Malaysian teenager Jazeman Jaafar (CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) took a well-earned victory today from Indonesia’s Zahir Ali (20/Team TARADTM) to retain his place at the top of the Driver Classification. Third across the line after the 10-lap race on the 5.421km Shanghai International Circuit was Jazeman’s team mate and arch on-track rival James Grunwell (18/THA).

Imran Shaharom (19/Team Holzer PFX) took the Rookie Cup win, the first of his career, after an excellent performance, and a popular result with the local Chinese crowd, David Zhu (17/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) was the top BMW Junior finisher and 8th overall.

Jazeman’s win gives him a lead of 43 points over Grunwell, with Zahir just five points behind the Thai. BMW Junior Ross Jamison of Hong Kong (17/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) still tops the Rookie Cup with a 74 point lead over Kyle Mitchell (16/RSA/Eurasia Motorsport), and is also 4th in the Driver Classification. CIMB Team Qi-Meritus have clinched the Team Classification with five races of the 2007 season still to go. Malaysia tops the Nation Classification ahead of Thailand and Indonesia.

Jazeman grabbed the lead from pole-sitter Ali off the start and, despite the Indonesian’s best efforts, held the advantage to the chequered flag. Series newcomer Jack Lemvard (21/THA/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus), who started from 3rd on the grid also lost out at the start, relegated to 5th behind Grunwell and Sebastian Saavedra of Colombia (17/Ao’s Racing).

Another newcomer, 19-year-old Nara Ryuichi of Japan (Team E-Rain) acquitted himself well on his Formula BMW Asia debut with a 6th place finish.

Ali was downcast after a tough race where he just couldn’t find a way past the Malaysian: "I had one chance and pushed too hard. I locked up and went off, and that was it," he said. Jazeman, who had the Indonesian in his tow throughout the race, had a major moment on lap four when he hit oil: "I was so scared. I had opposite lock and was sliding everywhere. It was a good race though, and I love the circuit. High speed and technical."

Early on in the race BMW Juniors Mitchell and Eurasia Motorsport team mate Akhil Khushlani (IND/18) both came to grief after an incident. Mitchell was running behind the Indian racer, when he was hit from behind shunting him into the car in front, spinning his team mate. Said Mitchell: "It was just a racing incident. With the Rookie Cup at stake, I’m very disappointed with my bad luck, but tomorrow I’m confident I can win."

The points standings have been revised after a discrepancy in race classification came to light following the previous rounds in Chengdu, China last month.

The results for Round 17 are provisional pending the results of fuel tests.

Round 18 of Formula BMW Asia will be run tomorrow prior to the Formula 1 Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix.

Provisional Round 17.

1 33 Jazeman JAAFAR (MAS) CIMB Team Qi-Meritus 22:37.633

2 8 Zahir ALI (INA) Team TARADTM +0.484

3 38 James GRUNWELL (THA) CIMB Team Qi-Meritus +1.457

4 31 Sebastian SAAVEDRA (COL) Ao’s Racing +4.223

5 78 Jack LEMVARD (THA) CIMB Team Qi-Meritus +10.083

6 34 Nara RYUICHI (JPN) Team E-Rain +26.653

7 5 Imran SHAHAROM• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +29.772

8 68 David ZHU*• (CHN) CIMB Team Qi- Meritus +31.237

9 88 Ross JAMISON*• (HKG) CIMB Team Qi-Meritus +31.658

10 58 Huzair HARUN RASIP• CIMB Team Qi- Meritus +33.043

11 27 Akhil KHUSHLANI*• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport +39.349

12 11 Melvin MOH• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +44.964

13 7 Shohei SHIROMOTO*• (JPN) Team E-Rain +45.129

14 2 Sean MC DONAGH• (USA) Team E-Rain +51.201

15 77 Johan ADZMI• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2 Laps

DNF 28 Kyle MITCHELL*• (RSA) Eurasia Motorsport -

Championship Points Tables after Round 17.

Driver Classification. 1. Jazeman Jaafar (MAS/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) 614 points; 2. James Grunwell (THA/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) 571 points; 3. Zahir Ali (INA/Team TARADTM) 566 points; 4. Ross Jamison (HKG/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) 514 points; 5. Kyle Mitchell (RSA/Eurasia Motorsport) 440 points; 6. Akhil Khushlani (MAL/Eurasia Motorsport) 400 points; 7. Shohei Shiromoto (JPN/Team E-Rain) 350 points; 8. Sean McDonagh (USA/Team E-Rain) 347 points; 9. David Zhu (CHN/Team Meritus) 330 points; 10. Johan Adzmi (MAS/Team Holzer PFX) 313 points; 11. Melvin Moh (MAS/Team Holzer PFX) 298 points; 12. Imran Shaharom (MAS/Team Holzer) 290 points; 13. Cchiranjeev R. Bedi (IND/Engstler Bollywood racing) 190 points; 14. Dennis Vollmair (GER/Engstler Racing) 186 points; 15. Jack Lemvard (THA/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) 186 points; 16. Huzair Harun (MAS/Team Meritus) 154 points.

Rookie Cup 1. Jamison 514; 2. Mitchell 440; 3. Khushlani 400; 4. Shiromoto 350; 5. McDonagh 347; 6. Zhu 313; 7. Adzmi 313; 8. Moh 298; 9. Shaharom 290; 10. R. Bedi 228; 11. Vollmair 190; 12. Harun 154.

Nations Cup 1. Malaysia, 143; 2. Thailand, 134; 3. Indonesia 117; 4. Hong Kong 101; 5. South Africa 92; 6. India 87; 7. China 63; 8. USA 57; 9. Japan 52; 10. Germany 32.

Teams 1. CIMB Team Qi-Meritus 1375; 2. Eurasia Motorsport 840; 3. Team Holzer PFX 763; 4. Team E-Rain 697; 5. Team TARADTM 556; 6. Engstler Motorsport 230; 7. Engstler Bollywood Motorsport 188.

Winners 2007: Jazeman Jaafar (8); James Grunwell (3); Zahir Ali (5); Jack Lemvard (1)

Pole Positions: Jazeman Jaafar (4); Zahir Ali (10); James Grunwell (2); Jack Lemvard (1)

Podiums: Jazeman Jaafar (13); James Grunwell (12); Zahir Ali (9); Kyle Mitchell (7); David Zhu (2); Ross Jamison (4); Johan Adzmi (1); Sean McDonagh (1); Jack Lemvard (2)

Rookie Cup Winners: Mitchell (9); Jamison (6); McDonagh (1); Shaharom (1)

Formula BMW is the world’s leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2007 the series will be held in Germany, the UK, Asia and the USA. Up-and-coming drivers as young as 15-years-old 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.

In 2007, Formula BMW will be staged four times as part of the Formula One support programme. All the series offer a multifaceted Education and Coaching Programme as well as sponsorship for promising racing talents. The best-known alumni of this talent hothouse are Formula One drivers Sebastian Vettel, Timo Glock, Adrian Sutil and Nico Rosberg.

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 specially 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, HongKong- also photo