Richard Signs A New Contract with PETRONAS Team TOM’S for 2012 Japanese F3 Season

25 Jan

2010 Formula BMW Pacific champion Richard Bradley has agreed a new contract with PETRONAS Team TOM’S for the 2012 Japanese Formula 3 season. Richard made his debut with the team last year in his first year of Formula 3 and finished the championship in fifth place, with two podiums.  Richard then joined the team for the Macau Grand Prix and finished 9th on his debut round the daunting 6.2 km Guia street circuit.

Expectations are high after Richards performances last season. Richard commented “I am very happy to be rejoining TOM’S for the 2012 season. With the experience gained last year and with proper preparation I believe we can be at the front fighting for victories and the championship. I also believe the engineering capability of the team will be a massive attribute in getting the most out of the new car and I am very much looking forward to the first round at Suzuka in April!”

S. Koumi from TOM’S added “We are very pleased to have him continuously this year in Tom’s F3 squad. Although it was difficult year for him last year but we believe he has learnt a lot and enjoyed building his experience in various aspects. We are looking forward to his further progress and establishing himself as a professional racing driver during coming season.”

Established in 1974, TOM’S Co. Ltd. specialises in the tuning of Toyota engines and other touring car components, competition parts as well as in the development and sale of semi-Toyota genuine parts. TOM’S is also the appointed works racing team of Toyota Motor Corporation and has a record which includes 14 Japanese F3 titles and 5 Macau Grand Prix Victories.

 

Valencia Post Season F3 test

6 Jan

Valencia Test December 2011


The Macau Grand Prix in November marked the last race of the 2011 season for Richard. However preparation for the 2012 season began almost immediately afterward with a 2 day test at the Valencia Ricardo Tormo circuit in Spain in the middle of December. The Spanish Moto GP circuit is a great place to test during the winter months due to the mild temperatures compared to circuits in the UK and Japan at that time of year.

 

Richard was doing the test with Carlin motorsport, the team Richard contested the 2011 Grand Prix De Pau with in May. Richard missed the first 2 days of the test  but performed very well on his first day in a car which was very different to his usual Japanese spec car. Once he got into the rhythm of the circuit.Richard was very fast on older tyres  He had some work to do on the new tyres though as the British Championship spec Cooper tyres require a very different technique to the Japanese Yokohama tyres Richard is used to.

There were fewer drivers on day 2 so this was  a perfect opportunity for Richard to work on the technique required with the new Cooper tyres.and he was much quicker than he had been on day 1.

 

Richard felt that this was a very useful test. He  made significant improvements as he became familiar with the tyre , the car and the circuit. All of this experience will be useful going into next year.

Richard Finishes 9th In Thrilling Macau Grand Prix Debut

23 Nov

Richard made his debut in the 58th running of the Macau Grand Prix on the weekend of the 20th November. This would be the first time he has competed in this famous race. 18 out of the 24 current formula one drivers have raced here.

Thursday started in difficult conditions as heavy rain greeted the drivers for practice. Richard did well to stay out of crashes in a session disrupted by many red flags and accidents to learn the 28 corner 6.2 km long street circuit. The rain stayed until Friday when qualifying took place. Richard unfortunately had some bad luck with a car crashing in front of him on his timed lap and with the road blocked Richard had no choice but to hit the other driver, damaging the car too much to continue. This meant that Richard would start in 24th place for the 10 lap qualifying race.

The qualifying race which would determine the grid for Sundays main race was run over 10 laps on Saturday afternoon. Richard made a great start to vault up into the top 20 instantly. Unfortunately an incident occurred with another driver early on and Richard was forced out of the race and would therefore start the main race from 25th.

After a dramatic start to the 58th Macau Grand Prix with a car stalling on the grid Richard made up a few positions before the safety car was brought out for the first time. From there he made his way up into the top 10 finishing in an eventual 9th place from 25th on the grid after 15 laps of racing.

The main aim of learning the track for next year was accomplished with a good result to follow and Richard will be back next year with the aim of winning. A big thank you goes out to TOM’S and Richards personal sponsor for the weekend, In Sense.

Podium finish for Richard in Sugo

26 Sep

In the final three rounds of the 2011 Japanese Formula 3 Championship, Richard Bradley scored his second podium finish of the season and would have achieved more had he not made a mistake.

Held at the Sportsland Sugo Circuit in Japan, Richard was the only driver who had not raced at the narrow and technical track before. He still managed to learn the track quickly and qualified in 3rd and 4th in the two qualifying sessions.

In Race 1, he worked his way to 2nd in the first lap and remained there until the last four laps of the race when he made a small mistake. He put a wheel wrong onto the grass and that mistake caused him to drop back to 7th place, which was where he finished eventually.

In Race 2 which was a longer race, Richard again worked his way up to second and this time, stayed there to the end to take his second podium finish of the season.

The third race was not so lucky as Richard had to use a set of used tyres for the race, as his new set was damaged during qualifying. This affected the car’s handling and having started in 5th, Richard only managed to retain that position.

Under Team TOM’S Petronas, Richard has made massive progress this year with two podium finishes and many near-misses at the podium.

This weekend concludes the end of the Japanese F3 season and Richard is now testing for his next race in Macau!

Washed out at Suzuka for Rounds 12 and 13

6 Sep

Rounds 12 and 13 of the 2011 Japanese Formula 3 championship was a complete washout and both races over the weekend were cancelled.

Richard Bradley of Team TOM’S Petronas was doing very well, coming in P2 in the first practice session on Friday, despite being on old tyres.


The weather steadily worsened with an impending typhoon and Saturday’s qualifying and race were cancelled first.

Keeping fingers crossed for Sunday’s race, it was eventually cancelled along with timed qualifying as the weather was simply too horrible for any driving.

It was frustrating as Richard was very fast in practice and it would have been exciting to see how the weekend would have turned out!

The next round will be held the same weekend as the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, what a shame Richard would have to miss F1 right here in Singapore where he lives…

Great memories of Okayama

1 Sep

The Okayama International Circuit holds fond memories for Richard Bradley as it was where he won the 2010 Formula BMW Pacific championship last year, before the season wrapped up.

Returning this season for Rounds 10 and 11 of the Japanese Formula 3 championship, Richard was happy to be back at Okayama despite not having had any F3 testing there.

During the testing session on Friday, both Richard and his Team TOM’S Petronas team-mate were about a second off the race leaders’ pace.

Making some major set-up changes overnight, the car was much better on Saturday and Richard qualified in fourth for the first race.

Unfortunately, the initially damp track started to dry up. Running the car on slicks, Richard went off on the first lap and that was the end of his race.

The second race on Sunday was held in dry conditions and Richard finished 4th. It looks like podium finishes are not far off now!

Richard is looking forward to the next race in Suzuka – which also marks the season finale – and will be missing the 2011 Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix as both race events fall on the same weekend!

Richard appointed national ambassador for F1 in Schools Singapore again

11 Aug

Richard Bradley was once again appointed as the national ambassador for F1 in Schools Singapore.

