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  • POINTS PODIUMS AND VICTORY FOR JACKSON
    Created: Saturday, August 30, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK enjoyed one of its most profitable meetings of the season today as Accident Exchange-backed driver Mat Jackson put in two outstanding performances scoring a victory and a second place finish at the penultimate round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone circuit.   The third race of the day yielded Jackson’s third victory of the season as the 27-year-old drove a faultless race from 13th on the grid in an incident-free 22-lap race.   From the off, Jackson worked his way steadily through the field and by lap ten was sitting in fourth place behind fellow BMW driver Colin Turkington who spun off in the wet conditions, Jackson moved up to third and defended his position from a determined Adam Jones who briefly passed him. However, by lap 12 Jackson reclaimed third place and moved ahead of Tom Onslow-Cole a lap later. He held station for two laps before stamping his authority on the field overtaking race leader Jason Plato on the...
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  • TURKINGTON MAINTAINS PUSH FOR INDEPENDENTS TITLE
    Created: Saturday, August 30, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Colin Turkington is within touching distance of the Independents Trophy title after outscoring his nearest rival Mat Jackson in the ninth round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone.   A good weekend for Team RAC was complete as Stephen Jelley recorded a seventh place finish - his best in the BTCC Drivers Championship - after qualifying seventh on Saturday.   Turkington lies third in the overall championship standings, while leading the Independents standings with 293 points, 22 ahead of his nearest rival. Team RAC leads the Independents Team Trophy table with 308 points with just the Brands Hatch meeting remaining.   Round 25 A skilful drive from Stephen Jelley helped the Leicester-born driver to his best finish in his BTCC career.   As forecast, heavy rain fell minutes prior to the start of the race, significantly reducing visibility. Jelley started seventh on the grid, but dropped to 12th by the end of the first lap. Undeterred b...
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  • HARDWORK AHEAD FOR JACKSON AT SILVERSTONE
    Created: Friday, August 29, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK endured a frustrating afternoon at Silverstone circuit today as driver Mat Jackson qualified in a disappointing 14th place for the penultimate round of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.   Earlier in the day, the Accident-Exchange-backed driver demonstrated promising form around the 1.63-mile Northamptonshire circuit as he claimed two consistent fifth places in the morning practice sessions.  However, the team struggled to find its earlier pace during the 30-minute qualifying session. Jackson, who was qualifying at Silverstone in the BTCC championship for the first time, initially set a good lap time but as the pace increased the 27-year-old was unable to improve on his time.   Jackson commented, “Obviously, we are really disappointed with that performance given the results earlier in the day. I’ve definitely got my work cut out for me in the opening race tomorrow and I will be intent of salvaging something from the disappoin...
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  • TMS M3s TOP THE TIMES IN NEW JERSEY
    Created: Thursday, August 28, 2008 Author: Jeff
    THUNDERBOLT RACEWAY, Millville, NJ  --Turner Motorsport M3s led the way in the inaugural session of the Koni Challenge series at the new Thunderbolt Raceway in New Jersey. The #96 Motul Lubricants/StopTech Brakes BMW M3 with Bill Auberlen and Matt Alhadeff driving showed the way in this morning's first practice session. And following not far behind in third place was Don Salama and Bryan Ortiz in the #97 H&R Springs/Nova Derm/OCG/GoToPuertoRico.com BMW M3. Also racing this weekend, in the ST class, is Matt Bell and VJ Mirzayan in the H&R Springs/Borla Exhaust BMW 330i. The racing action continues through this weekend and The Speed Channel will broadcast the race on Sunday, September 7 at 2:00pm ET.   The Koni Challenge Series with the GS and ST classes are at Thunderbolt Raceway in southern New Jersey in the first professional race weekend at America's newest road course. Practice was throughout the day on Friday and the #96 M3 topped the time sheets for the first p...
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  • JACKSON ON TRACK FOR PENULTIMATE BTCC BATTLE
    Created: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK makes its way to the penultimate meeting of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Silverstone Circuit this weekend.   Last time out, Accident Exchange-backed driver Mat Jackson put in a strong performance at Scotland’s Knockhill circuit; the 27-year-old collected points in all three races and moved up to fourth place in the overall Championship standings.   As the season draws to a close Jackson, who is currently a mere five points behind third-placed Colin Turkington, will not only be looking to make a strong and lasting impression in his BMW 320si but will also be intent on closing the points’ gap in the all-important Independents’ Championship in which he lies in second place behind fellow BMW driver Turkington.   Jackson commented, "We had a good few results at Knockhill it was just a shame that there is very little room for maneuver up there. This weekend we have the luxury of racing at Silverstone where ther...
