2005 CIK-FIA ASIA PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIP - FORMULA A – ICA, SUZUKA NOVEMBER 18TH,19TH,20TH

ISHII SUCCESSFUL IN THE ICA AND LANCASTER CLOSE TO WINNING IN THE FA

THE ICA TITLE GOES TO THE JAPANESE DRIVER, WHO FINISHES AHEAD OF ALGUERSAURI. IN FORMULA A BIANCHI WINS BY A HAIR’S BREADTH OVER THREE FRENZIED RIVALS OF THE BIREL TEAM: LANCASTER, CESETTI AND CHRISTODOULOU.

The important appointment at the Suzuka circuit virtually closes the 2005 racing season awarding the prestigious Asian – Pacific title for the FA and ICA classes. The Japanese market and the Pacific area in general are showing concrete signs of recovery and revival after years of recession. And for all the manufacturers, the most important appointment of the Asian season represents an excellent showcase. From this aspect, this has been an exceptional weekend for the Birel colours. The victory in the Ica class went to young Kazuya Ishii, who reaped the laurels for Winforce, a brand produced by the Lissone-based manufacturer for Yamaha, whose sales management was taken over by Birel Pacific a few months ago. The Japanese driver crossed the finishing line ahead of Spaniard Alguersuari and Japanese Takuto. The 4th place went to another Birel chassis with Tatsuya, whereas Fumiya (Birel/Tm/Dunlop), who had dominated the heats and the Pre-Finals, was unfortunately forced to withdraw due to a contact. In Formula A, Bianchi won by a narrow margin over excellent Jon Lancaster, who also ran the fastest race lap. Cesetti finished 3rd, followed by Christodoulou (Birel/Parilla/Bridgestone). The English driver, who performed very well during the heats - earning the pole for the Pre-finals with two victories and a third place - and won a 2nd placement for the Pre-Finals, could have done much better, but this result confirms in any case the excellent climb towards the top of Formula A of the young Mgm team driver. Forè was 5th, while Umegaki ended 9th and Quintarelli - running with Dunlop tyres and a Winforce chassis - only 20th. The race of the rising star of Japanese motor racing was conditioned by some technical problems. On the contrary, Lancaster’s and Cesetti’s performances, both running with the newly homologated chassis (RX 32 –SC), confirm the competitiveness of Birel’s technical material in view of 2006 season. On this regard, Cesetti’s comment seems extremely meaningful: “ We are very satisfied about the performance of the 2006 chassis: it proved to be fast and balanced under any track condition, and if we missed a full success on this occasion, this was only because of a few mishaps and minor problems with the engine. In terms of speed, both Jon and I proved to have reached very high standards, and the fast laps in the Pre-Finals and Finals are an evidence of it.”