Formula BMW Asia - Round 5 - Malaysia

Bamber unbeatable in Malaysia.

Round 5
Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia
May 14, 2006

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Fifteen-year-old sensation Earl Bamber (NZL/Team
Meritus) proved unbeatable in Malaysia this weekend, winning his third race in
a row with victory in Round 5 of Formula BMW Asia. The Kiwi Rookie didn't put
a wheel wrong throughout the 10-lap race, crossing the line with a comfortable
margin of more than four seconds from 2nd place finisher, Sam Abay (AUS/Team
E-Rain). Third was BMW Junior Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport)
scoring his first podium of the season.

Second BMW Junior finisher was Dominic Storey (NZL/Eurasia Motorsport), who
finished 5th overall, followed by James Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus) who, having
started 2nd on the grid eventually finished 6th after a disappointing outing.

Bamber's win gives him an 18 point lead at the top of the Championship
standings ahead of Abay, who moves into second place seven points in front of
Grunwell. In the Rookie Cup Classification, Bamber is currently 23 points
ahead of Grunwell, with Ricciardo 3rd.

Off the grid, Bamber got away well once again from pole, while Ricciardo was on
a charge and up to 3rd from 5th on the grid by the second lap behind Abay and
ahead of Storey and Grunwell. Disaster struck for Grunwell on lap five however
when a spin put him down to 7th behind Malaysian hope Aaron Lim (Eurasia
Motorsport). Zahir Ali (INA/Eurasia Motorsport) meanwhile had been closing in
on Storey and finally made his move into 4th on the fifth lap. Although he had
insufficient time to close the gap to Ricciardo, he set the fastest lap of the
race and it is only a matter of time before the Indonesian takes his first
podium finish.

Said Ricciardo: "I got a good start and it was very tight into the first two
turns. I dropped to 5th after there was a bit of contact and stayed there for
that lap. I passed Dominic and James at the same time and then tried to catch
Sam, but his pace was very good. I focussed on what was going on in front and
not the guys behind me."

Rounds 6, 7 and 8 of Formula BMW Asia will be held at Beijing's Goldenport
from June 9 to 11.

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 5 Results.
POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time
1 78 •Earl BAMBER (NZL) Team Meritus 22:25.426
2 98 Sam ABAY (AUS) Team E-Rain) 22.29.670
3 3 *•Daniel RICCIARDO (AUS) Eurasia Motorsport 22:32.011
4 25 Zahir ALI (INA) Eurasia Motorsport 22:33.873
5 10 *•Dominic STOREY (NZL) Eurasia Motorsport 22:38.331
6 68 *•James GRUNWELL (THA) Team Meritus 22:40.807
7 2 *Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) Eurasia Motorsport 22:40.995
8 5 Mohammed AL BAHARNA (BRN) Team E-Rain 22:47.651
9 22 •Aditya AKKINENI (IND) Team E-Rain 22:48.147

*Scholarship driver
•Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Pole Position: Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus)
Fastest Lap: Zahir Ali (INA/Eurasia Motorsport)/02:12.944/Lap 10

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 5.
1. Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus) 85 points; 2. Sam Abay (AUS/Team E-Rain) 67
points; 3. James Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus) 60 points; 4. Daniel Ricciardo
(AUS/Eurasia Motorsport) 48 points; 5. Hamed Al Fardan (BRN/Team Meritus) 40
points; 6. Dominic Storey (NZL/Eurasia Motorsport) 38 points; 7. Zahir Ali
(INA/Eurasia Motorsport) 26 points; 8. Aaron Lim (MAS/Eurasia Motorsport) 18
points; 9. Mohammed Al Baharna (BRN/Team E-Rain) 12 points; 10. Aditya Akkineni
(IND/Team E-Rain) 12 points; 11. Rayomand Banajee (IND/Privateer) 1 point.

Rookie Cup Points Standings after Round 5.
1. Earl Bamber 95 points; 2. James Grunwell 72 points; 3. Daniel Ricciardo 64
points; 4. Dominic Storey 54 points; 5. Aditya Akkineni 40 points.

Statistics:
Winners 2006: Al Fardan (2); Earl Bamber (3)
Pole Positions: Bamber (3); Abay (1); Grunwell (1);
Podiums: Abay (5); Bamber (4); Grunwell (3); Al Fardan (2); Ricciardo (1)
Championship Points: 1. Bamber (85); 2. Abay (67); 3. Grunwell (60)
Rookie Cup Winners: Bamber (4); Grunwell (1)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Bamber (95); 2. Grunwell (72); 3. Ricciardo (64)