Formula BMW Asia - Round 10 - Taebaek - Race

First win for Patrizi.

Taebaek, South Korea - Australian Michael Patrizi (Team Meritus), 21, scored
his first Formula BMW Asia victory in Round 10 today after an eventful race.
The BMW Junior took the chequered flag ahead of pole-sitter and team mate
Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS), 19, and karting ace Aaron Lim (MAS/Minardi Team
Asia), who took his first podium on the season.

The win put to an end a frustrating series of misfortunes to hit Patrizi, who
has been on the podium five times so far this season, but had yet to score a
victory, and it has boosted his confidence considerably. For Charlez, it was
slightly disappointing to have finished second again, having taken qualified
top for both of the Korean rounds.

The results mean Charlez closes in on the joint leaders in the Driver
Classification, shortening the gap to just nine points, while Patrizi replaces
Ebrahim to go fourth after 10 rounds.
Patrizi was overjoyed to have bagged a win: "It was a good race. Now I want
to win every race left of the season this year, and I'm confident we can do
it!" he said.

The race itself was full of incidents - with no fewer than two red flags, and
had a high rate of attrition with only six finishers. On a drying track, after
the earlier torrential rain, pole-man Charlez got away clean however the red
flag came out almost immediately after an incident involving several cars. At
the re-start, Charlez again got away well with a spectacular battle between Lim
and Ebrahim going on behind. Ebrahim broke clear and took the battle to the
race leader, but Patrizi had roared into the first position when the red flag
came out for the second time. This time the stoppage was caused when Endo
Mitsunobu's car (JPN/Team Meritus) stopped at a critical point on the track.

At the second re-start, the order of the top three was Patrizi, Armaan and
Charlez, and almost immediately the Safety Car pulled off, Charlez was up to
second, with Lim closing in on Ebrahim fast. Patrizi held his lead and was
followed home by Charlez, but it was Lim who took the final podium spot having
got by Ebrahim but was unable to close the gap to the leaders by the chequered
flag.

It was a miserable outing for the joint Driver Classification leaders going in
to Round 10. Winner of Round 9, Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus), was
disqualified for causing an avoidable accident at the first turn, bringing out
the first red flag of the race, while fellow countryman Salman Al Khalifa (Team
E-Rain) ended up in the gravel after the incident which stopped the race for
the first time, gamely continued only to suffer a broken driveshaft.
Rounds 11 and 12 of Formula BMW Asia will be held at the Autopolis Circuit in
Japan on September 3 and 4.

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 10 Results.

POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time
1 29 ?*Michael Tony PATRIZI (AUS) Team Meritus 52:14.643
2 88 ?Charlie-Ro CHARLEZ (MAS) Team Meritus +4.269
3 2 ?Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) Minardi Team Asia +5.667
4 17 ?*Armaan EBRAHIM (IND) Team E-Rain +6.524
5 22 Jonathan CHAN (HKG) Minardi Team Asia +7.455
6 68 *Robert BOUGHEY (THA) Team Meritus +13.681
DNF 38 Hamed AL FARDAN (BAH) Team Meritus -
DNF 7 Salman Rashid AL KHALIFA (BAH) Team E-Rain -
DNF 58 Mitsunobu ENDO (JPN) Team Meritus -
DNF 9 ?*WANG Jian-Wei (CHN) Ao's Racing Team -
DNF 61 ?*AN Suk-Won (KOR) Team E-Rain -

*Scholarship driver
?Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Fastest Lap: Michael Patrizi/AUS/Team Meritus/00:57.223.

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 10:

1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 116 points, 2.Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team
Meritus) 116, 2. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 107 points, 4. Michael
Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 97 points, 5. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 90
points, 6. Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 74 points, 7. An Suk-Won (KOR/Team
E-Rain) 64 points, 8. Aaron Lim (MAS/Minardi Team Asia) 64 points, 9. Jonathan
Chan (HKG/Minardi Team Asia) 23 points,
10. Dejan de Zoysa (SRI/Minardi Team Asia) 17 points, 11. Mitsunobu Endo
(JPN/Team Meritus) 16 points, 11. Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao's Racing Team) 15
points,

Rookie Cup Standings after Round 10:

1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 149 points, 2. Michael Patrizi 133 points, 3. Armaan
Ebrahim 119 points, 4. An Suk Won 100 points, 5. Aaron Lim 91 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), Patrizi
(1)

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

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

Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 116 points, 2.Hamed
Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 116, 2. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 107
points, 4. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 97 points, 5. Armaan Ebrahim
(IND/Team E-Rain) 90 points

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

Rookie Cup Points: 1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 149 points, 2. Michael Patrizi 133
points, 3. Armaan Ebrahim 119 points