Malaysian Duo Gear Up for Home Event.
Sepang, Malaysia - Two Malaysian youngsters will be hoping for a good showing in front of their home crowds in the next two rounds of Formula BMW Asia to be held at Sepang International Circuit on May 14 and 15 as part of the Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS).
Nineteen-year-old hot shot Charlie-Ro Charlez (Team Meritus) will be joined by series newcomer and Malaysian karting ace Aaron Lim (also 19), who is the latest addition to Minardi Team Asia.
Charlez who, unlike many of his fellow drivers, does not have a background in karting, was nothing short of phenomenal in the opening rounds in Bahrain last month, with a second place finish in his first ever Formula BMW Asia race. After two rounds, he tops the Rookie Cup standings and lies third overall in the championship race.
Fellow countryman Lim was Malaysian Junior Karting Champion in 1999, twice- Malaysian Karting Open Champion in 2002 and 2004, has won two rounds of the Asian Karting Championship, and qualified 13th overall in last year's World Karting Championship.
The two youngsters will, however, have their work cut out if they plan to shine for their local fans in what is the most competitive field yet. Championship leader Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) was in scorching form in his home event last month, displaying exceptional skill and nerves of steel on his way to taking two pole positions, a victory and a second place in the opening rounds.
Right behind him on the leaderboard and equally determined take the 2005Championship title is Formula BMW Junior Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus). Boughey scored a long-overdue victory in Round 2, and will be looking for nothing less than a repeat in Malaysia.
In addition to Boughey, the four other Formula BMW Juniors are already proving exciting young drivers, with all of them in the top eight on the Championship leaderboard.
At just 15, Armaan Ebrahim (IND/E-Rain), fourth in the Championship, is quickly adapting to the new car, while Australian Michael Patrizi (Team Meritus) has a podium finish already under his belt. An Suk Won (KOR/E- Rain) and China's Wang Jian Wei, who is racing with series newcomers Ao's Racing Team, have also acquitted themselves well in the early stages of the season.
Rounds 3 and 4 of Formula BMW Asia will be run over 20 laps each on the shortened format of Sepang International Circuit.
Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 2 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 35 points, 2. Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 26 points, 3. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 25 points, 4. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/E-Rain) 20 points, 5. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 18 points, 6. An Suk-Won (KOR/E-Rain) 12 points, 7. Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 11 points, 8.Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao's Racing Team) 5 points, 9. Mitsunobu Endo (JPN/Team Meritus) 5 points, 10. Dejan de Zoysa (SRI/Minardi Team Asia) 5 points.
Rookie Cup Standings after Round 2 1.Charlie-Ro Charlez 35 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 32 points, 3. Michael Patrizi 25 points, 4. An Suk-Won 22 points, 5. Wang Jian-Wei 14 points, 6. Dejan de Zoysa 14 points.
Statistics Winners 2005: Al Khalifa (1), Boughey (1) Pole Positions: Al Khalifa (2) Podiums: Al Khalifa (2), Boughey (1), Al Baharna (1), Charlez (1), Patrizi (1)
Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 35 points, 2. Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 26 points, 3. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 25 points, 4. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 20 points, 5. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 18 points Rookie Cup Winners: Charlez (1), Ebrahim (1) Rookie Cup Points: 1.Charlie-Ro Charlez 35 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 32 points, 3. Michael Patrizi 25 points,
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