30 August 2008, BY Petronas Syntium Team
Kuala Lumpur, 31 August 2008 – It was an emotional weekend for the PETRONAS Syntium Team, with the team experiencing concern after Fariqe’s accident and delight after a great finish by the team’s No. 28 BMW Z4M Coupe at the ninth edition of the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race.
The year-long wait to overcome the disappointment from the team’s outing last year, the 2008 edition of the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race on Saturday provided cause for celebration for the PETRONAS Syntium Team. Despite the mechanical setbacks in the earlier phases of the 12-hour endurance race, the trio of Nobuteru Taniguchi, Manabu Orido and Johannes Stuck were able to bring the No.28 BMW Z4M Coupe home in overall fourth place.
Meanwhile, it was a reverse of fortunes for the team’s second BMW Z4M Coupe in the hands of the team’s three other drivers, Masataka Yanagida, Tatsuya Kataoka and Fariqe Hairuman. As a result of an accident with another car from a different class in the eighth hour of the race, the No.20 BMW Z4M Coupe was forced into an early retirement. Malaysian driver Fariqe Hairuman, who was driving at the time of the accident was taken to the circuit’s medical facility for checks and later taken to hospital for further medical treatment. Fariqe did not sustain any serious injuries from the accident and is expected to be released from hospital within the next day.
Car No. 28 BMW Z4M Coupe, Overall 4th Place
Nobuteru Taniguchi (JPN): “This was my first time racing with the PETRONAS Syntium Team at the MME race here at the home circuit for the team and for the team’s main partner, PETRONAS. From the beginning I felt that this was an important race for PETRONAS. Unfortunately, we did suffer some mechanical problems in the race, but everyone worked really hard to fix it and we managed to finish in fourth place. We finished very close to a podium finish but we were not able to get it. Nevertheless, I think everyone did a fantastic job and we fought as hard as we could. If I get another chance next time, I
would like to get the race win! I have to thank everyone on the team from David Wong for giving me this opportunity, PETRONAS and Yokohama for their incredible support this weekend, thank you.”
Manabu Orido (JPN): “Overall, I really enjoyed this weekend a lot! Congratulations to the team for the result. We had some problems in the race especially with the power steering, which lost us valuable time during the race but everyone did a fantastic job to get the car running again. It was a wonderful experience for me to be part of the team for this race and I had
a good time. I would like to thank the team, the partners PETRONAS and Yokohama, the crew and my teammates for this experience. It was my first time at the MME and it turned out to be a memorable race for me. Thank you!”
Johannes Stuck (LI): “Of course I had high expectations coming back to the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium race, especially with two cars this year. Unfortunately, both cars had mechanical problems during the race but everyone did an amazing job and I am really proud to have been part of it. It was great to have had the chance to race with the PETRONAS Syntium Team again, with my teammates Taniguchi and Orido, who are excellent drivers and fun to hang around with, despite the obvious communication barrier. The race itself was really physically demanding and probably ranks up there as one of the most difficult and with 12 blisters on my hand to prove it, it is comparable to my experience at Tokachi last year, but I really enjoyed it! Overall, it was great to be back and get this result after the disappointment we had last year!”
Car No. 20 BMW Z4M Coupe, Retired after 8hrs 33mins, Accident
Masataka Yanagida (JPN): “Most importantly, I am glad that my teammate Fariqe is OK. I saw the monitor and I was really worried when I saw him being taken away in the ambulance after the accident. Thankfully, it was not serious and that he will be back soon! As for the race itself, at the start of race, the car felt really good, as we had a good competitive pace. Up to the point where we ran into some mechanical problems, the car was really good and consistent. Then when we suffered the second problem it was really hard to drive but after the crew did a great job to repair the power steering problem, the car was a lot easier to handle. Naturally, this is part and parcel of endurance racing. I want to say thank you very much to everyone on the team as this time around, the crew had quite a lot of work to do and they worked incredibly hard to fix all
the problems we had during the race! I hope that I get the chance I want to come back to the PETRONAS Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance race again next year as I am determined to get a much better result. Next week, the team heads to Okayama in Japan for the next round in the Super Taikyu Endurance series and I will do my best!”
Tatsuya Kataoka (JPN): “This was a really physically exhausting race! This was my first time at the MME and there are so many cars in the race, which was a real surprise to me. Overall, it was difficult especially as the top 10 cars were all very competitive. Although we qualified in sixth, before the race I was very optimistic and felt that we had a really good chance. Then we had the problem with the power steering. Had that been the only issue that would have been OK, but then we had other problems, which complicated matters. Although we had to retire, I am really happy to hear that Fariqe was not seriously injured and that he is on the way to a full recovery! Overall, it was a really good experience for me with the high level of competition at the MME! On that note, I hope I get another chance to come back next year!”
Fariqe Hairuman (MAS): “First of all, I want to thank everyone for well wishes I received after the accident! I was very moved to know that everyone was so concerned after the accident. I am glad to note that the doctors have given me the all clear and that I will be able to go home soon. I would like to congratulate my teammates Nobuteru Taniguchi, Manabu Orido and Johannes Stuck for giving the team a fantastic result! We knew that it was not going to be easy with the competition we would face this weekend. Of course, it is disappointing that my teammates and I could not finish the race due to this
unfortunate accident, but this only just gives me the extra motivation for all the other remaining races the team still has. Now that I will be able to go home, I can start to prepare for the next races.”
David Wong, Team Principal PETRONAS Syntium Team: “This was probably the most emotionally and physically challenging race weekend the team has experienced. In the end, we have two reasons to be happy this weekend. The first and most importantly, I am really delighted to note that Fariqe did not sustain any serious injuries from the accident. He has been given the all clear by the doctors and will be released very soon.
“Then secondly, Johannes Stuck who came back to join us for the second time at the MME, along with experienced Japanese endurance drivers Nobuteru Taniguchi and Manabu Orido were able to bring the BMW Z4M Coupe home along with a great result. This in spite of all the mechanical problems they faced throughout the race. The trio had put in an amazing performance, which was reflected in the remarkable race pace the drivers were able to produce throughout the entire duration of the race. As a matter of fact, all six drivers did a fantastic job this weekend, despite the tough competition we faced. Everyone on the team did a great job as they persevered through all the difficulties we faced throughout the whole weekend. I would like to also thank our partners PETRONAS and Yokohama for the encouragement and continued
support.”
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