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Welcome to Formula BMW Online, a fan site for all three Formula BMW championships - Europe, Pacific and Americas.
Make sure to check out our entry lists for all 3 series.
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Brilliant McDonagh puts Team E-Rain on Pole |
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 Sean McDonagh (18/USA) made sure his maiden Formula BMW Pacific pole position was something to remember by setting the first and the second fastest times in today’s 30 minute qualifying session. With the fastest time of the session deciding the grid for the first race, to be run this afternoon, and each drivers’ second-best time setting the starting position for the first of tomorrow’s two 20-lap races, the American will be on pole position for both Rounds 5 and 6.
Immediately after completing his fastest lap, and taking his first ever pole position in the process, McDonagh finished his session in the gravel. He was completely unaware he was on pole until he returned to the pits: “I had no idea - I thought the team were joking! It didn’t feel like a particularly fast lap, and I’m sure there’s a bit more time in the car.”
Team mate Ryuichi Nara (19) of Japan will start alongside McDonagh for both races, a plus for the American. Says McDonagh: “I think we’ll go through turns one and two together. It’s always good to have a team mate behind you, and we’ve kept anyone else off the front row. I hope Ryuichi can have a better race today and catch up in the points.” Nara has suffered more than his fair share of ill-luck so far this season, but his fortunes could well be about to change.
Points-leader and 2007 Formula BMW Junior driver Ross Jamison of Hong Kong (18/Meritus) topped the timing sheets for much of the session, but the Team E-Rain pair put in a tremendous effort in the closing minutes of the session to better his time.
Jamison will start Rounds 5 and 6 from the second row of the grid, alongside guest driver Kazeem Manzur (16/GBR/Mahara) for Round 5, and the quickest Formula BMW Junior driver, Chris Wootton of Australia (19/Meritus) for Round 6. So close were the margins, that just five thousandths of a second separated the second-fastest times of Wootton, Manzur and Moh.
Round 3 pole-sitter and runner-up Melvin Moh (19/Team Holzer PFX) was the fastest Malaysian, and will start from 5th and 6th on the grid for each race respectively.
Formula BMW Junior Simon Moss (RSA/16/Mahara) was forced to sit out qualifying after a crack was discovered in the monocoque of his FB02. His team are working to ensure he will be able to start Round 5 later this afternoon. If able to start it will be from the back of the grid and the South African, who led the championship coming to Malaysia, will have his work cut out to work his way through the ultra-competitive field.
Round 5 will be run over 20 laps of the 2.27km North Track of the Sepang International Circuit, with Rounds 6 and 7 to follow tomorrow (Sunday).
Round 5 Qualifying.
Pos. No. Driver/Nat. Entrant Time
1 22 Sean MCDONAGH (KOR) Team E-Rain 1:06.266
2 34 Ryuichi NARA (JPN) Team E-Rain 1:06.287
3 88 Ross JAMISON (HKG) Meritus 1:06.332
4 28 Kazeem MANZUR# (GBR) Mahara 1:06.393
5 8 Melvin MOH (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 1:06.444
6 68 Chris WOOTTON*• (AUS) Meritus 1:06.472
7 2 Marlon STÖCKINGER*• (PHI) Eurasia Motorsport 1:06.633
8 9 Dominic ANG• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 1:06.675
9 53 Gabriel CHAVES (COL) Atlantic Racing Team 1:06.725
10 3 Aditya PATEL• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport 1:06.767
11 78 Arvin ROSLAN• (MAS) Meritus 1:06.822
12 33 Tasmin PEPPER (RSA) Meritus 1:06.833
13 7 Imran SHAHAROM (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 1:06.948
14 92 Omer YOUNAS• (PAK) Team E-Rain 1:10.143
DNS 38 Simon MOSS*• (RSA) Mahara -
Round 6 Qualifying.
