Bumper entry for Formula BMW Pacific in Singapore.

The upcoming rounds of Formula BMW Pacific may well be the series’ most competitive to date as the drivers battle with their counterparts from Europe, making for both a large and internationally-inclusive entry. The series welcomes a number of exciting new drivers and teams for the two rounds, which are official support races to the most talked-about race of the season – the 2008 FORMULA 1™ SingTel Singapore Grand Prix.

For many of the drivers, racing on the 5.067 km Marina Bay Circuit will be their first experience of a street circuit – a good challenge before the season finale at the famous Guia circuit during November’s Macau Grand Prix.

In all, 18 drivers will contest the two rounds in Singapore, including guest drivers Ollie Millroy (18/GBR), a Formula BMW Europe Junior driver, Marco Sorensen (18/DEN), and Asad Rahman of the United Arab Emirates (17), all racing with Motaworld Racing, a team making its Asian debut. Motaworld Racing will contest the final three rounds of Formula BMW Pacific in Singapore and Macau, as well as at the 2008 Formula 1™ Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai in October. Millroy and Rahman just finished contesting their first season in Formula BMW Europe.

Other guest drivers include the Indonesian duo of Rio (15) and Ryan Haryanto (15). The pair are entered by Pacific Racing, a team new to the series but no stranger to racing in the region. Team principal Ng Wai Leong is a former Formula Asia 2000 Champion and is highly respected in Asian karting circles.

Joining three series-registered Meritus drivers in Singapore will be Romanian Doru Sechelariu (16/Mahara). Sechelariu just completed his first season of Formula BMW Europe, finishing 15th overall after the series’ 16 rounds.

As the Formula BMW Pacific ranks are swelled by the addition of European drivers, as well as by newcomers from the region as the impressive calendar attracts more entries, Asian drivers are getting a taste of European circuits. Taking advantage of the global reach of Formula BMW recently were Formula BMW Juniors Simon Moss (17/RSA/Mahara) and Marlon Stöckinger (17/PHI/Eurasia Motorsport,) who joined Formula BMW Europe for the two rounds at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium on September 6-7.

The opportunity to compete on a European circuit was an important experience for the young drivers, who joined reigning Asian series champion Malaysian Jazeman Jafaar, who contested the full Formula BMW Europe 2008 season with AM Holzer-Rennsport. In the Pacific championship, Moss leads the Rookie Cup and is currently third overall in the series.

Heading to Singapore, Ross Jamison (18/HKG/Meritus) leads the Driver Classification, holding a 22-point lead over Sean McDonagh (18/USA/Team E-Rain). Both in their second year with Formula BMW, the drivers have benefited from their added experience and during the last rounds at the Sentul International Circuit, each won a race. With just five races to go, Jamison will try to widen his lead in Singapore while McDonagh needs to find a way to close the gap if he is to clinch the title.

Currently fourth in the championship, Melvin Moh (20/MAS/Team Holzer PFX) heads into Singapore with confidence after a strong showing in Indonesia. There, the Malaysian had three out of four possible podium finishes, including his first win of the season in Round 10.

Looking to rebound from his experience at Sentul is Ryuichi Nara (20/JPN/E-Rain), who despite some ill luck on the track, is still fifth in the championship.

Formula BMW Junior Chris Wootton (19/AUS/Meritus) will try to build on his three podium finishes from Sentul. Having missed the first two rounds, Wootton needs to continue his recent success if he is to catch Moss, who leads him by 25 points.

Drivers 1.Ross Jamison (HKG/Meritus) 150 points; 2. Sean McDonagh (KOR/Team E-Rain) 128 points; 3. Simon Moss (RSA/Mahara) 90 points; 4. Melvin Moh (MAS/Team Holzer PFX) 82 points; 5. Ryuichi Nara (JPN/Team E-Rain) 71 points; 6. Chris Wootton (AUS/Meritus) 65 points; 7. Gabriel Chaves (COL/Atlantic Racing Team) 62 points; 8. Marlon Stöckinger (PHI/Eurasia Motorsport) 61 points; 9. Imran Shaharom (MAS/Team Holzer PFX) 45 points; 10. Arvin Roslan (MAS/Meritus) 40 points; 11. Aditya Patel (IND/Eurasia Motorsport) 39 points; 12. Dominic Ang (MAS/Team Holzer PFX) 38 points; 13. Tasmin Pepper (RSA/Meritus) 22 points; 14. Huzair Harun Rasip (MAS/Mahara) 7 points; 15. Omer Younas (PAK/Team E-Rain) 1 point.

Rookie Cup 1.Moss; 2. Wootton; 3. Stöckinger; 4. Roslan; 5. Patel; 6. Ang; 7. Younas.

Teams 1.Meritus, 276 points; 2. Team E-Rain, 193 points; 3. Team Holzer PFX, 164 points; 4. Eurasia Motorsport, 100 points; 5. Mahara, 95 points; 6. Atlantic Racing Team, 62 points

- Nikki Kemp, HongKong -