Invited to the F1 in Schools Singapore Technology Challenge on 27 July 2011 at NP Convention Centre, Richard shared his experience being in Formula 3 and also presented his insights on motorsports and what it entails.

Richard also had a little challenge against Raymond Cheong, general manager of the Singapore Motor Sports Association.

Richard is grateful for this opportunity to share his expertise and experience in motorsports to the participating students of F1 in Schools. Congratulations to all winners and keep the passion up!

Proud to be wearing his Team TOM’S Petronas suit, Richard was happy for a chance to meet young fans.

Mixed feelings at Twin Ring Motegi

9 Aug

At Rounds 8 and 9 of the 2011 Japanese Formula 3 championship, Richard Bradley of Team TOM’S Petronas showed greater progress and missed a podium finish by a hair.

Consistently one of the fastest on the grid, Richard qualified in fourth place but Race 1 turned out to be a nightmare for everyone. Shortly after the start of the race, the skies opened and poured hard on the drivers.

The lightning storm made it almost impossible to even drive in a straight line but Richard managed to get up to third place. Then the race was red-flagged due to the horrible weather conditions.

The race was restarted behind the safety car and only ran for a few laps before the end of the race. Richard unfortunately dropped to fourth place just after the safety car start and did not have enough time left to gain back third place, finishing just 0.3 seconds behind the third-placed finisher.

The weather for Race 2 on Sunday was a complete change from the day before, with the scorching sun beating down on the drivers. Confident of a podium finish, Richard was ready for a long race in the significantly hotter weather.

A decision was made to lower the tyre pressure and instead of helping, the car’s handling was affected. As a result, Richard had to struggle with the car for most of the race before making a mistake and spinning out of fifth position just before the end.

At the end of the weekend, Richard returned home with the consolation that his performance is improving steadily as he gets more time in the car. Till the next race!

Great progress for Richard at Rounds 6 – 7

18 Jul

It was a weekend of near-misses for Richard Bradley of  Team TOM’S as he almost finished third place in both races of Rounds 6 and 7 of the Japanese Formula 3 championship held at Fuji Speedway.

Qualifying was a pity as Richard probably went out too early and the track got faster as the session wore on, with later  timings getting faster. Richard eventually qualified in fifth and fourth for the two races respectively.

In Race One on Saturday, the gearbox return spring on Richard’s car unfortunately broke on the out lap. Not able to fix it on the grid, Richard had to go on with the race plagued by gear selection issues.

Expecting the problem to cause a huge disadvantage to his race, Richard instead surprised the team with his performance as he coped with the problem very well.

Finishing in fourth place, Richard was consistently one of the quickest cars of the race. At one point he was up to third place but his gears got stuck in fourth and he lost the place.

Back into Race Two on Sunday, Richard and the team were confident of a good result. Indeed, Richard had a fantastic start and overtook his team-mate for third place. Then a huge incident occurred on the track and another driver crashed into Richard, bringing a premature end to his race.

Nonetheless, Richard was fast all weekend, making great progress and keeping the general mood positive even after the race. Pleased with his progress, the team is now focused on the next race.

Richard Bradley was at Sepang for Super GT!

21 Jun

Last weekend Super GT came down to Sepang International Circuit and Richard Bradley was there to catch the action as well as support his fellow TOM’S team-mates.

with Kazuki Nakajima and 2011 Le Mans 24 Hour winner with Audi, Andre Lotterer

Slippery times at Fuji

13 Jun

At Rounds 3, 4 and 5 of the 2011 Japanese Formula 3 championship, Richard Bradley of Team Petronas TOM’S took on Fuji Speedway – possibly one of the toughest circuits on the calendar.

It was a very wet  qualifying and this was a challenge for Richard, who had not driven on the circuit in the wet before. Qualifying in seventh place, he started the race in 10th instead, after attaining a three-place grid penalty for crossing the pit lane entrance line.

Deciding to take a gamble, Richard started Race 1 (Round 3) on wet tyres and found out it was the wrong choice. Most of the others gone for slicks and gained speed as the track dried up quickly. Richard eventually finished 11th.

Starting in 10th again for Race 2 (Round 4) on Sunday, Richard had a much better race and finished in fifth place. He started Race 3 (Round 5) in 13th place and chased his way up to fourth.

Richard displayed excellent driving as he battled through the traffic, but by the time he got to the front the leading cars had too much of a gap for him to catch up within the remaining laps.

The starting grids for Sunday’s races were determined by Saturday’s results, thus posing a disadvantage to Richard. Nonetheless, he recovered well and fought to the front.

TOM’S is very happy with Richard’s progress as he is now on the pace of the leading (very experienced) drivers.

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Mission accomplished at Grand Prix de Pau

23 May

At the second round of the new FIA International Formula 3 Trophy at Pau last weekend, Japanese Formula 3 rookie and podium finisher Richard Bradley achieved what he set out to do. Driving for Carlin at the 70th Grand Prix de Pau, the objective was for Richard to get some practice on a street circuit alongside very good company such as F3 Euro Series front-runner Marco Wittmann and former British F3 champion Marko Asmer.

F3 last ran on the streets of the city in 2008 as a support race to the World Touring Car Championship. With the creation of the FIA International F3 Trophy, Pau was given the chance to revive the event. Earlier, the first round of the International F3 Trophy was held at Hockenheim with the F3 Euro Series.

As part of his preparation for the Macau Grand Prix F3 race in November, Richard headed to Pau to gain experience on a difficult street circuit, racing some of the best F3 drivers in the world. Everything went according to plan and he managed to clock valuable track time without getting involved in incidents, taking away with him some very invaluable experience.

Eventually finishing in 10th place, between his two Carlin team-mates, Richard is now back in Fuji for the official test for the Japanese F3 Championship which will run on 26 and 27 May.

To view more photos of this event, kindly visit Richard’s Facebook album here.

Richard Bradley does well on official F3 debut

17 May

After a delay of the season opening and a cancellation of the first round, 2010 Formula BMW Pacific champion Richard Bradley was eager to start his first ever Japanese Formula 3 championship.

Kicking off last weekend at Suzuka, Richard qualified 4th for both races. He finished 3rd in Race 1 and a dramatic start at Race 2 saw him stall at the start and having to chase from dead last, before finally finishing in 4th.

New to F3 and never been on Suzuka circuit (very technical track) before, TOM’S is pleased with his performance on his debut.

Richard shares his thought on his first F3 race weekend:

1. How did you feel before the race weekend? It’s your first ever official F3 race.
I felt very excited going into the race. It is my first race in F3 and at one of the hardest tracks in the world. It was obviously difficult but I was determined to deliver a good performance and also learn a lot, so I can be in a competitive position.

2. The first round was cancelled due to the earthquakes in Japan; how were you affected? 
I was affected as all of my pre-season testing and preparations were cancelled, where I would have been to two of the tracks I would be racing on this year. Thankfully everybody in the team was alright – that’s most important. In the end I had to go over to England and do some testing, but it was nowhere near as much as what it would have been. I think I made good progress though.

