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| January 28, 2010 |
| GP2 Asia: Rossi Signs with Meritus |
 | Alexander Rossi will compete in the remainder of the GP2 Asia season with MalaysiaQI-Meritus
(Photo: GP2 Series Media Services) |
DUBAI, UAE (January 27, 2010) - Alexander Rossi will contest the remaining rounds of the GP2 Asia Series with the championship winning team, Malaysia-QI-Meritus.
The arrangement will partner 18 year-old American with former GP2 race winner Luca Filippi, as Rossi looks forward to a strong finish to the championship.
"I want to thank Peter Thompson, President and team founder of MalaysiaQIMeritusMaharaGP.com and its Chairman Raad S. Abduljawad for giving me the chance to compete for the rest of the season", Rossi commented. "I am very confident in the teams abilities to prepare a race-winning car and I am looking forward to getting back to work in Abu Dhabi. My goals are simple - 'to win' and I feel that I can deliver on this ambition as this team is one of continual strength and determination."
Shortly after making his GP2 Asia series debut, Rossi traveled to Jerez, Spain where he participated in his Formula One test with BMW Sauber. After a flawless 85-lap official test, Rossi was more determined than ever to continue his pursuit in obtaining his ultimate goal of Formula One.
Partnering with Malaysia Qi Meritus for the remaining rounds of the GP2 Asia championship will further develop his abilities and experience enabling him to reach his goal.
“The GP2 cars are very enjoyable to drive, but very physical at the same time," said Rossi. "In many ways they are more physical than F1 cars, which have the benefit of power steering. My training has been at a very high level since last September, and the past month back home has been six days a week in preparation for 2010. I feel fantastic and I know that I am ready for the next GP2 race in Abu Dhabi. It will be the first time in my racing career that I’ve returned to a circuit twice with the same car, so I’m looking forward to seeing what I can do."
“I’ve been following Alexander’s progress for the last couple of years,” said Malaysia-QI-Meritus team principal Peter Thompson. “He impressed me with his speed in both Formula BMW and Formula Master, where he beat Earl Bamber, who’s a guy we know and rate highly. He’s got a great attitude, very focused and has a big future. I first made contact with Alexander in the adjacent pit garage at the first round of the GP2 Asia Series in Abu Dhabi, where he was racing for Ocean Racing Technology. Then several things just clicked together after that, as we spoke a lot. I’m delighted to have signed him!”
Rossi currently lies fifth in the GP2 Asia Championship, only two points out of second place after the opening two rounds driving for Ocean Racing Technology.
After Rounds Three & Four in Abu Dhabi, the series will make a short trip across the Arabian Gulf to Bahrain, where the final four rounds of the championship take place at the Sakhir circuit. Rossi has not had an opportunity to race at the track, but he doesn’t expect that to pose a problem.
“I am scheduled for a GP2 Bahrain simulator in the U.K next month", said Rossi. "On top of this, I am very confident in my ability to learn new circuits quickly. We only have a 30-minute practice session prior to qualifying, so we will need to be on pace immediately in order to start dialing in the set-up of my car. "
The Malaysia-QI-Meritus team are very professional and they have some great engineers, so I’m very excited about driving for them," the American added. "It will also be useful for me to be alongside Luca Filippi, who has so much experience. I have a lot of respect for him and I will try and pick up everything I can.
More information can be found regarding Rossi can be found at, http://www.alexanderrossi.com or by contacting Team Rossi Motorsports manager Pieter Rossi at (001) 530-477-3404.
Rossi's 2009 Partners include CS&A, Alaska Coffee Roasting, North Miami Travel, Intervision, Norlie International, Meyers Investment Group, Racing Legends Motorsports, National Breast Cancer Foundation, Sierra Timberline, Century Equipment Company, Alan K. Wong M.D., Performance Drink, Emagine Design, Sparco USA, McSweeney and Associates, Big O Tire of Grass Valley, John Deere Credit, Real Life Fitness, Grass Valley Sign and G. Russell Enterprises.
From only 98 formula car starts to-date, the 18 year-old Rossi has netted 34 wins, 51 podiums, 32 poles and a current win percentage of 34.61%. He is the 2009 International Formula Master Rookie champion, finishing fourth overall with three wins. Rossi is the 2008 Formula BMW World Final winner and 2008 Formula BMW Americas champion with 11 wins, 10 poles and 11 fastest laps. Rossi holds Formula BMW America series record with 14 wins to his credit and 11 pole positions. In the 2007 Formula BMW USA
championship, Rossi finished third in overall in points with three wins and five podiums. |
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