Pos. No. Driver/Nat. Entrant Time
1 22 Sean MCDONAGH (KOR) Team E-Rain 1:06.277
2 34 Ryuichi NARA (JPN) Team E-Rain 1:06.292
3 88 Ross JAMISON (HKG) Meritus 1:06.394
4 68 Chris WOOTTON*• (AUS) Meritus 1:06.484
5 28 Kazeem MANZUR# (GBR) Mahara 1:06.485
6 8 Melvin MOH (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 1:06.489
7 2 Marlon STÖCKINGER*• (PHI) Eurasia Motorsport 1:06.718
8 9 Dominic ANG• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 1:06.773
9 53 Gabriel CHAVES (COL) Atlantic Racing Team 1:06.805
10 33 Tasmin PEPPER (RSA) Meritus 1:06.909
11 78 Arvin ROSLAN• (MAS) Meritus 1:06.934
12 3 Aditya PATEL• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport 1:06.944
13 7 Imran SHAHAROM (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 1:07.002
14 92 Omer YOUNAS• (PAK) Team E-Rain 1:10.441
DNS 38 Simon MOSS*• (RSA) Mahara -
*Scholarship driver
•Rookie Cup
#Non-Series Registered
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Jamison grabs championship lead after hard-fought victory |
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Hong Kong’s Ross Jamison (18/Meritus) climbed to the top of the Formula BMW Pacific Driver Classification after a hard-fought victory in Round 4 today. After an intense 10-lap race, the remaining podium places went to drivers from North and South America, with Sean McDonagh (USA/18/Team E-Rain) 2nd, and exciting young Colombian Gabby Chaves (Atlantic Racing Team) taking his first series podium finish.
Pole-sitter and winner of the previous round, Formula BMW Junior Simon Moss (RSA/16/Mahara) had a disappointing outing after he was caught up in a series of altercations at the start. Jamison is now eight points ahead of the South African, while McDonagh overtakes Malaysia’s Melvin Moh (19/Team Holzer PFX) to go 3rd.
Top Rookie finisher was Malaysia’s Arvin Roslan (Meritus/18), 6th overall, who now goes 2nd in the Rookie Cup standings.
Off the start, Moss wasn’t able to capitalise on his pole position advantage, and Moh and Jamison were up to 1st and 2nd at the first turn, however Japan’s Ryuichi Nara (19/E-Rain) dramatically ran into the rear of the Malaysian. With drivers taking evasive action to avoid the incident, the melee continued into the second turn. Jamison emerged in the lead, with Chaves in hot pursuit and McDonagh in 3rd. Moss was also caught up in the action, putting him right down the field.
Guest driver Kazeem Manzur, who started from the back of the grid for the second time today following a Stewards decision on a technical infringement during qualifying, charged through the field and was up to 5th by the end of the opening lap. Behind him was Nara, who had continued despite the damage sustained during his incident with Moh. Sadly for Moh, who had recorded his first podium finish in the earlier race, the crash damage meant he was only able to 14th.
Chaves kept Jamison well in his sights, looking for a way past the more experienced racer. However, McDonagh wasn’t ready to let the pair get away, and closed the gap. The American piled the pressure on his South American adversary, but the young Colombian defended brilliantly. Mid-way through the race, the trio were on the limit, recording almost identical lap times.
With just two laps to go, McDonagh made his move with a faultless manoeuvre past Chaves to go 2nd, and held his position to the flag.
Jamison was thrilled to have got his championship campaign back on track: “It was mayhem at the first turn, and I came out of turn two in the lead. I snuck down the inside and I’m glad to have got away with it! I made a few mistakes and allowed Gabby to close up a bit, but it’s always great to have two drivers fighting behind you.”
Chaves was pleased to take his first Formula BMW Pacific podium finish, and to have stayed out of trouble at the start: “I had a good start. I tried to play it safe, but the guys in front of me went a little crazy. I felt fast, and I was trying to catch Ross and keep it tight. Sean got by me though. I made a couple of mistakes, but that’s how you learn.”
The remaining three races of the weekend will be held on the 2.27km North Track of the Sepang Circuit, the first of which will be held tomorrow (Saturday) following practice and qualifying sessions.