3. What other races are you doing this year besides F3?
This year I will be competing in the Japanese F3 championship, the Macau Grand Prix, and next week the famous Pau street race in Southern France. There are other potential races I could do as part of the FIA Intercontinental F3 Cup at Spa or Zandvoort, but these depend on sponsorship.

4. What are your expectations for this season?
Obviously I would like to win and believe I am in a good position to do so. This first round will be my weakest race of the year as it is the first one on a track I have never been to and I have had very restricted preparation. But it is my first year in F3 and so the target is to give a good performance and learn as much as possible. I think as long as I do that then the results should come.

5. How different is F3 from driving Formula BMW?
F3 is massively different to Formula BMW because of open regulations. The engine development is very open, as is aerodynamics. This means the driver has to develop the car with the engineers. They are very advanced and have a higher power to weight ratio than a Ferrari Enzo and at top speed can generate two tonnes of downforce.

6. What did you think of your performance at your first race?
Racing in Japan is very different in a special way compared to any other place in the world. The fans are very passionate and are very supportive. They never fail to surprise and always have pictures of me in go karts asking for autographs! They are very welcoming and very supportive and there are big crowds. There is obviously a slight language barrier, but most people in TOM’S speak English.

Richard will be heading over to France for the famous Pau street race next, stay tuned for an update on that! Meanwhile, Richard would like to thank each and every one for their support and encouragement! :)

Richard dons his new suit for 2011!

3 May

Richard Bradley is proud to be wearing his TOM’s suit in the official Petronas colours as he heads to Japan for the first round of the Japanese Formula 3 championship next weekend.

Richard Bradley helms the Infiniti FX safety car at Red Bull Speed Street Singapore

25 Apr

Orchard Road was closed from 3 to 6pm last Sunday for Red Bull Speed Street Singapore, where retired Formula 1 racer David Coulthard drove the Red Bull F1 car down the stretch from ION Orchard to Heeren, splitting the ear drums of many.

Richard Bradley was very privileged to have driven the Infiniti FX safety car, which was the first to appear in the showcase, sweeping the road and checking that all is clear before David Coulthard emerges.

Going as fast as 190 kilometres per hour, Richard had an awesome time and would like to thank everyone for their support!


Revised Japanese F3 calendar

15 Apr

Due to the earthquake tragedy in Japan, the first round of the 2011 Japanese Formula 3 championship has been cancelled.

The season will start in mid-May at the Suzuka circuit. Please see the revised calendar below or at www.richardbradleymotorsport.com/calendar:

New Racewear for 2011

6 Apr

Richard Bradley featured in AutoSport UK magazine!

1 Apr

*Read more in the week of March 24 2011 issue of Autosport UK!

Huge spread on Richard Bradley in zbNOW!

25 Mar

Spot Richard in this article!

23 Mar

Richard Bradley coaches at Ladies’ Night @Kartright

10 Mar

At the first ever Ladies’ Night @Kartright – an all-female karting course – Richard Bradley was engaged to be a coach, giving both basic theory and practical principles.

Buckling up his helmet

Taking the fastest lady of the night for a ride in the two-seater

Signing autographs in 9tro magazine where he was featured

Held on two nights – 25th and 26th February 2011 – Richard charmed the ladies with his vibrantly interesting experiences as they hung onto his words of wisdom.

Despite the damp track conditions, the ladies enjoyed themselves tremendously and Richard was glad to see such enthusiasm from females – who are generally not predominantly active in the world of motorsports.

Taking this chance to get his autograph as well as a photo with him, the ladies had a fruitful experience both on- and off-track.

Richard Bradley Signs With TOM’s For 2011 All-Japan Formula 3 Season

21 Feb

For Immediate Release

Richard Bradley Signs With TOM’s For 2011 All-Japan Formula 3 Season

Singapore, 21 February 2011 – After a successful rookie formula car season, Formula BMW Pacific 2010 champion and top rookie Richard Bradley will be racing in the 2011 All-Japan Formula 3 Championship with TOM’S, the performance and racing arm of Japanese automotive brands Toyota and Lexus. The 19-year-old Singapore-based driver will be competing in his debut F3 season this year.

Established in 1974, TOM’S Co. Ltd. specialises in the tuning of Toyota engines and other touring car components, competition parts as well as in the development and sale of semi-Toyota genuine parts. TOM’S is also the appointed works racing team of Toyota Motor Corporation and has scored a number of notable successes both in Japan and abroad.

“We are very happy to have Richard onboard. We followed his progress during the 2010 Formula BMW Pacific series and noticed his outstanding performance. The first time we heard of him though, was back in 2009 at the CIK-FIA World Cup in Suzuka,” said S. Koumi, general manager of the racing department and overseas operations in TOM’S.

Having had testing sessions with TOM’S during the winter, Bradley commented, “Joining TOM’S is a boyhood dream come true for me. I’ve always admired TOM’S and having the opportunity to drive for them is a real honour. F3 is a crucial step towards Formula 1 and I know I am in good hands. I look forward to a fantastic year of great success with the team.”

TOM’S has an impressive F3 track record, with remarkable successes in its history of F3 since 1985. It won 14 out of 16 races in the 1988 British F3 Championship with drivers such as 1996 F1 champion Damon Hill and former F1 drivers Martin Donnelly and J.J. Lehto. Subsequently, TOM’S won the All-Japan F3 Championship for the first time in 1991 and has won it 14 times (1991, 1993 – 1995, 1997 – 1999, 2003, 2005 – 2010) to date.

Former All-Japan F3 champions TOM’S have groomed include eight-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner Tom Kristensen, two-time All-Japan GT champion Michael Krumm, former F1 driver Pedro de la Rosa, 2010 Australian Touring Car Champion James Courtney and F1 driver Adrian Sutil. TOM’S has also won the prestigious Macau Grand Prix five times (1992, 1998 – 1999, 2007 – 2008).

“It would be good if he could win the championship in his first year in F3 like he did in Formula BMW Pacific, but it is not easy as everyone knows. It is probably best to stay in F3 for two seasons since there is simply so much to learn. It’s a long-term relationship we are building here and we’d like to see him as a world-class top racing driver in three to four years realistically,” Koumi added.

The first two rounds of the All-Japan F3 Championship starts on 16 – 17 April 2011 at Suzuka Circuit, Japan.

For more information or hi-res images, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com or visit www.richardbradleymotorsport.com

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Richard receives an award at SMSA prize giving dinner 2010

23 Jan

Richard Bradley beats Singapore’s GT5 champion!

23 Jan

Being interviewed by the emcee

Accompanied by hot queens

Playing against the Singapore GT5 champion

Richard wins by miles!

Richard gets a brand new PS3!

Formula 3 testing in the winter

14 Jan

During the off-peak racing season, Richard Bradley was in Valencia for Formula 3 testing with Team Raikkonen Robertson.

AKOC round 5 update:

13 Dec

At the fifth and last round of the Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC), Richard Bradley finished second in the pre-final and third in the final of the Formula 125 Senior Open category.

It wasn’t such a great weekend as his engine went bust, but he still managed to get his kart across the finish line.

