HAPPY BIRTHDAY MALAYSIA!

On this day I sold kacang putih shirtless at the Merdeka Stadium and I heard Tunku Abdul Rahman proclaiming MERDEKA proudly seven times...read this HERE.

Happy 48th Malaya and happy 42nd Malaysia!

MMER: Phillipa, Deana & Kazumi take 6th

Pipa (centre) with Deanna (on her left) and Kazumi...

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Pipa (centre) with Kazumi and Deanna posing with X1-R RedBull race car...

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Phillipa Yoong - popularly known as Pipa, Actress/Model celebrity racer, Deanna Yusoff and Japanese Formula 4 and GT racer Kazumi Mikami took their X1-R RedBull Racing Team's Proton Satria GTI to a remarkable 6th in class B and 19th overall in the just concluded excrutiatingly exhausting Merdeka Millenium 12 Hour Endurance race run between 11am and 11pm last Saturday at the Sepang International circuit.

Together with her team mates, Pipa anchored the team to qualify amongst the 26 class B starters out of 35 entries. Nine teams had to be eliminated when they didn't make the cut-off mark due to the fantastic pace of the class B cars for 1900cc and below this year.

"We only just managed it," said Pipa of their qualifying, "We were not in amongst the qualifiers with 15 minutes left...we only did it in the last two flying laps at the very end of the 3 sessions!".

"We were fast catching up for 5th in class in the final hour of the race but dehydration set in for one of my team mates as was the case with other drivers of other teams due to the intense heat all day. Then a scare for us all when the gearbox started failing. But all's well that ends well as we broke our previous record of 37th overall with this 19th overall finish out of 77 cars starting."

Pipa attributed the good finish to teamwork, concluding that, "All of us in the team are proud of the results as we achieved this together. All the drivers, team crew and supporters gave our best efforts and most of all I thank all the sponsors whose support made it possible for the team to do so well."

The 27 year-old production house administration manager was a top five Asian ranked water skiier and the Jakarta SEA Games gold medal winner as well as the current triple holder of the Malaysian records for women's slalom, tricks and jump in water skiing.

2005 MMER CLASS B RESULTS

Pos./No./Drivers/Laps Completed/Total Time

1 71 M.Eddy / G.Johnson / F.Jouy 250 12h 02m 15.942s

2 73 M.Rose / P.Leemhuis / R.Gartner 250 12:02:49.198

3 48 Shamsul B./ HS.Lim / HL.Chin 250 12:04:19.493

4 68 Keno / KC.Chung / Nizam Y. 249 12:04:01.114

5 51 YC.Choo / SK.Lau / Azwan A. 244 12:02:21.110
6 53 K.Mikami / Deanna Y./ Phillipa Y. 244 12:04:01.088

7 70P C.Ng / Y.Morita / S.Velumani 244 12:04:17.431

8 63 A.Tan / C.Tan / K.Low 243 12:01:57.227

9 46 Shazull H./ Soffiz H./ Mazran A. 239 12:03:56.737

10 77 Ali Z./ Syahril Y./ Fattah A. 236 12:03:55.202

11 66 TK.Tan / SF.Lim / WL.Ho 228 12:02:43.747

12 55 Faizal S./ Zaki K./ Ahmed F. 220 11:58:23.783

13 80 Shahril A./ Fahmi A./ Zaidi B. 214 12:04:03.447

14 52 A.Kesavamoorthy/R.Ayyavu/A.Saravanan 213 12:03:58.442

15 50 PC.Kok / KC.Ng / EC.Lim 212 12:03:10.760

16 69 Rashid R./ Noor Y./ Azman R. 210 12:04:05.929
Note: 35 entries, 26 qualifiers, 16 finishers in Class B

A1GP: Paul Ricard - day 3 - Ireland's Firman tops times

A1 cars in rolling start practice formation...

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The second official test at Paul Ricard is a wrap a couple of hours ago with A1GP's official test driver, Ralph Firman representing Ireland topping the day 3 times followed by Switzerland and Netherland in second and third respectively.

Malaysia was in 11th position with Fairuz Fauzy at the wheel while South Africa did not set a time due to crashing out.

Temperatures were unusually hot today which was a final half day for the A1GP Paul Ricard testers.

