco Apicella who is an ex F1 driver as well as being the most experienced F3000 driver ever presently competing in F3000.

Britain's Mark Shaw snatched pole in the last minute from South African Werner Lupberger with a time of 1m 2.327s, just 0.011s from Lupberger.

Third was Spaniard Polo Villaamil who clocked 1m 2.699s while round 3 winner, Giorgio Vinella of Italy was fourth at 1m 2.816s. Indonesian youngster Ananda Mikola could only manage eighth at 1m 3.187s.

Yoong's Monaco team owner, Lamberto Leoni was all praise for Yoong, "Alex is going from strength to strength with each outing. He has put himself in a position to do well tomorrow. I won't be surprised at all to see him get into Formula 1 within the next two years."