Although Richard only participated in the first round in The Philippines (which he won and scored loads of points), another round in Macau (where he suffered great injuries after crashing and scored pathetic points) and this final round in Macau again, he still finished in overall third place.

Karting is a fantastic way to keep in shape and maintain racecraft during in-season between-race periods!

Formula BMW Pacific Champion Goes Kart Racing at AKOC Macau Before Winter Holidays

11 Dec

For Immediate Release

FORMULA BMW PACIFIC CHAMPION GOES KART RACING AT AKOC MACAU BEFORE WINTER HOLIDAYS
ASIAN OPEN KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP 2010, ROUND 5

Singapore, 10 December 2010 – Following his successful rookie formula car season wrap-up, Formula BMW Pacific champion and top rookie Richard Bradley will be rounding off his 2010 season with the fifth and final round of the Asian Karting Open Championship (AKOC). The former multiple British kart racing champion will be racing in the Formula 125 Senior Open category at the Kartodromo De Coloane in Macau this weekend.

“Karting has always been special to me and something that I will return to when I can. It is a great source of training for any racing driver, mentally or physically, and the Formula 1 drivers for example, return to karting when they can to keep fit,” said the 19-year-old Singapore-based driver.

Prior to his formula car debut, Bradley last raced a kart in November 2009 at the WSK International Series when he was a driver for the Maddox works team. The former Super KF (Karting Formula 1) driver is reunited with a Maddox kart for AKOC.

During the four-month break in the 2010 Formula BMW Pacific Championship, Bradley made a successful comeback in kart racing when he won the first round of AKOC at Carmona Circuit in The Philippines in June. He clinched top spot for both timed qualifying sessions, all three heats as well as the pre-final and the final, to claim the title.

For more information or hi-res images, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com or visit www.richardbradleymotorsport.com.

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Richard Bradley is in TODAY’s paper!

4 Dec

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Singapore’s latest automotive title REV features Richard Bradley

3 Dec

*REV is a complimentary monthly publication distributed at ESSO and Shell petrol stations islandwide every first and third Saturdays of the month.

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Bradley Heads For Formula 3 Next

26 Nov

For Immediate Release

BRADLEY HEADS FOR FORMULA 3 NEXT
Formula BMW Pacific 2010 champion Richard Bradley looks to a season in F3 next

Singapore, 26 November 2010 – Having sealed the championship at the previous race meeting in Japan, 2010 Formula BMW Pacific champion and top rookie Richard Bradley had an eventful season finale at the 57th Macau Grand Prix. Eventually wrapping up the series with 76 points ahead of the next driver, the 19-year-old sole Singaporean representative achieved the biggest winning margin ever as well as dominated the season with the most number of outright race wins (including guest drivers) in the history of Formula BMW Pacific.

Reputed as one of the most challenging street circuits in the world, the Guia Circuit in Macau indeed provided extremely exciting racing with incidents aplenty – including Bradley’s unfortunate accident at the infamous Lisboa bend on the first lap which ruined his chances of winning the race.

Qualifying on the tight Guia track was interrupted by numerous red flags and ended abruptly just as Bradley was pushing on a lap that looked good for pole. Having to settle for third on the starting grid, he was battling for second place on the first lap when he missed his braking point at the Turn 3 and mounted the rear of another driver.

After a necessary pit stop for a nose replacement and tyre change, followed by a drive-through penalty for the earlier incident, Bradley rejoined the race at the back. Working hard through the 27-strong field, he managed to overtake many on the narrow circuit and finished in 17th.

Nonetheless, the invaluable experience and knowledge gained over the weekend will prove beneficial for his career, as he looks to advance to Formula 3 next.

“This has been an unbelievable season. It is my rookie year in formula car racing and scoring maximum championship points for eight out of 15 races was just incredible. The greatest moment was winning the championship before the end of the season in Japan,” said a happy Bradley.

He added, “I would like to thank all who have believed in me – my family and friends, my team Eurasia Motorsport and my mechanics, and my sponsors HKS Garage R, 9tro and AXA. Now I can’t wait for next year!”

2010 Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel and other F1 drivers like Nico Rosberg, Nico Hulkenberg, Adrian Sutil, Timo Glock, Sebastien Buemi and Bruno Senna were all former Formula BMW champions in their younger days. While Hulkenburg won the title in 2005 by only five points ahead of Sebastien Buemi in second place, Vettel was only second in his rookie year of Formula BMW in 2003.

For more information, kindly contact RichardBradleyMedia@gmail.com.

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Richard Bradley Gains AXA Partnership for Finale in Macau

17 Nov

For Immediate Release

BRADLEY GAINS AXA PARTNERSHIP
Formula BMW Pacific champion Richard Bradley ties up with AXA Group for the finale at the 57th Macau Grand Prix

Singapore, 17 November 2010 – Sharing the success of recently-crowned 2010 Formula BMW Pacific champion and top rookie Richard Bradley, is AXA Group, one of the world’s leading insurance and asset management groups. Officially signing a race partnership agreement with AXA today, the 19-year-old sole Singaporean representative enters the final race of the season at the 57th Macau Grand Prix with a strong 77-point lead after sealing the championship in Round 13 at Japan.

“AXA has a built a highly successful life insurance business in Asia by partnering with some of the region’s best known and most highly regarded financial institutions,” said Keith Perkins, Regional Chief Operating Officer, AXA Asia Pacific Holdings. “It is with this same spirit and commitment to excellence that we are partnering Richard Bradley as he competes in the upcoming Macau Grand Prix.”

AXA Asia Life, which is part of the AXA Group and AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited, started operating in Asia in 1986. Since then, it has grown rapidly and is present today in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. AXA Asia Life serves over 2.4 million customers and employs over 4,000 employees and has about 60,000 agents and advisers across Asia.

Commenting on the partnership, Bradley said, “I am very proud to be associated with a company which is as prestigious as AXA. This is definitely very good news and I hope to build a long-time relationship with them as we go on to achieve greater success together.”

2010 Formula 1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel and other F1 drivers like Nico Rosberg and Nico Hulkenberg were former Formula BMW champions in their younger days. After winning his first ever Formula BMW season in his rookie year of racing single-seaters, Bradley is well on his way to reach Formula 1, the pinnacle of motor racing, provided he continues to secure the right commercial and technical partners.

For enquiries, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com.

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BRADLEY IS 2010 FORMULA BMW PACIFIC CHAMPION AND TOP ROOKIE!

31 Oct

Formula BMW Pacific Championship 2010, Round 13 Race Report

Singapore, 31 October 2010 – RICHARD Bradley of Singapore clinched the 2010 Formula BMW Pacific Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup titles after winning Round 13 at the Okayama International Circuit. Having led the championship right from the start, the 19-year-old Eurasia Motorsport driver never lost his hold on the lead and firmly sealed the 2010 season with one more race in Japan this weekend and the season finale at the 57th Macau Grand Prix in three weeks.

