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  • Formula BMW Americas - Preview – Rounds 10, 11 & 12 – Road America
    Created: Thursday, July 31, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Road America, North America’s fastest permanent road course, will host Rounds 10, 11 and 12 of the 2008 Formula BMW Americas championship. Located in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, Road America’s 4.048 miles will challenge the young Formula BMW drivers in every one of its 14 turns. Formula BMW has visited the circuit twice before, in 2004 and 2007. In 2004, James Hinchcliffe scored his very first Formula BMW win at Road America. He continued on to win the inaugural Formula BMW USA Rookie Championship and, in 2008, leads the Atlantic Championship. Last season, Alexander Rossi scored a win by a scant .004 seconds over Esteban Gutierrez. This year, Rossi leads Formula BMW Americas overall while Gutierrez leads the Formula BMW Europe Series. Rossi said, “The series test at Putnam Park this week was extremely successful. The Eurointernational crew is so squared away and organized. They once again delivered a perfect car that enabled me to set a new course record for Formula ...
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  • Qualifying: Formula BMW Europe, 1- 3.8.08: Rounds 9 + 10, Budapest (HU)
    Created: Thursday, July 31, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Qualifying: Formula BMW Europe, 1- 3.8.08: Rounds 9 + 10, Budapest (HU).   Juncadella doubles up on pole.   Budapest, 1st August 2008. Qualifying for rounds 9 and 10 of Formula BMW Europe saw Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) come away with the two fastest laps at the Hungaroring. Juncadella will therefore start from pole position for the third and fourth times this season in the races on Saturday (17.30-18.00 hrs) and Sunday after similar success at Zolder. Alongside the 17-year-old Spaniard on the front row will be Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing). Behind the lead pair in third and fourth positions on the grid are Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) and rookie Facundo Regalia (ES/Eurointernational).   In temperatures hitting a sizzling 30 degrees Celsius at the Hungaroring circuit 19 kilometres outside Budapest, Juncadella’s second-fastest lap was also good enough to earn him pole for the second race of the weekend. Juncadella will ...
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  • Preview: Formula BMW Europe, 1- 3.8.08: Round 9 + 10, Budapest (HU)
    Created: Monday, July 28, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Second half of the season starts in Hungary.   Munich, 29 July 2008. Formula BMW Europe will be staging the ninth and tenth rounds of the season this coming weekend (1-3 August) against the backdrop of the Formula One Grand Prix in Budapest/Hungary. Dominating the junior series at present is Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing), who has collected 226 points after eight out of 16 rounds to secure a commanding lead in the overall rankings. “My ultimate goal is the title,” says the 16-year-old with confidence. He aims to expand his string of victories on the Hungaroring.   The race track is located in a valley 19 kilometres from the centre of Budapest. With soaring summer temperatures anticipated, the Hungaroring will prove a real challenge for the junior racing drivers. There are 14 corners in quick succession to be negotiated, and the young contestants will barely have a chance to catch their breath as the straights are very short. There are...
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  • VALIENT JACKSON DENIED PODIUM CELEBRATIONS
    Created: Saturday, July 26, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK driver Mat Jackson drove one of his hardest races of the season today as he narrowly missed out on a podium finish in the third race of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park, Cheshire.   The 27-year-old driver, who started from fifth on the grid, put in a valiant, hard fought attempt for third place honours in his Accident Exchange-backed BMW320si and demonstrated a blistering pace as he set the fastest lap with a time of 1:29.831s on lap seven. Initially Jackson was running in third place but was demoted to fourth when Adam Jones passed him on lap eight. Undeterred Jackson fought back reeling off a series of thrilling laps in front of the record-breaking crowd at the sun-soaked parkland venue. Jackson closed down on Jones as was within a tenth of a second for several laps, showing all the signs of claiming another podium finish. However, on the penultimate lap the order changed and Jackson found himself with a new adversary: Andrew Jorda...
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  • TOP SCORE FOR TURKINGTON AT OULTON PARK
    Created: Saturday, July 26, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Colin Turkington secured another superb win for Team RAC at the seventh event of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park today (27 July).   In front of 35,000 people, on a scorching day in Cheshire, Team RAC celebrated success with Colin Turkington claiming two Independents victories and an outright win to sustain his championship challenge.   Turkington lies in third place in the overall Drivers Championship with 150 points and Stephen Jelley in 15th with 8 points.   Round 19 Colin Turkington added another Independents victory to his season haul following a faultless drive in the first race of the day at Oulton Park.   Starting eighth the Northern Irishman moved up a place to seventh by the first corner.  Turkington put pressure on Shedden early into the race and passed him on the final corner of lap seven.  Strong driving from Turkington saw him remain in fifth place for the majority of the race until lap 14 when he passed fo...
