Sport | Motorsport
Malaysian race team warn they are no pushovers
MyQi.Meritus.Mahara gunning for more silverware at the Asian GP2 series after winning their 32nd championship last week.
- By Alaric Gomes, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:34 December 1, 2008
- Image Credit: Supplied Picture
- Bin Sulayem paid tribute to team My Qi-Meritus.Mahara for having personnel from diverse backgrounds.
Dubai: Malaysia-based My Qi-Meritus.Mahara team is expecting a tough encounter with the continent's best drivers as they prepare for the second round of the Asian GP2 Series to be held at the Dubai Autodrome on December 5 and 6.
"The track in Dubai is going to be slippery due to the dust and this is going to be a huge challenge for us," admitted driver Alex Yoong, 32.
"It won't be just the dust from the track but also the dust from the construction activity that is taking place around the circuit," added the Malaysian driver.
"But it will be a huge challenge to go out there and stay focused to give my best for the team next weekend," he added.
The My Qi-Meritus.Mahara outfit is the only truly Asian team in this weekend's GP2 Asia Series, a part of the Grand Racing at the Dubai Autodrome next week.
While Yoong hails from Malaysia, teenager Earl Bamber is from New Zealand with loads of experience on Asian circuits.
"The GP2 car is fantastic and this is by far the best vehicle I have driven in my career so far," Bamber gushed.
"The sensation of driving a GP2 car is amazing and I can hardly wait for Thursday to come," he added.
The GP2 Asia Series opened in Shanghai on November 22 where the Malaysian outfit ended with eight points. "The start has been good, and now we hope we can build on this success with the second round in Dubai," Bamber stated.
ATCUAE President Mohammad Bin Sulayem paid tribute to the team for having personnel from diverse backgrounds.
"The drivers are from Malaysia and New Zealand, the founder and president is Irish and the sponsor is from Saudi Arabia. This is a superb combination for success," he said.
Founder and president Peter Thompson was pleased with the success achieved by his team during the past few years of its existence. "We won our 32nd championship last week. But we are hungry for even more success," Thompson said.
"The way we are progressing is in keeping with our team motto of creating international motorsport heroes by training and supporting young drivers," he observed.
Recently, the team was awarded the Malaysian 'superbrand' status on the basis of the different projects that generated $22 million for their sponsors.
"Last week's points have been a good omen and we hope to build on this success in Dubai," Thompson promised.
As part of its social commitment, the team invited the UAE's Downs Syndrome Association (DSA) and the Sweet Kidz Group (SKG) for diabetic children to attend racing next week.
Sonia Al Hashemi, head of the DSA board and Dr. Khowla Belhoul, president of SKG received 600 grandstand ticket invitations to attend the racing.
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