Bradley caught up to second place after starting in fourth place on the grid and went in hot pursuit of race leader Yuichi Nakayama, who qualified in pole position. Although Nakayama crossed the finish line first, the win was awarded to Bradley as Nakayama was faulted for a technical infringement.

Extending his lead to 62 points, Bradley convincingly clinched the championship as only 41 points are left on offer for the remainder of the season. Before this race, the only other driver in contention for both titles was Oscar Tunjo of Columbia.

“It’s an amazing feeling and I’m thrilled to have won the championship. Now there’s no pressure on me for the last two races and I can finally have a proper aggressive race without worrying about the consequences. Consistency was key throughout this season and I have the team to thank for this great learning process,” said a triumphant Bradley.

Bradley started his rookie single-seater season with a bang when he clinched back-to-back victories in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Formula BMW Pacific Championship which were held as support races to the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Thereafter he gained five more victories over the next four race meetings, winning the overall championship before the end of the season.

For more information or hi-res images, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com or visit www.richardbradleymotorsport.com.

Bradley Looking To Seal Championship Title In Japan This Weekend

27 Oct

Formula BMW Pacific Championship 2010, Rounds 13 & 14 Preview

Singapore, 27 October 2010 – WITH 55 points ahead of the next driver, Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup leader Richard Bradley of Singapore is looking to seal the championship title at the Okayama International Circuit this weekend, where Rounds 13 and 14 of the Formula BMW Pacific championship will be held in support of the FIA World Touring Car Championship.

As the series draws near to a close with only one more race after this weekend in Macau, Bradley’s sound lead puts him in a good position to win both titles in Japan as only one competitor of the 23-strong field is in contention.

“My usual pre-race preparations have gone well and I’m feeling great going into this weekend. My primary aim is to win the championship before Macau. I would love to be able to race there without having to worry about the championship,” said the 19-year-old Eurasia Motorsport driver.

Bradley started his rookie single-seater season with a bang when he clinched back-to-back victories in Rounds 1 and 2 of the Formula BMW Pacific Championship which were held as support races to the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Thereafter he gained four more victories over the next three race meetings, never once losing his hold on the championship lead.

For more information or hi-res images, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com.

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Richard Bradley Gains More Local Support From 9tro

18 Oct

For Immediate Release

9TRO SUPPORTS RICHARD BRADLEY
Formula BMW Pacific Championship Leader Gains More Local Backing

Singapore, 18 October 2010 – Currently leading the Formula BMW Pacific Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup, Richard Bradley is pleased to announce an official collaboration with local company 9tro Group Pte Ltd today. Specialised in automotive publishing and event management, 9tro strongly advocates raising the awareness of motorsports in Singapore as well as throughout the region. As the only Singaporean representative in the series, the 19-year-old Eurasia Motorsport driver is feeling confident about the championship with only two more race meetings to go.

A dynamic and vibrant company, 9tro recognises potential prospects and is keen on developing up and coming driving talents of the future. In addition, 9tro believes in educating the general public about the limitations and extremities of car tuning, aiding this initiative through their various influences.

“Our fervent passion and continual involvement in the local motorsports scene is testament to the Group’s vision and mission to elevate the industry to higher and greater levels. 9tro has been supporting different aspects of the sport, having been part of major motorsports events like Formula Drift and Hella Flash,” says Hong Tsui, managing director of 9tro Group Pte Ltd.

Hong adds, “Richard is indeed a fine driver and we believe in his potential to go far in the world of motor racing. We are happy to be part of his success and we will grow with him as he progresses further.”

Bradley will be joining 9tro’s other sponsored driver Gerald Tan, an experienced endurance race driver who recently won the SMSA Touring Car Challenge 2010.

Commenting on the partnership, Bradley said, “It is fantastic to have people of the same interest sharing your dream and coming together to promote the sport to higher levels. It boosts my confidence and I can only look forward to greater times ahead.”

Bradley made a spectacular debut in his rookie single-seater season at the opening rounds of the Formula BMW Pacific Championship which were held as support races to the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Clinching back-to-back victories in Rounds 1 and 2, Richard qualified in pole position and set the fastest lap times for his first two ever single-seater races. His pole position time was a new record in a Formula BMW at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.

Away from the track, Bradley continues to be an inspiration to aspiring race drivers and fellow motorsports enthusiasts. Chosen as the ambassador for F1 in Schools in Singapore, Bradley encourages the importance of technical and engineering knowledge in motorsports, and has also given talks on his racing experiences at community events like the K1 Karting Series 2010.

With three more rounds to go, Bradley leads the championship by 55 points ahead of the next driver and is also fronting the running for the Rookie Cup title. As he continues to receive the right level of technical and commercial support, Bradley may well be on his way to the pinnacle of motor racing – Formula 1 – within the next few years.

For more information, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com

About Richard Bradley
(www.richardbradleymotorsport.com) Formula BMW Pacific driver Richard Bradley is a renowed multiple British kart racing champion and has raced at the KF1 (Karting Formula 1), the highest level of karting. Since he first started karting at the age of eight, Bradley has gone on to win several titles, including the 2008 British Open Championship. He became the youngest ever winner of a Formula A S1 MSA British Kart Championship round at the age of 15 years and 8 months and had three Top 6 finishes in the 2009 CIK FIA Super KF1 European Championship. In addition, he was a CIK-FIA sponsored young driver in the 2009 CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Cup and CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Championship.

About 9tro Group Pte Ltd
(www.9tro.com) Singapore’s newest and youngest company within its industry, 9tro aims at becoming the nation’s definitive motorsports and tuners publication. Within the two divisions of the Group – Publications and Event Management – 9tro has positioned itself strategically for the sole purpose of promoting motorsports, knowledge sharing and education. As sponsors of participants involved in motorsports at varying levels, the goal of developing the local and regional automotive industry serves as a priority, bar none. The continual commitment to promoting the industry of tuners, mated with the dissemination of motorsports news, technical know-hows and legal extremities through various creative avenues are examples of how 9tro plans on promoting and developing the industry.

HOTNews: Garage R supports Richard Bradley

16 Oct

HOT Stuff (#92)

HOTInterview: Quick Thinking

16 Oct

An interview with Richard in Singapore’s HOT Stuff magazine:

HOT Stuff (#92)

Richard’s successful Guangdong round reported in Wheels Asia magazine

15 Oct

An almost-perfect weekend at Guangdong for Richard:

Wheels Asia (Oct)

Wheels Asia (Oct)

Formula BMW News: Bradley looks to lock up 2010 Drivers title

14 Oct

Preview – Rounds 13 & 14, Okayama International Circuit, Japan

Okayama, Japan –With just three Formula BMW Pacific races remaining, the pressure is on the region’s premier junior single-seater drivers to earn valuable championship points in the penultimate meeting in support of the FIA World Touring Car Championship at the Okayama International Circuit from October 29-31.

Leading the charge in both the Drivers Classification and Rookie Cup is Richard Bradley (SIN/19/Eurasia Motorsport) who last month took his seventh win of the season at his home circuit in support of the 2010 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX.

