Driver And Rookie Cup Titles Go Down To The Wire In China

Zhuhai, China
Oct 30, 2007

Five drivers are in contention to take the 2007 Formula BMW Asia Driver title this weekend at the Zhuhai International Circuit in Southern China, while no fewer than seven, including all the Formula BMW Asia Junior drivers, will fight it out for Rookie Cup championship honours. The 4.3km track will be the venue for the final four races of the 22-round 2007 season.

With a top potential tally of 184 points to be had in the four remaining races of the season in both the Driver and Rookie Cup championships, the smallest error this weekend could spell disaster for any of the 10 drivers from nine countries and territories chasing titles.

Topping the Driver Classification leaderboard going to Zhuhai is Malaysian teenager Jazeman Jaafar (CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) whose impressive eight wins and 14 podium finishes have given him a 66 point lead over Zahir Ali of Indonesia (20/Team TARADTM) in his debut year. Jazeman’s arch rival and team mate James Grunwell (19/THA), a Formula BMW Asia Junior last season, is still in the running for the title as are two current Juniors: Hong Kong’s Ross Jamison (17/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) tops the Rookie Cup points and is mathematically still in the running for the Driver title, as is South African Kyle Mitchell (16/Eurasia Motorsport).

Never has the effectiveness of the Formula BMW Education and Coaching (E&C) Programme been more evident than this season, with all five Junior drivers in the top six Rookie Cup standings.

A DNF in the last round in Shanghai put a dent in Jamison’s points lead, reducing it to just 37 from Mitchell. Indian racer and Junior Akhil Khushlani (18/Eurasia Motorsport) is still in the running as is the series’ first ever North American racer Sean McDonagh (18/Team E-Rain). Two more Juniors, Shohei Shiromoto of Japan (17/Team E-Rain) and China’s David Zhu (17/CIMB Team Qi-Meritus) will both have their work cut out if they are to wrest the title from the points leaders, but are nevertheless in with a chance. Team Holzer PFX racer Johan Adzmi of Malaysia (17) is also in the running, making it arguably the most close-run title in the series’ history.