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  • Automatic Racing Planning for Success in New Jersey
    Created: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 Author: Jeff
    MILLVILLE, N.J. – For Automatic Racing’s Jep Thornton and Jeff Segal, the KONI Challenge race at Trois-Rivieres didn’t go as planned. Now, the co-drivers of the No. 09 BMW M3 are heading to New Jersey Motorsports Park with a renewed focus. The narrow 10-point lead that Thornton and Segal have in the Grand Sport class championship might be exciting for the fans, but they don’t want that gap to get any smaller. They expect their lead to increase once again on the 2.25-mile road course: this is the first year that the new track has been on the KONI Challenge schedule, but Segal is already familiar with the twists and turns of the layout. “I’ve instructed at New Jersey, and I think that the track’s layout will be a good match for the M3,” said Segal. As for the narrow points lead he and Thornton share, Segal adds, “Now we really have to race going into New Jersey. It will keep things exciting, but we would have liked a healthier lead....
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  • BimmerWorld Drivers Send a Message at Mosport
    Created: Monday, August 25, 2008 Author: Jeff
    "As soon as the lights went out and I rocketed into second to start pressing for the lead, I was completely convinced that we would win," said James Clay, owner and driver of the #36 BimmerWorld BMW E90. Clay, a winner just two weeks ago at the Road America round of the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Touring Car championship, endured the frustrations that can come when a top finishing position is at hand. Clay's E90 suffered an axle shaft failure with the race leader firmly in his sights. "If you race long enough, you will have mechanical failures.  That's the first time we have broken that specific part, but we will certainly be doing some engineering analysis and replacements on the cars to prevent this from happening again." The outcome of the race might have been different had the part held on for just a few more laps. "I would say that it came at about the most inopportune time possible at Mosport, but it is a part of racing.  I feel like I had th...
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  • Formula BMW Europe, 22 - 24.8.08: Rounds 11 + 12, Valencia
    Created: Saturday, August 23, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Formula BMW Europe, 22 - 24.8.08: Rounds 11 + 12, Valencia.   Lights to flag victory for Esteban Gutierrez.   Following his second-placed finish of the previous day, championship leader Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing) prevailed against the other 27 Formula BMW Europe starters in Valencia. The 17-year-old Mexican beat his team-mate Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) by a clear distance. An accident involving Kyle Mitchell (ZA/AM-Holzer Rennsport) meant the race had to be stopped on lap eight out of ten. According to the regulations, the race results were based on the positions on lap eight as the race leader had already begun his ninth lap.   In the same mould as Saturday’s race, when Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) pipped Gutierrez and Wittmann to the post to take his debut win, Sunday’s event was bristling with battles for position. At the start Gutierrez defended his pole position against Breysse,...
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  • Formula BMW Europe, 22 - 24.8.08: Round 11, Valencia
    Created: Friday, August 22, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Sensational battle for the lead: Geronimi is the winner.   Tiago Geronimi (Eifelland Racing) of Brazil took the flag in a spectacular race on Valencia’s street circuit. The 11th round of Formula BMW Europe was dominated by nail-biting jostling for position from the first to the final lap. The leader of the rankings, Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing), kept Geronimi under pressure throughout the race, but the Brazilian ultimately claimed victory ahead of Gutierrez and Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing).   The first European street race in the history of Formula BMW took its toll on the drivers, with just 19 out of 28 starters making it to the finish. But the battle for the top positions in the rankings made for plenty of excitement. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) had to retire from the race, as did Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing). Gleaning the biggest benefit from this was Wittmann, who managed to advance from fourth to second in the po...
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  • TEAM RAC WILL BE AIMING FOR PODIUMS
    Created: Thursday, August 21, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Team RAC will be looking to get on the podium when the HIQ MSA British Touring Car Championship visits Silverstone on Sunday 31 August.   Silverstone, a circuit that was last on the BTCC calendar in 2006, plays host to the penultimate round of the 2008 season and Team RAC will be looking to consolidate its lead in the Independents Trophy.   It is the first time Team RAC has raced its BMWs at Silverstone and the team is full of confidence. Turkington, who is currently third in the overall Drivers Championship, is feeling positive: I think we will be very competitive at Silverstone. Whilst we didnt get the results we were aiming for at Knockhill we certainly showed the pace of the BMW.   I finished on the podium here twice in 2006 and Ill be hoping to repeat this success and to reward Team RAC for the great car theyve given me this season.   Stephen Jelley, in his debut BTCC season, is looking forward to visiting the Northamptonshire circuit: I know Silverston...
