Formula BMW - Round 13 - Shanghai - Race

Faultless win for Al Fardan in Shanghai.

Shanghai, China - Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) scored a perfect victory
today in Round 13 of Formula BMW Asia at the Formula 1 Grand Prix of China in
Shanghai. The 18-year-old led from pole to chequered flag, opening up a
massive 4.7 second lead over second-placed man and Rookie Charlie-Ro Charlez
(MAS/Team Meritus) by the chequered flag. Third across the line, after one of
the most eventful races of the year, was Indian sensation and BMW Junior Armaan
Ebrahim (Team E-Rain).

The results mean Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) retains his place at the
top of the Driver Classification leaderboard with 164, but Al Fardan is still
in contention for the title on 146, with 20 points up for grabs tomorrow. In
the Rookie Cup standings, just a single point separates table leader Patrizi
and Charlez.

Al Fardan got away clean at the start and was never challenged throughout the
10-lap race. Behind him and starting from 5th on the grid, Charlez was on a
charge passing Ebrahim and Patrizi to go into 2nd by the second corner.
Meanwhile, championship leader going in to Round 13, Al Khalifa was already up
to 5th place behind Ebrahim having started from 7th on the grid.

As Al Fardan increased the gap to the rest of the field, the fight was on for
the remaining podium places and those all-important championship points. The
four diced for position throughout the race producing some of the most
nail-biting action of the series so far. Disaster almost struck for Al Khalifa
in the closing stages when, two abreast with Patrizi, he ran wide on to the
grass, but managed to recover superbly to take 5th. "I could almost hear the
cries of "bring it home", so I was determined not to lose it," said Al Khalifa.

Fellow Bahraini Al Fardan did well to hold his concentration out in front:
"The first couple of laps were a bit close, but after that I just kept my head
down and concentrated on keeping my laps times consistent," he said. Ebrahim,
who set the fastest lap of the race, has had to reacquaint himself with the car
after this Team India A1GP duties, and was slightly disappointed at his result,
but will have his chance to shine when he starts from pole in Round 14.

In China, the number eight is known as particularly lucky, but the performance
of Car number 88, Charlez, was far more to do with a skilled combination of
calculation and courage: "I made a few mistakes, but I just cooled down and
went for it again. I have no problem looking where I can go and really going
for it, although I need to be more consistent in qualifying."

The 2005 Formula BMW Asia Driver and Rookie titles will go all the way down to
the wire decided, no doubt in typically dramatic style, over 10-laps of the
state-of-the-art Shanghai International Circuit tomorrow (Sunday).

Background:

Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005
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 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 a Formula One test drive.

Round 13 Results.

POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time
1 38 Hamed AL FARDAN (BAH) Team Meritus 22:10.217
2 88 •Charlie-Ro CHARLEZ (MAS) Team Meritus +4.730
3 17 •*Armaan EBRAHIM (IND) Team E-Rain +5.109
4 29 •*Michael Tony PATRIZI (AUS) Team Meritus +7.373
5 7 Salman Rashid AL KHALIFA (BAH) Team E-Rain +9.833
6 68 *Robert BOUGHEY (THA) Team Meritus +18.561
7 2 •Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) Minardi Team Asia +31.695
8 22 Jonathan CHAN (HKG) Minardi Team Asia +31.933
9 61 •*AN Suk-Won (KOR) Team E-Rain +37.569
10 9 •*WANG Jian-Wei (CHN) Ao's Racing Team +40.240
11 99 #Hamza DIRANI (JOR) Team Meritus +45.940
12 23 #AO Chi Hong (MAC) Ao's Racing Team +49.710
13 5 #SONG Ge (CHN) Ao's Racing Team +52.020
14 58 Mitsunobu ENDO (JPN) Team Meritus +55.003

*Scholarship driver
•Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 13:
1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 164 points, 2. Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team
Meritus) 146, 3. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 137 points, 4. Charlie-Ro
Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 134 points, 5.Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 114
points, 6.Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 90 points, 7.An Suk-Won (KOR/Team
E-Rain) 80 points, 8.Aaron Lim (MAS/Minardi Team Asia) 68 points, 9.Jonathan
Chan (HKG/Minardi Team Asia) 38 points,10. Mitsunobu Endo (JPN/Team Meritus) 26
points, 11. Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao's Racing Team) 19 points, 12. Dejan de Zoysa
(SRI/Minardi Team Asia) 17 points.

Rookie Cup Standings after Round 13:
1. Michael Patrizi 185 points, 2. Charlie-Ro Charlez 184 points, 3.Armaan
Ebrahim 149 points, 4.An Suk Won 132 points, 5.Aaron Lim 101 points, 6.Wang
Jian-Wei 68 points, 7.Dejan de Zoysa 40 points.

Statistics:

Winners 2005: Al Khalifa (6), Boughey (1), Ebrahim (1), Al Fardan (4), Patrizi
(1)

Pole Positions: Al Khalifa (7), Michael Patrizi (2), Charlie-Ro Charlez (2),
Hamed Al Fardan (2), Armaan Ebrahim (1).

Podiums: Al Khalifa (8), Charlez (8), Boughey (2), Al Baharna (1), Patrizi (7),
Al Fardan (7), Ebrahim (3), An Suk Won (2), Lim (1).

Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 164 points, 2. Hamed
Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 146, 3. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 137
points, 4. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 134 points, 5.Armaan Ebrahim
(IND/Team E-Rain) 114 points

Rookie Cup Winners: Charlez (4), Ebrahim (2) Patrizi (6).

Rookie Cup Points: 1. Michael Patrizi 185 points, 2. Charlie-Ro Charlez 184
points, 3.Armaan Ebrahim 149 points