AP: Dominic Storey Sepang preview

BIG WEEKEND FOR YOUNG AUCKLAND DRIVER DOMINIC STOREY

This will be another big weekend for young New Zealand driver Dominic Storey as the 16-year-old St Kentigern College sixth former takes on Rnds 3, 4 and 5 of the 2006 Formula BMW Asia single-seater motor racing championship at Sepang in Malaysia.

Kart star Storey is one of four promising young drivers from the Asia-Pacific region to earn $US50,000 scholarships from BMW to help compete in this year's pan-Asia Formula BMW Asia Championship.

He had a successful debut at the first Formula BMW Asia championship meeting at Sepang at the Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix meeting at the beginning of March, qualifying and finishing seventh in the first race then qualifying eighth and finishing seventh in the second, but has the added complication of a third race this weekend.

Each race is considered a 'round,' with three at five of the seven rounds.

Storey was the only true 'rookie' in the Formula BMW category at the Malaysian F1 GP meeting, not only having his first race in one of the 140hp BMW K1200-engined Formula BMW racing cars, but also having his first race in anything other than a kart.

Since then he has been back up to Malaysia for a three-day test with his team, Eurasia Motorsport, and team manager, expatriat Englishman Martin Quick believes he will go even better this weekend.

"Dominic improved each time he got in the car, " Quick said of the young Kiwi.

Storey lies sixth in the overall series points standings and fourth in the Rookie Cup going into this weekend's triple-header meeting.

Leading the standings, though not apparently entered this weekend, is recent New Zealand visitor, and 2006 New Zealand Grand Prix winner, Hamad Al Fardan who was the overall winner at the Malaysian F1 GP meeting.

Second, and expected to take over the reins in Al Fardan's absence, is Australian kart-turned-car driver Sam Abay, with Thai-based British national James Grunwall in third.

Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2006 dedicated 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.

The car has been seen on the grid since 2002 and has set standards particularly on the safety technology front. BMW's 140 bhp K1200 engine is capable of propelling it to 230km/h and the car itself exceeds the FIA safety requirements for its class. BMW Motorsport has also developed the FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat especially for Formula BMW. As well as this all Formula BMW Asia drivers must use the HANS safety system.

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