Formula BMW Asia - Round 2 - Race

On-form Al Fardan makes it a double.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - An on-form Hamed Al Fardan (BRN/Team Meritus) made an
emphatic one-off return to Formula BMW Asia this weekend, taking victory in
Round 2 in front of the Formula One fraternity in Malaysia, and showing the
young-guns he is at the top of his game. However, the new crop of talented
youngsters gave the driver, who has two seasons' experience under his belt, a
run for his money with Australia's Sam Abay (Team E-Rain) and Rookie Earl
Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus) giving a glimpse of their enormous potential
finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Al Fardan's second win in as many starts gives him a 12 point lead on the
championship table from Sam Abay in 2nd on 28 points. BMW Junior James
Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus), who finished 2nd in Round 1, lies third on 24
points. Top of the Rookie Cup standings is Bamber on 35, just three points
ahead of Grunwell.

Top BMW Junior was Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport), 16, who finished
an impressive 5th ahead of another seasoned Formula BWM Asia driver, You
Kyoung-Ouk (Team E-Rain) of Korea. Ricciardo's result puts him third in the
Rookie Cup standings and 5th overall in the driver championship. Other BMW
Juniors Grunwell (17) and Dominic Storey (16/NZL/Eurasia Motorsport) 16, were
6th and 7th respectively in just their second Formula BMW Asia outing. Aaron
Lim, the final BMW Junior and embarking on his second season this weekend, was
8th overall, but had struggled with set up all week.

Off the grid for the 10-lap race at the 5.6km Sepang International Circuit, it
was Abay who roared away with pole man Grunwell left behind. However, it was
Al Fardan, starting from 5th, who shot off the grid, dived down the inside and
was up to 2nd at turn one. From there, he was on the charge to Abay, catching
the youngster and grabbing the lead he was to keep to the chequered flag.
Bamber and Ricciardo were dicing for 2nd and 3rd spot, with Grunwell in 5th,
until Bamber, like Al Fardan and Abay in front of him, pulled out a gap from
the chasing field and began to close in on Abay. With three laps to go, Bamber
had his sights firmly set on 2nd, making a clean and decisive move on Abay
which unfortunately he was unable to complete, dropping him back to third.
Said Bamber: "That was a hairy moment when I passed Sam. It might work next
time!"

Although Al Fardan had originally planned to only compete in the opening rounds
of this year's season, he is now contemplating a full-time return: "It all
went perfectly to plan today, just as it did yesterday. I pushed Sam until he
made a mistake. I believe I'm driving better than I was last year - I have
more confidence and myself and the team are working really well together."

Abay was understandably thrilled to be on the podium for a second time at the
Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix, but almost lost for words when BMW Sauber
Formula 1 Team's Jacque Villeneuve appeared to present the trophies: "This is
almost a dream come true for me. We're looking good for the year and I'm
excited, although there's a lot more left in me. As a BMW Junior, I'm still
developing and there's definitely more to come."

BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen: "Again, Formula BMW has proved to be
the benchmark in motor sport's entry-level categories. We saw very strong and
clean racing this weekend with stunning manoeuvres. Congratulations to the
winner of the first two rounds, Hamed Al Fardan."

As part of the comprehensive, season-long Education & Coaching Programme in
which each BMW Junior participates, the youngsters were yesterday given a tour
of the BMW Sauber F1 Team garage, had the chance to meet and ask questions of
Nick Heidfeld, and given a technical briefing on the state-of-the-art Formula
One car.

Rounds 4, 3 & 5 of Formula BMW Asia will be held at Sepang International
Circuit on May 13-14.

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2006
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 the FIA 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 2006, 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,
Christian Klien and Nico Rosberg.

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."

From 13th to 16th December 2005 the Bahrain International Circuit hosted the
first Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional
Formula BMW series competed against each other. The winner Marco Holzer will
get a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

Round 2 Results.
POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time
1 38 Hamad AL FARDAN (BRN) Team Meritus 22:15.151
2 98 Sam ABAY (AUS) Team E-Rain) +3.114
3 78 •Earl BAMBER (NZL) Team Meritus +4.807
4 61 #YOU Kyoung Ouk (KOR) Team E-Rain +7.405
5 3 *•Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS) Eurasia Motorsport +8.154
6 68 *•James GRUNWELL (THA) Team Meritus +8.352
7 10 *•Dominic STOREY (NZL) Eurasia Motorsport +16.772
8 2 *Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) Eurasia Motorsport +18.372
9 25 Zahir ALI (INA) Eurasia Motorsport +24.832
10 8 #Mikko Petteri NASSI (MAS) Mikko Petteri Nassi +29.211
11 22 •Aditya AKKINENI (IND) Team E-Rain +29.284
12 28 •Rayomand BANAJEE (IND) Privateer +46.335
13 5 Mohammed AL BAHARNA (BRN) Team E-Rain 1 Lap
14 88 •Ala'a KAYAL (KSA) Team Meritus 1 Lap
*Scholarship driver
•Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Pole Position: James Grunwell/Team Meritus/2:11.804
Fastest Lap: James Grunwell/Team Meritus/2:12.088/Lap 6

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 2.
1. Hamed Al Fardan (BRN/Team Meritus) 40 points; 2. Sam Abay (AUS/Team E-Rain)
28 points; 3. James Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus) 24 points; 4. Earl Bamber
(NZL/Team Meritus) 22 points; 5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport) 18
points; 6. Dominic Storey (NZL/Eurasia Motorsport) 12 points; 7. Aaron Lim
(MAS/Eurasia Motorsport) 6 points; 8. Aditya Akkineni (IND/Team E-Rain) 5
points; 9. Mohammed Al Baharna (BRN/Team E-Rain) 4 points; 10. Zahir Ali
(INA/Eurasia Motorsport) 4 points; 11. Rayomand Banajee (IND/Privateer) 1
point.

Rookie Cup Points Standings after Round 2.
1. Earl Bamber 35 points; 2. James Grunwell 32 points; 3. Daniel Ricciardo 27
points; 4. Dominic Storey 20 points; 5. Aditya Akkineni 16 points.

Statistics:
Winners 2006: Al Fardan (2)
Pole Positions: Abay (1); Grunwell (1)
Podiums: Al Fardan (2); Grunwell (1); Abay (2); Bamber (1)
Championship Points: 1. Al Fardan (40); 2. Abay (28); 3. Grunwell (24)
Rookie Cup Winners: Grunwell (1), Bamber (1)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Bamber (35); 2. Grunwell (32); 3. Ricciardo (27)