PAC: Series Guangdong preview

2010 Formula BMW Pacific set for Guangdong debut.

Kuala Lumpur - Formula BMW Pacific will make its debut on one of China's newest race tracks when the region's most promising young motorsport talent take to the 2.8km Guangdong International Circuit in Guangzhou from September 3-5.

Rounds 7-10, at Southern China's Guangdong Province, will herald the start of an exciting few months of autumn racing. Following the China fixture, Rounds 11 and 12 will be held in support of the 2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX at the Marina Bay street circuit on September 25 and 26. In October, Formula BMW Pacific heads to Okayama, Japan for two races in support of the FIA World Touring Car Championship, and for the third year in a row, the season finale will take place at the Macau Grand Prix.

The next generation of potential Formula One stars is already reaping the rewards that participation in the region's premier single seater series brings. Malaysia's Nabil Jeffri (16/Eurasia Motorsport), currently fifth in the overall Drivers Classification and fourth in the Rookie Cup, has been signed to the driver development programme for the Lotus F1 team. As part of his team duties, Jeffri is expected to carry out some aero testing for the team in the U.K. in early September.

Meanwhile, current overall championship and Rookie Cup leader, Richard Bradley of Singapore (19/Eurasia Motorsport) has recently been appointed F1 ambassador for schools in Singapore.

Bradley, who got his season off to a perfect start with two wins and took maximum points in Round 6, leads second-placed Oscar Tunjo (COL/Meritus) by 34 points in both title races.

Third in both the Drivers Classification and the Rookie Cup is Formula BMW Junior Jordan Oon (AUS/20/E-Rain Racing), who earned first- place points in Round 4 to help put him just six points behind Tunjo.

Fourth in the Drivers Classification is Malaysian Calvin Wong (18/PETRONAS Mofaz Racing), racing in his second season of Formula BMW Pacific.

Oon's fellow Formula BMW Juniors Jesse Dixon (AUS/18/Atlantic Racing Team) and Kotaro Sakurai (JPN/16/Eurasia Motorsport) each got off to a strong start this season. Sakurai, whose best finish so far was a third-place podium in Round 2, lies eighth in the Drivers Classification and sixth in the Rookie Cup. Dixon is one spot behind Sakurai, ninth in the Drivers Classification and seventh in the Rookie Cup.

The four races are in support of the Hong Kong Autosport Challenge, and will provide plenty of important track time for the young drivers, of which many are rookies this season. The fixture replaces the meeting scheduled at the Korea International Circuit.

-source: fbmw