Formula BMW Asia - Rounds 9,10 & 11 - Sentul / Indonesia - Preview

Indonesian motorsport back on track as Formula BMW Asia makes debut.

Citeureup Bogor, Indonesia - When Indonesia became the first Asian nation to
host a round of the prestigious FIA World Rally Championship in 1996, the
country's future motorsport aspirations looked promising. However, the
crushing effects of the Asian financial crisis shortly thereafter hit the sport
hard, as it did in many neighbouring countries.

However, interest in the sport amongst the vast population of 242 million lived
on and, with improving economic conditions, motor racing is once again
beginning to flourish. It is timely then that the region's premier single
seater series makes its Indonesian debut this season.
According to local Formula BMW Asia driver Zahir Ali (18/Eurasia Motorsport),
the arrival of the A1 Grand Prix in Indonesia last February, which featured
home-grown racing hero Ananda Mikola, represented a watershed for the sport.
Says Ali: "There is suddenly a lot more interest in motorsport from the public
as well as commercial organisations since that event. Thousands of people came
to Sentul Circuit and they saw an Indonesian competitor in an international
event. The whole town was empty as everyone was at the track. It has had an
extraordinary impact on the country, and already a lot more youngsters have
taken up karting."

Ali is one young driver who is representative of the future of the sport in
Indonesia. Competing in his first full season of car racing this year, he is
following a family tradition. Ali's father was a keen motorcycle racer while
both his elder brothers have raced, Ferhan competing internationally in
karts and Meckel racing in Asian Formula 2000 in 2001 and 2002. Ali began
karting at the age of eight, competing first at home and winning the domestic
national karting championship twice, Ali clinched the Asian Kart Open
Championship in 2003, taking the Malaysian Kart Open and Philippine Shell Kart
Open titles the same year. Impressive results in Italy, the World Cup in
Suzuka and in Malaysia followed, with Ali winning the Asian Open Championship
in Macau last year.

At the recommendation of his brother, Ali chose Formula BMW Asia with which to
step up to single seaters at the start of this season and admits he has found
the transition a real test: "It is a big challenge to make the switch. It's
more tiring that karting, both mentally and physically, and of course I've had
to get used to the car. I believe mental and physical consistency is crucial
to success in this series. It's not enough to be brave - anyone can be that.
You need to use your brain."

On hand to guide Ali , along with fellow Eurasia Motorsport team principals
Mark Goddard and Martin Quick, is Piers Hunnisett. Hunnisett, who has been
working in Indonesia since 1995, helped steer Mikola to Formula 3 and Euro
F3000, and has played a significant role in the careers of are number of top
drivers including Narain Karthikeyan, Nicola Kiesa and Alex Yoong.

The Briton believes Ali has a great deal of potential: "Ali is leading the
way, along with BMW and Eurasia Motorsport, for other Indonesians to follow.
We believe the upcoming rounds provide Ali and Formula BMW Asia with a
tremendous opportunity to showcase the ideal next step to the large number of
young karters in the country, as well as to demonstrate to companies the
commercial benefits of involvement in such a prestigious series."

Rather than regarding the inevitable attention he will receive at his "home"
event as an added pressure, Ali believes this will spur him on to perform
well: "I hope I have a lot of support for the races. I have loads of friends
in the karting community, so I hope they'll all be there to cheer me on!" Ali
is currently 8th in the championship standings, with his best finish so far in
Malaysia in May when he just missed out on a podium place.

Going in to Round 9, it is Australian Sam Abay (18/Team E-Rain) who currently
leads the championship having won the last three rounds in Beijing in
spectacular style. Rookie Earl Bamber of New Zealand (15/Team Meritus), who
was the dominant driver in Malaysia in May, also taking three successive wins,
is just 26 points behind, followed by the four BMW Juniors: James Grunwell of
Thailand (17/Team Meritus), Daniel Ricciardo of Australia (16/Eurasia
Motorsport), Dominic Storey of New Zealand (16/Eurasia Motorsport), and Aaron
Lim of Malaysia (20/Eurasia Motorsport).

Completed in 1994, the sweeping 3.9km Sentul Circuit is in stark contrast to
Beijing's tight and twisty Goldenport Track, and it will be interesting to see
how quickly the drivers adapt.
In 2006, Formula BMW Asia includes 19 rounds, with the opening two rounds
Official support races to the 2006 Formula 1TM Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix in
March. Three further rounds in Malaysia followed in May, then it was on to
China's capital Beijing. Following the Indonesian event, the series travels to
Bira Circuit in Thailand, before returning to China for the 2006 Formula 1TM
Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix.
Qualifying and Round 9 of Formula BMW Asia will be held on Saturday, July 22,
with Rounds 10 and 11 the following day.

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.
Statistics:
Winners 2006: Al Fardan (2); Earl Bamber (3); Sam Abay (3)
Pole Positions: Bamber (3); Abay (4); Grunwell (1);
Podiums: Abay (8); Bamber (5); Grunwell (4); Al Fardan (2); Ricciardo (4);
Storey (1)
Championship Points: 1. Abay (130); 2. Bamber (104); 3. Grunwell (90)
Rookie Cup Winners: Bamber (5); Grunwell (1); Storey (1) Ricciardo (1)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Bamber (125); 2. Ricciardo (114); 3. Grunwell (111)

Press Contact:
Nikki Kemp, Mobile +(852) 9104 6109, nikki@prplus.com.hk
Further information on Formula BMW Asia www.press.bmw.com