AP: Meritus Racing AFOS Autopolis Circuit preview

Formula BMW Asia heads to Japan as the drivers' championship comes down to two

The top young racers in Asia head to Fukuoka Japan this weekend (27-28 September) for rounds 11 and 12 of the AFOS Formula BMW Asia Championship at the Autopolis Circuit. With just this event and the final round in Beijing, China (25-26 October) to go, the drivers' championship is really hotting up.

Current championship leader TUNG Ho-Pin of team Meritus has 175 points, but his team mate Hanss LIN Po-Heng is still within reach with 129 points, as there are 80 points still up for grabs. Japanese lady racer Keiko IHARA of Team Yellow Hat is still in the fight with 96, but she would require a miracle for both TUNG and LIN to not score any points in the final 4 races; although you should never discount the power of a home crowd!

Team Meritus already clinched the Team Championship after round 10 in Korea, having won every singe race this season thanks to Tung and Lin. "At least we have one of the titles sewed up already," said a grinning Irishman Peter Thompson, Founder and President of Meritus Racing.

"I've been on great form all season, taking every pole position so far, but it would be amazing if I could keep that up in these last few rounds," said Tung during testing.

"I have a nice lead right now, but this is motor racing, and anything can happen; and it usually does! So I'm still taking each race one at a time," he added.

"I know I can beat Ho-Pin, and I will try my best to prove it this weekend. I must get a few wins to keep my championship hopes alive," said a determined Lin.

"I am almost always faster on the start, so even if I don't qualify on pole, I think I can go into turn 1 ahead. Then it will be a matter of keeping cool and driving my race."

Meritus have also been investing their efforts into some developmental drivers, such as young Malaysian rookie TJ Chin. His form has improved visibly since the start of the season, but has suffered several mechanical misfortunes. Nevertheless the 19 year old will surely be going into the race buoyed by his recent victory with Team G1-Meritus at the 12 hour Merdeka Millennium Endurance race at Sepang Malaysia, where he became the youngest ever winner.

"Finally I'm not the only driver in Team Meritus who hasn't won a race!" said Chin. "The Merdeka race was really special, because we were an all Malaysian team winning in front our home crowd on our day of Independence. Now I need to do something similar in Japan..." Chin concluded.

The success of Team Meritus would not be possible without the kind support of our sponsors Pacific Regency Hotel Apartments, Pan Global Insurance, Honeywell and Taiwan - Touch Your Heart.

-www.MeritusRacing.com