PAUL RICARD A1GP TEST - DAY 3 - FRI, 25TH AUG

Morning Times
Country/Driver/Time

1 Ireland Ralph Firman1:24,561

2 Switzerland Neel Jani 1:24,617

3 Netherland Jos Verstappen 1:24,646

4 New Zealand Math Halliday 1:24,800

5 France Nicolas Lapierre 1:25,012

6 Portugal Alvaro Parente1:25,067

7 Australia Will Power 1:25,312

8 Brazil Nelson Piquet jr. 1:25,378

9 Pakistan Adam Khan 1:25,472

10 South AfrikaStephen Simpson 1:25,509

11 Malaysia Fairuz Fauzy1:25,620

12 Mexico Salvador Duran 1:25,626

13 Great Britain Alex Lloyd 1:26,268

14 Indonesia Ananda Mikola1:26,291

15 USA Colin Fleming1:26,424

16 Lebanon Basil Shaaban 1:26,496

17 India Karun Chandhok 1:26,579

18 Russia Rusinov Roman 1:26,805

19 China Teng Yi Jiang 1:27,113

A1GP: Team Malaysia press release - Paul Ricard day 2

Alex and Fairuz at Paul Ricard

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Le Castellet, France - Thursday, Aug 25 2005 - A1 Team Malaysia successfully completed their second day of testing at the renowned Paul Ricard High Tech Test Track (HTTT) located at Provence in the South of France today.

Both Alex Yoong and Fairuz Fauzy were present to share driving duties. A total of 20 cars representing 20 nations from six continents were on track clocking an impressive 3,000 km over the two days. Countries represented were USA, Brazil and Mexico from North and South America; France, Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, Switzerland, Netherlands, Ireland and Russia from Europe; South Africa representing Africa; Malaysia, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Lebanon and China from the continent of Asia and Australia and New Zealand rounding up for the Australasia.

"Both Fairuz and I have gained a lot from these two days of testing and it had been nothing but exhilarating," said Yoong, "We concentrated on set up tuning to get the best out of the 550bhp A1 car for the first race in Brands Hatch rather than for the qualifying condition therefore we had been making runs mostly with fuel loads. We are looking forward to the final day tomorrow to complete our programme. Fairuz has done a good job the past two days."

Fairuz got his first taste of the A1 Team Malaysia car yesterday by being the first to take to the track in the morning. He also took part in the first ever A1GP rolling start simulation at the end of today. Fairuz was very impressed by the series and the car, saying, "I am very honoured and proud to be associated with A1 Team Malaysia and the A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport. We are all very excited, not only as drivers but also as members of our country's team. The competition is going to be very intense and tight. We hope to spark the imagination of all Malaysians at home and around the world."

Team Principal, Jack Cunningham said after today's test, "The team has worked really well together. It's incredible to see both the drivers interacting well between themselves as well as with the engineers and the mechanics to see through the test programme over the two days."

Day three of the test at the Paul Ricard HTTT continues tomorrow with a half day programme from 9am to 1pm with the same 20 cars comprising some 42 drivers representing 20 nations continuing their test programmes before they see their cars on track again on the week of the first round at Brands Hatch for the A1 Grand Prix of Great Britain scheduled for the 23rd to 25th next month.Malaysia's round will be run at the Sepang International Circuit on the 18th to 20th of November 2005.

Meanwhile Team Germany was launched at the circuit today with the announcement that Willi Weber (manager of the Schumacher brothers) is the seat holder while Team USA was launched yesterday with the unveiling of their car in their national colours.
End

A1GP: Brazil has simply too many good drivers

While most teams currently testing in Paul Ricard have 2 drivers from their countries shortlisted to drive for their countries' honour, Team Brazil has a problem on their hands.

They simply have too many good drivers to choose from, all of whom would give anything to follow the footsteps of their nation's racing legend, the late Ayrton Senna.

At the last count, the team which is owned by Ronaldo and managed by Emerson Fittipaldi have on their list 9 drivers waiting to be picked!

They are: Antonio Pizzonia, Cristiano da Matta, Tony Kanaan, Nelson Piquet Jr, Danilo Dirani, Joao Paulo Oliveira, Mario Haberfeld, Bruno Senna and Ruben Carrapatoso. (google them for their profiles)

Photo caption: Emerson Fittipaldi Brazil's team manager giving Nelson Piquet Jr a thumb's up...(click image to enlarge)

A1GP: Fairuz 9th in afternoon session - Paul Ricard day 2

Fairuz on track...

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Paul Ricard, France - 25th Aug 2005 - Fairuz moved A1 Team Malaysia up one slot to ninth at the end of day 2 during his afternoon session.

The test continues tomorrow from 9am to 1pm European time before the 20 teams wrap up to prepare for round 1, the A1 Grand Prix of Great Britain on the 23rd to 25th Sep 2005 at Brands Hatch.

