Formula BMW Asia - Round 15 Shanghai - Race

Bamber clinches Shanghai victory.

Round 15
Shanghai International Circuit, China

Shanghai, China - Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus) denied series-leader Sam Abay
(AUS/Team E-Rain) a birthday win today, with a mature and measured manoeuvre
which gave him the lead from the pole-sitter in the early stages of the 10-lap
race. BMW Junior Dominic Storey (NZL/Eurasia Motorsport) took his second
podium in as many races to finish 3rd.
Abay had to settle for second place, but that result earned him enough points
to retain his place at the top of the leaderboard, but his margin over Bamber
is reduced from 14 to just 10 points, with four rounds still to go. BMW Junior
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport, who finished 4th, remains 3rd in the
points. In the Rookie Cup standings, Bamber's win strengthens his lead at the
top of the table, 27 points in front of Ricciardo.

Abay got away well from pole, but Bamber was on a charge from the offset. He
got a good tow behind the Australian on the long straight, made his move and
never looked back, pulling out a more than two second gap by the flag. Storey
and Ricciardo switched places several times in the early stages, but the Kiwi
triumphed and had also pulled a comfortable lead from his fellow Junior by the
end of the race, even closing in on Abay at one stage.

Further back, however, an exciting duel ensued between Zahir Ali (INA/Eurasia
Motorsport) and BMW Junior James Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus). Although
Grunwell did his best to hold off the Indonesian, a persistent Ali eventually
triumphed. Grunwell later spun on the treacherously slippery wet track,
allowing series newcomer and Formula BMW USA Maxime Pelletier through to finish
8th in his debut Asian series race. Ali, meanwhile, took the chase to Mohammed
Al Baharna (BRN/Team E-Rain), with just 0.089 seconds between the pair at the
flag.

Said Bamber: "I got a good start, but it was difficult as we've never done one
in the wet before. The track was wet, but the braking zone was dry, so I was
quite confident. We're further back for tomorrow, but the championship is
getting closer and closer."
Storey had an eventful race, but couldn't hide is absolute delight at being on
the podium at a Formula 1 Grand Prix: "It was awesome! To hear the New
Zealand National Anthem play (for Bamber) was fantastic. (BMW Sauber F1 test
driver) Sebastian Vettel presented the trophies...everything was just great.
This has given me more confidence in myself and in the car."

Abay, meanwhile, was far from satisfied, conscious that his grip on the title
is slipping, saying: "I'm not in this to come second. I'm in it to win!"
After the race, the four BMW Juniors met with Vettel for a question and answer
session in the paddock.
Round 16 of Formula BMW Asia will be held prior to the start of the Formula 1™
Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix.

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 15.
1. Sam Abay (AUS/Team E-Rain) 223 points; 2. Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus) 213
points; 3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport) 173 points; 4. James
Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus) 144 points; 5. Aaron Lim (MAS/Eurasia Motorsport)
114 points; 6. Dominic Storey (NZL/Eurasia Motorsport) 100 points; 7. Zahir Ali
(INA/Eurasia Motorsport) 79 points; 8. Mohammed Al Baharna (BRN/Team E-Rain) 68
points; 9. Aditya Akkineni (IND/Team E-Rain) 47 points; 10. Hamed Al Fardan
(BRN/Team Meritus) 40 points; 11. Hafiz bin Helmi (SIN/Team Meritus) 9 points;
12. Rayomand Banajee (IND/Privateer) 1 point.

Rookie Cup Points Standings after Round 15.
1. Earl Bamber 235 points; 2. Daniel Ricciardo 208 points; 3. James Grunwell
200 points; 4. Dominic Storey 152 points; 5. Aditya Akkineni 138 points.

Statistics:
Winners 2006: Al Fardan (2); Earl Bamber (7); Sam Abay (4); Ricciardo (2)
Pole Positions: Bamber (7); Abay (6); Grunwell (1); Ricciardo (2)
Podiums: Abay (14); Bamber (10); Grunwell (6); Al Fardan (2); Ricciardo (8);
Storey (3); Lim (2)
Championship Points: 1. Abay (223); 2. Bamber (213); 3. Ricciardo (173)
Rookie Cup Winners: Bamber (9); Grunwell (2); Storey (1) Ricciardo (3)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Bamber (235); 2. Ricciardo (208); 3. Grunwell (200)

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.