Round 4
Pos. No. Driver/Nat. Entrant Time
1 88 Ross JAMISON (HKG) Meritus 22:29.789
2 22 Sean MCDONAGH (KOR) Team E-Rain +3.430
3 53 Gabriel CHAVES (COL) Atlantic Racing Team +3.930
4 28 Kazeem MANZUR# (GBR) Mahara +9.560
5 7 Imran SHAHAROM (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +17.663
6 78 Arvin ROSLAN• (MAS) Meritus +24.112
7 9 Dominic ANG• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +26.731
8 2 Marlon STÖCKINGER*• (PHI) Eurasia Motorsport +28.116
9 34 Ryuichi NARA (JPN) Team E-Rain +29.760
10 38 Simon MOSS*• (RSA) Mahara +33.650
11 33 Tasmin PEPPER (RSA) Meritus +37.826
12 92 Omer YOUNAS• (PAK) Team E-Rain +1:58.043
13 3 Aditya PATEL• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport 1 Lap
14 8 Melvin MOH (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2 Laps
DNF 68 Chris WOOTTON*• (AUS) Meritus -
*Scholarship driver
•Rookie Cup
#Non-Series Registered
Fastest Lap: Ross Jamison/Meritus/2:12.997/147.836kph
Pole Position: Simon Moss/Mahara
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Victory for Moss as Malaysia`s Moh takes maiden podium finish |
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Formula BMW Junior Simon Moss (RSA/16/Mahara) strengthened his championship lead by taking victory in Round 3, his second win in three races, while pole-sitter Malaysia’s Melvin Moh (19/Team Holzer PFX) held off ferocious attacks from a determined Ryuichi Nara (JPN/19/Team E-Rain) to record his first podium finish.
Hong Kong’s Ross Jamison (18/Meritus) took the final podium place after Nara retired on the final lap as a result of an earlier coming together with Jamison.
Moss, who arrived in Malaysia with a slim lead of just one point from Jamison, now has a nine point advantage, with Moh’s pole position and podium see him jump from 6th to 3rd in the Driver Classification.
India’s Aditya Patel (19/Eurasia Motorsport) retains his 2nd position behind Moss in the Rookie Cup standings, while Malaysia’s Arvin Roslan (18/Mahara) holds on to 3rd, despite neither driver finishing the race.
Gabby Chaves, with series newcomers Atlantic Racing Team, put in a sterling performance to finish 4th, as the youngster quickly finds his feet in Asia. Sean McDonagh (USA/18/Team E-Rain) had a disappointing race after he came together with Chaves early on in the 10 lap race on the 5.543km track, the resulting damage meaning he had to nurse his car to the finish. Chaves moves up to 5th from 9th in the Driver Classification.
Formula BMW Junior Chris Wootton (AUS/19/Meritus) made an impressive series debut. He finished 6th, but had been up to 5th before being passed by Chaves on lap six.
Moh got away well from pole, keeping the hard-charging Moss behind him, but an error saw the South African seize the lead on the opening lap and he never looked back, opening up a 4.649 second margin by the flag.
The tussling pair of Nara and Jamison came together, with both emerging apparently unscathed. Jamison was in 3rd, when an error saw him run wide and Nara pounced to seize back the final podium place. The Japanese driver then began piling the pressure on to Moh in 2nd, but the cool-headed Malaysian refused to be rattled: “I saw him behind me so I stopped looking in my mirrors!” said Moh. “I just kept pushing all the way.”
While Moss had pulled out a comfortable lead at the front, backing off slightly towards the end to save his tyres, Moh, Nara and Jamison continued their battle for the remaining two podium places. Nara’s 3rd place looked secure, until he was dramatically forced to retire just a few turns from the chequered flag.
The race saw a high rate of attrition, with five drivers failing to take the chequered flag.
Formula BMW Pacific continues this afternoon with Round 4, also run over 10 laps of the Sepang International Circuit. This time, Moss will start from pole position, with Moh alongside him and Nara and Jamison occupying the second row of the grid.
