Nazrie Ramli Wins PanGlobal Alex Yoong F1 Driver Search Title

The 2005 Champion, Nazrie Ramli...(click image to enlarge) - Photo from Max Revson
The Class of 2005 ...(click image to enlarge) - Photo from Max Revson
At the top-5 podium with the VIPs...(click image to enlarge) - Photo from Max Revson
At the chequered flag...(click image to enlarge) - Photo frm Max Revson

from Terengganu's Mohd Zurairi and Syazril Amri

Twenty-six year old Nazrie Ramli was dominant amongst the 40 grand finalists in yesterday's PanGlobal Alex Yoong F1 Driver Search Grand Finals held in the Sepang International Kart Circuit as he won with ease from second on the grid to snatch the 2005 crown from second finisher Mohd Zurairi Mohd Nasir from Terengganu and Syazril Amri Abd Rahman.

He was unperturbed when he had a dissasterous qualifying which placed him seventh on the grid for his pre-final race which meant he had to climb to at least second to qualify for the final race. This he did and he proceeded to the final race where he fought out an initially tough battle in the first three laps of the eight-lap final race to finally overtake pole sitter Syazril on lap 4.

Terengganu boy, 21 year old Zurairi had an inspired final race as he managed to fight through the field from 6th on the grid to second. Raja Mardiah Idris, 24, one of only two lady grand finalists to get into the final race of the day also did very well to finish fourth from eighth on the grid. Md. Misbahudin Idrus Tam rounded off the top five podium finishers in the grand finals.

"It was a very tough race," said the newly crowned 2005 F1 Driver Search champion, Nazrie. "I had taken this very seriously and had been in training for the last two months. It has now paid off and I'm really looking forward to the Formula BMW test."

First runner-up Zurairi who was one of four Terengganu residents who made it to the grand finals became the sole Terengganu representative after the pre-finals and he duly acknowledged the strong support from his home state saying, "I can hear the cheers from my friends and relatives from Terengganu who are here to support me. They have helped me to climb from 6th to second. This is my first time ever in the Sepang track and I am sure I could have done better if I had trained here. But second is fantastic for me."

Third finisher, Syazril was disappointed with third as he said, "To finish third after getting pole for the final race is disappointing. I however enjoyed the competition very much and I hope to get the second spot of that Formula BMW test drive."

A large crowd had turned up to watch the grand finals yesterday. They were treated with a huge load of exciting action from all the races from the 40 grand finalists as well as from an entertaining display of advance and stunt driving from the Lotus Club, courtesy of Lotus Asia Pacific. Malaysia A1 team owner, Alex Yoong and former GP Bike racer Oh Kah Beng and Lotus Club members took time off to give members of the enthusiastic crowd exciting rides in the Lotuses.

PanGlobal Insurance Bhd.'s senior manager, N. Sharmila was at hand to give away the prizes with Alex and MMOCA's president Ahmad Awang. Sharmila announced, "PanGlobal Insurance are extremely appreciative of all the spectators' and racers' support for the series. We take this opportunity to announce a continuation of the Driver-Search programme with the A1 Driver Search for next year."

End

GRAND FINAL RACE RESULTS

Pos./Kart No./Driver/Laps/Best Lap/On Lap/Total Time

1 2 Nazrie Ramli 8 01:06.35 8m 59.52

2 6 Mohd Zurairi Mohd Nasir 8 01:06.26 +1.21s

3 3 Syazril Amri Abdul Rahman 8 01:06.96 +1.80s

4 8 Raja Mardiah Idris (Ms.) 8 01:05.86 +1.96s

5 9 Md. Misbahudin Idrus Tam 8 01:06.06 +2.01s

6 5 Nevsky Chin Wai Leong 8 01:06.54 +5.81s

7 1 Thomas Ong 8 01:06.75 +7.15s

8 10 Mohd Nazri Ng b. Mohd Ng 8 01:06.36 +7.25s

9 7 Ramzul Zai b Zainudin 8 01:07.57 +16.64s

10 4 Abd Razak Abd Halim 8 01:08.02 +1 lap

PanGlobal Alex Yoong F1 Driver Search Climaxes With Grand Finals

2004 Champion, Roduwan Rashid at the Formula BMW test last year...(click image to enlarge) - Photo from Max Revson

at the Sepang International Kart Circuit from 10am this Sunday, 18th December

A huge challenge awaits the country's 40 top newcommer-karters as they head to the Grand Finals which is the climax of the 2005 PanGlobal Alex Yoong F1 Driver Search programme this Sunday, 18th December at the Sepang International Kart Circuit.