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  • INDEPENDENT BATTLE AHEAD FOR BMW DEALER TEAM UK
    Created: Friday, July 25, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK qualified in 11th place today for the seventh meeting of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Oulton Park circuit, Cheshire.   Accident Exchange-backed driver Mat Jackson, who is currently fourth in the ultra-competitive series, set a time of 1.28.902s in his rear-wheel driver BMW 320si at the 2.22-mile track.  The 27-year-old was carrying 18kilos of success ballast during the 30 minute qualifying session and set his fastest time in the final five minutes after a restart due to a red-flag incident.   Jackson commented, “It was tough out there today, the circuit has clearly divided the manufacturers and the independent teams. We are going to look at a couple of things ahead tomorrow but at the moment it is looking like it will be an Independent battle in the opening race.”   Team Principal Tony Jackson commented, “Qualifying is the sum of one fast lap but tomorrow’s races will be the sum of 15 and we will be...
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  • TURNER M3s FEEL THE HEAT OF BATTLE AT BARBER
    Created: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK, Birmingham, AL -- Turner Motorsport M3s battled the heat and the Mustangs in the deep south this past weekend at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. Both cars were contenders with the #96 Turner Motorsport M3 leading the race at one point. Bad luck and the intense heat conspired to keep either of the Turner cars from the race win. The #97 M3 led the way with a seventh-place finish. The race will be shown on The Speed Channel this Saturday at 2:00pm ET.   Don Salama and Bryan Ortiz proved once again that the Turner Motorsport M3 is a force to reckon with when they qualified their car in the top ten for the 4th race this year. Ortiz started the race and kept the car far into the top ten, moving up to 5th place just before he was spun by a lapped car and lost several positions. Ortiz then made a green flag pit stop to hand the reins over to Salama. Without any more full-course cautions Salama was not able to catch the lead pack of Mustangs and the #97 M3 fi...
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  • Formula BMW Amercias - 25 Young Drivers Entered for 2009 Licensing Courses
    Created: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Formula BMW Americas welcomes 25 young drivers as they prepare for the upcoming July 28-29 and August 4-5 2009 Licensing Courses. Held at the Formula BMW Racing Center at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, in Valencia, Spain, the Licensing Course is the first step the worldwide Formula BMW program. Following two days of intensive instruction by the Formula BMW Racing Center staff, successful drivers will receive their international Class C license and, possibly, a chance to be invited back to compete in the September 29-30 Scholarship Qualifying to compete for a 2009 Formula BMW Junior scholarship. This year, Formula BMW Americas awarded $80,000 scholarships and automatic enrollment in Formula BMW’s Education and Coaching program to Canadians Gianmarco Raimondo and Mikael Grenier, and Brazilian Alexandre Ruiz. They currently stand first, third and fourth in the Rookie point standings respectively. Proving the global reach of Formula BMW, the 25 young driver...
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  • BimmerWorld Drivers Make the Most out of a Challenging Mid-Ohio Race
    Created: Monday, July 21, 2008 Author: Jeff
    The BimmerWorld SPEED World Challenge Touring Car team unloaded their rapid BMW E90's at Mid-Ohio with dreams of repeating their 2007 win at the Lexington, Ohio track firmly in mind. The three-car team would leave Mid-Ohio without that win, but have high hopes for their cars to be able to show their true competitive form at the remaining rounds. "Certainly none of the teams are sitting still, including us," said team owner/driver James Clay. "We not only managed to repair the cars after Watkins but also upgraded the suspension design and got some testing in. Unfortunately it wasn't enough to close the gap. The other teams also sped up a bit through the weekend – that is probably the toughest part. We're in a position where all of our new developments are put immediately on the track and make us faster, but watching some of the other cars conjure a couple of seconds when they need it is not a trick we are capable of at this point." Seth Thomas wrings all ...
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  • TEAM RAC LOOK TO CONTINUE GOOD FORM
    Created: Sunday, July 20, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Team RAC head to Oulton Park next Sunday (27 July) for round seven of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship looking to build on another successful weekend at Snetterton. In Colin Turkington, Team RAC boast the in-form driver in the BTCC. A string of podium finishes since Thruxton in May has seen the 26-year-old muscle his way into the Overall Driver championship hunt. Stephen Jelley continues to show his promise in the championship with only contact from Fabrizio Giovanardi and Matt Neal at Snetterton denying the Leicester-born driver points finishes in races one and two. Colin Turkington lies fifth in the BTCC Driver Standings, a solitary point behind Mat Jackson and 11 points behind Jason Plato, while Stephen Jelley is 15th with seven points. Team RAC head the Independents Team Standings with 202 points. Dick Bennetts, WSR Team Principal, commented: We are all looking forward to the weekend and some good racing at Oulton Park. It is a track where we have had success in the...
