Formula BMW Asia - Rounds 3 and 4 - Sepang - Preview

Malaysian Duo Gear Up for Home Event.

Sepang, Malaysia - Two Malaysian youngsters will be hoping for a good showing
in front of their home crowds in the next two rounds of Formula BMW Asia to be
held at Sepang International Circuit on May 14 and 15 as part of the Asian
Festival of Speed (AFOS).

Nineteen-year-old hot shot Charlie-Ro Charlez (Team Meritus) will be joined by
series newcomer and Malaysian karting ace Aaron Lim (also 19), who is the
latest addition to Minardi Team Asia.

Charlez who, unlike many of his fellow drivers, does not have a background in
karting, was nothing short of phenomenal in the opening rounds in Bahrain last
month, with a second place finish in his first ever Formula BMW Asia race.
After two rounds, he tops the Rookie Cup standings and lies third overall in
the championship race.

Fellow countryman Lim was Malaysian Junior Karting Champion in 1999,
twice-Malaysian Karting Open Champion in 2002 and 2004, has won two rounds of
the Asian Karting Championship, and qualified 13th overall in last year's World
Karting Championship.

The two youngsters will, however, have their work cut out if they plan to shine
for their local fans in what is the most competitive field yet. Championship
leader Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) was in scorching form in his home
event last month, displaying exceptional skill and nerves of steel on his way
to taking two pole positions, a victory and a second place in the opening
rounds.

Right behind him on the leaderboard and equally determined take the
2005Championship title is Formula BMW Junior Robert Boughey (THA/Team
Meritus). Boughey scored a long-overdue victory in Round 2, and will be
looking for nothing less than a repeat in Malaysia.

In addition to Boughey, the four other Formula BMW Juniors are already proving
exciting young drivers, with all of them in the top eight on the Championship
leaderboard.

At just 15, Armaan Ebrahim (IND/E-Rain), fourth in the Championship, is quickly
adapting to the new car, while Australian Michael Patrizi (Team Meritus) has a
podium finish already under his belt. An Suk Won (KOR/E-Rain) and China's Wang
Jian Wei, who is racing with series newcomers Ao's Racing Team, have also
acquitted themselves well in the early stages of the season.

Rounds 3 and 4 of Formula BMW Asia will be run over 20 laps each on the
shortened format of Sepang International Circuit.

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 2
1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 35 points, 2. Robert Boughey (THA/Team
Meritus) 26 points, 3. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 25 points, 4.
Armaan Ebrahim (IND/E-Rain) 20 points, 5. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 18
points, 6. An Suk-Won (KOR/E-Rain) 12 points, 7. Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team
Meritus) 11 points, 8.Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao's Racing Team) 5 points, 9.
Mitsunobu Endo (JPN/Team Meritus) 5 points, 10. Dejan de Zoysa (SRI/Minardi
Team Asia) 5 points.

Rookie Cup Standings after Round 2
1.Charlie-Ro Charlez 35 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 32 points, 3. Michael Patrizi
25 points, 4. An Suk-Won 22 points, 5. Wang Jian-Wei 14 points, 6. Dejan de
Zoysa 14 points.

Statistics
Winners 2005: Al Khalifa (1), Boughey (1)
Pole Positions: Al Khalifa (2)
Podiums: Al Khalifa (2), Boughey (1), Al Baharna (1), Charlez (1), Patrizi (1)

Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 35 points, 2. Robert
Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 26 points, 3. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus)
25 points, 4. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 20 points, 5. Michael Patrizi
(AUS/Team Meritus) 18 points

Rookie Cup Winners: Charlez (1), Ebrahim (1)

Rookie Cup Points: 1.Charlie-Ro Charlez 35 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 32 points,
3. Michael Patrizi 25 points,

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005
the series will be held in Germany, Britain, 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 by far the 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 2005, Formula BMW will be staged five 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 Ralf Schumacher and
Christian Klien.

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."

In December 2005 the Bahrain International Circuit will host the first Formula
BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series
will compete against each other. The winner will get the chance to test a BMW
WilliamsF1 Team car.