Formula BMW Asia - Bumper entry for Formula BMW Asia 2007 scholarship trials.

Sakhir, Bahrain - More than 20 fledgling racing drivers will meet at the BMW
Performance Centre in Bahrain this weekend for one of the first major contests
of their motorsport careers, and a chance to earn one of five coveted Formula
BMW Asia Scholarships.

The youngsters are all aged between 15 and 20, and hail from every corner of
the Asia Pacific Region and beyond.

From Southeast Asia come Kanit Kuevibulvanich of Thailand, Kim Jun-Tae of
Korea, and three entries from Indonesia; Ryan Monoarfa, Ryan Haryanto and Kenny
Kartasasmita.

Chinese hopefuls David Zhu, the youngest participant at just 15, and Lin
Ping-Yung join Fung Kin Hei, Ross Jamison and Kalson Chan from the Hong Kong
SAR.

The two Japanese entries are Ryuichi Nara and Shohei Shiromoto, while Omer
Younas is the sole contender from Pakistan.

No doubt hoping to follow in the footsteps of 2006 Formula BMW Asia Champion
Earl Bamber, fellow Kiwi and New Zealand kart Champion Ben Dallas will be
trying his luck this weekend. Formula BMW Asia organisers recently held an
evaluation of 15 competitors there with the co-operation and assistance of BMW
New Zealand, and in partnership with the CIK Trophy of New Zealand presented by
Karcher. Dallas (16) impressed the selectors to such an extent that he was
chosen to participate in the scholarship trials with all expenses paid by BMW
New Zealand.

Testament to the rapid development of the world's second most populous country
and also perhaps as a result of its Formula 1 aspirations, India has four
entrants. It is likely that Daanish Dalal, Akhil Khushlani, Cchiranjeev
R.bedi, and MV Hariprasad have been inspired by the success of fellow
countrymen Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok, and Armaan Ebrahim who shone
during his Formula BMW Asia season in 2005, and is now also well on the way to
a successful international career.

Several of the drivers hail from outside the Asia Pacific region, with
Slovenian Dejan Milavec, American Johnson MacKenzie, and South Africans Alex
Jacovides and Kyle Mitchell, all hoping to clinch a sought-after scholarship,
each of which includes a 50.000 USD cash contribution to the cost of a full
season in Formula BMW Asia (with10.000 USD earmarked for parts), plus free
participation in the proven, season-long BMW Education & Coaching Programme
(E&C).
The wide-ranging BMW E&C programme is the most professional of its kind
available in the region, and utilises the expertise of BMW Motorsport in all
areas, including driving instruction, technical knowledge, fitness and
nutrition, media training, and sports management. All the tools a young driver
needs to reach the very top of the sport.

The Scholarship Qualifying will include both theory and practical sessions,
during which drivers will be assessed by a team of BMW Motorsport professionals.

As the series gears up for its fifth successful season, Malaysia's PETRONAS
recently announced the three drivers who will compete in Formula BMW Asia this
season following the conclusion of the inaugural PETRONAS Formula Xperience
(PFX). Launched in May 2006, the PETRONAS PFX Racing School is a driver
development programme developed by PETRONAS through its association as Premium
Partner to the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

Malaysians Melvin Moh Chun-Ho (18), Imran Zaharias Bin Shaharom (18), and Johan
Bin Adzmi (17) were selected based on the total points accumulated over the
eight PFX training session held from June to December 2006, and each will
receive a scholarship from PETRONAS to contest a full season of Formula BMW
Asia.

The three will be racing with a new Formula BMW Asia team, Team Holzer PFX,
managed by Günther and Ronald Holzer, whose Holzer Motorsport has experience in
a number of European and North American racing series, including Formula BMW
Germany.

As the young hopefuls demonstrate their skill and potential in the hope of
securing a Formula BMW Asia scholarship in Bahrain this weekend, and teams and
drivers across the region put the finishing touches to their seasons, so too
are some of last season's series graduates.

Australian teenager Sam Abay, runner-up in the drivers' championship last year,
recently announced he make the move to Europe and will drive for Team Loctite
in the 2007 Formula BMW UK Championship, while 2003 Asian champion and 2006
German F3 Champion, Ho-Pin Tung, recently gave China its first A1GP podium
finish.

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In
2007 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 2007, Formula BMW will be staged four 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 Sebastian Vettel, Timo
Glock, Adrian Sutil 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 Valencia hosted the second Formula BMW World
Final. 37 young racing drivers from the four international Formula BMW series
competed against each other. The winner Christian Vietoris will get a test
drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.