Formula BMW Asia - Rounds 17-19 - Zhuhai - Preview

Three-way title chase in final showdown.

Preview
Rounds 17, 18 and 19
Zhuhai International Circuit, China
October 21-22, 2006

Zhuhai, China - All eyes will be on Zhuhai International Circuit this weekend
as Formula BMW Asia makes its South China debut for what promises to be a
thrilling championship-decider.

Australian Sam Abay (19/Team E-Rain) leads the Driver Classification going in
to the final three rounds of the 2006 season, with New Zealand Rookie Earl
Bamber (16/Team Meritus) hot on his heels just 16 points behind. The pair took
a win apiece in Shanghai earlier this month, where Formula BMW Asia was an
official support race to the 2006 Formula 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix, but it
is Bamber who has scored more wins this year with seven victories to Abay's
five. However, three single-digit points scoring outings this season were a
real blow to Bamber's title aspirations, but he fought back hard to stay in
contention.

Another driver in with a chance of clinching the title at the weekend is BMW
Junior Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport). Ricciardo lies 56 points
behind Abay, but with a potential 63 points to be won over the three rounds
(including the additional point awarded for pole position), he is still in with
a mathematical chance of taking the title.

Out of the running for the Driver Classification, but in with a shot at the
Rookie Cup is Formula BMW Asia Junior James Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus).
Bamber currently tops the Rookie leaderboard ahead of Ricciardo, with Grunwell
3rd.

Sadly, it looks as though two drivers who have seen enormous improvement in
their performance in the last few rounds will run out of races in which to show
their true potential. Formula BMW Asia Juniors and Eurasia Motorsport team
mates Aaron Lim (21/MAS), 5th in the Driver Classification, and Dominic Storey
(16/NZL), 6th, have each notched up two podium finishes over the last four
rounds and are looking ripe for a win. Lim struggled with his car at the
start of the season before a replacement saw a change in fortunes, while for
Storey, a bout of food poisoning in Indonesia in July resulted in a disastrous
weekend where he collected just six points in three races.

Qualifying and Round 17 of Formula BMW Asia will be held on Saturday, October
21 at the Zhuhai International Circuit, with Round 18 and 19, the final race of
the 2006 season, run on Sunday, October 22.

Following what promises to be an exciting grand finale to the 2006 season, a
group of young karters, as well as media guests, from the surrounding regions
of China will be given their first taste Formula BMW Asia at the track on
Monday. The Formula BMW Experience Day has become a popular feature, and
provides potential drivers with a full overview of the series and an
opportunity to actually get behind the wheel of the FB02.

Always looking ahead, Formula BMW Asia is already prepared for its 5th season,
and the teams recently announced a 22-race, six-event standard season package
for 130,000 US-Dollars, representing a cost of less than 6000 US-Dollars per
race.

The provisional calendar for 2007 features four races per weekend, plus two
rounds held as official support events to the 2007 Formula 1™ Sinopec Chinese
Grand Prix in Shanghai. The season will get underway in May following an
official introductory test the previous month, and will see Formula BMW Asia
travel to Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia, with three meetings in China: In
Beijing, Shanghai and Zhuhai. Five of the six events will be held as part of
the Asian Festival of Speed.

BMW Motorsport has also confirmed five Scholarships will be up for grabs for
next season, each worth 50,000 US-Dollars, including a 10,000 US-Dollar credit
for a spare engine and spare parts. BMW Scholarship winners also have the
benefit of a full year in the comprehensive Education and Coaching Programme
free of charge, and the trials to find Asia's brightest talent will be held at
the beginning of March 2007. One Scholarship will automatically be awarded to
the winner of this season's Rookie Cup.

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 16.
1. Sam Abay (AUS/Team E-Rain) 244 points; 2. Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus) 228
points; 3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport) 185 points; 4. James
Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus) 148 points; 5. Aaron Lim (MAS/Eurasia Motorsport)
122 points; 6. Dominic Storey (NZL/Eurasia Motorsport) 110 points; 7. Zahir Ali
(INA/Eurasia Motorsport) 85 points; 8. Mohammed Al Baharna (BRN/Team E-Rain) 72
points; 9. Aditya Akkineni (IND/Team E-Rain) 50 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 16.
1. Earl Bamber 255 points; 2. Daniel Ricciardo 223 points; 3. James Grunwell
210 points; 4. Dominic Storey 164 points; 5. Aditya Akkineni 146 points.

Statistics:
Winners 2006: Al Fardan (2); Earl Bamber (7); Sam Abay (5); Ricciardo (2)
Pole Positions: Bamber (7); Abay (6); Grunwell (1); Ricciardo (2)
Podiums: Abay (15); Bamber (11); Grunwell (6); Al Fardan (2); Ricciardo (9);
Storey (3); Lim (2)
Championship Points: 1. Abay (244); 2. Bamber (228); 3. Ricciardo (185)
Rookie Cup Winners: Bamber (10); Grunwell (2); Storey (1) Ricciardo (3)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Bamber (255); 2. Ricciardo (223); 3. Grunwell (210)

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 DELL 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.