After their resounding success at the Sentul Circuit over the weekend, Malaysia's premier racing team TPC Qi-Meritus are well on track to sweep all four major Asian single-seater titles – in Formula BMW Pacific and Formula V6 Asia – on offer this season.
The TPC Qi-Meritus drivers turned in outstanding performances to deliver four crucial victories, two each in Formula BMW and Formula V6 Asia, in Sentul. The wins were important as they further strengthened the team's standings in the drivers' and team championships in both events.
For the record, the Malaysian team are the reigning champions for both single-seater events.
"Our success in Sentul is a turning point for the team this season. We have never been very lucky here and were worried coming into the weekend. Ross (Jamison) for example has never been comfortable here but he pulled himself together and secured two important wins," said team principal Peter Thompson. "We have enhanced our positions in all the championships and are on track for another good season."
In the Formula BMW Pacific, Kiwi Ross Jamison leads the championship with 150 points, 22 more than second-placed Sean McDonagh from Korea. In the battle for the best team award, Qi-Meritus top the championship with 276 points, a whopping 83 more than their closest rival Team E-Rain.
And with just five more rounds to go, it will be tough for the opposition to catch up on the leaders. The remaining rounds are at the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix in September, Shanghai Grand Prix in October and Macau Grand Prix in November.
Malaysian driver Arvin Roslan also had a great international debut in Sentul, picking points in all four races there. "I was nervous but once I got on the track, all I wanted to do was return some good results."
His collected a total of 11 points with the best coming from his sixth placing in the last race on Sunday.
It was a similar story in the Formula V6 Asia Championship for the Malaysian-owned team. Kiwi driver Earl Bamber sensationally claimed back-to-back victories on Saturday and Sunday to claim the championship lead from teammate James Grunwell.
Bamber, who now has three wins out of six races so far this season, leads the drivers race with 74 points with Grunwell hot on his heels on 71. Armaan Ebrahim is third with 59 points.
In the team Formula V6 championship, TPC Qi-Meritus are number one with 143 points. Second placed Black Tara have garnered 93 points, 50 less than the leaders.
Team manager Firhat Mokhzani said: "It was a very good weekend for us. We knew coming here would be difficult, we have not had very good luck here in the past. But we just kept working hard and have now extended the lead in both the drivers' and team championships. It was an all-round great result."
Thompson added: "From a team point of view it was also a turning point and we came here with one intention and that was to win and dominate in both series. Our results here again prove our winning engineering and that we are the Asian development team of choice for any aspiring single-seater driver looking to develop their racecraft in preparation for a professional career."
Championship standings
Formula V6 Asia
Individual: 1. Earl Bamber (NZ) TPC Qi-Meritus 74, 2. James Grunwell (Tha) TPC Qi-Meritus 71, 3. Armaan Ebrahim (Ind) Black Tara 59.
Team: 1. TPC Qi-Meritus 143 points, 2. Black Tara 93, 3. Team Taradtm 51.
Formula BMW Pacific
Individual: 1. Ross Jamison (HK) TPC Qi-Meritus 150pts, 2. Sean McDonagh (Kor) E-rain 128, 3. Simon Moss (Rsa) TPC Qi-Meritus 90.
Team: 1. TPC Qi-Meritus 276 points, 2. Team E-Rain 193, 3. Team PFX Holzer 164
-Rahmaninho - also photos
