2006 CIK-FIA WORLD CUP FA - ASIA PACIFIC ICA CHAMPIONSHIP - SUZUKA, 26 -28th MAY 2006

SUZUKA: WORLD CHALLENGE FOR FA’S TOP DRIVERS

IT IS IN JAPAN THAT THE PRESTIGIOUS FA WORLD CUP AND THE ASIA-PACIFIC TITLE FOR ICA ARE AWARDED. THE WHOLE BIREL TEAM WILL BE THERE IN AN ATTEMPT TO SECURE BOTH.

Both the Formula A World Cup and the Asia-Pacific Championship title will be awarded in a single event which will be held during the weekend of 28th May on the Suzuka track (Japan); this will be one of the most significant moments of the International Karting season. The Birel Motorsport Team, which will take part with its official drivers, is determined to achieve prestigious results, as well as to support all the members of the Birel Junior team who will take part in the event. The technical conditions which enable the team to aim at winning both titles have already been achieved following the trials at the beginning of the season, during which the positive results obtained in each race have proven the success of the 2006 chassis. Another very promising fact is that Birel’s own drivers are in excellent shape: both Cesetti (FA), and Wittmann (ICA) have just achieved victory in the last race of the Open Championship and therefore stand for a place in the front line in their respective classes. In Formula A, full attention should be given to the young Jon Lancaster who has always given his best on the Japanese track. Always in Formula A, Nicholas Risitano aims at securing a position among the top drivers of this top class, whereas the Japanese driver Hiroshi Umegaki, who will represent Birel Pacific, and Kazuya Ishii, who played a leading role in the 100 Ica in Japan during the last season, should also be followed closely. Sporting Birel’s colours Curridor, Harkema, Lim Say, Umehara, Masuda and Nomura will also take part in the race. This challenge will be a sort of forecast of what is going to happen with all the top names of FA at the World Championship in September. Among the potential leaders are the French driver Bianchi, who won at Suzuka the last season, Ardigò, Forè, Christodoulou, Convers, Sims, Thonon, Catt, Calado, Kobayashi and Koslinski. In the 100 Ica on the other hand, great results are expected from the German Birel Motorsport driver Marco Wittmann, who will be backed by his team mates Truelove, Bumgarner, Millroy, Hiraki, Iwai, Gamo, Hattori, Akizawa and Srtitrai. For the Birel delegation, which will outnumber all other teams, the main opponents will be the French driver Tambay, Zipoli and Costa, as well as the many Asian drivers who will also take part.