Bradley extends Formula BMW championship lead despite mishaps
Richard Bradley of Eurasian Motorsport overcame a series of misfortunes to tighten his grip at the top of the Formula BMW Pacific Season 2010 championship standings. The English-born Singapore-based driver had a rough weekend, but was still able to score sufficient points in Rounds 3 to 6, held at the Sepang International Circuit in conjunction with the Asian Festival of Speed 2010, to extend the championship lead for both his team and himself.
Things were going wrong for Bradley almost from the word go. Heavy traffic during his flying lap kept him out of the picture for pole position, and he had to settle for starting Round 3 in sixth position on the grid. He was, however, quick to make amends by charging up to take third place almost from the start, before even the first turn was negotiated.
However, Bradley’s race came to a pre-mature end, as a botched overtaking maneuver from a guest driver left him with a broken rear axle. His luck did not improve in Round 4, after he was once again hit by another car. This collision did not end his race, but it did mean he had to settle for finishing ninth.
Down but not out, Bradley returned to the field the next day with all guns blazing. Despite starting Round 5 from the back row, Bradley went all out attacking and narrowly missed out on a podium place. Bradley’s persistence and never-say-die attitude finally helped him reap rewards when he finally took the chequered flag in Round 6.
“It was a most frustrating weekend but nevertheless we achieved the ultimate objective of extending the Championship lead,” said Bradley at the end of Sunday.
“Although it didn’t go as smoothly as we would have liked, I did my best to make the most of the situation I was in and I have certainly learnt a lot,” Bradley added
Team Principal of Eurasia Motorsport Martin Quick comments, “The point of the weekend was to increase our advantage – which we did for both the Drivers’ and Teams’ Championships – but it was more difficult that it should have been because qualifying did not go well.”
He adds, “Richard has done very well to cope with the various issues and he clearly showed that he has the pace, especially in Round 5 when he chased from the back of the grid in 18th place all the way to 4th. Given one more lap in the race, he would probably have been on the podium.”
Bradley’s performance over the weekend sees him sitting on top of the championship with 86 points, 34 ahead of second-placed Oscar Tunjo. Going into the weekend, Bradley’s advantage was originally 12. His team, Eurasia Motorsport is in a similarly commanding position, having 146 points in the bag, 31 more than second-placed Meritus.
The next round of Formula BMW Pacific will take place at the end of August at South Korea’s all-new Formula 1 international circuit.
