Formula BMW Asia - Round 9 - Taebaek - Race

Al Fardan Shines through the Storm.

Taebaek, South Korea - In the worst weather conditions experienced in the
series so far, it was Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) who shone through
today, taking a masterful - and skilful - victory in Round 9 of Formula BMW
Asia on South Korea's 2.5km Taebaek Circuit. The 18-year-old started from 8th
on the grid, after only completing five laps of qualifying yesterday, to take
the chequered flag over pole-sitter and Rookie Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team
Meritus). Taking the final podium spot was South Korean and BMW Junior, An
Suk Won (Team E-Rain) who, despite being under extraordinary pressure as the
only Korean in the field, maintained his composure to drive a faultless 20-lap
race.

Al Fardan's win puts him neck-and-neck with fellow countryman Salman Al Khalifa
(Team E-Rain) at the top of the Driver Classification with 116 points apiece,
while Charlez jumps in front of Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) to third with
92. In the Rookie Cup standings, Charlez strengthens his position at the top
with 134, while Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus), who drove a brilliant race
to finish fourth overall, moves into second.

Said Al Fardan following his win on the treacherously-slippery track: "We
don't have any rain in Bahrain, so I don't have much experience of driving in
the wet! I like the rain, I tried to be smooth, and feel the car with the new
engine. I'm really pleased." For Charlez, it was the first time ever he had
raced in the wet, and he enjoyed the fair, clean fight with Al Fardan.

Former Formula BMW Asia driver You Kyong Ouk was on hand to offer An some
friendly words of advice, and they obviously paid off. Said a thrilled An,
after notching up his second podium on a row, having dropped down the field
during the eventful race: "Before the race KO (You) told me to concentrate on
the race and not to be nervous. He said, 'there is no rush, just one by one
overtake the others'. So, I followed his advice and found myself in third."

The race start was aborted when Patrizi signalled he had a mechanical problem
and, as the storm-clouds began to break, organisers declared it a wet race and
the field return to the pits to fit wet-weather tyres. When the race did get
underway, it was behind the Safety Car for the first seven laps as several
millimetres of water were dumped on the track.

Once the Safety Car pulled off, pole-man Charlez was off and away, but series
leader Al Khalifa was on a charge and was into third going in to the first turn
behind Malaysia's Aaron Lim, 20, (Minardi Team Asia). Al Khalifa got by Lim
and was challenging Charlez for the lead when a spin dropped him back. He
eventually crossed the line sixth.

BMW Junior Robert Boughey, who had started from sixth on the grid, was in
contention for a podium finish at one point, before an off put pay to his
chances. Another front runner, BMW Junior Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain),
16, was another casualty and failed to finish.
BMW Junior Michael Patrizi put in a spirited performance, starting from the
back of the grid to charge through the field and finish fourth.

Round 10 of Formula BMW Asia will be held this afternoon, once again over 20
laps of the Taebaek 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 9 Results.

POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time
1 38 Hamed AL FARDAN (BAH) Team Meritus 22:13.746
2 88 ?Charlie-Ro CHARLEZ (MAS) Team Meritus +3.106
3 61 ?*AN Suk-Won (KOR) Team E-Rain +3.857
4 29 ?*Michael Tony PATRIZI (AUS) Team Meritus +8.213
5 2 ?Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) Minardi Team Asia +9.559
6 7 Salman Rashid AL KHALIFA (BAH) Team E-Rain +9.649
7 68 *Robert BOUGHEY (THA) Team Meritus +23.257
8 58 Mitsunobu ENDO (JPN) Team Meritus +26.923
9 22 Jonathan CHAN (HKG) Minardi Team Asia +27.426
10 9 ?*WANG Jian-Wei (CHN) Ao's Racing Team +42.716
DNF 17 ?*Armaan EBRAHIM (IND) Team E-Rain -
*Scholarship driver
?Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Fastest Lap: Hamed Al Fardan/BAH/Team Meritus/01:01.177

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 9:

1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 116 points, 2.Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team
Meritus) 116, 3. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 92 points, 4. Armaan
Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 80 points, 5. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 77
points, 6.Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 68 points, 7. An Suk-Won (KOR/Team
E-Rain) 64 points, 8. Aaron Lim (MAS/Minardi Team Asia) 52 points, 9. Dejan de
Zoysa (SRI/Minardi Team Asia) 17 points, 10. Mitsunobu Endo (JPN/Team Meritus)
16 points, 11. Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao's Racing Team) 15 points, 12. Jonathan
Chan (HKG/Minardi Team Asia) 15 points.

Rookie Cup Standings after Round 9:

1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 134 points, 2. Michael Patrizi 113 points, 3. Armaan
Ebrahim 109 points, 4. An Suk Won 100 points, 5. Aaron Lim 79 points, 6. Wang
Jian-Wei 52 points, 7. Dejan de Zoysa 40 points.

Statistics:

Winners 2005: Al Khalifa (4), Boughey (1), Ebrahim (1), Al Fardan (3)

Pole Positions: Al Khalifa (7), Michael Patrizi (1), Charlie-Ro Charlez (2)

Podiums: Al Khalifa (6), Charlez (5), Boughey (2), Al Baharna (1), Patrizi (4),
Al Fardan (6), Ebrahim (1), An Suk Won (2)

Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 116 points, 2.Hamed
Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 116, 3. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 92
points, 4. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 80 points, 5. Michael Patrizi
(AUS/Team Meritus) 77 points

Rookie Cup Winners: Charlez (4), Ebrahim (2) Patrizi (3)

Rookie Cup Points: 1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 134 points, 2. Michael Patrizi 113
points, 3. Armaan Ebrahim 109 points