Round 3
Pos. No. Driver/Nat. Entrant Time
1 38 Simon MOSS*• (RSA) Mahara 22:18.766
2 8 Melvin MOH (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +4.649
3 88 Ross JAMISON (HKG) Meritus +5.829
4 53 Gabriel CHAVES (COL) Atlantic Racing Team +9.118
5 68 Chris WOOTTON*• (AUS) Meritus +11.634
6 2 Marlon STÖCKINGER*• (PHI) Eurasia Motorsport +15.961
7 9 Dominic ANG• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +27.295
8 7 Imran SHAHAROM (MAS) Team Holzer PFX +28.195
9 22 Sean MCDONAGH (KOR) Team E-Rain +1:55.189
10 92 Omer YOUNAS• (PAK) Team E-Rain 1 Lap
DNF 34 Ryuichi NARA (JPN) Team E-Rain -
DNF 3 Aditya PATEL• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport -
DNF 78 Arvin ROSLAN• (MAS) Meritus -
DNF 28 Kazeem MANZUR# (GBR) Mahara -
DNF 33 Tasmin PEPPER (RSA) Meritus -
*Scholarship driver
•Rookie Cup
#Non-Series Registered
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Malaysia's Moh takes maiden pole |
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Melvin Moh gave Malaysia and his Petronas-backed Team Holzer PFX their first pole position of the season by setting the fastest time in qualifying for Round 3 of Formula BMW Pacific to be held on Friday.
Currently 6th in the Driver Classification, the experience he gained competing in the Barcelona round of Formula BMW Europe in April, also with Holzer, has obviously given the Malaysian added confidence, and he has returned to his home circuit on winning form. Moh teamed up with another Malaysian, reigning Formula BMW Asian champion Jazeman Jaafar who is contesting a full season of Formula BMW Europe with AM-Holzer Rennsport this year, for his European outing.
Overall points leader, Formula BMW Junior Simon Moss of South Africa, wasted no time getting reacquainted with the 5.54km Sepang International Circuit, setting the second-fastest time of the session to take pole position, his second so far, for Round 4.
Moss, winner of Round 2 held at the same track in April, will start Round 3 alongside Moh on the grid, with Japan’s Ryuichi Nara, who took pole position for the opening round of the season, 3rd.
The positions are reversed for the start of Round 4, with Moh starting alongside Moss and with Nara once again starting from 3rd. Hong Kong’s Ross Jamison qualified 4th for both races.
Formula BMW Junior Chris Wootton of Australia made his series debut and, despite having less experience of the Sepang track than the rest of the series drivers having missed the opening rounds, qualified a creditable 7th and 6th.
Gabby Chaves of Colombia, competing with series newcomers this season Atlantic Racing Team, impressed during testing but could only manage the 8th quickest time in qualifying.
British guest driver and Formula BMW Europe regular Kazeem Manzur impressed with the 3rd fastest time, but his car was later excluded by Race Stewards for a technical infringement, and disappointingly he will start both races from the back of the grid as a result.
Following rounds 3 and 4 to be held Friday on the full Grand Prix circuit, a further qualifying session will be held on Saturday on the 2.7km North Circuit of the Sepang track, on which the remaining three races of the meeting will be run. The new configuration will test the drivers’ ability to adapt quickly to a new circuit, and will add even greater excitement to an already action-packed race weekend.
Qualifying Round 3.
Pos. No. Driver/Nat. Entrant Time
1 8 Melvin MOH (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:12.202
2 38 Simon MOSS*• (RSA) Mahara 2:12.542
3 34 Ryuichi NARA (JPN) Team E-Rain 2:12.985
4 88 Ross JAMISON (HKG) Meritus 2:12.987
5 22 Sean MCDONAGH (KOR) Team E-Rain 2:13.345
6 68 Chris WOOTTON*• (AUS) Meritus 2:13.455
7 53 Gabriel CHAVES (COL) Atlantic Racing Team 2:13.495
8 2 Marlon STÖCKINGER*• (PHI) Eurasia Motorsport 2:13.606
9 3 Aditya PATEL• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport 2:13.614
10 33 Tasmin PEPPER (RSA) Meritus 2:13.624
11 78 Arvin ROSLAN• (MAS) Meritus 2:13.903
12 9 Dominic ANG• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:14.208
13 7 Imran SHAHAROM (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:14.725
14 92 Omer YOUNAS• (PAK) Team E-Rain 2:23.236
15 28 Kazeem MANZUR# (GBR) Mahara NC
Qualifying Round 4.
