PAC: Series Guangdong round 7 race notes

Bradley takes dominant victory in Round 7.

Guangzhou, China - Richard Bradley (SIN/Eurasia Motorsport) took a dominant third win of the season in Round 7, the 19-year old crossing the line 5.128 seconds ahead of pole-man Jordan Oon (AUS/20/E-Rain Racing) in the first of four races at the 2.820 km Guangdong International Circuit.

Finishing behind Formula BMW Pacific Junior Oon was rookie Duvashen Padaychee (AUS/20/Eurasia Motorsport), who earned his maiden podium finish after starting from fifth on the grid. Rookies Oscar Tunjo (COL/Meritus) and Nabil Jeffri (MAS/16/PETRONAS Mofaz Racing) were fourth and fifth, respectively, at the end of the 17-lap, 25-minute race.

Bradley now leads the Drivers Classification and Rookie Cup by 44 points. While Oon and Tunjo both are now on equal points, Oon is second in both championships by virtue of his win in Round 4.

As the 16 drivers lined up on the grid, the heavy rains continued. However, the field got away cleanly, with Bradley setting the pace from the start, passing Oon on the first corner to grab the lead, which he held to the flag.

Oon and Calvin Wong (MAS/16/PETRONAS Mofaz Racing), who started from third, spent the first few laps battling for second. Formula BMW Pacific Junior Jesse Dixon (AUS/18/Atlantic Racing Team) started from fourth, and was looking good for his best finish of the season, passing Wong for third on Lap 7. However, just five laps later, he was forced to pits with engine problems.

As Bradley continued to build his lead, with Oon a comfortable second, the chasing pack was battling it out for the final podium position. E-Rain Racing driver S.H. Tom Mun (KOR/20) had worked his way up from sixth on the grid into fourth, behind Wong. When Wong locked his brakes on Lap 15, Mun inherited third, with Afiq Ikhwan (MAS/19/Meritus) and Padaychee behind him.

However, just four corners from the flag, Mun, too, locked brakes and Padayachee seized the chance to grab third, earning his first Formula BMW Pacific podium.

Formula BMW Pacific Driver Quotes:

Richard Bradley, winner and top Rookie, Round 7: "I actually didn't get off to a good start and I was a bit disappointed by it. But then 25 metres in, the car picked up on the track and I saw and gap and went for it. Once I had the gap, I tried a few different things that I knew wouldn't hurt my race. Some worked, some didn't, but I'm pleased and today I had a good race."

Jordan Oon, 2nd and top Formula BMW Pacific Junior, Round 7: "I got off to a decent start, but made a mistake at the first corner and left a gap for Richard to get through. I tried to keep up as best as I could. For two or three laps I had a bit of a battle with Calvin Wong, but then he dropped off and so that didn't hinder me too much in trying to catch up with Richard, he was just quicker."

Duvashen Padayachee, 3rd, Round 7: "My goal this weekend was really to stay on the circuit and get as many laps as possible. I felt I was consistent throughout the race and when the opportunity arrived, I took it. The guys in front of me were faster, but then I saw some of them dropping off and so I kept focused on the circuit, stayed consistent and then my team told me over the radio that I was third. Third in the wet, it doesn't get much better than that."

-source: bmw.asia