PAC: MeritusGP Macau qualifying report

MeritusGP's Rio won't hold anything back

MACAU (NOV 21, 2009): Newly crowned Formula BMW Pacific drivers' champion Rio Haryanto will put pedal to the metal as he seeks to end the season with a bang by winning the last race of the season at the Macau Grand Prix.

The Questnet Team Qi MeritusGP driver, who also helped the team to its seventh consecutive team title in the series, has earned maximum points in the last nine races after winning five straight races and finishing as the best placed driver in the last four races which were won by guest drivers from the Formula BMW Europe and Americas teams. Guest drivers are not eligible to collect any points.

Questnet Team Qi MeritusGP team owner Firhat Mokhzani said he had instructed Rio not to take any risks in the last four races as the team's targets were to retain the team championship and drivers' title.

"Rio was challenging the guest drivers very hard but I told him not to take any Unnecessary risks as winning the two crowns were more important than coming first in the races," explained Firhat, who has now won 34 titles with MeritusGP in the last 13 seasons.

"But now that the pressure is off him, Rio will go toe-to-toe against the best drivers and push them all the way. I'm confident he can do it as he has won three podium finishes since the guest drivers entered the competition."

Rio finished third in today's qualifying session but Firhat said only bad luck prevented him from getting pole position.

"Rio only had one flying lap and that too came on his last run. He still clocked at impressive time of 1:28.65 seconds. I'm a little disappointed he could not finish higher but I'm confident he can rectify that tomorrow," said Firhat.

Britain's William Buller is on pole with a time of 1:28.19 seconds while his Eurointernational team mate Felipe Nasr of Brazil was second in 1:28.60 seconds. Another MeritusGP driver, Dustin Sofyan clocked 1:35.88 seconds to be 19th on the grid.

Former MeritusGP driver Jazeman Jaafar, who helped the team to both titles in 2007, could only finish fifth in 1:29.29 seconds.

-credit: meritus