Perfect pole record for Al Khalifa.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Bahrain's Salman Al Khalifa (Team E-Rain) continued his perfect record of four pole positions in four rounds, and renewed his vow to dominate this season's Formula BMW Asia. However, BMW Junior Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) is equally determined to take victory following his maiden win in Bahrain last month and was second quickest in qualifying for Round 4. Al Khalifa's fellow countryman and Boughey's Meritus team mate, Hamed Al Fardan was third quickest, but only a whisker separated the top six drivers.
Said Al Khalifa: "There was lots of traffic, which was a bit frustrating, but I got one lap together. I've been listening to my team, and in particular the advice of Andy Pardoe, and it all came together."
Fastest Rookie was 15-year-old Armaan Ebrahim who, a mere eight minutes before the end of the session, came in for a set up change and returned to the track for a final three laps. The BMW Junior beat Malaysia's Aaron Lim, who is making his race car debut this weekend, to fourth place literally in the closing seconds of the session.
It was a disappointing day for the Hong Kong drivers with Jonathan Chan (Minardi Team Asia) and Chia On (Ao's Racing Team) having to sit out the session after a fault on the circuit had damaged their cars during qualifying for Round 3. The session was halted following the incidents, but neither car could be repaired in time for the second session.
Round 4 of Formula BMW Asia will be held tomorrow over 20-laps of the Sepang International Circuit.
Round 4 Qualifying.
POS NO Driver/Nat Entrant Time
1 7 Salman Rashid AL KHALIFA (BAH) Team E-Rain 01:07.679
2 68 *Robert BOUGHEY (THA) Team Meritus 01:07.819
3 38 Hamed AL FARDAN (BAH) Team Meritus 01:07.913
4 17 *Armaan EBRAHIM + (IND) Team E-Rain 01:07.953
5 2 Aaron LIM + (MAS) Minardi Team Asia 01:07.960
6 29 *Michael Tony PATRIZI + (AUS) Team Meritus 01:07.963
7 88 Charlie-Ro CHARLEZ + (MAS) Team Meritus 01:08.007
8 61 *AN Suk-Won + (KOR) Team E-Rain 01:08.197
9 9 *WANG Jian-Wei + (CHN) Ao's Racing Team 01:08.847
10 4 Dejan de ZOYSA + (SRI) Minardi Team Asia 01:09.253
11 99 #SONG Ge (CHN) Ao's Racing Team 01:09.366
12 58 Mitsunobu ENDO (JPN) Team Meritus 01:10.424
DNQ 20 #CHIA On (HKG) Ao's Racing Team No time
DNQ 22 Jonathan CHAN (HKG) Minardi Team No time
*Scholarship driver
+Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered
Pole Position: Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 1:07.679/143.62kph
-www.press.bmw.com
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