Bradley’s 55-point lead makes him all but unreachable and only Colombian Oscar Tunjo (Meritus) is in a position to challenge for the titles. Tunjo, however, will arrive in Okayama buoyed by the momentum of having taken his maiden victory in Round 12 in Singapore.

Behind Bradley and Tunjo lies Formula BMW Pacific Junior Jordan Oon (AUS/20/E-Rain Racing), whose challenging weekend in Singapore eliminated him from championship contention. Still, expect Oon to be on form in Okayama, where all but two of the 23-strong field will be racing on the 3.7 km circuit for the first time.

Fourth in the Drivers Classification is Calvin Wong (MAS/18/PETRONAS Mofaz Racing), one of the two drivers who will be able to use his experience in Okayama in 2009 to his advantage. Rounding out the top five is Rookie Nabil Jeffri (MAS/16/Eurasia Motorsport).

Formula BMW Pacific Juniors Jesse Dixon (AUS/18/Atlantic Racing Team) and Kotaro Sakurai (JPN/16/Eurasia Motorsport) will also look to impress in Okayama, especially the latter, who will be racing in his home country, no doubt in front of family and friends. Compatriots Ryo Hirakawa (16/Asia Racing Team) and Yuichi Nakayama (19/Asia Racing Team) will also be competing on home turf as they join Formula BMW Pacific as guest drivers.

As the promising young drivers take the first step in their single-seater careers, they will no doubt aspire to follow in the footsteps of 2006 Formula BMW Junior Daniel Ricciardo who this year became the first graduate of the Asian series to reach Formula 1 when he was signed as Red Bull’s test and reserve driver. Ricciardo continues to impress and recently finished his maiden season in the Formula Renault 3.5 series as vice-champion.

While the series regulars will battle it out for the coveted podium positions, guest drivers will add to the exciting mix. Joining Hirakawa and Nakayama as guest drivers are Andrey Khrapov (RUS/19/Meritus), Jimmy Antunes (SUI/16/Atlantic Racing Team) and Red Bull Juniors Carlos Sainz Junior (ESP/16/Eurointernational) and Daniil Kvyat (RUS/16/Eurointernational).

Richard Bradley Further Widens Championship Lead

29 Sep

Formula BMW Pacific 2010 Report, Rounds 11 & 12

Singapore, 27 September 2010 – IT was a weekend of controversy within the Formula BMW Pacific camp with post-race penalties altering the initial results, but championship leader Richard Bradley pulls ahead neatly with a 55-point stronghold over the next driver for both the Drivers’ Championship and the Rookie Cup. At his first ever street race experience, the 19-year-old Eurasia Motorsport driver clinched a win in Round 11 on Saturday and a podium finish in third place for Round 12 on Sunday. With only three races to go in Japan next month and Macau in November, Bradley is feeling confident about the championship.

Qualifying was special as Bradley raced under the lights on Friday night. A mistake during his fastest lap cost him pole position, placing him in second. Bradley then started from second place on the grid for Round 11 on Saturday afternoon. He took the lead from Turn 7 in the first lap and led for most of the race until the final lap when Formula BMW Europe guest driver Daniil Kvyat of Eurointernational hit him from behind. Kvyat took the chequered flag but was subsequently penalised for the move by the stewards, awarding Bradley the win. Regardless, as guest drivers are not entitled to score points, Bradley scored full points for Round 11 with an additional point for qualifying.

“Qualifying was frustrating as I made an error on my fastest lap but nonetheless it was a good solid result and it felt great winning my first ever street race. I’m happy with my performance and it’s a fantastic result for the championship,” said Bradley.

The second race on Sunday afternoon was an incident-filled one as drivers knocked into each other and took each other out. Bradley remained calm amid the mayhem and focused on the championship. He crossed the finish line in fourth but was boosted to third place after the initial race winner received a post-race penalty.

“The objective was to focus on the championship; hence I took a conservative approach and didn’t want to risk messing anything up. I took it easy and it was a true Sunday drive for me. I even asked my engineer for popcorn over the radio!” Bradley added.

For more information or hi-res images, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com.

Moments from the Singapore Grand Prix

26 Sep

Richard Bradley off to a great start

26 Sep

Formula BMW Pacific Championship Leader Wins His First Street Race At Home

Formula BMW Pacific 2010, Round 11

Singapore, 26 September 2010 – IN his first ever race on a street circuit, Formula BMW Pacific championship leader Richard Bradley clinched the win in a most intense and controversial of battles. Although the 19-year-old Eurasia Motorsport driver crossed the finish line in second place, the results were reversed after an investigation by the stewards and Bradley was awarded the win. With a lead of 57 points in the Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup, Bradley needs to extend his lead to 64 points ahead of his closest rival in this afternoon’s race to clinch both titles.

Having started in second place, Bradley took the lead from Turn 7 in the first lap and led for most of the race until the final lap when Formula BMW Europe guest driver Daniil Kvyat of Eurointernational hit him from behind. Kvyat took the chequered flag but was subsequently penalised for the move by the stewards, giving Bradley the win.

As guest drivers are not entitled to score points, Bradley widened his lead for the Drivers Championship and Rookie Cup to 57 points, scoring full points for Round 11 and one more point for qualifying.

“Qualifying was frustrating as I made a mistake on my fastest lap but nonetheless it was a good solid result and I was confident for the race. It feels great to win my first ever street race. I’m happy with my performance and it’s a fantastic result for the championship,” said Bradley.
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For more information or hi-res images, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com.

Richard featured on Channel NewsAsia again!

23 Sep

Thrills and excitement at this year’s F1 support races
21 September 2010
Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The F1 cars are no doubt the star attraction of this week’s Singapore GP, but there are other fast cars vying for attention.

Two support races – the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia and the Formula BMW Pacific events – are churning up the excitement as well.

The Porsche Carrera Cup, the region’s premier GT championship, is seeing a record entry of 23 drivers.

There will be two Classes – A for the professionals and B for amateurs – with all competing in two races instead of one this year.

Five of the drivers are from Singapore, and they are hoping to impress the home supporters.

“We have got about 20-plus more horsepower than the car last year. It’s a wider platform, so we expect the lap times to be a little quicker,” said Mok Weng Sun, Team PCS Racing, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.

“Singapore is the premier Grand Prix in the world right now, and the more time we have on the track, the better it is for us,” said Yuey Tan, Wimobolize McElrea Racing, Porsche Carrera Cup Asia.

For the younger, up and coming drivers, the Formula BMW Pacific race is the perfect platform.And Singapore-based racing driver Richard Bradley is currently leading the pack.

A win at the Marina Bay circuit for the 19-year-old Englishman could see him take the championship title this year.

Many of the young Formula BMW drivers could progress to Formula One in future. Seven of the 20 team drivers from this season’s Formula One World Championship were Formula BMW graduates, like Adrian Sutil, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg among others.