They will all be chasing the Formula BMW prize drive which will be awarded to the champion of 2005.

These top 40 karters selected from the top five of eight rounds of qualifying rounds held all over Malaysia since March this year comprise two lady karters, six students and 28 young karters in their teens and twenties. More than 320 newcommers took part in the eight qualifying rounds.

The programme starts with registration and sign-in of the grand finalists from 8am followed with five qualifying races from 10am. The 40 finalists will then be grouped into five pre-final races of seven laps each. The fastest five finalists in qualifying will head up the five positions of the five pre-final races with the second five fastest in the second grid and so on.

The top two winners of the five pre-finals races will then advance to the 8 lap grand final race comprising the ten top of the cream racers. The grand final race is scheduled to be run at approximately 1.30pm this sunday.

In the pre-final races, competitors will need to not only be the top two to qualify for the grand final but they will also all have to go all out as their fastest single lap time recorded in the pre-finals will be used to line them up in the ten grid positions in the grand final race.

The winners of the eight qualifying rounds are Raja Mardiah, Muhd Amirullah, Roazri Mustafa, Md. Misbahudin, Lee Kel Vin, Khairul Izwan, Hafidz Rozi and Nazrie Ramli from round 1 to 8 respectively. Although they will be deemed the favourites to be this year's champion, it is by no means a foregone conclusion as all the other grand finalists have recorded very close times to these winners of the qualifying rounds.

PanGlobal Insurance Bhd is the originator and joint organiser of this F1 Driver Search series which had it's inaugural running in 2004 which produced the first champion, Roduwan Rashid who tested the Formula BMW at the end of 2004.

PanGlobal Insurance's senior manager, Sharmila Nadarajah said, "PanGlobal Insurance is proud to be able to contribute to grass-root racing development for Malaysia's youths in a substantial manner through our F1 Driver Search programme in cooperation with Malaysia's only Formula 1 driver, Alex Yoong. We are all awaiting this Sunday's grand finals with great excitement and we can assure all those who turn up will be treated with a day of great racing from 40 of the best newcommer karters in our country."

Alex Yoong, who has returned from Dubai's round 6 of the A1 Grand Prix will be present this Sunday to guide these finalists through their paces, he intimated, "I strongly believe that PanGlobal's programme will bear the fruits of their labour in the coming years. We have unearthed some real gems from these two years of running the F1 Driver Search programme. Our A1 Team Malaysia should also benefit from PanGlobal's efforts as we are on the same tune of ensuring a high volume of new race drivers feeding into higher racing hierachy through these grassroot racing programmes. Our A1 Team Malaysia is in the proccess of looking into a joint cooperation programme with PanGlobal from next year."

"Admission to the grand finals in the Sepang International Kart circuit is free for all spectators and all media are invited to attend and cover the event. Enthusiasts and motorsports fans are also welcomed to attend as well as to speak with Alex or capture some photographic moments with the man himself this Sunday." concluded Sharmila.

GRAND FINALS PROGRAMME AT SEPANG INT. KART CIRCUIT
Sunday, 18th Dec 2005
8.00am – 9.00am: Compulsory Sign-In of all finalists
9.00am – 9.30am: Compulsory attendance of briefing by all finalists
9.30am: Balloting of karts for Qualifiers 1 to 5
9.45am: Qualifier 1 – 5 laps
10.00am: Qualifier 2 – 5 laps
10.15am: Qualifier 3 – 5 laps
10.30am: Qualifier 4 – 5 laps
10.45am: Qualifier 5 – 5 laps
11.00am – 11.15am: Break & Balloting of karts for Pre-Finals
11.30am: Pre-Final 1 – 7 laps (top 2 into Grand Final race)
11.50am: Pre-Final 2 – 7 laps (top 2 into Grand Final race)
12.10pm: Pre-Final 3 – 7 laps (top 2 into Grand Final race)
12.30pm: Pre-Final 4 – 7 laps (top 2 into Grand Final race)
12.50pm: Pre-Final 5 – 7 laps (top 2 into Grand Final race)
1.00pm – 1.30pm: Break, Invitation Race and Lotus Demo
1.30pm: Grand Final race – 8 laps
1.50pm: Presentation Ceremony

