Formula BMW Asia - Round 6 - Bira - Race

One-two finish for Bahrain in Thailand.

Pattaya, Thailand - Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) got his championship
bid right back on track today, taking a perfect pole to chequered flag victory
in Round 6 of Formula BMW Asia. Right behind him in second was fellow
countryman, and winner of the previous round, Hamed Al Fardan (Team Meritus),
repeating the pair's result in Round 3 in Malaysia in May. Third was BMW
Junior, Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus), taking his second podium finish of
the day.

The result strengthens Al Khalifa's hold on the championship leaderboard,
giving him a lead of 22 points over second-placed Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team
Meritus), with Al Fardan just four points adrift of the Malaysian in third,
replacing Thailand's Robert Boughey (Team Meritus).
The weekend was a rollercoaster ride for Al Khalifa who had a disappointing
qualifying session for Round 5, and failed to finish the race, took pole for
Round 6 and didn't put a wheel wrong.

The 20-lap race was certainly eventful, and sadly not one to remember for
Boughey, Thailand's only entry in the series. On the opening lap, Boughey got
it badly wrong and hit the tyre wall while running in 5th. He emerged unhurt,
but the red flag was brought out. At the re-start, Al Khalifa was once again
away clear, and Al Fardan was unable to catch him despite his best efforts.
Behind them, Patrizi took promising youngster and BMW Junior Armaan Ebrahim
(IND/Team E-Rain), and held him off to the flag.

Third fastest Rookie was Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus).
Rounds 7 and 8 of Formula BMW Asia will be held at Beijing's Goldenport Circuit

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 a Formula One test drive.

Round 6 Results.
POS -NO -Driver/Nat -Entrant -Time
1 -7 -Salman Rashid AL KHALIFA (BAH)-Team E-Rain: 17:12.582
2 -38 -Hamed AL FARDAN (BAH) -Team Meritus: +0.555
3 -29 -?*Michael Tony PATRIZI (AUS) -Team Meritus: +0.806
4 -17 -?*Armaan EBRAHIM (IND) -Team E-Rain: +1.070
5 -88 -?Charlie-Ro CHARLEZ (MAS) -Team Meritus: +11.044
6 -2 -?Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) -Minardi Team Asia: +11.361
7 -61 -?*AN Suk-Won (KOR) -Team E-Rain: +21.893
8 -4 -?Dejan de ZOYSA (SRI) -Minardi Team Asia: +24.061
9 -22 -Jonathan CHAN (HKG) -Minardi Team Asia: +50.682
10 -58 -Mitsunobu ENDO (JPN) -Team Meritus: +54.702
11 -9 -?*WANG Jian-Wei (CHN) -Ao's Racing Team: 1 lap
DNF -68 -*Robert BOUGHEY (THA) -Team Meritus: -
*Scholarship driver
?Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Fastest Lap: Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 1:01.841/139.713kph

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 6:

1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 88 points, 2. Charlie-Ro Charlez
(MAS/Team Meritus) 65 points, 3. Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 61, 4.
Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 60 points, 5. Robert Boughey (THA/Team
Meritus) 52 points, 6. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 49 points, 7. An
Suk-Won (KOR/Team E-Rain) 32 points, 8. Aaron Lim (MAS/Minardi Team Asia) 32
points, 9. Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao's Racing Team) 13 points, 10. Mitsunobu Endo
(JPN/Team Meritus) 13 points, 11. Dejan de Zoysa (SRI/Minardi Team Asia) 11
points, 12. Jonathan Chan (HKG/Minardi Team Asia) 10 points.

Rookie Cup Standings after Round 6:
1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 94 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 82 points, 3. Michael
Patrizi 73 points, 4. An Suk Won 58 points, 5. Aaron Lim 49 points, 6. Wang
Jian-Wei 40 points, 7. Dejan de Zoysa 26 points.

Statistics

Winners 2005: Al Khalifa (3), Boughey (1), Ebrahim (1), Al Fardan (1)
Pole Positions: Al Khalifa (5), Michael Patrizi (1)
Podiums: Al Khalifa (5), Charlez (3), Boughey (2), Al Baharna (1), Patrizi (3),
Al Fardan (3), Ebrahim (1)
Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 88 points, 2.
Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 65 points, 3. Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team
Meritus) 61, 4. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 60 points, 5. Robert Boughey
(THA/Team Meritus) 52 points
Rookie Cup Winners: Charlez (2), Ebrahim (2) Patrizi (2)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 94 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 82
points, 3. Michael Patrizi 73 points