Beijing - Race - Al Fardan Bags China WinHamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus), 18, ensured it was an all-Bahraini affair in Beijing this weekend by taking victory in Round 8 of Formula BMW Asia at the 2.4km Goldenport Circuit in China's Capital city. Second was team mate, BMW Junior and Rookie Michael Patrizi (AUS), with fellow Junior An Suk Won (KOR/Team E-Rain) spectacularly taking the first Formula BMW Asia podium of his career.
Al Fardan had finished second to fellow countryman and series leader Salman Al Khalifa (Team E-Rain) in the previous round earlier in the day, while Patrizi's time penalty had cost him victory in that race. But it was An, who had shown remarkable improvement all week, who was savouring his moment on the podium most.
Al Khalifa remains at the top of the leaderboard, but his advantage over the new second-placed man, Al Fardan, is only 14 points. Exciting young BMW Junior and Rookie, 16, Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) is now third in the championship classification.
Said an emotional An after the trophy presentation: "I'm really happy - I almost cried after the race. I made quite a lot of mistakes in previous rounds, and here I made mistakes in practice, but after that it all came together. The next rounds (in Korea) are going to be the most important ones for me. I can't make any plans for those right now as I'm just overwhelmed."
Pole-man Al Khalifa led the field off the grid, and was on a charge to the chequered flag until he was handed a drive-through penalty for a jump start, which dashed his chances of a podium finish. The top four held their positions on the drying track until the closing stages of the race when Patrizi grabbed the lead, only to have it snatched back by a determined Al Fardan just a moment later.
Teenager Ebrahim was 3rd place Rookie finisher, and 4th overall, setting the fastest lap of the race. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) still tops the Rookie Cup leaderboard after 8 rounds, despite not finishing the race. Ebrahim has closed the gap to Charlez to just five points, while Patrizi trails the Indian by only eight.
Formula BMW Asia now heads to South Korea's Taebaek Circuit for Rounds 9 and 10 on August 6 and 7.
Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005 the series will be held in Germany, Britain, 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 by far the 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 2005, 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 and Christian Klien.
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."
In December 2005 the Bahrain International Circuit will host the first Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series will compete against each other. The winner will get a Formula One test drive.
Round 8 Results.POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time1 38 Hamed AL FARDAN (BAH) Team Meritus 22:20.1882 29 ?*Michael Tony PATRIZI (AUS) Team Meritus 22:20.8603 61 ?*AN Suk-Won (KOR) Team E-Rain 22:27.1004 17 ?*Armaan EBRAHIM (IND) Team E-Rain 22:27.3715 2 ?Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) Minardi Team Asia 22:36.6286 68 *Robert BOUGHEY (THA) Team Meritus 22:36.6777 4 ?Dejan de ZOYSA (SRI) Minardi Team Asia 22:46.2788 22 Jonathan CHAN (HKG) Minardi Team Asia 22:56.9309 7 Salman Rashid AL KHALIFA (BAH) Team E-Rain 22:57.72610 18 #XU Jia (CHN) Team Meritus 23:13.35811 23 #AO Chi Hong (MAC) Ao's Racing Team 1 lap12 9 ?*WANG Jian-Wei (CHN) Ao's Racing Team 9 lapsDNF 88 ?Charlie-Ro CHARLEZ (MAS) Team Meritus DNF*Scholarship driver?Rookie Cup# Non-Series Registered
Fastest lap: Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 01:06.180
Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 8:1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 110 points, 2.Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 96, 3.Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 80 points, 4. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 77 points, 5. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 67 points, 6.Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 64 points, 7. An Suk-Won (KOR/Team E-Rain) 52 points, 8. Aaron Lim (MAS/Minardi Team Asia) 44 points, 9. Dejan de Zoysa (SRI/Minardi Team Asia) 17 points, 10.Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao's Racing Team) 14 points,11. Mitsunobu Endo (JPN/Team Meritus) 13 points, 12. Jonathan Chan (HKG/Minardi Team Asia) 13 points.
Rookie Cup Standings after Round 8:1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 114 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 109 points, 3. Michael Patrizi 101 points, 4. An Suk Won 85 points, 5. Aaron Lim 69 points, 6. Wang Jian-Wei 44 points, 7. Dejan de Zoysa 40 points.
Statistics
Winners 2005: Al Khalifa (4), Boughey (1), Ebrahim (1), Al Fardan (2)
Pole Positions: Al Khalifa (7), Michael Patrizi (1)
Podiums: Al Khalifa (6), Charlez (4), Boughey (2), Al Baharna (1), Patrizi (4), Al Fardan (5), Ebrahim (1), An Suk Won (1)
Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 110 points, 2.Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 96, 3.Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 80 points, 4. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 77 points, 5. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 67 points
Rookie Cup Winners: Charlez (3), Ebrahim (2) Patrizi (3)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 114 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 109 points, 3. Michael Patrizi 101 points
