Bumper entry for Formula BMW Asia 2007 scholarship trials.

Sakhir, Bahrain - More than 20 fledgling racing drivers will meet at the
BMW Performance Centre in Bahrain this weekend for one of the first
major contests of their motorsport careers, and a chance to earn one of
five coveted Formula BMW Asia Scholarships. The youngsters are all
aged between 15 and 20, and hail from every corner of the Asia Pacific
Region and beyond. From Southeast Asia come Kanit Kuevibulvanich of
Thailand, Kim Jun-Tae of Korea, and three entries from Indonesia; Ryan
Monoarfa, Ryan Haryanto and Kenny Kartasasmita. Chinese hopefuls
David Zhu, the youngest participant at just 15, and Lin Ping-Yung join
Fung Kin Hei, Ross Jamison and Kalson Chan from the Hong Kong SAR.
The two Japanese entries are Ryuichi Nara and Shohei Shiromoto, while
Omer Younas is the sole contender from Pakistan. No doubt hoping to
follow in the footsteps of 2006 Formula BMW Asia Champion Earl Bamber,
fellow Kiwi and New Zealand kart Champion Ben Dallas will be trying his
luck this weekend. Formula BMW Asia organisers recently held an
evaluation of 15 competitors there with the co-operation and assistance
of BMW New Zealand, and in partnership with the CIK Trophy of New
Zealand presented by Karcher. Dallas (16) impressed the selectors to
such an extent that he was chosen to participate in the scholarship
trials with all expenses paid by BMW New Zealand. Testament to the
rapid development of the world's second most populous country and also
perhaps as a result of its Formula 1 aspirations, India has four
entrants. It is likely that Daanish Dalal, Akhil Khushlani,
Cchiranjeev R.bedi, and MV Hariprasad have been inspired by the success
of fellow countrymen Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, and Armaan
Ebrahim who shone during his Formula BMW Asia season in 2005, and is
now also well on the way to a successful international career. Several
of the drivers hail from outside the Asia Pacific region, with
Slovenian Dejan Milavec, American Johnson MacKenzie, and South Africans
Alex Jacovides and Kyle Mitchell, all hoping to clinch a sought-after
scholarship, each of which includes a 50.000 USD cash contribution to
the cost of a full season in Formula BMW Asia (with10.000 USD earmarked
for parts), plus free participation in the proven, season-long BMW
Education & Coaching Programme (E&C). The wide-ranging BMW
E&C programme is the most professional of its kind available in the
region, and utilises the expertise of BMW Motorsport in all areas,
including driving instruction, technical knowledge, fitness and
nutrition, media training, and sports management. All the tools a young
driver needs to reach the very top of the sport. The Scholarship
Qualifying will include both theory and practical sessions, during
which drivers will be assessed by a team of BMW Motorsport
professionals. As the series gears up for its fifth successful season,
Malaysia's PETRONAS recently announced the three drivers who will
compete in Formula BMW Asia this season following the conclusion of the
inaugural PETRONAS Formula Xperience (PFX). Launched in May 2006, the
PETRONAS PFX Racing School is a driver development programme developed
by PETRONAS through its association as Premium Partner to the BMW
Sauber F1 Team. Malaysians Melvin Moh Chun-Ho (18), Imran Zaharias Bin
Shaharom (18), and Johan Bin Adzmi (17) were selected based on the
total points accumulated over the eight PFX training session held from
June to December 2006, and each will receive a scholarship from
PETRONAS to contest a full season of Formula BMW Asia. The three will
be racing with a new Formula BMW Asia team, Team Holzer PFX, managed by
Günther and Ronald Holzer, whose Holzer Motorsport has experience
in a number of European and North American racing series, including
Formula BMW Germany. As the young hopefuls demonstrate their skill and
potential in the hope of securing a Formula BMW Asia scholarship in
Bahrain this weekend, and teams and drivers across the region put the
finishing touches to their seasons, so too are some of last season's
series graduates. Australian teenager Sam Abay, runner-up in the
drivers' championship last year, recently announced he make the move to
Europe and will drive for Team Loctite in the 2007 Formula BMW UK
Championship, while 2003 Asian champion and 2006 German F3 Champion,
Ho-Pin Tung, recently gave China its first A1GP podium finish.
Background: Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in
Formula racing. In 2007 the series will be held in Germany, the UK,
Asia and the USA. Up-and-coming drivers as young as 15-years-old are
given the opportunity of entering motor racing with the high-tech,
standard FB02 race car. This racing car has been seen on the grid
since 2002 and has set standards particularly on the safety technology
front. The single-seater is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine up to
230km/h and exceeds the FIA safety requirements for its class. BMW
Motorsport has developed the FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat especially
for Formula BMW. The HANS safety system is also mandatory. In 2007,
Formula BMW will be staged four times as part of the Formula One
support programme. All the series offer a multifaceted Education and
Coaching Programme as well as sponsorship for promising racing talents.
The best-known alumni of this talent hothouse are Formula One drivers
Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock, Adrian Sutil and Nico Rosberg. BMW
Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen: "Formula BMW offers talented
young drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching
Programme we have designed specially for them, they learn everything
they need to know to hold their own in the big wide world of motor
racing. Formula BMW has shot out of the blocks to become the top
entry-level class for Formula racing worldwide." From 24th to 26th
November 2006 Valencia hosted the second Formula BMW World Final. 37
young racing drivers from the four international Formula BMW series
competed against each other. The winner Christian Vietoris will get a
test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.