Formula BMW Asia - Round 3 - Malaysia

Quick Kiwi dominates.

Round 3
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
May 13, 2006

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Pole sitter and Rookie Earl Bamber (NZL/Team
Meritus) took a dominant lights-to-flag victory in Round 3 of Formula BMW Asia
today at Malaysia's 5.54km Sepang International Circuit. The 15-year-old Kiwi
had built up a margin of 5.539 seconds by the flag over second placed driver,
team mate and BMW Junior James Grunwell (THA). Third was Sam Abay (AUS/Team
E-Rain), who has impressively notched up three podium finishes in as many races.

After Grunwell, who also finished 2nd in the opening round of the season in
March, the top BMW Junior finishers were another Kiwi, 16-year-old Dominic
Storey (Eurasia Motorsport), and team mate Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), also 16, who
were 4th and 5th respectively.
Bamber finished 4th and 3rd in Rounds 1 and 2 respectively, and his victory
puts him at the top of the championship leaderboard, three points ahead of Abay
on 40, level with Hamad Al Fardan (BRN/Team Meritus) who is not racing this
weekend. Grunwell is 4th on 39 points. Bamber also strengthens his hold on
the Rookie Cup standings with 55 points.

At the start of Round 3, Bamber got away well and didn't look back. Grunwell
was also quick off the grid, but it was Storey who stole the march on Abay and
Zahir Ali (INA/Eurasia Motorsport) to make up two places into third. Storey
held his own until mid-way through the race when he got stuck in 4th gear and
Abay was upon him, grabbing back the final podium place.

As Bamber and Grunwell pulled away, it was wheel-to-wheel dicing between first
Storey and Ali until Ricciardo joined the fray and the Eurasia Motorsport trio
produced some thrillingly exciting - yet clean - racing. Ricciardo admitted
later: "It may have look like I was speeding up, but actually they (Storey and
Ali) were so caught up in their battle, I was able to catch them." While Ali
was concentrating on passing Storey, Ricciardo saw an opportunity in the
closing stages of the race, grabbed the chance and charged by to finish 5th at
the chequered flag.

It wasn't a good day for Malaysian hope, Aaron Lim (Eurasia Motorsport). The
talented youngster could only manage 7th, behind Ali, and has yet to show what
he is capable of. No doubt Lim will be hoping everything will come together
for tomorrow's two, 10-lap races in front of his home crowd.

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 24th to 26th November 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. The
winner will get a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

Round 3 Results.
POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time
1 78 •Earl BAMBER (NZL) Team Meritus 22:18.822
2 68 *•James GRUNWELL (THA) Team Meritus 22:24.361
3 98 Sam ABAY (AUS) Team E-Rain) 22:26.514
4 10 *•Dominic STOREY (NZL) Eurasia Motorsport 22:32.810
5 3 *•Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS) Eurasia Motorsport 22:34.226
6 25 Zahir ALI (INA) Eurasia Motorsport 22:34.682
7 2 *Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) Eurasia Motorsport 22:41.998
8 22 •Aditya AKKINENI (IND) Team E-Rain 22:42.828
9 5 Mohammed AL BAHARNA (BRN) Team E-Rain 22:48.718

*Scholarship driver
•Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Pole Position: Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus)/02:12.215
Fastest Lap: Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus)/02:12.861

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 3.
1. Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus) 43 points; 2. Sam Abay (AUS/Team E-Rain) 40
points; 3. Hamed Al Fardan (BRN/Team Meritus) 40 points; 4. James Grunwell
(THA/Team Meritus) 39 points; 5. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport) 26
points; 6. Dominic Storey (NZL/Eurasia Motorsport) 22 points; 7. Zahir Ali
(INA/Eurasia Motorsport) 10 points; 8. Aaron Lim (MAS/Eurasia Motorsport) 10
points; 9. Aditya Akkineni (IND/Team E-Rain) 8 points; 10. Mohammed Al Baharna
(BRN/Team E-Rain) 6 points; 11. Rayomand Banajee (IND/Privateer) 1 point.

Rookie Cup Points Standings after Round 3.
1. Earl Bamber 55 points; 2. James Grunwell 47 points; 3. Daniel Ricciardo 37
points; 4. Dominic Storey 32 points; 5. Aditya Akkineni 24 points.

Statistics:
Winners 2006: Al Fardan (2); Earl Bamber (1)
Pole Positions: Abay (1); Grunwell (1); Bamber (1)
Podiums: Al Fardan (2); Grunwell (2); Abay (3); Bamber (2);
Championship Points: 1. Bamber (43), Abay (40, Al Fardan (40)
Rookie Cup Winners: Grunwell (1), Bamber (2)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Bamber (55); 2. Grunwell (47); 3. Ricciardo (37)