Pos. No. Driver/Nat. Entrant Time
1 38 Simon MOSS*• (RSA) Mahara 2:12.685
2 8 Melvin MOH (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:12.915
3 34 Ryuichi NARA (JPN) Team E-Rain 2:13.032
4 88 Ross JAMISON (HKG) Meritus 2:13.185
5 53 Gabriel CHAVES (COL) Atlantic Racing Team 2:13.576
6 68 Chris WOOTTON*• (AUS) Meritus 2:13.599
7 22 Sean MCDONAGH (KOR) Team E-Rain 2:13.698
8 33 Tasmin PEPPER (RSA) Meritus 2:13.741
9 2 Marlon STÖCKINGER*• (PHI) Eurasia Motorsport 2:13.816
10 78 Arvin ROSLAN• (MAS) Meritus 2:13.997
11 9 Dominic ANG• (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:14.359
12 3 Aditya PATEL• (IND) Eurasia Motorsport 2:14.381
13 7 Imran SHAHAROM (MAS) Team Holzer PFX 2:14.889
14 92 Omer YOUNAS• (PAK) Team E-Rain 2:26.473
15 28 Kazeem MANZUR# (GBR) Mahara NC
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Formula BMW Americas begins the race for the 2008 Championship |
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 Formula BMW Americas will begin the race for the 2008 Championship with Rounds 1 & 2 at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway at this weekend’s Monterey Festival of Speed.
Nine drivers completed the most recent test on May 8 – 9 at Thunderhill Raceway Park, in Willows, Calif., with 16-year old Californian Alexander Rossi topping the time sheets. Rossi, with three wins, finished third overall in the 2007 Formula BMW USA Championship. Driving for the 2006 and 2007 Formula BMW USA Team Champion Eurointernational this season, Rossi was the quickest at both Virginia International Raceway, in Alton, Vir., and Miller Motorsports Park, in Tooele, Utah, in April.
Eurointernational teammate Ricardo Favoretto, 19, from Sao Paulo, Brazil, has been only tenths-of-a-second behind Rossi and the two are clearly favorites for the title. Runner-up in the 2007 Formula BMW USA Rookie chase, Favoretto has earned a BMW Junior scholarship for this season and has his eyes on moving up the podium from a career-best third place finish in Round 10 last year.
This season’s Rookie class includes the other three BMW Junior drivers, Brazilian Alexandre Ruiz (Apex-HBR Racing Team), 16, and Canadians Mikael Grenier (Apex-HBR Racing Team), 15, and Gianmarco Raimondo (Autotecnica), 17. Canadian David Ostella (Eurointernational), 16; Giancarlo Vilarinho (Eurointernational), 16, of Brazil; and Velibor Jovanovic (Jensen Motorsport), 17, of Serbia, round out this year’s Rookie hopefuls.
Completing the field is returning driver Maxime Pelletier (Apex-HBR Racing Team), 17 of Canada and Jorge Goncalvez (Apex-HBR Racing Team), 16, of Venezuela.
Formula BMW has visited Laguna Seca twice before. The inaugural 2004 season ended there with Andreas Wirth becoming the first Formula BMW USA Champion. In 2005, Richard Philippe, who ultimately became that year’s Overall and Rookie Champion, showed his strength with both poles and one win in Rounds 1 and 2.
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Challenging meeting in store for Asia Pacific`s finest |
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The quest to find the finest young single seater racer in Asia Pacific continues this month, with the next five races of the Formula BMW Pacific season held on two different configurations of Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit.
The four-day race meeting begins on Thursday, May 15, with a qualifying session, and the first two 10-lap races run the following day on the full 5.54km Grand Prix circuit. Saturday will see another qualifying session for the three further rounds which will be held over 20-laps each of the tight 2.72km North track.
With very different characteristics, the two circuits will test the drivers’ ability to adapt quickly to different race tracks with the corresponding changes to driving style. Says Formula BMW Pacific Instructor Chris Wassermann: “The Grand Prix circuit is one of the most challenging tracks on the calendar, with fast corners followed by slow sections. However the North track is very different. Aggressive driving is essential, and with only one long straight there is very little time to relax in the car. The circuit does not forgive mistakes as times are usually very close.”
