MME 2006 SECURES FULL GRID BUT MINUS FRANZ ENGSTLER

TEAMCAR - The seventh edition of Sepang's prestigious 12-hour endurance race - Petronas Primax 3 Merdeka Millennium Endurance 2006 (MME) has secured a full grid of 77 cars when the race flags off on August 27.

The organisers have so far received 82 entries and are expecting more to come before the actual registration closes on August 24 before scrutineering and inspection of the race machines at the circuit.

Hot favourite German Franz Engstler, the dominant force of Asian Touring Car Championship, who had originally entered his Engstler Motorsports Team for his debut in the event, made a last minute withdrawal; citing that his BMW M5 machine could not be ready in time of the race.

"We know for a fact that some of our regular MME participants have yet to register. We should be having more than the current 82 registered cars in qualifying for the race. In any case, only 77 cars can start the race in accordance to our license," says Datuk Ahmad Mustafa, General Manager of Sepang International Circuit.

Officially opened in 1999 and built with the specification needs of Formula One racing in mind, Sepang F1 Circuit was homologated by the International Automobile Federation (FIA) - the world's motorsports governing body - with a maximum of 77 cars on the grid for a car race.

With the race to be flagged off at 12.07am on August 27, qualifying would be held on Friday (August 25) with 25 cars from a combined Class A and the open class and 26 cars from Class B for cars between 16001cc to 1900cc and another 26 cars from the sub-1600cc machines.