A1GP Dubai: Alex Yoong Retired From Feature Race

After being nudged off into a spin by Verstappen

A1 Team Malaysia's Alex Yoong was only three laps into the Feature race when he was nudged off by Netherlands' Jos Verstappen. He couldn't keep the engine running and retired from the race - his first retirement after 8 races in the inaugural A1 Grand Prix championship.

Alex had a very good start from 10th on the grid to launch himself to 6th upon taking turn 1. He was then involved in a coming together with another car in turn 2 which lost him 2 spots to 8th.

Malaysia was in 5th spot when Verstappen made his ambitious move on Alex.

"It was a disappointing weekend for us," said Alex.

"We have the pace to be up there with the top three this weekend. In the Feature race, I was up to fifth place but jos tried an apportunistic move from the outside, which left me no room and forced me into a spin. The engine died and we couldn't continue."

France's Nicolas Lapierre won the Feature race after starting from seventh on the grid. Battling up from ninth, A1 Team Great Britain took second place followed by Stephen Simpson who drove his way to South Africa’s first podium finish.

Malaysia maintained their top-10 championship position with 33 points in ninth.

Max Revson

Yoong Maintains Point Scoring Streak in Dubai's Sprint Race

Alex scores point in Dubai's Sprint race...(click image to enlarge) - Photo from HBL Network

Despite Nearly Taken Out By Germany

After qualifying 8th on the grid at the A1 Grand Prix Dubai round, A1 Team Malaysia's Alex Yoong made a good getaway in the Sprint race rolling start and was on the inside line of turn 2 with a chance to move to 6th. But Germany's Adrian Sutil drove him off the track and Alex dropped to 11th.

He made up one position to 10th and had an interesting race fighting on and off battles with Netherlands' Jos Verstappen throughout the 15 lap race.

Alex even had a chance for 9th after Great Britain's Robbie Kerr dropped from 4th after a spin into Alex's clutches.

In the end Alex defended well to grab the final point for 10th at the chequered flag to push Netherlands to 7th in the championship.

Malaysia is now 6th in the championship instead of joint 6th with the Netherlands before the Sprint race in Dubai.

Alex has now scored points for Malaysia in every A1GP race he took part for Malaysia bar one.

Max Revson

rd. 6 dubai - sprint race lap by lap

lap1: malaysia started well to go 7th but germany moved out and made coontact with malaysia...alex dropped to 11th...indonesia had a fantastic start to move up to 8th as was netherlands who slotted in behind alex...(lib had crashed out going to the grid earlier)...
lap2: 1st sui, 2nd irl, 3rd.gbr, 4th fra, 5th cze...mal 10th.
lap3: netherlands' jos pressures alex of malaysia...fra takes gbr for 3rd...top 10 are sui, irl, fra, gbr, ita, cze, can, ina, por & mal...ned 11th.
lap6: gbr spun and dropped to 9th from 4th...
lap7: fra pressures ire...top 10 now are: sui, ire, fra, ita, cze, can, ina, por, gbr and mal...gbr, mal and ned are close together...
lap9: good battles all round between ire and fra, between usa and rsa as well as amongst gbr, mal and ned....mex and aut also battle closely..
lap10: aus into pits...with probably gear problem...cars out of race are ger and bra...
lap12: mal's alex hounding gbr after pulling a gap from ned...alex made a half move on gbr which didn't come off and dropped back into the clutches of ned's jos...top 10 remains unchanged...
lap14: sui's gap to second car ire is now 4.6s with 1 laps to go...fra spins! fra drops to 7th...
lap15: top3: drama in the last lap as ita and cze both take ire!
chequered flag: sui breaks fra's stranglehold and wins from ita and cze in 3rd...ire 4th with can 5th, ina 6th, fra 7th, por 8th, gbr 9th and mal held on to the final point for 10th...the rest finished as follows: 11th ned, 12th rsa, 13th usa, 14th jpn, 15th nzl, 16th pak, 17th aut, 18th mex, 19th chn, 20th ind and 21st aus. lib, ger and bra dnfs.

