MY QI-MERITUS.MAHARA sign Bonanomi for Bahrain Sakhir event

The 23-year-old, from Lecco, Italy will thus participate in the Bahrain event at the Sakhir track on January 23-24  where the Malaysia-based team are competing in the third event of the season.

Bonanomi will team with rookie New Zealand Earl Bamber and replaces 32-year-old Alex Yoong, Malaysia’s most successful racing driver having successfully competed in a number of series right from Formula Asia to Formula One.

Bonanomi boasts an impressive motor racing career, having had 141 races and managed 10 wins and 19 podiums. Bonanomi snatched his first GP2 Asia win in the 2008 GP2 Asia series finale in Dubai with team Piquet Sport. Earlier in his career. He was runner up in Formula 3000 Italy and  in Euroseries 3000 in 2006.

“I had always held out hope that I would make it back to GP2 Asia after my first win in 2008. I am obviously very pleased that Peter Thompson (Meritus team founder) has now given me a chance to show what I can do,” comments Bonanomi. 

“I’m sure that my experience in a variety of single-seater race cars will allow me to adapt quickly to the demands of GP2 Asia, so that I can start to provide the team’s engineers and the Bridgestone technicians with useful information on car set-up and tyre performance. Hopefully, what I have learnt last year will benefit the team’s performance in the race.  I have now a good opportunity to repeat what I did good last year and I will push hard. It is the sort of work I really enjoy, and I’m certainly looking forward to my first run with My Qi-Meritus.Mahara and turn one at the Bahrain track.”

Team Principal, Gianfranco Bielli, says, “My Qi-Meritus.Mahara are very pleased to have concluded a contract with Marco Bonanomi that will see him become  our driver, running alongside  Earl Bamber at all events till the end of the season.  He has a lot of useful, and relevant, racing experience under his belt, as well as the added advantage of  adapting fast to the different circuits.  I’m sure he will prove to be a real asset to the team and help us to maximise its potential for the remaining of the season.  With what I believe is a strong driver line-up now in place, we can start to focus on the serious business of improving our performance.”

Thompson: “I want to thank Alex Yoong for participating in the two first Grand Prix: Shanghai where GP2 Asia was one of the support races to F1 week-end and the strange Dubai second week-end where Rains washed away My Qi Meritus.Mahara team's Dubai goals and  the radically wet weather stopped the team’s effort.”

Marco Bonanomi
Date of birth: March 12, 1985 (23 y/o)
Place of birth: Lecco, Italy
Resident: Colle Brianza (Provincia di Lecco - Regione Lombardia).
Country: Italy
GP2 Grand Prix starts: 10
Website: www.marcobonanomi.com
Height: 1.76m
Weight: 68kg
Hair: Brown
Eyes: Green and Grey
Blood type: O+
Marital status: Single
Hobbies: go-kart, cars, music and snowboard
Favourite music: R&B, Rock
Favourite music artist: Linkin Park
Favourite food: Pasta and sushi
Favourite drink: Avocado juice
First GP2 Asia win: Dubai 2008, season finale while driving for Piquet Sports
Race starts: 141
Wins: 10
Podiums: 19
Pole positions: 11
Fastest laps: 8
Racing career highlights: Runner up in Formula 3000 Italy 2006 and runner up in Euroseries 3000 2006

Marco Bonanomi
Born on 12 March, 1985, Marco Bonanomi raced in karts until 2001 when he moved up to both Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and Italy Italian Winter Series. He continued in the Italian Championship with 2 races in Eurocup. He continued in both series in 2002 before graduating to Formula 3 Italy in 2003 winning a race and taking four podiums. He also competed in the F3 Korea Super Prix and the F3 Macau GP.

In 2004 he moved up to Formula 3 Euroseries and competed in a couple of races of Formula 3 Italy. He continued in F3 Euroseries the following season and in 2006 when he also competed in Formula 3000 Italy. He finished the season classified as runner up in Formula 3000 Italy (2006) and equally runner up in Euroseries 3000 (2006).

In 2007 Bonanomi joined the World Series by Renault finishing on the podium twice and setting a fastest lap. He also competed in the International Formula Master series scoring a pole position. Bonanomi continued in the World Series by Renault in 2008 and also joined the inaugural GP2 Asia Series, winning his first GP2 Asia race in Dubai with Piquet Sports. He was called by Audi for an Official test on DTM car.

Bonanomi became a My Qi-Meritus.Mahara driver in GP2 Asia as of the Bahrain round in 2009.

Q & A With Marco Bonanomi

Q1 – Are you happy to be back in GP2 Asia?
I’m more than happy – I’m over the moon!

Q2 – When was last time that you drove a racing car?
I tested for an Indy Light team “Smith Motorsport” on the Kentucky oval which was quite an experience.

Q3 – How did the contact with My Qi-Meritus.Mahara occur?
In the previous season I had met quite often Peter Thompson, the team founder. He is a nice man. We had a good feeling and got well on together. Also I got to know well Gianfranco Belli, the Team Principal and we speak quite often, in Italian of course!

Q4 – Will you be ready for the next race of the season?
Sure! Even if it is a long time that I have not driven a GP2 car. I suppose you never forget!

Q5 – What do you think about the technical regulations and the racing
rules?
The series is well organised. It is quite standard and we have good fun to drive in the series.

Q6 – What attracted you to GP2 Asia in the first place?
I like the magic of Asia. I just really like the continent.

Q7 – How do you rate the GP2 Asia cars?
The GP2 chassis are amongst the best cars that I have ever driven. There should not be too many technical problems despite a not too powerful engine. It is a very competitive series.

Q8 – Where did you race last year?
Most recently, I drove in the 2008 World Series by Renault (15 races). With Red Devil Team Comtec. I also drove GP2 Asia Series and scored 1 podium (1win in  Dubai) with Piquet Sports. In 2007 I drove World Series by Renault and International Formula Master and in 2006, Euroseries 3000. I have always kept quite busy.

Q9 – Tell us about your fitness training.
I am fit and I like to exercise. I do everything focused on the racing season: A lot of running, swimming and even yoga. Yoga is very important for a driver and helps to focus on concentration.

Q10 – What is your favourite racing memory?
To win in F3 for Lola cars in Imola, in 2003. It was not so much the win, nor the fact that it was a home win for me, but the fact that it was a landmark: Lola’s historical first win after 12 years without winning. A great memory: I can still see the fans calling me from everywhere in the world, including from Japan. All this emotion went straight to my heart.

Q11 – What circuits have you found the most demanding in your career?
Macao is one of the most difficult and Malaysia is one of the best circuits.

Q12 – What kind of impact do you think that GP2 Asia series will make on motrosport fans around the world in its second year of existence?
GP2 Asia is a new vision of motorsports. The interest from fans is growing everywhere. It is pretty big now in the UAE and in India.

Q13 – What is your best quality?
I like to be sincere to engineers and team – I am always straight and say what I want and what I feel.

Q14 – What is your best racing quality?
I am good in qualifying

Q15 – What do you hate most?
When I see people lying

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