Alex Yoong

[Craig]

Rumour has it that Alex Yoong may have landed a pay drive at an F1 team next season... I wonder if this press release is connected in any way ?

Dated: Sunday, 10th June 2001

ALEX YOONG'S MANAGER, HANIFAH YOONG STEPS DOWN

BRITON SIMON MUNGER APPOINTED

KUALA lUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Sunday, 10th June 2001 - Hanifah Yoong who has been
managing Malaysia's Formula 1 hope Alex Yoong since Alex's racing debut in a
PROTON in 1992, today announced that he will step aside in favour of a more
professional team to manage Alex.

Hanifah Yoong, 52, has been involved with motor sport organisation and
promotion since 1982. He ran the Rally of Malaysia from 1981 to 1990,
managed the Shah Alam Ciruit in a 10 year contract from 1988 to 1997 which
also saw him bringing the FIM World Motorcycle Grand Prix into Malaysia in
1991.

Hanifah said in Kuala Lumpur that "I have seen Alex develop into a world
class racer over the last 10 intensive years of his career and I must accept
what is better for him. In fact I consider myself having already stayed on 3
years too long but that was due to the reccession which ravaged the
S.E.Asian region which meant that Alex could not implement his plan for a
more professional manager. I am very happy that he will be in good hands
with a very professional and experienced man in Simon Munger who will take
over from me with immediate effect."

Alex Yoong who flew back from Japan two days ago to finalise Munger's
appointment in Kuala Lumpur commented that, "My manager Hanifah who is also
my father had been my most important source of support since even before the
start of my racing career. He has been good for me and I would not have got
this far with any other person managing me in my early career days. He is
the one who is instrumental in this change and I respect his decision to
hand over the role to Simon whom I have worked with in the last 3 years as
my manager in Europe."

Simon Munger, 36, will be responsible for securing Alex's drive in F1 and
then to cement his future within the sport. He will also be taking on the
responsibility to negotiate with other teams and will look after any other
sporting matters with regard to Alex and the team. In addition he will also
work along side Alex Yoong International Ltd. in developing all commercial
activities as well as developing the working partnership with Alex Yoongs
sponsors.

In the meantime, IMG Overseas (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd. has also been appointed
by Alex Yoong International Ltd. as the Sponsorship Marketing Partner to
support Munger in sponsorship marketing worldwide. Hanifah Yoong will
continue to play a role in the background to train other supporting staff as
well as to run the PR and Press Office of Alex Yoong till after Alex secures
a Formula 1 drive and starts receving income to enable more support staff to
be appointed.

Munger commented on his impending appointment that "I have worked with Alex
since 1997 when he drove for the Portman Formula 3 team which I managed and
then since 1999 when Alex raced in the Italian and FIA Formula 3000 season.
Hanifah had always been in contact with me as was Alex. So it is not as if
I'm stepping into this role cold. I am looking forward to helping Alex in
developing his career to it's full successful potential. Since I first
observed him driving the Formula Renault in 1996, I have always thought that
he'll be in Formula 1 one day and this will come sooner rather than later."

The new manager, Simon Munger comes with an impressive motor sport
credential having been involved for 18 years. He had been involved with
MARCH, ONYX and the JORDAN Formula 1 team for 6 years before running the
Portman F3 team as the managing director in 1997.

.........................................END................................

[nobjockey]

....and I'm taking Michael Schumacher's place at Ferrari next year.

[Mekola]

It can be very probably Alex Yoong get the jump to F1 and we can watch him driving these cars in near future. I'm expected watching him on F1 since year 2000. Remember when the first Malaysian GP was made, Yoong was presented here as F1 hope, and also made practices with Petronas (a pit-stop test, or something like that). We can expect watch him linked with Sauber due to Petronas interests on this team. Also these rumours he can catch the Minardi for some races was verosimile and I hoped watching him in the Minardi on the Malaysian GP. Actually Yoong press media denied these rumours but it's probably there were some contacts with Yoong and Minardi.
It's also expected Yoong F1 performances will be similar of these of japanese drivers like Takagi or Nakano.

[Noddy]

The word on Yoong at the moment is that the seat at Minardi looks like it could be on. His links with a Malaysian oil company could secure his entry to F1 with the Minardi team despite the obvious link with Sauber. Dont know if his abilities alone would warrant a drive.

[Daisy]

Christijan has to come in that Minardi. GO CHRISTIJAN GO!!!