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22.03.2008
Nara and Moss take pole apiece in Malaysia.
Japanese newcomer Ryuichi Nara (19/Team E-Rain) and Formula BMW Junior Simon Moss (16/RSA/Mahara) took a pole apiece for Rounds 1 and 2 of Formula BMW Pacific, which gets underway this weekend as an official support race to the Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. It was a good start to the season for Team E-Rain with Sean McDonagh (18/USA), embarking on his second year with the series having finished 3rd in the Rookie Cup in 2007, starting both races from second on the grid. The top five drivers' best times, which also included Hong Kong‘s Ross Jamison (17/Meritus) and Malaysia’s Melvin Moh (19/Team Holzer PFX), also both returning for a second season, were within a single second of each other. Second quickest Rookie was Eurasia Motorsport‘s Aditya Patel of India (19), 7th and 6th fastest, ahead of Arvin Roslan (18/MAS/Meritus). The best times from the single 20-minute qualifying session, which started out damp, set the grid for Round 1, with the second-best times counting for the Round 2 starting order. Initially the main pole-contenders were McDonagh and Nara who switched positions at the top of the time sheets several times. Late on in the session, Moss seized provisional pole with a lap of 2:13.866 with just minutes to spare. But it was the Japanese, who made his car racing and Formula BMW debut with just one outing in Shanghai last year and is now back for a full season, who had the last word. In the final lap of the session, the clocked 2:13.407 to take pole, with team mate McDonagh grabbing second place. Likewise, Jamison put on a late charge to also jump ahead of Moss and will start from the second row of the grid for the first race alongside him. Of the five Malaysian drivers competing it was Moh who was quickest, qualifying 5th fastest for both rounds. Said Moh: "It was a good result, but I made a mistake on the last corner of my flying lap. The conditions are quite tricky and it’s hard to find the grid. But racing is racing!" Round 1 starts this afternoon, with Round 2 set for Sunday prior to the start of the Formula One Grand Prix. Qualifying Round 1. 1 34 Ryuichi NARA (JPN) Team E-Rain 2:13.407 2 22 Seam MCDONAGH (USA) Team E-Rain +0.024 3 88 Ross JAMISON (HKG) Meritus +0.115 4 38 Simon MOSS*• (RSA) Mahara +0.204 5 8 Melvin MOH (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +0.928 6 6 Gabriel CHAVES (COL) Atlantic Racing Team +1.051 7 3 Aditya PATEL• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport +1.194 8 78 Arvin ROSLAN• (MAS) Mahara +1.254 9 33 Tasmin PEPPER (RSA) Meritus +1.565 10 2 Marlon STÖCKINGER*• (PHI) Eurasia Motorsport +1.53 11 9 Dominic ANG• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +2.104 12 7 Imran SHAHAROM (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +2.490 13 58 Huzair HARUN RASIP (MAS) Mahara +2.765 14 92 Omer YOUNAS• (PAK) Team E-Rain +21.894
Qualifying Round 2. 1 38 Simon MOSS*• (RSA) Mahara 2:13.866 2 22 Seam MCDONAGH (USA) Team E-Rain 2:14.026 3 34 Ryuichi NARA (JPN) Team E-Rain 2:14.188 4 88 Ross JAMISON (HKG) Meritus 2:14.455 5 8 Melvin MOH (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:14.554 6 3 Aditya PATEL• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport 2:14.695 7 33 Tasmin PEPPER (RSA) Meritus 2:15.311 8 78 Arvin ROSLAN• (MAS) Mahara 2:15.411 9 6 Gabriel CHAVES (COL) Atlantic Racing Team 2:15.568 10 2 Marlon STÖCKINGER*• (PHI) Eurasia Motorsport 2:15.770 11 7 Imran SHAHAROM (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:15.897 12 9 Dominic ANG• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:16.805 13 58 Huzair HARUN RASIP (MAS) Mahara 2:16.884 14 92 Omer YOUNAS• (PAK) Team E-Rain 2:36.211 *Scholarship driver •Rookie Cup Background: Formula BMW is the world’s leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2008 the series will be held across Europe, Asia Pacific and the USA. Up-and-coming drivers 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 the FIA 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. 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 especially 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."
- Nikki Kemp, also photo -
Author: maggy (admin2)
Last modified: Saturday, 22.03.2008 - 12:53 More reports from this category all copyright automobilsport.com.
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