PAC: Meritus.GP Okayama summary

COLOMBIAN SENSATION TUNJO SECURES SECOND PLACE IN FORMULA BMW PACIFIC FOR MERITUS.GP

OKAYAMA, JAPAN (NOV 1, 2010): Meritus.GP's Colombian driver, Oscar Tunjo secured second place in the 2010 Formula BMW Pacific Driver Classification and Rookie Cup after Rounds 13 and 14 ended here on Sunday.

Tunjo, who is the youngest driver in the competition at 14, has collected 275 points from 14 races. He is 64 points behind 19-year-old Richard Bradley, who secured both championships to emulate Meritus.GP's Earl Bamber, who won both crowns in 2006.

Tunjo had mixed feelings after securing second place as he was hoping to win both titles on his debut.

"Finishing second is a good achievement but I am a little disappointed as I believe we could have done better," said Tunjo. "Maybe I will have better luck next year!

"Japan was not a great outing for me. Although I was third in the first race, I didn't finish the second race of the weekend. We were pretty good during testing and qualifying. The car was understeering a little on the exit of corners so we couldn't go faster.

"In Round 14 I started from second but jumped into the lead at the start. I was leading with four laps to go. In the fifth corner, Calvin Wong didn't break and sent me flipping in the air twice, thus ending my race on the gravel. It would have been nice to have won but it was not to be."

Meanwhile, Meritus.GP's Malaysian driver, Mohd Afiq Ikhwan is sixth in the Drivers' Classification and fifth in the Rookie Cup. The team's Thai driver, Pasin Lathouras is No. 11 and ninth respectively.

Afiq, who received a driving scholarship for this season's Formula BMW, was disappointed with his performances in Japan but vowed to come good in the final race of the year in Macau later this month.

"I pushed hard but unfortunately, could not get on the podium. I hope to make up for it by doing well in the Macau street race later this month," said Afiq.

Lathouras said: "After Oscar's accident, the safety car was deployed. As I approached the corner where Oscar had his accident, I rammed into the car in front of me. I climbed up his rear wing and broke my front wing with just two laps to go. It was a huge disappointment."

The final race of the season is in Macau from Nov 19-21.

-source: Meritus.GP