Asian Motor Sports

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – An on-form Hamed Al Fardan (BRN/Team Meritus) made an emphatic one-off return to Formula BMW Asia this weekend, taking victory in Round 2 in front of the Formula One fraternity in Malaysia, and showing the young-guns he is at the top of his game. However, the new crop of talented youngsters gave the driver, who has two seasons’ experience under his belt, a run for his money with Australia’s Sam Abay (Team E-Rain) and Rookie Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus) giving a glimpse of their enormous potential finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

Al Fardan’s second win in as many starts gives him a 12 point lead on the championship table from Sam Abay in 2nd on 28 points. BMW Junior James Grunwell (THA/Team Meritus), who finished 2nd in Round 1, lies third on 24 points. Top of the Rookie Cup standings is Bamber on 35, just three points ahead of Grunwell.

Top BMW Junior was Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport), 16, who finished an impressive 5th ahead of another seasoned Formula BWM Asia driver, You Kyoung-Ouk (Team E-Rain) of Korea. Ricciardo’s result puts him third in the Rookie Cup standings and 5th overall in the driver championship. Other BMW Juniors Grunwell (17) and Dominic Storey (16/NZL/Eurasia Motorsport) 16, were 6th and 7th respectively in just their second Formula BMW Asia outing. Aaron Lim, the final BMW Junior and embarking on his second season this weekend, was 8th overall, but had struggled with set up all week.

Off the grid for the 10-lap race at the 5.6km Sepang International Circuit, it was Abay who roared away with pole man Grunwell left behind. However, it was Al Fardan, starting from 5th, who shot off the grid, dived down the inside and was up to 2nd at turn one. From there, he was on the charge to Abay, catching the youngster and grabbing the lead he was to keep to the chequered flag. Bamber and Ricciardo were dicing for 2nd and 3rd spot, with Grunwell in 5th, until Bamber, like Al Fardan and Abay in front of him, pulled out a gap from the chasing field and began to close in on Abay. With three laps to go, Bamber had his sights firmly set on 2nd, making a clean and decisive move on Abay which unfortunately he was unable to complete, dropping him back to third. Said Bamber: “That was a hairy moment when I passed Sam. It might work next time!