Formula BMW Asia - Round 3 - Sepang - Race

Bahrain wins big in Malaysia.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - It was a proud day for Bahraini motorsport as Formula
BMW Asia championship leader, Salman Rashid Al Khalifa (Team E-Rain) and Hamed
Al Fardan (Team Meritus) took 1st and 2nd places in Round 3 of the series at
the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Rookie Charlie-Ro Charlez (Team
Meritus) flew the flag for Malaysia, taking the final podium place and setting
the fastest lap, the 19-year-old notching up his second top three finish this
season.

The win strengthens Al Khalifa's hold on the championship leaderboard with 55
points, having won the opening round at his home event last month, while today
saw Al Fardan's first podium of the 2005 season which puts him in 5th with 26
points. Charlez' second podium means he is currently an impressive 2nd in the
championship standings on 37 points, moving ahead of Robert Boughey (THA/Terms
Meritus).

Al Khalifa was delighted with his win which saw him drive a flawless race from
pole to chequered flag, despite pressure from his countryman: "I made a few
mistakes, but I've realised a lot of it is down to fitness which I must
concentrate on. I'm so glad it was a 1-2 for Bahrain and I can't ask for a
better result for my country." Al Khalifa was also full of praise for his Team
E-Rain who had worked long into the night to ensure he had all the tools for
victory.

Al Fardan was equally pleased to be on the podium, despite being unable
ultimately to catch Al Khalifa: "I made a very good start," he said, referring
to his lightning-quick getaway off the grid which saw him move from 4th to
2nd. "I tried to catch him (Al Khalifa) right from the first lap, but he kept
pushing harder and didn't make any mistakes."

Charlez and BMW Junior Boughey had battle for much of the way, swapping
positions in the fight for the final podium place. Said Charlez: "It was good
racing. I made a couple of mistakes and a couple of good moves."

Off the grid, Al Khalifa got away well, with Al Fardan manoeuvring into second,
with Boughey in third. Sri Lankan Rookie Dejan de Zoysa (Minardi Team Asia)
was an early casualty, going off on the opening lap, while BMW Junior and
Rookie An Suk Won (KOR/Team E-Rain) had a big off when he went wide on lap
two. Mid-way through the 20-lap race, Charlez caught Boughey and made his move
at the first corner, taking third. Charlez made an error a lap later, and
Boughey was quick to seize the initiative but then ran wide at the entry to the
last turn, crashing out of the race.

Second Rookie finisher was Ebrahim, fourth overall behind Charlez, followed by
Lim, a superb result in his first ever race. Charlez increased his lead in the
Rookie Cup with 55 points, followed by Ebrahim on 47 and An on 30.

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.
Round 4 of Formula BMW Asia will be held later today on the shortened, 2.8km
version of the Sepang International Circuit.

Round 3 Results.
POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time
1 7 Salman Rashid AL KHALIFA (BAH) Team E-Rain 22:50.082
2 38 Hamed AL FARDAN (BAH) Team Meritus +01:090
3 88 ?Charlie-Ro CHARLEZ (MAS) Team Meritus +03.275
4 17 ?*Armaan EBRAHIM (IND) Team E-Rain +08.012
5 2 ?Aaron LIM (MAS) Minardi Team Asia +05.132
6 9 ?*WANG Jian-Wei (CHN) Ao's Racing Team +14.445
7 61 ?*AN Suk-Won (KOR) Team E-Rain +00.796
8 99 #SONG Ge (CHN) Ao's Racing Team +03.630
9 22 Jonathan CHAN (HKG) Minardi Team Asia +03.468
10 58 Mitsunobu ENDO (JPN) Team Meritus +22.036
11 68 *Robert BOUGHEY (THA) Team Meritus 5 laps
DNF 29 ?*Michael Tony PATRIZI (AUS) Team Meritus -
DNF 4 ?Dejan de ZOYSA (SRI) Minardi Team Asia -
DNS 20 #CHIA On (HKG) Ao's Racing Team -
*Scholarship driver
?Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Fastest Lap: Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 01:07.552/143.89kph
Pole Position: Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 01:07.764/143.44kph

Formula BMW Asia Rookie Cup Results: 1. Charlez (MAS Team Meritus), 2. Ebrahim
(IND/Team E-Rain), 3. Lim (MAS/Minardi Team Asia), 4. Wang (CHN/Ao's Racing
Team), 5. An (KOR/Team E-Rain)

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 3:
1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 55 points, 2. Charlie-Ro Charlez
(MAS/Team Meritus) 37 points, 3. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 30 points 4.
Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 27 points, 5. Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team
Meritus) 26 points, 6. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 18 points, 7. An
Suk-Won (KOR/Team E-Rain) 16 points, 8.Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao's Racing Team) 11
points, 9. Aaron Lim (MAS/Minardi Team Asia) 8 points, 10. Mitsunobu Endo
(JPN/Team Meritus) 7 points, 11. Dejan de Zoysa (SRI/Minardi Team Asia) 5
points, 12. Jonathan Chan (HKG/Minardi Team Asia) 3 points.

Rookie Cup Standings after Round 3:
1.Charlie-Ro Charlez 55 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 47 points, 3. An Suk-Won 30
points, 4. Michael Patrizi 25 points, 5. Wang Jian-Wei 24 points, 6. Dejan de
Zoysa 14 points, 7. Aaron Lim 12 points.

Statistics:

Winners 2005: Al Khalifa (2), Boughey (1)
Pole Positions: Al Khalifa (4)
Podiums: Al Khalifa (3), Charlez (2), Boughey (1), Al Baharna (1), Patrizi (1),
Al Fardan (1)
Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 55 points, 2.
Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 37 points, 3. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team
E-Rain) 30 points 4. Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 27 points 5. Hamed Al
Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 26 points
Rookie Cup Winners: Charlez (2), Ebrahim (1)
Rookie Cup Points: 1.Charlie-Ro Charlez 55 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 47 points,
3. An Suk-Won 30 points, 4. Michael Patrizi 25 points, 5. Wang Jian-Wei 24
points