Meritus Racing`s Rio Haryanto lit up Sepang International Circuit from Tuesday when he consistently posted the quickest laps during the final three days of testing ahead of next month's opening round of the 2009 Formula BMW Pacific season.
 
The 16-year-old from Solo, Indonesia, ended the three days of testing with a best time of 2:11.5 seconds, which was easily a half second quicker than his main rivals.

His performance boosted Meritus' hopes of retaining the team title they have won the last six years. Last week, Haryanto also set the quickest lap in Sepang when he clocked 2:10.6seconds. Haryanto follows in his elder brother Roy's footsteps in racing for Meritus.
 
"I'm delighted with my times as they show I've been consistent. It was hard trying to keep my concentration as it was quite hot out there but this is where a good fitness regime comes into play," said Rio, who started racing in karts when he was only six-years-old.
 
"I'm lucky that the team have done a great job of setting up the car to suit my driving and I look forward to the new season with high hopes."
 
Team owner-cum-manager Firhat Mokhzani was beaming from ear to ear when the final data was analysed. "Once again, we have clocked the fastest times in testing. We were consistently the quickest last week and repeated the feat this past three days.
 
"We have a great car and a good driver but as we all know, we can't take anything for granted in racing. We must continue working hard as anything can happen during qualifying and we must be on the look out to ensure we get everything on race weekend.
 
"Rio is only 16 and will be under pressure to deliver as we have won the team title the last six years while Earl Bamber, Jazeman Jaafar and Ross Jamison have taken the drivers' crown in recent times."
 
Team founder Peter Thompson said: "We are glad to have another Indonesian driver in our team after a 12-year gap. Rio's older brother Roy, drove for us 12 years ago and ever since, we have been on the look out for other talented Indonesians.
 
"I'm glad to say that this year, we have two Indonesians in Rio and Dustin Sofyan and I'm confident they can do well in the championship,” he concluded.