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Thailand round 6 race notes

Racing series	FBMW-AP
Date	2005-06-13

One-Two Finish for Bahrain in Thailand



Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) got his championship bid right back on track today, taking a perfect pole to chequered flag victory in Round 6 of Formula BMW Asia. Right behind him in second was fellow countryman, and winner of the previous round, Hamed Al Fardan (Team Meritus), repeating the pair’s result in Round 3 in Malaysia in May. Third was BMW Junior, Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus), taking his second podium finish of the day.



The result strengthens Al Khalifa’s hold on the championship leaderboard, giving him a lead of 22 points over second-placed Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus), with Al Fardan just four points adrift of the Malaysian in third, replacing Thailand’s Robert Boughey (Team Meritus).

The weekend was a rollercoaster ride for Al Khalifa who had a disappointing qualifying session for Round 5, and failed to finish the race, took pole for Round 6 and didn’t put a wheel wrong.



The 20-lap race was certainly eventful, and sadly not one to remember for Boughey, Thailand’s only entry in the series. On the opening lap, Boughey got it badly wrong and hit the tyre wall while running in 5th. He emerged unhurt, but the red flag was brought out. At the re-start, Al Khalifa was once again away clear, and Al Fardan was unable to catch him despite his best efforts. Behind them, Patrizi took promising youngster and BMW Junior Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain), and held him off to the flag. Third fastest Rookie was Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus).



Rounds 7 and 8 of Formula BMW Asia will be held at Beijing’s Goldenport Circuit.

Round 6 Results.

1 7 Salman Rashid AL KHALIFA (BAH) Team E-Rain 17:12.582
2 38 Hamed AL FARDAN (BAH) Team Meritus +0.555
3 29 •*Michael Tony PATRIZI (AUS) Team Meritus +0.806
4 17 •*Armaan EBRAHIM (IND) Team E-Rain +1.070
5 88 •Charlie-Ro CHARLEZ (MAS) Team Meritus +11.044
6 2 •Aaron LIM Say Joon (MAS) Minardi Team Asia +11.361
7 61 •*AN Suk-Won (KOR) Team E-Rain +21.893
8 4 •Dejan de ZOYSA (SRI) Minardi Team Asia +24.061
9 22 Jonathan CHAN (HKG) Minardi Team Asia +50.682
10 58 Mitsunobu ENDO (JPN) Team Meritus +54.702
11 9 •*WANG Jian-Wei (CHN) Ao’s Racing Team 1 lap
DNF 68 *Robert BOUGHEY (THA) Team Meritus -
*Scholarship driver
•Rookie Cup
# Non-Series Registered

Fastest Lap: Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 1:01.841/139.713kph

Formula BMW Asia Points Standings after Round 6:

1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 88 points
2. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 65 points
3. Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 61
4. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 60 points
5. Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 52 points
6. Michael Patrizi (AUS/Team Meritus) 49 points
7. An Suk-Won (KOR/Team E-Rain) 32 points
8. Aaron Lim (MAS/Minardi Team Asia) 32 points
9. Wang Jian-Wei (CHN/Ao’s Racing Team) 13 points
10. Mitsunobu Endo (JPN/Team Meritus) 13 points
11. Dejan de Zoysa (SRI/Minardi Team Asia) 11 points
12. Jonathan Chan (HKG/Minardi Team Asia) 10 points.

Rookie Cup Standings after Round 6:

1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 94 points
2. Armaan Ebrahim 82 points
3. Michael Patrizi 73 points
4. An Suk Won 58 points
5. Aaron Lim 49 points
6. Wang Jian-Wei 40 points
7. Dejan de Zoysa 26 points.

Statistics

Winners 2005: Al Khalifa (3), Boughey (1), Ebrahim (1), Al Fardan (1)
Pole Positions: Al Khalifa (5), Michael Patrizi (1)
Podiums: Al Khalifa (5), Charlez (3), Boughey (2), Al Baharna (1), Patrizi (3), Al Fardan (3), Ebrahim (1)

Championship Points: 1.Salman Al Khalifa (BAH/Team E-Rain) 88 points, 2. Charlie-Ro Charlez (MAS/Team Meritus) 65 points, 3. Hamed Al Fardan (BAH/Team Meritus) 61, 4. Armaan Ebrahim (IND/Team E-Rain) 60 points, 5. Robert Boughey (THA/Team Meritus) 52 points
Rookie Cup Winners: Charlez (2), Ebrahim (2) Patrizi (2)
Rookie Cup Points: 1. Charlie-Ro Charlez 94 points, 2. Armaan Ebrahim 82 points, 3. Michael Patrizi 73 points

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