The Formula BMW Pacific season got underway in March, with the opening two rounds held as support races to the 2008 Formula 1™ Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. Sixteen-year-old Formula BMW Junior Simon Moss of South Africa (Mahara) tops the Driver Classification leaderboard after two races, with a one point margin ahead of Hong Kong’s Ross Jamison (18/Meritus), who is competing in his second season having finished runner-up in the 2007 Rookie Cup. The pair took a win apiece, but the additional point for his Round 2 pole position gives Moss the edge on the championship race.
Indian racer Aditya Patel (19/Eurasia Motorsport) is second in the Rookie Cup standings after a promising start when he finished third overall in the opening round.
The 2008 Formula BMW Pacific entry includes a strong Malaysian contingent giving local fans plenty to cheer as they take to their “home” circuit for the second time. The Petronas-backed Team Holzer PFX is fielding three talented young Malaysians this season, with Imran Shaharom (20), Melvin Moh (19) each returning for a second season, and rookie newcomer Dominic Ang (18). Arvin Roslan (18) is competing with new team Mahara and is currently third in the Rookie Cup classification.
Joining them will be a truly international field of racers, including Formula BMW Junior Marlon Stöckinger of the Philippines (17/Eurasia Motorsport), the single lady competitor this season Tasmin Pepper of South Africa (17/Meritus), and South American youngster Gabriel “Gabby” Chaves of Colombia competing with series newcomer Atlantic Racing Team.
Replacing Malaysian racer Huzair Harun Rasip (19) at Mahara for this event will be Formula BMW Europe driver Manzur Kazeem (16). The Italian-based Briton is currently fourth in the Rookie Cup in the European series, and will make his Asian debut this month. While Harun Rasip is sitting school examinations, Kazeem will step in to partner team mate and series points’ leader Simon Moss.
Formula BMW Junior Chris Wootton of Australia (19/Meritus) hopes to make his debut with the series at the event, licensing issues having precluded his participation in the opening.
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Introductory Test |
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Formula BMW Americas completed its Introductory Test at Miller Motorsports Park, in Tooele, Utah, this weekend. In addition to being one of the finest road racing facilities in North America with turns named Fast, Faster, Satisfaction, Agony, and Ecstasy, the circuit may well provide a season’s forecast for many of this year’s young hopefuls.
American Alexander Rossi (Eurointernational),16, from Nevada City, Calif., who finished third overall in the 2007 Formula BMW USA Championship, turned the quickest lap of the weekend around the 2.42-mile, 15-turn East Course. Rossi’s morning session 1:29.066 minute lap was quicker than the Formula BMW race record set in the opening rounds of last season.
Rookie David Ostella (Eurointernational) lap of 1:29.627 minutes late in today’s last session left the young Canadian very pleased with his performance. Brazilian Alexandre Ruiz (Apex-HBR Racing Team) was third fastest, only .026 seconds behind Ostella.
“We worked hard on quite on a number of areas this weekend, especially the rear suspension and braking,“ said Rossi. “A smooth track like this affords opportunities rough surfaces just do not. I am pleased with what we accomplished and the fact that we made no mistakes.“
The weekend included much more than testing. In a very special Friday afternoon program ten Stars of Karting drivers took advantage of Formula BMW Americas invitation to test a FB02 under supervision of series staff. Each group of five cars completed some 10 laps behind the BMW 1 Series safety car with every driver taking a turn at the head of the line.
No track time was scheduled for Saturday so the series staff, drivers and teams could participate in official photography and meetings to discuss race and safety procedures. Saturday’s Education and Coaching Programs activities included a Vehicle Dynamics Seminar and Media Training. Before today’s testing began, the field was instructed in the art and science of standing starts and then provided an opportunity to put the instruction into action twice before it will count in Round 1 at Laguna Seca Raceway. Later, the season’s first technical inspections of the upgraded FB02s took place.
