Formula BMW Asia - Round 10 - Sentul / Indonesia

Bamber does it again in Indonesia.

Round 10
Sentul Circuit, Indonesia

Citeureup Bogor, Indonesia - New Zealander Earl Bamber (16/Team Meritus)
notched up another perfect pole-to-flag victory in Round 10 of Formula BMW
Asia, his second such win in as many days and his 5th so far this season.
Second was points leader going in to the round, Australian Sam Abay (18/Team
E-Rain), followed by BMW Junior James Grunwell of Thailand (17/Team Meritus).

With another second place finish, Abay retains his place at the top of the
championship leaderboard, but his cushion of a 26 point lead over Bamber at the
start of the weekend has been slashed to just 14, with Grunwell maintaining 3rd
position. In the Rookie Cup Classification, Bamber strengthens his position at
the top of the points.

Off the start, the field got away clean, but on lap three, local hero Zahir Ali
(INA/Eurasia Motorsport) spun dramatically while challenging Grunwell and was
unable to rejoin the race, dashing the hopes of the enthusiastic home
supporters. Bamber pulled out an impressive gap to Abay, one which the
frustrated Australian was unable to chip away at, and crossed the line 3.850
seconds ahead of his nearest challenger.

Behind them however, three BMW Juniors; Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia
Motorsport), Grunwell and Aaron Lim (Eurasia Motorsport), were engaged in a
pitched battle. On lap 8, Grunwell finally got the better of Ricciardo
although the latter briefly managed to regain 3rd in the closing laps. Unable
to match the speed of the Thai on the straights, however, it was Grunwell who
finally grabbed back the last podium spot.

Grunwell was full of praise for the disappointed Ali, who had so wanted to
excel at his "home" race: "He was trying very hard to pass me. He had a
really good race pace at the start."
Following the race, the Formula BMW Asia drivers donated their winnings, plus a
donation from BMW Indonesia, in the form of cheques worth USD 10.000 to the
relief efforts following the most recent tsunami to hit Indonesia.

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 10.
1. Sam Abay (AUS/Team E-Rain) 160 points; 2. Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus) 146
points; 3. James Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus) 112 points; 4. Daniel Ricciardo
(AUS/Eurasia Motorsport) 109 points; 5. Dominic Storey (NZL/Eurasia Motorsport)
66 points; 6. Aaron Lim (MAS/Eurasia Motorsport) 58 points; 7. Zahir Ali
(INA/Eurasia Motorsport) 47 points; 8. Hamed Al Fardan (BRN/Team Meritus) 40
points 9. Mohammed Al Baharna (BRN/Team E-Rain) 38 points; 10. Aditya Akkineni
(IND/Team E-Rain) 30 points; 11. Rayomand Banajee (IND/Privateer) 1 point.

Rookie Cup Points Standings after Round 10.
1. Earl Bamber 165 points; 2. Daniel Ricciardo 141 points; 3. James Grunwell
138 points; 4. Dominic Storey 110 points; 5. Aditya Akkineni 88 points.

Statistics:
Winners 2006: Al Fardan (2); Earl Bamber (5); Sam Abay (3)
Pole Positions: Bamber (5); Abay (4); Grunwell (1)
Podiums: Abay (10); Bamber (7); Grunwell (5); Al Fardan (2); Ricciardo (5);
Storey (1)
Championship Points: 1. Abay (160); 2. Bamber (146); 3. Grunwell (112)
Rookie Cup Winners: Bamber (7); Grunwell (1); Storey (1) Ricciardo (1)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Bamber (165); 2. Ricciardo (141); 3. Grunwell (138)

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level championship in Formula racing.
In 2006 the series will be held in Germany, the UK, Asia and the USA. More
than 80 up-and-coming drivers, some as young as 15-years old, will compete
worldwide. Racing five times in support of the Formula One World Championship,
Formula BMW offers a worldwide stage, training through a multifaceted Education
and Coaching Programme, and BMW's longstanding Junior scholarship for deserving
drivers.

The FB02 race car is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine up to 230km/h. The
design exceeds the FIA safety requirements for its class, with the BMW
Motorsport developed FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat, and the mandatory HANS
safety system.

From November 24 to 26, 2006 the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo
Tormo will host the second Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from
the four regional Formula BMW series will compete against each other with the
winner receiving a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.