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  • Formula BMW Europe, 18-20.7.08: Round 7 + 8, Hockenheim (DE)
    Created: Saturday, July 19, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Serial winner Gutierrez tops the podium six consecutive times.   Hockenheim, 20 July 2008. There’s no end to Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez’s (Josef Kaufmann Racing) winning streak in Formula BMW Europe. At the Hockenheimring the 16-year-old from Monterrey took his sixth race win in a row in this successful junior race series. After eight out of 16 rounds, he now has a tally of 226 points, followed by Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing, 180 points) and Marco Wittmann (Josef Kaufmann Racing, 150 points). Gutierrez relegated Eifelland driver Tambay and his team-mate Wittmann to second and third places in both races.   The terraces were well occupied as the junior drivers contested their race on Sunday as part of the Hockenheim Formula One Grand Prix support programme. Polesetter Gutierrez managed to stretch the gap to his rivals lap for lap. Tambay, son of the former F1 driver Patrick Tambay, was behind him, followed by Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational)...
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  • Formula BMW Europe, 18-20.7.08: Round 7, Hockenheim (DE)
    Created: Friday, July 18, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Fifth win in a row for Gutierrez.   Hockenheim, 19th July 2008. The winner of the 7th race held on the support race programme of the Formula One Grand Prix in Hockenheim was Mexican Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing). It was his 5th consecutive win in Formula BMW Europe. His closest challenger for the lead in the overall rankings, Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing), finished as runner-up. Completing the podium line-up was German driver Marco Wittmann (Josef Kaufmann Racing) from Markt Erlbach near Nuremberg. The three leaders in the rankings were thus able to consolidate their respective positions.   It was an exciting race, peppered with plenty of jostling for position – as well as a safety car phase. On the first race lap British driver Ollie Millroy (GB/FMS International) was knocked out by a fellow contestant and rolled. Millroy was able to climb out of the vehicle uninjured. After the 28 drivers from 16 countries had been guided through the danger zone ...
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  • BimmerWorld Returns to Mid-Ohio to Build Upon 2007 Race Win
    Created: Thursday, July 17, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Heading into round seven of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring Car season this weekend at Mid-Ohio, the three-car BimmerWorld team is hoping for a repeat of their fortunes from 2007. With the team on the cusp of success, team owner and driver James Clay made the bold decision to step out of the seat for two rounds to focus on optimizing all areas of the team's BMW E90's. That move would help the team in the short-term, but would also set into motion improvements that have had a big effect in 2008. "Certainly the team's first World Challenge win was a major stepping stone," Clay said. "Unfortunately I didn't race a car that weekend and Seth had a mechanical issue, so I think it was a little bittersweet for both of us. #37 charging to victory "Watching the win from the sidelines was tough, but as a team owner, it was the right choice and the team progressed due to the time I put in when I wasn't behind the wheel. We operate on a whole different level now s...
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  • Formula BMW Europe Qualifying: 7th race, 18-20.7.08, Hockenheim (DE)
    Created: Thursday, July 17, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Hockenheim, 18th July 2008. Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing) once again showed his calibre during qualifying for Formula BMW Europe in Hockenheim. The 16-year-old secured pole position for the championship’s 7th race on Saturday (17.40-18.10 hrs). His immediate rivals in the battle for crucial points were also on good form: Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) will be starting from second place and Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) from third. The best German driver was Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) from Markt Erlbach in Franconia, who came fourth to take his place in the second row of the grid. The 28-strong field of drivers hailing from 16 countries will be contesting two races as part of the support programme of the Formula One Grand Prix at Hockenheim.   7th race. Polesetter: Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing). “Right now I feel incredibly confident, and that always pays off when I’m out on the track...
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  • Konica Minolta signs up as Official Partner of Formula BMW Europe
    Created: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Konica Minolta signs up as Official Partner of Formula BMW Europe.   Munich, 17th July 2008. Formula BMW Europe is set to unveil a new official series partner at Hockenheim in the shape of Konica Minolta. The multifunctional colour systems, production print and software solutions specialist will see its logo appear on the race cars and drivers’ overalls as part of its involvement in the successful entry-level formula racing series.   BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen welcomed the new Official Partner on board: “We are delighted to present Konica Minolta as a new partner for the Formula BMW Europe series. As a leading supplier in its segment, Konica Minolta makes a great match for Formula BMW – the leading entry-level race series into professional motor sport."   Carlos Baart, Manager Corporate Communications of Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe, is really looking forward to the forthcoming cooperation: “The two premium brand...