One additional two-day test is scheduled for May 8 – 9 at Thunderhill before the season begins at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway on May 16 – 18.
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Double win for Tambay in Barcelona |
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 Barcelona was a very good place for BMW Junior driver Adrien Tambay (Eifelland Racing). He won the first two races in the 2008 Formula BMW Europe.
On Saturday he finished ahead of Daniel Juncadella (Eurointernational) from Barcelona and Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing). On Sunday he won, Gutierrez became second and Juncadella third. The French 17-year-old scored two extra points for two pole positions.
The spectators at the track saw an exciting race on Sunday. Adrien Tambay defended his lead after the start. On lap six a slight collision between Tiago Geronimi (Eifelland Racing) and Jim Pla (DAMS Team) caused a Safety Car Period. After the restart on lap nine Gutierrez, the 2007 Rookie Champion from Formula BMW USA, put leader Tambay, the 2007 Rookie Champion from Formula BMW Germany, under pressure. But Tambay kept his position and was happy with his two podiums. These two wins and two pole positions mean that Tambay is now leading the championship with 62 points, while Juncadella is second on 44 points and Gutierrez is third (44 points).
1st Adrien Tambay (Eifelland Racing): "It was a tough race for me. I was too slow in the third sector and I was pushing too much there. When the safety car came out, it was good for me. I struggled after the restart and in the first corner Esteban put me under pressure. But the car was good, the tyres' temperatures were perfect and I stayed at the front of the field. On the last lap I was really excited. Two victories - a perfect weekend."
2nd Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing): "I got myself ready for the start and looked at the data of my team-mate Kazeem. Everything went well and I made up two positions at the start. From position two I tried to overtake Adrien once during the race. But it was difficult and too risky. He closed the door - in a fair manoeuvre - and I decided to take the car home in one piece."
3rd Daniel Juncadella (Eurointernational): "I didn't expect such results for the first race weekend. The race was okay. When Jaafar had to drive through the pitlane because of his jumpstart, I was third. I had a fight with Wittmann. He overtook me, I overtook him. I fought for my position. My father Javier was the first one after the race to congratulate me, yesterday it was Dr. Theissen."
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Tambay starts 2008 season with round 1 victory |
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BMW Junior driver Adrien Tambay (Eifelland Racing) became the first race winner in the 2008 Formula BMW Europe by taking victory in Round 1 on Saturday in Barcelona. It was the third BMW career win for the 2007 Rookie Champion as he led the 30-car field in the 13-lap race.
Starting from pole position, the French 17-year-old finished ahead of Daniel Juncadella (Eurointernational) from Barcelona and Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing). In an eventful race with two spectacular crashes two drivers flipped their cars. But the car proved just how safe it is and the rookies, Michael Christensen and (Double R Racing) Facundo Regalia (Eurointernational), escaped their accidents and were declared uninjured after being checked in the medical centre.
1st Adrien Tambay (Eifelland Racing): "I am really happy about my victory. The race was more difficult then it appeared. I had too much oversteer and we have to work on it for the race on Sunday. I was looking in my mirrors too much, but this is something I always do at the start of the season. It will get better the more races I do."
2nd Daniel Juncadella (Eurointernational): "I had a very good race. The start from the front row was a hundred per cent. For me everything was really, really great. I wasn’t confident before I came here, because testing here was really bad. However, after qualifying I realised I could do well."
3rd Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing): “I started from fifth on the grid and saw Wittmann and Jaafar fighting in front of me. I tried to keep clear of them and then was able to overtake. The circuit is very good, but the tyres go away very quickly so you have to take care of them."
Dr. Klaus Draeger, Member of the board of BMW AG: "This was a heart stopping race. The accidents seem to me down to the youngsters’ inexperience. I am happy that everything was okay with the drivers. But these incidents prove how safe the car is."
Nick Heidfeld, Driver of the BMW Sauber F1 Team: "It is really an interesting series. The former Formula BMW Germany and Formula BMW UK series were strong in the past, but Formula BMW Europe is even more competitive."