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  • TURNER MOTORSPORT FIGHTING HARD IN CANADA
    Created: Thursday, August 21, 2008 Author: Jeff
    TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec, Canada (August 22, 2008) --Turner Motorsport BMWs mixed it up last weekend in the Koni Challenge race at Trois-Riviere, Quebec, Canada. The defending race winners scored their fourth top ten finish of the year and BMW advanced to second place in the Manufacturer’s Championship.   Matt Alhadeff and Bill Auberlen started from mid-pack but ripped their way to the top ten in the first few laps. The #96 Motul Lubricants/StopTech Brakes BMW M3, in the hands of Alhadeff, passed six cars in the early stages of the race before the team brought him during the race’s first yellow caution period. There, Bill Auberlen took the controls and rejoined the battle in fifth spot. However, while dicing with other cars a piece of debris sliced the hose to one of his rear shock absorbers and Auberlen fought the car for the remainder of the race. He still managed a seventh-place finish.   Similar luck befell the #97 H&R Springs/Nova Derm/OCG/GoToPuertoRic...
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  • Qualifying: Formula BMW Europe, 22-24.8.08: Rounds 11 + 12, Valencia (ES)
    Created: Thursday, August 21, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Qualifying: Formula BMW Europe, 22-24.8.08: Rounds 11 + 12, Valencia (ES).   Kevin Breysse and Esteban Gutierrez take pole positions.   During qualifying for the first European street race in the history of Formula BMW, Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) delivered the best performance of all 28 drivers to take his first pole of the season in round 11 of Formula BMW Europe. On the 5.44 km circuit in Valencia, with temperatures around 30 degrees Celsius, Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) claimed second place on the grid and Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) third. The grid line-up for the 12th race of the season is determined by the second-fastest lap in qualifying. That puts Gutierrez at the front on Sunday, followed by Breysse in second position and Wittmann (P3).   It was only thanks to the sterling efforts of his team Josef Kaufmann Racing that overall leader Gutierrez was able to take part in qualifying at all. After he slammed into a wall during th...
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  • Lucky Number Eight for Automatic RacingÂ’s Putman and Espenlaub
    Created: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Author: Jeff
    TROIS-RIVIERES, Quebec – If there is any truth to the Chinese tradition that the number eight is lucky, then Charlie Putman and Charles Espenlaub are the luckiest men in the KONI Challenge paddock. The two drivers scored Automatic Racing’s best finish in Sunday’s Grand Prix de Trois-Rivieres with their third consecutive eighth-place finish. Putman qualified 10th among the Grand Sport entries, driving the No. 91 Automatic Racing BMW M3. After the start of the race, Putman kept the car near the front, battling his way back after getting hit by a competitor. Espenlaub took over the driving duties during a caution, and crossed the finish line in eighth. “We seem to be settling into eighth!” commented Putman. “We’re pretty happy because the finish is within our goals. This was my first time to Trois-Rivieres, and it’s notoriously tough to learn the first time out.” “We’re really impressed to see the success Charlie and Cha...
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  • Preview Valencia: Strong Spanish drivers in Formula BMW Europe
    Created: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Preview Valencia: Strong Spanish drivers in Formula BMW Europe.   On the Formula BMW Europe winners’ podium it’s most definitely a case of Spanish spoken. 17-year-old Daniel Juncadella from Barcelona has already been up there five times in this successful junior race series, and on the top step twice as the winner of rounds 9 and 10 in Budapest. Four pole positions, moreover, have earned the Spaniard extra points to secure him his current second place in the overall rankings. “Things are going pretty well,” says Juncadella, although the Italian Team Eurointernational driver still can’t quite believe his outstanding achievements so far. At any rate, it seems he can rely on his DNA, with motor racing a traditional forte of the Juncadella clan. Two of his uncles raced in Formula One and his father was Spanish Formula 3 champion.   It was the BMW Motorsport talent scouts who discovered Ramon Pineiro (Fortec Motorsport) of Barcelona for Formula BM...
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  • BimmerWorld: Mosport SPEED World Challenge Touring Car Preview
    Created: Monday, August 18, 2008 Author: Jeff
    The BimmerWorld BMW World Challenge team sets down at one of their favorite events this weekend at the high speed circuit just outside of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Surrounded by picturesque hills at the tree-lined 2.5 mile circuit, Mosport famously demands both car and driver to perform at their maximum to earn a top finish. After a commanding victory at Elkhart Lake two weeks ago, BimmerWorld's owner/driver James Clay has his sights set on taming Mosport's rollercoaster-esque track. "Elkhart Lake was a wonderful achievement for BimmerWorld and I think it confirmed that we're at a good stage of development with our BMW E90 race cars. We figured something out at Road America on the setup and the car is very good right now. Hopefully, that advantage will continue for a few races. One thing we are able to bring into Mosport is some enthusiasm from the entire team, which always makes the workday seem shorter. It's never easy to win in World Challenge, and I don't expect Mosport to b...
