BMW preview the Malaysian GP

Tuesday 18th March 2008

BMW duo Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica look ahead to a very "special" Malaysian Grand Prix.

Nick Heidfeld: "For years now the Malaysian Grand Prix has been rather a special race for me. Petronas, of course, was already a partner of Sauber when I was driving for them from 2001 to 2003, and we used to do promotional tours around the country.

"As a Formula One driver you usually don't get to see much beyond airports, hotels and race tracks as there simply isn't the time to get to know a country and its people. But in Malaysia I've already managed to get around quite a bit and I feel very much at home there.

"It always takes a while to get acclimatised to the combination of heat and high humidity, but that's never been a problem for me.

"The circuit is an attractive and challenging one. Last year I had a great race in Sepang and finished fourth. I managed to get past Felipe Massa and kept the Ferrari in check behind me."

Robert Kubica: "I'm looking forward to the race in Malaysia because Sepang is a very challenging track which I'm fond of.

"Of course the climatic conditions are at the extreme end, which makes it even more of a challenge. But fortunately we already had very high temperatures in Melbourne, so we've had a bit of a chance to adjust.

"Last year our car was very competitive, but for me pretty much everything went wrong. So I still have a score to settle in Sepang. The Malaysian Grand Prix is a very special race for us on account of our partner Petronas. We have a lot of fans rooting for us there."

Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director: "No sooner have we ticked off the season opener in Australia than Malaysia is already beckoning. This Grand Prix is a kind of home race for us. Since 2006 we have experienced the sheer charisma that our premium partner Petronas has in Malaysia.

"The euphoric welcome extended to our team in this country is a fantastic experience every time, and the various events held at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers have always exerted a magnetic pull."