PAUL RICARD A1GP TEST - DAY 2 - THURS, 25TH AUG
Afternoon Times

1 USA 1.24.177 SCOTT SPEED

2 FRANCE 1.24.392 ALEX PREMAT

3 BRAZIL 1.24.574 NELSON PIQUET JR

4 NEW ZEALAND 1.24.590 JONNY REID

5 PORTUGAL 1.24.738 ALVARO PARENTE

6 IRELAND 1.24.772 RALPH FIRMAN

7 NETHERLANDS 1.24.879 JOS VERSTAPPEN

8 SWITZERLAND 1.24.895 ROMAIN GROSJEAN

9 MALAYSIA 1.24.987 FAIRUZ FAUZY

10 LEBANON 1.25.012 KALIL BESCHIR

11 GREAT BRITAIN 1.25.104 ROBBIE KERR

12 GERMANY 1.25.211 TIMO SCHEIDER

13 PAKISTAN 1.25.374 ADAM KHAN

14 SOUTH AFRICA 1.25.757 STEPHEN SIMPSON

15 MEXICO 1.25.891 SALVADOR DURAN

16 INDONESIA 1.26.655 ANANDA MIKOLA

17 INDIA 1.26.959 KARUN CHANDOK

18 AUSTRALIA 1.26.990 CHRISTIAN JONES

19 RUSSIA 1.27.942 ALEXEY VASILIEV

20 CHINA 1.28.202 TENG YI JIANG

A1GP: Alex maintains 10th - Paul Ricard day 2

Alex at Paul Ricard...

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Fairuz and Alex posing with car...

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Paul Ricard, France - 25th Aug 2005 - Both Alex Yoong and Fairuz Fauzy took to the track to continue with A1 Team Malaysia's test programme.

Alex drove the first part of the morning session with Fairuz taking to the track before the lunch break.

Times went down further for the team with Alex clocking 1: 25.331 to maintain 10th position out of 20 teams.

PAUL RICARD A1GP TEST - DAY 2 - THURS, 25TH AUG

Morning Times

1 USA 1.24.177 SCOTT SPEED

2 France 1.24.392 ALEX PREMAT

3 Brazil 1.24.574 NELSON PIQUET JR

4 New Zealand 1.24.590 JONNY REID

5 Portugal 1.24.738 ALVARO PARENTE

6 Ireland 1.24.772 RALPH FIRMAN

7 The Netherlands 1.24.879 JOS VERSTAPPEN

8 Switzerland 1.24.895 ROMAIN GROSJEAN

9 Germany 1.25.327 TIMO SCHEIDER

10 Malaysia 1.25.331 ALEX YOONG

11 Pakistan 1.25.374 ADAM KHAN

12 South Africa 1.25.757 STEPHEN SIMPSON

13 Mexico 1.25.891 SALVADOR DURAN

14 United Kingdom 1.25.897 ALEX LLOYD

15 Indonesia 1.26.655 ANAND MIKOLA

16 India 1.26.959 KARUN CHANDOK

17 Australia 1.27.167 CHRISTIAN JONES

18 Libanon 1.27.228 KALIL BESCHIR

19 Russia 1.27.942 ALEXEY VASILIEV

20 China 1.29.116 TENG JIANG

A1GP: Team Malaysia 10th - Paul Ricard day 1

Alex on track for the afternoon session...

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Wednesday, 24th August 2005 - Alex took the wheel for the afternoon session and concentrated on aero and suspension settings for the Paul Ricard circuit.

A1 Team Malaysia ended the first day in the top half of the 20-car field. There will be more to come from both drivers.

PAUL RICARD A1GP TEST - DAY 1 - WED. 24TH AUG

Day 1 Times

1 USA 1.24.559 - SCOTT SPEED

2 BRAZIL 1.24.973 - NELSON PIQUET JR

3 FRANCE 1.25.095 - NICOLAS LAPIERE

4 GRAT BRITAIN 1.25.281 - ROBBIE KERR

5 MEXICO 1.25.296 - SALVADOR DURAN

6 PORTUGAL 1.25.377 - ALVARO PARENTE

7 NEW ZEALAND 1.25.536 - JONNY REID

8 IRELAND 1.25.687 - RALPH FIRMAN

9 AUSTRALIA 1.25.692 - WILL DAVISON

10 MALAYSIA 1.25.717 - ALEX YOONG

11 NETHERLANDS 1.25.751 - JOS VERSTAPPEN

12 PAKISTAN 1.26.139 - ADAM KHAN

13 SWITZERLAND 1.26.147 - ROMAIN GROSJEAN

14 SOUTH AFRICA 1.26.177 - THOMAS SCHECKTER

15 GERMANY 1.26.440 - TIMO SCHEIDER

16 LEBANON 1.26.477 - BASIL SHAABAN

17 INDIA 1.27.978 - KARUN CHANDOK

18 INDONESIA 1.28.430 - ANANDA MIKOLA

19 CHINA 1.29.377 - TENG JIANG

20 RUSSIA 1.32.760 - NIKOLAY FOMENKO

A1GP: Fairuz has first taste of an A1GP car

Fairuz tests at Paul Ricard in Malaysian coloured car...