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  • Preview: Formula BMW Europe, 22 - 24.8.08: Rounds 11 + 12, Valencia
    Created: Monday, August 18, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Preview: Formula BMW Europe, 22 - 24.8.08: Rounds 11 + 12, Valencia.   Double premiere for Formula BMW Europe.   Munich, 19 August 2008. A weekend of challenges awaits the 28 young drivers of Formula BMW Europe. Rounds 11 and 12 will be held against the backdrop of the Formula One GP on the newly created street circuit in the Spanish city of Valencia. For the drivers, a twofold premiere beckons: on the one hand the weekend marks the first street race on the European continent in the history of Formula BMW, and on the other hand none of the drivers has had a chance to glean any driving experience there. All the junior drivers will therefore be entering uncharted territory: “I have prepared for the race by watching videos of the Spanish Formula 3 race that was held there four weeks ago. I’ve also been on location and had a look at the circuit. The crucial thing is whether you can quickly master the details,” says Spaniard Daniel Juncadella (Eurointernation...
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  • Independents Win For Turkington At Knockhill
    Created: Sunday, August 17, 2008 Author: Jeff
    Colin Turkington secured an Independents win for Team RAC at the eighth event of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship at Knockhill today (17 August).   In front of the largest Scottish crowd this century, Team RAC celebrated success with Colin Turkington claiming an Independents victory to strengthen his lead in the Independents Trophy.   Turkington lies in third place in the overall Drivers Championship with 160 points and Stephen Jelley in 15th with 8 points.   Round 22 Turkington extended his lead in the Independents Trophy by securing another Independents win for Team RAC.   Colin Turkington began the first race of the day at Knockhill from fifth place on the grid. The Northern Irishman started promisingly and was able to capitalise on an early incident between Onslow-Cole and Chilton to move into third place. The race was punctuated by two safety car periods and as a result was extended to 27 laps.   By the second restart on lap 13 Turki...
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  • TEAM RAC IN HIGH SPIRITS AHEAD OF KNOCKHILL
    Created: Saturday, August 16, 2008 Author: Jeff
    With only three meetings left of the 2008 HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship Team RAC heads to Scotland looking to consolidate its lead in the Independent Teams and Drivers championships.   Colin Turkington heads to Knockhill this weekend (16-17 August) ? where he claimed two podium finishes last season - still harbouring ambitions of claiming his maiden Drivers' Championship title following yet another race victory in the last meeting at Oulton Park.   The Northern Irishman remains the man in form in the BTCC, securing six podium finishes in the last 12 rounds, a run which has seen him move up to third place overall, just four points behind Jason Plato.   Stephen Jelley's debut season in the BTCC continues apace after another encouraging round at Oulton Park last month. Crucial points secured at the Cheshire circuit maintained the 26-year-old's surge in the Independent Drivers' standings, which currently sees him sitting seventh.   Dick Bennetts, ...
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  • JACKSON COLLECTS VALUABLE POINTS NORTH OF THE BORDER
    Created: Saturday, August 16, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK driver Mat Jackson made his visit to Scotland well worth his while today as he scored an Independent victory, along with a fourth and sixth place finish in the eighth meeting of the HiQ MSA British Touring Car Championship. As a result of his strong results the Accident Exchange-backed driver moved up in overall standings to fourth.   The majority of the race action was confined to the last fixture. Henley-in-Arden-based Jackson started from fifth on the grid but after being passed by Matt Neal on lap three and then pushed wide at CarLubes three laps later he found himself in a frustrating eight place behind defending Champion Fabrizio Giovanardi. The safety car was deployed on lap nine for two laps. Once the race restarted the frenetic action increased with Jackson out pacing Giovanardi on the start finished straight as he claimed seventh place. Meanwhile Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden were locked in battle for fourth. Ultimately the pair left the track and Jac...
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  • JACKSON READY FOR CELTIC CHALLENGE
    Created: Friday, August 15, 2008 Author: Jeff
    BMW Dealer Team UK rose to the challenge of the demanding Knockhill circuit today when driver Mat Jackson set the eighth fastest time for tomorrow’s first race of HIQ MSA British Touring Car Championship.   Jackson, who as a result of Tom Chilton being given a six-place grid penalty from the last meeting, will start the first race of the day from seventh. The 26-year-old is confident with tomorrow’s race pace after two productive free practice sessions earlier in the day; he completed a total of fifty laps and ran as high as fourth.  The 1.2-mile track produced a close qualifying result with only four hundredths of a second separating Jackson from P3 and half a second separating the top ten.   Jackson commented, “There is little room for error our there, the times are really tight as is the track!  We have a good set-up on the car and know we have a strong race pace, we just need to find the space as overtaking is generally confined to the hair...
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