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Tambay takes pole position for debut race |
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Adrien Tambay (Eifelland Racing) claimed his first pole position of the year in the new Formula BMW Europe. This means he has set himself up perfectly for the debut race of the season on Saturday, being in the best position to become the winner in Round 1 in Barcelona.
The French 17-year old son of former Formula 1 driver Patrick Tambay was up to speed after only a few laps in qualifying. A 1min 51.172sec lap topped the times of the 30-car field in the 20-minute session. Meanwhile, local hero Daniel Juncadella (Eurointernational) from Barcelona is happy about second on the grid for Race 1. David Mengesdorf (Mücke Motorsport) from Munich is best rookie in sixth.
Pole Setter Race 1: Adrien Tambay. “I am pretty happy about the first pole in Formula BMW Europe. The consistency of the car was perfect, and I felt I could have driven more laps at this level. In the morning during free practice the track was a little bit dirty and I had problems with my car or myself, but I don’t know which it was. However, qualifying was really good. Definitely I want to win the first race.”
Best national Competitor: Daniel Juncadella P2. “At the start of qualifying I had too much traffic, but later on it was really good. I am happy about my second on the grid for Race 1. I am looking forward to the race because I am from Barcelona and a lot of people will come to watch it. Some years ago I was here to see Formula 1. Now I am driving here. That`s really amazing.”
Best Rookie: David Mengesdorf P6. “It was a really strange qualifying, because on my first out lap my car was damaged by another car. After that I had problems driving straight. With the result as the best rookie I am totally happy. This weekend will be really exciting for me. All the Formula 1 spectators and the whole atmosphere are great.”
For the drivers, the race weekend in Barcelona consists of two Races: Race 1 on Saturday 17.45-18.15 hrs, Race 2 on Sunday 09.15-09.45 hrs.
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The new Formula BMW Europe marks its season debut at the Spanish Grand Prix |
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Helmets are polished, racing overalls freshly laundered – all ready for the start in four days’ time. 30 drivers will be contesting the first race of the newly created Formula BMW Europe in Barcelona this Saturday.
The junior series, which is open to drivers from the age of 15, will be staged on the undercard of Formula One on seven weekends and once at the 45th Anniversary Race at Zolder in Belgium.
Its close ties with Formula One can be found right across the starting grid of this race series for aspiring youngsters – sometimes directly, sometimes more subtly. “I’m really pleased to be able to be racing again at last,” says 17-year-old Adrien Tambay (France/Eifelland Racing), who won the best rookie title in Formula BMW Germany last year. For the son of ex-Formula One driver Patrick Tambay, start number 27 plays an important role. “For my family 27 is a lucky number. My father raced for Ferrari with this number.” This belief in the power of numbers extends to Adrien’s website www.tambay27.com and his racing helmet. Even his father’s mobile number includes this double digit more than once.
For British driver Rupert Svendsen-Cook, seven is the magic number: “My birthday is on the 17th of September, the same as Damon Hill and Stirling Moss. Both of them chose seven as their start number, and that’s what influenced me when I was karting,” explains the 17-year-old. But he is having to readjust for Formula BMW Europe, where his car bears the number four. Spaniard Ramon Pineiro has no time for superstition: “My favourite number doesn’t play a major role in Barcelona since my first race on this circuit is the fulfilment of a dream. Two years ago I won two F1 tickets in a competition, and now I’m driving in the support programme myself. How cool is that?”
One can safely describe the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix as Pineiro’s home race, as he lives only around 15 minutes’ drive from the circuit. The 16-year-old will be hitting the track as a rookie without any experience of formula cars, but he is seen as very talented, which is why he is in the group of junior drivers sponsored by BMW. In the local hero stakes he will be up against Daniel Juncadella, who also hails from Barcelona. The third Spaniard on this international grid of drivers lining up at the weekend is Facundo Regalia. Born in Argentina, he has dual nationality, currently lives in Madrid and has a Spanish licence.
For the drivers, the race weekend in Barcelona comprises Free Practice (Friday 8.45-9.15 hrs), Qualifying (Friday 12.50-13.10 hrs) and two Races (Race 1 on Saturday 17.45-18.15 hrs, Race 2 on Sunday 9.15-9.45 hrs).
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