Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The newly-named Formula BMW Pacific has unveiled arguably its strongest calendar to date, with the region's premier entry-level single seater series supporting no fewer than three rounds of the Formula One World Championship, an d visiting five different countries over eight months. Its sixth season, which includes 18 rounds run over six race meetings, gets underway in March when Formula BMW Pacific will be part of the celebrations of the 10th running of the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur. Formula BMW Pacific will also continue to be part of the successful Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) in 2008, with which it will travel to Southern China's Zhuhai International Circuit in April, return to Malaysia's Sepang Internatio nal Circuit in May, and on to Indonesia's Sentul Circuit in July . In September, the series will be part of Asian motorsport history at the new SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, the first modern-day Formula 1 Grand Prix in Asia to be held on a street circuit. The event will be run on the 5.05km street circuit in the centre of the vibrant city-state, and will also be one of three races on the 2008 Formula One calendar to be run anticlockwise. For the first time in its history, Formula BMW Pacific will be part of the Japanese round of the Formula One World Championship this year, with the season grand finale an official support race to the Fuji Television Japanese Grand Prix in October at Fuji Speedway. For the field of the brightest fledgling racing stars in the Asia Pacific Region, and particularly for the four Formula BMW Junior scholarship drivers, competing at the three rounds of the Formula One World Championship will be particularly exciting, affording them a valuable opportunity to meet and interact with the BMW Sauber F1 Team and its drivers the dream of every young racer. Formula BMW Pacific 2008 Provisional Calendar: Round : Date : Circuit 1 & 2 : March 21-23 : Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia (F1) 3-6 : April 18-20 : Zhuhai International Circuit, China (AFOS) 7-10 : May 16-18 : Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia (AFOS) 11-14 : July 18-20 : Sentul International Circuit, Indonesia (AFOS) 15 & 16 : Sep 26-28 : Marina Bay Circuit, Singapore (F1) 17 & 18 : October 10-12 : Fuji Speedway, Japan (F1) 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 North and South America. 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. 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 is the top entry-level class for Formula racing worldwide. Note to editors: Information and copyright free Formula BMW images for press purposes will be available at the BMW Motorsport Press Club at www.press.bmw-motorsport.com (no registration is required). Press Contact: Nikki Kemp, Mobile +(852) 9104 6109, nikki@prplus.com.hk |