BMW Z4M Coupe, File photo 

PETRONAS Syntium Team
2008 PETRONAS PRIMAX 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race
Qualifying Session
Friday, 29 August 2008

PETRONAS SYNTIUM TEAM KICKS OFF MME PROCEEDINGS REALISTIC

Kuala Lumpur, 29 August 2008 – The PETRONAS Syntium Team dual entry have qualified to start the ninth edition of the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race in the blue-ribbon Class O from fourth and sixth, respectively.

Friday’s three qualifying sessions to determine the aggregate lap time taken as a combination of the fastest lap of each driver from each car saw the trio of Nobuteru Taniguchi (JPN), Manabu Orido (JPN) and Johannes Stuck (LI) in the number 28 BMW Z4M Coupe qualify with the fourth fastest aggregate time ahead of teammates Masataka Yanagida (JPN), Tatsuya Kataoka (JPN) and Fariqe Hairuman (MAS) in the number 20 BMW Z4M Coupe with the sixth fastest aggregate time.

Car No. 28 BMW Z4M Coupe, P4
Nobuteru Taniguchi, (fastest lap: 2:12.0mins)
“Overall, I think the team have done a fantastic job to prepare for the weekend. I am really happy to be here to race at the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race, especially as this is the team’s home race. The qualifying session today was probably not the easiest as there was quite a lot of traffic. Despite that I am quite happy that the lap times were quite consistent, though I think that having the fastest lap today is perhaps not the most important factor for an endurance race, but I am definitely looking forward to it.”

Manabu Orido (fastest lap: 2:11.6mins)
“It’s always fun being back in Sepang, as I really enjoy racing here. To be back here racing for the PETRONAS Syntium Team is a bonus, as after the 24hours of Tokachi this is my second race as a guest driver with the team and that this race is on the team’s home ground, makes it quite special. Qualifying today was not as I had expected as having to negotiate all that traffic was definitely a challenge! But I think we can be happy with the pace of the car, especially looking forward to the race tomorrow.”

Johannes Stuck (fastest lap: 2:12.3mins)
“First of all, I am really glad to be back here in Sepang with the PETRONAS Syntium Team for the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race. After the experience of last year’s race, I always feel that I have some unfinished business here, which is definitely a motivation looking forward to tomorrow’s race. The qualifying itself was really tough today, especially with the dirty track surface as well as having to negotiate the traffic which made it quite difficult to get in a good clean lap. Nevertheless I am quite happy with the lap times that we were able to get, though it is not the most important factor in an endurance race, which relies of other factors like a good strategy and consistency. I am definitely looking forward to the race.”

Car No. 20 BMW Z4M Coupe, P6
Masataka Yanagida, (fastest lap: 2:12.9mins)
“I have been to Sepang many times for the GT races but this is my first time at the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race, especially as it is the PETRONAS Syntium Team’s home race. After a good race at the 24hours of Tokachi last month, I think we are well prepared for a good race tomorrow. The qualifying today was relatively OK, though I think everybody faced the same issues either with the traffic or the slippery surface. We knew the competition was going to be tough, but getting the fastest time is not so important for a race like this as things often develop differently for the race, so I will definitely give my best tomorrow.”

Tatsuya Kataoka, (fastest lap: 2:12.0mins)
“Coming here after winning the 24hours of Tokachi last month, I am really looking forward to the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race. To be a part of the team for this race is also quite special as well, for the sponsors PETRONAS and for the team. The qualifying today was definitely a difficult one, as it really was quite tough to get in a good flying lap, with all the other cars on track at the same time. I also did not manage to do quite as many laps as I would have liked but overall, I think that we are consistent which will go a long way for an endurance race like this. I will definitely do my best for the race tomorrow.”
 

Fariqe Hairuman, (fastest lap: 2:13.5mins)
“This is my seventh year in Malaysia’s premier endurance race, and it’s definitely really good to be back here. Like Johannes, I really feel like this year I have to accomplish something, especially after the experience we had in the race last year. For sure, it is quite difficult to predict what will happen in the race tomorrow based on what we saw in today’s qualifying session. As for our qualifying session, I have to admit that it was not the easiest as during my session I had quite a lot of traffic to work through and the changing track surface to try and get a good flying lap in. Despite that, I will definitely try my best for the race tomorrow.”

David Wong, Team Principal, PETRONAS Syntium Team: “From the outset it was always our main goal to bring both cars home and finish the race. After today’s qualifying session, I think that all six drivers did a great job, in spite of all the difficulties they faced with the traffic and dirty track conditions throughout all three session. We also knew that the competition was always going to be quite tough with the quality of the competitors coming into this race. With that in mind, the team is really looking forward to what we hope will be a good race.”