Article source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1082522/1/.html

HKS Garage R Sponsors Richard Bradley

21 Sep

Formula BMW Pacific Championship Leader Secures Partnership
with Local Automotive Company

Singapore, 21 September 2010 – Formula BMW Pacific championship leader Richard Bradley officially announced a partnership with leading local motorsports company Fong Mui Garage R Trading Pte Ltd today. Recognising the need for support in order to elevate to higher levels of the sport, HKS Garage R’s passion in motorsports is well reflected in their commitment and involvement in the sport as both a sponsor as well as a racing team – Team HKS Garage R Racing. As the only Singapore representative, Bradley, the 19-year-old Eurasia Motorsport driver, will be racing the streets of Marina Bay circuit this weekend at Rounds 11 and 12 of the Series, which is a support race to the 2010 FORMULA 1TM SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX.

An established distributor of high performance automotive parts and accessories, HKS Garage R is renowned for its extensive automotive knowledge, tuning capabilities, engineering prowess, and skilled expertise in building and maintaining cars.

In line with its motorsports creed of unconditional commitment and pure passion, HKS Garage R has been supporting local teams and drivers across different aspects of the sport. Additionally, HKS Garage R has earned esteemed credibility in motorsports with its rich experience in regional race participation.

Team HKS Garage R Racing’s impressive portfolio includes competition in drag racing, drifting, rallying and circuit racing, with podium finishes at the inaugural Sepang 1000km 2009 and last month’s Merdeka Millenium Endurance Race 2010. Plans to race at the Macau Grand Prix in 2011 are in the pipeline too.

“Being actively involved in racing and having achieved success, HKS Garage R understands the various challenges and needs of both a driver and a team. We develop and build our own cars, provide our own technical support and pit crew, as well as train and manage our own team of drivers,” said Lawrence Lee, managing director of Fong Mui HKS Garage R Trading Pte Ltd.

“Richard is a very talented driver and has great potential to progress to the higher ranks of motor racing. We have confidence in his driving and we are enthusiastic about growing with him through a long-standing relationship. This weekend will be an exciting one as he races in front of the home crowd and we are proud to be part of Richard’s unyielding drive to success,” Lee added.

Commenting on the partnership, Bradley said, “I’m definitely very happy to have HKS Garage R onboard and it is great to work with like-minded people who share the same passion. I look forward to being an ambassador for the brand and representing HKS Garage R and its comprehensive range of automotive products and services through my racing.”

Bradley made a spectacular debut in his rookie single-seater season at the opening rounds of the Formula BMW Pacific Championship which were held as support races to the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Clinching back-to-back victories in Rounds 1 and 2, Richard qualified in pole position and set the fastest lap times for his first two ever single-seater races. His pole position time was a new record in a Formula BMW at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.

Away from the track, Bradley continues to be an inspiration to aspiring race drivers and fellow motorsports enthusiasts. Chosen as the ambassador for F1 in Schools in Singapore, Bradley advocates the importance of technical and engineering knowledge in motorsports, and has also given talks on his racing experiences at community events like the K1 Karting Series 2010.

With five more rounds to go, Bradley leads the championship by 40 points ahead of the next driver and is also fronting the running for the Rookie Cup title. As he continues to receive the right level of technical and commercial support, Bradley may well be on his way to the highest level of motor racing – Formula 1 – within the next few years.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________
For more information or hi-res images, kindly contact richardbradleymedia@gmail.com.

About Richard Bradley
(www.richardbradleymotorsport.com) Formula BMW Pacific driver Richard Bradley is a renowed multiple British kart racing champion and has raced at the KF1 (Karting Formula 1), the highest level of karting. Since he first started karting at the age of eight, Bradley has gone on to win several titles, including the 2008 British Open Championship. He became the youngest ever winner of a Formula A S1 MSA British Kart Championship round at the age of 15 years and 8 months and had three Top 6 finishes in the 2009 CIK FIA Super KF1 European Championship. In addition, he was a CIK-FIA sponsored young driver in the 2009 CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Cup and CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Championship.

About HKS Garage R
(www.hks-garager.com.sg) Founded in 1994, HKS Garage R has since grown into a leading automotive company in the region, with expansion ventures beyond the shores of Singapore. Today, the 25,000 square-feet HKS Garage R one-stop facility situated at 422 Tagore Industrial Avenue provides a comprehensive range of automotive services: performance upgrades and customisation of cars, regular car servicing and maintenance, new and used car sales, building of race-specified engines and cars, distribution of performance parts and accessories to the region as well as providing technical assistance and troubleshooting to their network of dealers.

HKS Garage R has also gained credibility in motorsports, managing its own racing arm Team HKS Garage R Racing, which has competed regionally and achieved commendable podium finishes at big races like the 12-hour Merdeka Millenium Endurance. Part of parent company Fong Mui Group of Companies, there are five business units, including Fong Mui Garage R Trading Pte Ltd, Garage R Pte Ltd, Garage R Performance Centre Pte Ltd, Pro Tune Performance Pte Ltd and Fong Mui Garage R Singapore Pte Ltd.

Be a fan of Richard Bradley!

21 Sep
Come and be part of the Official Richard Bradley Fan Club page in Facebook, only at www.facebook.com/richardbradleymotorsport.com!
Join now!

Flying the flag at S’pore GP

15 Sep

The New Paper
Va-Va-Vroom
15 Sep 2010

WITH only two support races at this year’s Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, there will be less local representation on the Marina Bay street circuit.

Between the Porsche Carrera Cup Asia (PCCA) and Formula BMW (FBMW) Pacific championships, there will only be four drivers flying the Singapore flag compared to seven drivers last year.

Mok Weng Sun, Ringo Chong and Yuey Tan are racing in the PCCA while Richard Bradley is the sole representative in FBMW Pacific, where he is leading the Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup.

Mok of Team Porsche Club Singapore Racing is leading the PCCA Class B championship, with Chong third and Tan fifth.

In his first full season of PCCA, Tan, 28, races for McElrea Racing team in Class B of the PCCA and the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Australia.

He was the first Asian to race a Boeing 747 jetliner in a Porsche GT3 Cup Car at Changi Airport Terminal 3 last year.

Bradley, a 19-year-old Briton based in Singapore, moved here last year to pursue professional racing.

Having only raced in karts previously, Bradley had a spectacular rookie season racing when he won his first two races with the fastest lap times and even set the record for a Formula BMW at Sepang International Circuit.

He is now leading the championship by 40 points with only five rounds left.

The New Paper speaks to Tan and Bradley as they prepare for next week’s Singapore GP:

THE NEW PAPER: HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT RACING IN SINGAPORE?
YUEY TAN: It is an absolutely fantastic event for the spectators and fans alike, and I feel proud to be Singaporean at my home circuit. I hope that the street circuit continues to grow and more Singaporeans have the chance to compete at this beautiful spectacle.
RICHARD BRADLEY: I feel very good about racing in Singapore for the first time, especially in an event as prestigious as the Singapore GP. I am representing Singapore and I aim to fly the flag high on my home ground.

