Save Japan

World No 1 shuttler Lee Chong Wei's Hope and Smile 3-11 tsunami and earthquake charity project managed to raise RM720,294.15 over two days (April 2 & 3). The fundraiser will proceed till the end of the month.

Now let's see MERITUS beat that amount in a bid to help the victims of the tsnuami and earthquake in Japan.

Japanese motorsport, with help from MERITUS GP2 driver Hiroki Yoshimoto, have set up the ‘Save-Japan’ campaign to help raise funds for the victims of the devastating March 11 Tsunami and earthquakes.

JK Racing Asia – with support from race organisers Motorsport Asia – have agreed to support the initiative during the Malaysian GP this weekend.

“I very much enjoyed racing for the Malaysian MERITUS GP2 team and I appreciate their efforts and those of the Malaysian motorsports community to help my country in this time of need,” said Yoshimoto.

The JK Asia Racing Series was officially launched by Motorsport Asia CEO David Sonenscher. With almost 18 cars on the grid for the first round, the Series organiser are pleased to announce the start of this new series which uses the same car as used by Formula BMW Asia Pacific for the past eight seasons.

The Malaysian-owned MERITUS team were introduced as the region’s Superbrand team, having won 34 Asian motorsports titles including seven consecutive Formula BMW team championships.

MERITUS also introduced their four drivers who will compete in the 2011 JK Racing Asia series. Malaysian Afiq Ikhwan rejoins the team for his second season and he will have compatriot Akash Neil Nandy who, at 14, has just received his International 'C' licence for company.

India’s up-and-coming star Raj Bharath, who hails from Bangalore, will join the team after completing almost 20 days of tests.

Completing the line-up is Natalie Freidina of Russia, who is one of the two female drivers who will compete in the JK Racing Asia series this year.

Freidina is using her passion to promote the dreams of the Russian motorsports community and her red Meritus car will carry the logos: Russian, Dreams, Desire and Emotion.

The Moscovite is a big fan of Vitaly Petrov, the Russian driver who is leading the Lotus Renault F1 team. He was on the podium in Melbourne nearly two weeks ago.

HD says: I am a big fan of the Lotus Evora but for now all I can afford is Lotus banana leaf. Oh well.