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  • TURNER M3s BATTLE BELOW MASON-DIXON LINE
    Created: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BARBER MOTORSPORTS PARK, Birmingham, AL (July 16, 2008) -- Turner Motorsport M3s are back in action this weekend in Birmingham, Alabama at Barber Motorsports Park. The H&R Springs BMWs have done well on the 2.3-mile track with podium finishes in 2005 and 2007 and two top-five finishes in 2006. The team is also coming off a second-place finish two weekends ago at Watkins Glen Raceway. Everyone on the team is looking to move one step up the podium this weekend in a race that will be televised on The Speed Channel, July 26 at 2:00pm ET.  (check out some pic's) Bryan Ortiz and Don Salama scored the top spot in qualifying two weekends ago at Watkins Glen in the #97 H&R Springs/Nova Derm/OCG/GoToPuertoRico.com BMW M3. But their teammates Matt Alhadeff and Bill Auberlen grabbed second place at the checkered flag with the #96 Motul Lubricants/StopTech Brakes BMW M3. Ortiz was hit from behind during the early stages and knocked out of the race. Will Turner, team owner: "Both...
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  • Keeping Up with Automatic Racing at Barber Motorsports Park
    Created: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 Author: Jeff
    ORLANDO, Fla. – Whether it’s testing, traveling or packing all of the racing possible into one weekend, Automatic Racing’s six drivers stay busy, and their schedules have never been more hectic. As the team prepares for round five of the Grand-Am KONI Challenge Series this weekend at Barber Motorsports Park, the pilots of Automatic’s three BMW M3s are at the top of their game. Jep Thornton and Jeff Segal co-drove the No. 09 Automatic Racing Imported Car Store/Rogue Engineering/LandAir/Engine Music Studios BMW M3 to a third-place podium finish at Watkins Glen, but before he could drink too much celebratory champagne, Thornton was on a plane to Russia for business. Now that Thornton is Stateside once again, it’s Segal who has a busy schedule. In addition to his duties behind the wheel of the 09 car, Segal will also be driving a Mazda RX-8 in the Grand-Am Rolex Series race this weekend. Perhaps no one on the team will have a more chaotic three days than C...
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  • Preview Formula BMW Europe: 7th + 8th races, 18-20.07.08, Hockenheim (DE)
    Created: Monday, July 14, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Meeting of talent at Hockenheim.   Munich, 15th July 2008. Formula BMW Europe returns to action this coming weekend (18-20.07) at Hockenheim. The seventh and eighth races of the season in the junior series will take place on the support programme for the Formula One German Grand Prix. A field of 29 drivers from 16 countries will do battle to record the best possible race results. Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing), who leads the Formula BMW Europe standings on 164 points after four wins from six races, will be looking to extend his advantage over his nearest rivals Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing, 132 points) and Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing, 110 points).   Hockenheim will reveal who has enjoyed the best preparation for the race. Gutierrez has been on holiday in Greece with his extended family between the races at Silverstone and Hockenheim. Tambay, meanwhile, was in France to receive the results of his school-leaving exams – and...
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  • JACKSON SAVES THE BEST TIL LAST
    Created: Sunday, July 13, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK driver Mat Jackson finally celebrated in style this afternoon as he claimed his second overall win of the year in the closing race of the weekend at the British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton circuit, Norfolk. Up until race three, the Accident Exchange-backed driver had endured a frustrating weekend, which started with a high-speed off in free practice yesterday and a disappointing result in race one. However Jackson waved goodbye to his bad luck as the result of the reverse grid put his ballast-free BMW320si on P2. As the lights went out Jackson executed a strong start and was the first driver into turn one ahead of Steven Kane. Jackson was to hold the field at bay as he reeled off a succession of first class laps keeping the door firmly shut on a determined Kane who applied the pressure on the race leader for the duration of the 18-lap race. As the pressure mounted on the penultimate lap Jackson experienced some understeer and he momentarily got out of sh...
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  • JACKSON RACE READY AS BTCC ACTION RESUMES
    Created: Friday, July 11, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK qualified in 13th place today for the sixth meeting of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Snetterton circuit, Norfolk. Earlier in the day, Accident Exchange-backed Mat Jackson suffered a high-speed off in his BMW 320si at Coram after coolant fluid was dropped on the track. His session was brought to an early close as the 26-year-old returned to the pits. The team repaired the car in time for the second free practice. Later in the day, the BTCC field took to the 1.95-mile track for the 30 minute qualifying session. Jackson, who was carrying 36 kilos of success ballast, set his time of 1.12.444 in the first part of the session. Qualifying was red flagged and the Henley-in-Arden-based driver was unable to improve on his time in the remaining 11 minutes. Jackson commented, “That was a difficult qualifying session, the circuit seemed to lose a bit of grip as the day progressed which ultimately hampered my lap times. However, looking ahead it should m...
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