Asia Racing Team has announce that Yuichi Nakayama and Ryo Hirakawa willdrive for the team in the final races of the 2011 Formula BMW Pacific season in Okayamaand Macau.

Nakayama, who will make his Formula BMW race debut at the Okayama Circuit, wascrowned this year’s Formula Challenge Japan (FCJ) champion with two races to go, winningseven races out of nine.

Hirakawa is currently contesting the FCJ for the first time, having a third position in Fuji ashis best result. The 16 years old driver from Hiroshima is well known in the house. Hirakawatested Asia Racing Team’s Formula Renault 2.0 cars in the pre-season.

Commenting ahead of the weekend, Asia Racing Team’s Team Manager Philippe Descombes,said, “Yuichi and Ryo are both Formula BMW rookies, but the top drivers have theability to make a big impact immediately, as we have seen in the past with T.D.P.drivers. We know Ryo very well. He impressed us during his first visit to Zhuhailast winter. Yuichi results in Japan speak for themselves. We look forward toworking with them and are in no doubt that, in Yuichi and Ryo, we will have astrong driver pairing for the end of the season.”

The Formula BMW Pacific goes to Japan for two rounds at the Okayama International Circuiton October 28-30. The grand finale will be held at the Circuito da Guia in Macau onNovember 18-21.