MACAU (NOV 22, 2009): Questnet Team Qi-MeritusGP driver Rio Haryanto collected
maximum points for the 10th race in a row in the Formula BMW Pacific when he
finished third behind two guest drivers in the Macau Grand Prix today.

Rio, who had wrapped up the drivers' title in Japan earlier this month, had won

five consecutive races before the arrival of the guest drivers from

Eurointernational, a team made up of the top drivers from the Formula BMW Europe

and Americas. Eurointernational competed and won the final five rounds of the 15

-race Formula BMW Pacific season.

As the guest drivers were not eligible for points, Rio earned maximum points in

the last five races, where he finished on the podium four times. All in, the

driving sensation won six races in only his first season with MeritusGP.

Just eight out of the record 23-strong field finished the Macau race, after an

incident at Mandarin Bend on Lap 1 forced numerous cars out of the race.

Eurointernational's William Buller took the chequered flag when he clocked

25:31.158 seconds with teammate Jim Pla of France 0.458 seconds behind and Rio

3.760 seconds back.

"The Eurointernational cars were too quick today and the massive accident in the

first lap didn't help us," said MeritusGP team owner Firhat Mokhzani.

"Rio started and finished third but took maximum points for the 10th consecutive

race. We would have liked to have ended the season with another win but it was

not to be.

"Overall, I'm more than happy as we retained the drivers' title as well as the

team championship. Another of our drivers, Dustin Sofyan, who is only 14th,

finished the season as the fifth best driver and has a bright future ahead of

him."

At Mandarin Bend, a chain reaction of racing incidents began as the drivers

jostled for position. Calvin Wong (Team Holzer PFX) first made contact with

Jazeman Jaafar (Räikkönen Roberston Racing) and then spun and collected Formula

BMW Junior Chris Wootton (Eurasia Motorsport).

From there, several drivers saw their races end prematurely including Wootton, Wong, Formula BMW Junior Steel

Guiliana (Atlantic Racing Team), Muhamad Alif Jafri (Team Holzer PFX), and guest

drivers Facu Regalia (Eurointernational), Paul Lau (Eurasia Motorsport) and

Tomoki Nojiri (TopSpeed Racing Shanghai).

The Safety Car was sent out for a lap, but on the restart on lap three, Buller

managed to get ahead of Pla and lead for the rest of the race.

Haryanto was comfortable in third, although more drivers saw their race end,

including 2007 Formula BMW Asia winner Jaafar who hit the barrier at San

Francisco Bend.

On the last lap, a mistake by Buller at the Melco Hairpin could have spelled out

a different result, but Buller recovered and Pla, who finished just four-tenths

of a second behind, was unable to take the lead. With a spectacular finale, the

2009 Formula BMW Pacific season drew to a close, with Haryanto as Drivers

Classification winner, Gary Thompson (IRL/17/E-Rain Racing) taking the Rookie Cup

honours, and Questnet Team Qi-Meritus the winning team title.

Rio said: “At the beginning I was confident, but then on the second last lap I

made a big mistake and then the race [for the win] was over for me. But it’s very

nice to be the season champion, the team has given me a good car so I am very

happy.”

Race results (Top Three)

1. William BULLER (GBR) Eurointernational 25:31.158s, 2. Jim PLA (FRA)

Eurointernational +0.458s, 3. Rio HARYANTO (INA) Questnet Team Qi-MeritusGP

+3.760s

Championship Points Tables after Round 15.

Teams

1. Questnet Team Qi-MeritusGP 367 points; 2. E-Rain Racing 294.75 points; 3.

Eurasia Motorsport 173.5 points; 4. Team Holzer PFX 172.5 points; 5. Atlantic

Racing Team 172.5 points; 6. Ao’s Racing Team 78 points; 7. Motaworld Racing,

Asia Racing Team, 6 points.

Drivers (Top 10)

1. Rio Haryanto (INA/Questnet Team Qi-MeritusGP) 250 points; 2. Gary Thompson

(IRL/E-Rain Racing) 180 points; 3. Axcil Jefferies (ZIM/Eurasia Motorsport) 163

points; 4. Fahmi Ilyas (MAS/E-Rain Racing) 102 points; 5. Dustin Sofyan

(INA/Questnet Team Qi-Meritus) 89 points; 6. Akhil Khushlani (IND/E-Rain Racing)

82 points; 7. Chris Wootton (AUS/Eurasia Motorsport) 78.5 points; 8. Calvin Wong

(MAS/Team Holzer PFX) 69 points; 9. Dominic Ang (MAS/Team Holzer PFX) 46 points;

10. Steel Guiliana (AUS/Atlantic Racing Team) 35 points

Rookie Cup (Top five)

1. Thompson, 180 points; 2.Jefferies, 163 points; 3. Ilyas, 102 points, 4.

Sofyan, 89 points; 5. Wong, 69 points