19/02/2010
NEWS STORY
The only Arab owned team in GP2 Asia, MalaysiaQI-MeritusMaharaGP.com heads home for the third round of the 2010 GP2 Asia season in Bahrain with revived hopes after its driver line up of Luca Filippi and rookie Alexander Rossi showed good results, speed and potential in the second outing of the season in Abu Dhabi.
Indeed, Alexander Rossi earned the MalaysiaQI-MeritusMaharaGP.com team three points while Filippi had a good start to the first practice session at Yas Marina circuit setting the pace in first practice. Later, sanctions disrupted the weekend for both drivers meaning they both had to fight through the field. It was further proof of the team's huge potential, but nevertheless they both managed to finish the races in encouraging positions.
The Bahrain round is an important event for MalaysiaQI-MeritusMaharaGP.com, the only team with strong links to the Middle East through its Saudi partner, Raad S. Abduljawad whose family home is only 20 minutes from the BIC circuit.
Filippi is already a GP2 winner at BIC: Currently fifth in the drivers' championship has plenty of reasons to be pleased to be back in Bahrain: Filippi arrives with all the emotions of a winner. In 2007 he was a winner in race 1 as well as a podium finisher in race 2.
"It will be my third race with MalaysiaQI-MeritusMaharaGP.com," said Filippi, "after the two rounds at Abu Dhabi to start the season, where I finished second on the podium. I love being back in Bahrain and clearly remember my race win in 2007. I had a perfect weekend starting from pole. I was flying and dominating that race. In race 2, it was not so easy with the reversed grid. But in the end from eighth position, I finished on the podium. The one detail I have discovered talking to my engineers and preparing for this event with them is that I will have the same engine for this event that I had in 2007. This is for sure a sign of good faith, and I do hope to bring back some very good points at the team's home racing venue. The whole team and I have been working well and are very focused. I have prepared well and we are hoping for a great result for our weekend in Bahrain."
"It will be my second race weekend with the team in Bahrain," added Rossi. "I do not know what to expect on this track because I have never raced here before. I know that racing in Bahrain is always a great experience and it's a circuit that all drivers enjoy driving. I did my homework and spent several periods this week learning the track with my engineers. We did a good job and I feel as though I have already driven 100 hours on this track with consistency and pace. I was told that sometimes the sand blowing onto the tarmac can be a challenge for racers as the grip levels can change from lap to lap. Also braking is the key to a quick lap around Bahrain. I'm looking forward to a new experience."
Raad S. Abduljawad, Team Chairman, MalaysiaQI-MeritusMaharaGP.com: "It's good to have the team back for the third event of the season at BIC as our home is only 20 minutes away. It will be important to get as many points as possible in order to keep a good place in the Championship. Both drivers are on the case and know the challenges running with different fuel simulations: full fuel or low fuel on a track that needs consistency and good pace."
Peter Thompson, team founder: "We will be fighting hard to ensure mechanical reliability and bolster our drivers' luck. They both have the potential to win and the team's engineering fundamentals have yet again been reinforced to ensure that the cars are in a strong position to score points in our home race. As team Principal my brother Sean is the force behind the team's engineering development and I have full confidence in his preparations for this event"
Sean Thompson Team Principal: "This event is not only the 3rd race but also only the third time that the new Meritus-GP2 team are working together; however, we have the pace to win. Since Yas Island we have taken measures to reinforce the engineering and preparation. I am confident that the drivers and team have prepared well for our home race and we have the added benefits of Luca's winning experience from 2007."