A1 Team Malaysia Heads To The Desert

Alex optimistic in Sepang...(click image to enlarge) - Photo from HBL Network

Alex will drive both races

The Arabian desert is the next destination on the A1 Grand Prix calendar for A1 Team Malaysia, with the sixth round of the Series taking place at the Dubai Autodrome in the United Arab Emirates next weekend.

Two top ten finishes in the team's home race at Sepang circuit, Kuala Lumpur has elevated the team to sixth place in the overall points standings for the World Cup of Motorsport, and the team is now aiming for consistent points-earning places.

Alex Yoong will be driving for the team in the Dubai event, while team mate Fairuz Fauzy prepares for his wedding, which takes place in early January.

Yoong scored a fifth place finish in the main feature race in front of his home crowd two weeks ago and is now looking to improve on this in sunny Dubai.

Yoong says, "Our highest finish position so far is fifth, which we've achieved three times now, so we've proved we're competitive and can run up front. We want to step up another gear now and our goal is to bring the car home consistently in the points and hopefully get us, one day, in the top three. The name of the game is consistency now. I haven't been to the Dubai Autodrome, but most of the other drivers are also new to the track, so I need to learn it quickly and spend as little time as possible getting on the pace and dialling the car in for this new, challenging circuit. We have a lot of experience in this Team so that should help us get ahead at a new track."

The Dubai circuit features 16 turns in its 5.39 kilometre course, which is set in the sandy desert surroundings of this popular holiday destination. The event is the home race for the Series founder, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum.

Jack Cunningham, Team Principal, A1 Team Malaysia, looks forward to the Dubai event saying, "As we head towards mid-distance in the first year of A1 Grand Prix, A1 Team Malaysia has proved it is a serious contender in the Series, with seven top-ten finishes in the ten races that have taken place so far. Alex will be trying his hardest this weekend to keep us in the top six in the championship. However, motor racing is never just a one-man effort; it is the work of a dedicated team of hard-working professionals that has brought us these results. We're a very determined bunch of people, and we'll be pushing ourselves hard this weekend to bring home more points. Fairuz has to prepare for his wedding so can't be with us this week - nothing will give the Team greater pleasure but to inform him of a good result on Sunday night."

Following the summer sun around the globe, A1 Grand Prix will deliver 12 weekends of exciting racing action outside of the traditional motorsport season. Now midway through its inaugural season A1GP has raced in Great Britain, Germany, Portugal, Australia and Malaysia. A1 Grand Prix is now preparing for the next race at the Dubai Autodrome on 9-11 December before heading to Indonesia, South Africa, Mexico, USA and China to complete the season.

Full details of the race calendar can be found at www.a1gp.com.

8TV is the official Malaysian broadcaster of the A1 Grand Prix of Nations.

A1 Team Malaysia

A1 Team Malaysia's Fairuz To Skip Dubai

Fairuz and Dara at Sepang recently...(click image to enlarge) - Photo from Max Revson

as he prepares for his wedding

A1 Team Malaysia's Fairuz Fauzy will miss this weekend's A1 Grand Prix of Nations round 6 in Dubai as he prepares for his coming wedding this month.

Fairuz presented his lovely fiancee, Dara, for the first time at the Malaysian A1GP round in Sepang 3 weeks ago.

Despite, his current pre-occupation for his marital plans, we have no doubt that Fairuz will be glued to his TV set at home to cheer the Malaysian team and Alex Yoong on.

We wish the happy couple the very best for their future.

Max Revson