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Wednesday, 24th August 2005 - Fairuz Fauzy had his first taste of the A1GP car with A1 Team Malaysia yesterday at the A1GP second official test at Paul Ricard circuit south of France, taking the wheels for the morning session.

Fairuz took the time to learn the car and the circuit as he concentrated to find a good set up for him and the car. He is expected to improve his times in the 2 and a half day test scheduled by A1 Grand Prix.

18 Teams took to the track with China and Indonesia expecting to get into action in the afternoon.

PAUL RICARD A1GP TEST - DAY 1 - WED. 24TH AUG
Morning Times

1 Brazil 1:24:973 Nelson Piquet jr.

2 Portugal 1:25:432 Alvaro Parente

3 GB 1:25:771 Robbie Kerr

4 Nederland 1:26:040 Jos Verstappen

5 Australia 1:26:058 Will Power

6 Mexico 1:26:087 Salvador Duran

7 Pakistan 1:26:139 Adam Khan

8 South Africa 1:26:177 Thomas Scheckter

9 Ireland 1:26:202 Ralph Firman

10 Switzerland 1:26:221 Romain Grosjean

11 Lebanon 1:26:477 Basil Shaaban

12 France 1:26:539 Christophe Bouchut

13 New Zealand 1:26:600 Jonny Reid

14 Malaysia 1:27:006 Fairuz Fauzy

15 India 1:27:978 Karun Chandok

16 USA 1:28:789 Scott Speed

17 Germany 1:30:316 Timo Scheider

18 Russia 1:39:368 Nikolay Fomenko

A1GP: Postcard from Silverstone

Alex with car...

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A1 Team Malaysia on track 4th Aug...

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A1GP: First Official Test At Silverstone - Malaysia 3rd!

Silverstone, U.K. - 04 August 2005 - As the first A1 Team Test Session came to a close, the excitement and anticipation for a competitive first season grew between A1 Teams and Seat Holders as the top 14 drivers recorded fastest lap times separated by less than two seconds.

Over the course of the two days, three sessions were held involving 15 A1 Teams. It proved a largely trouble-free session with drivers and engineers all commenting on the reliability of the A1 Car.

A1 Grand Prix Founder, President and Chairman, Sheikh Maktoum said: "I'm very satisfied with today's results. All the Seat Holders, drivers and engineers are happy with the way the car has performed over its first Test Session. The competitive spirit of the Teams has emerged, while the unity of the Series has been retained. We are looking forward to the next test at Paul Ricard, and it should get more and more exciting as new Teams join the Series."

A1 Team France recorded the fastest lap of the two-day session this morning, slicing 0.705 seconds off yesterday"s fastest lap time set by A1 Team Great Britain. A1 Team France driver, Alex Premat commented: "The A1 car is nice and easy to drive, it has a good gearbox, the engine is great and the car is very reliable. We've worked on the car set up and dampers and it has responded well to the changes.I'm very pleased to have the fastest lap time of the session and I'm looking forward to driving again at Paul Ricard."

A1 Team Malaysia Seat Holder and driver, Alex Yoong summed up the two day session saying: "The test went well with the car performing well throughout. A1 Grand Prix has done a brilliant job, and it looks like this will be a fantastic Series.Everyone is very enthusiastic and looking forward to the first race. It will be extremely competitive and the race will reward the Team that is most consistent."

A1GP SILVERSTONE TEST - 3RD & 4TH AUG 2005
Day 2 - Afternoon Session Results

1. France 48.251
2. Brazil 48.439
3. Malaysia (Alex Yoong) 48.535
4. Netherlands 48.766
5. Portugal 48.835
6. Great Britain 48.953
7. Pakistan 49.046
8. New Zealand 49.088
9. South Africa 49.115
10. Mexico 49.226
11. Switzerland 49.422
12. USA 49.514
13. Australia 49.675
14. Lebanon 49.876
15. China 50.640