HOW DIFFERENTLY DO YOU PREPARE FOR SINGAPORE COMPARED TO THE OTHER CIRCUITS?
YT: My preparation for the Singapore GP is not too different. It’s important for the team to try and take it like any other race, and work on the fundamentals and techniques to drive a good race. The two largest differences between Singapore and the other venues are that we are under lights at a night race and that it is a street circuit. Concrete walls can sometimes play tricks on the mind.
RB: Singapore will be the very first street race for me, so it’ll be a whole new experience. Physically and mentally I will approach it with the same desire and passion to win.

IS THERE MORE PRESSURE RACING IN FRONT OF A HOME CROWD?
YT: Of course, being in front of the home crowd can make a difference, especially with friends and family watching the race. Nonetheless, we will try our best to take it like any other race and keep it simple by going out there and doing our best.
RB: There is pressure at every race and if a driver doesn’t feel the pressure then he wouldn’t be normal. However, I will not let the crowd influence me and I will just take it as another race.

Pre-race Coverage in Berita Harian

12 Sep

Berita Harian, 12 Sep 2010

Read about Richard and his father in Expat Living

11 Sep

Expat Living Singapore
September 2010 issue

En Route to F1: Richard Bradley

10 Sep

Laguna National Country Club’s Laguna Lifestyle magazine
Sep – Oct 2010 issue

Formula BMW Pacific Championship Leader Richard Bradley Aims To Fly Singapore Flag High At F1

9 Sep

Formula BMW Pacific 2010, Rounds 11 – 12 Preview

Singapore, 9 September 2010 – Championship leader Richard Bradley aims to do Singapore proud and fly the flag high when the Formula BMW Pacific 2010 series comes round to the Marina Bay street circuit as a support race to the Formula 1 SingTel Singapore Grand Prix. Currently topping the Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup with 40 points ahead of the next driver, the 19-year-old Team Eurasia Motorsport driver is fresh from three race wins in Guangdong last weekend and will be racing proudly under the Singapore flag.

“Last weekend at Guangdong gave me a lot of confidence going into the remainder of the season. I am looking forward to racing here in Singapore, especially with the qualifying session to be held at night under the lights. I will do my best to fly the Singapore flag high at the top of the podium,” said Bradley.

Formula BMW is a premier entry-level single-seater racing series which groomed many Formula 1 drivers on their way up: Next to Sebastian Vettel – runner-up in F1 last year – Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil, Timo Glock, Sebastien Buemi, Nicolas Hulkenberg and Bruno Senna are all former Formula BMW drivers.

Bradley made a spectacular debut in his rookie single-seater season at the opening rounds of the Formula BMW Pacific Championship which were held as support races to the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Clinching back-to-back victories in Rounds 1 and 2, Richard qualified in pole position and set the fastest lap times for his first two ever single-seater races. His pole position time was a new record in a Formula BMW at Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia.

At Rounds 3 to 6 held at Sepang again, Bradley experienced a run of ill fate with technical issues and on-track collisions but remained calm and displayed brilliant driving prowess in times of adversity to triple his lead at the top of the Championship tables.

The Series then paused for a four-month break before resuming in early September at Guangdong International Circuit. During this period, the former multiple British kart racing champion made a return at the opening round of the Asian Open Karting Championship (AKOC) in June to keep fit and enhance his race craft.

Since he last raced in karts last November at the WSK International Series (Super KF category), Bradley has not karted competitively. Still, that did not stop him from clinching pole position before going on to win all three heats, the pre-final as well as the final at the Formula 125 Senior class of AKOC.

At the last four races in Guangdong, Bradley surged ahead with a 40-point lead after winning all but one race at Rounds 7 to 10 of the Formula BMW Pacific series over the weekend. The only race he did not win was due to an unforeseen retirement as his engine failed whilst he was leading Round 9.

Bradley has proven to be an inspiration to aspiring race drivers and fellow motorsports enthusiasts through interactions with the public, including the community at large. He is the ambassador for F1 in Schools in Singapore, advocating the importance of technical and engineering knowledge in motorsports. He also made special guest appearances at the K1 Karting Series 2010, where he shared his racing experiences and secrets to success.

Since he first raced in karts at the age of eight, Bradley has gone on to raced at KF1 (Karting Formula 1), the highest level of kart racing, and has won numerous titles, including the 2008 British Open Championship. He became the youngest ever winner of a Formula A S1 MSA British Kart Championship round at the age of 15 years and 8 months and had three Top 6 finishes in the 2009 CIK FIA Super KF1 European Championship. In addition, he was a CIK-FIA sponsored young driver in the 2009 CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Cup and CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Championship.

With the right level of technical and commercial support, Bradley may well be on his way to the highest level of motor racing – Formula 1 – within the next few years.

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One on One with Richard Bradley

9 Sep

SingaporeSports.sg features Richard Bradley in the lead up to the Singapore rounds of the Formula BMW Pacific championship…

Singapore-based ace karter Richard Bradley is making waves in the local and regional motorsport scene. Competing in the Formula BMW Pacific Championship this season, Richard is currently leading the Drivers’ Championship and Rookie Cup.

Making the transition from racing karts to single-seaters when he moved to Singapore at the end of last year, Richard last raced in a kart last November. He made a return to kart racing in June this year at the opening round of the Asian Open Karting Championship (AKOC) where he clinched pole position before going on to win all three heats, the pre-final as well as the final at the Formula 125 Senior class of AKOC. Richard races proudly under the Singapore flag as his race license was issued by the Singapore Motor Sport Association.

We got the opportunity to speak to him about his career experiences and ambitions, as well as his participation in the upcoming Singapore Grand Prix.

1. Share with us some of the highlights of your journey so far.

This is my first year racing in Formula cars, having raced in karts since I was eight. The biggest highlight so far is winning my first two car races at the opening round of the (Formula BMW Pacific) season where I qualified on pole, led the race from start to finish, won both races and set the fastest lap time ever in a Formula BMW for the Sepang International Circuit. Also, the feeling of winning at an F1 race (Formula BMW was a support race to the F1 Malaysian Grand Prix) was incredulous!

As for my kart racing career, I’ve raced at KF1 (Karting Formula 1), the highest level of kart racing. Since I first karted at the age of eight, I’ve won numerous titles, including the 2008 British Open Championship. I became the youngest ever winner of a Formula A S1 MSA British Kart Championship round at the age of 15 years and 8 months and had three Top 6 finishes in the 2009 CIK FIA Super KF1 European Championship. In addition, I was a CIK-FIA sponsored young driver in the 2009 CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Cup and CIK-FIA Super KF1 World Championship.

2. What do you hope to achieve out of your motorsports career?

I am aiming to win the Formula BMW Pacific championship this year, before moving on to secure a seat in Formula 3 next year. As with all professional sports, sponsorship support is important as we go up the ladder. With the right level of technical and commercial support, I hope to get to the highest level of motor racing and be in Formula 1 within the next five years.

3. In September you will be driving right here on home ground at the Singapore Grand Prix. How do you feel about it?

I am really excited about getting to drive on home ground in front of the Singaporean crowd. The lights are already being set up now and I’m looking forward to the race. It will be my first time driving on a street circuit and I hope to fly the Singapore flag high at the top of the podium that weekend. I will do my best to achieve a good performance and do Singapore proud.

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