Woodcliff Lake, NJ - March 23, 2005... 20 young drivers began the next step in their racing careers as they took to the Road Atlanta circuit, in Braselton, Ga. on Monday and Tuesday of this week for the first official test of the 2005 Formula BMW USA Championship season.
The first of 10 scheduled official test days, the two days spent at Road Atlanta gave most their first look at their season's competition. Perhaps more importantly, each driver received a good education of the technical 2.54-mile, 12-turn circuit that will host the final two rounds of the Championship on Sept. 29 ? Oct. 1. Formula BMW USA coaches Peter Argetsinger and Oswaldo Negri were on hand to provide support as the Atlanta weather did its best to show a little bit of everything, from cool, to cold and wet.

Ten teams completed many miles of testing with a few drivers accumulating 400 miles in their new FB2s.

"What a fantastic official start to the 2005 Formula BMW USA Championship," said Alex Schmuck, Formula BMW USA Manager. "20 FB2s and 20 drivers at the challenging Road Atlanta track demonstrate that the concept of Formula BMW is working. We can already see story lines and rivalries beginning to take shape for what will be a very exciting year of racing."

Four more official test days will be held at Virginia International Raceway and Carolina Motorsports Park before the Championship begins at Laguna Seca Raceway on April 29 - May 1.

2005 Formula BMW USA Schedule
Round 1 and 2 Laguna Seca Raceway April 29-May 1
Round 3 and 4 Mid-Ohio May 20-22
Round 5 and 6 Canadian Grand Prix June10-12
Round 7 and 8 United States Grand Prix June 17-19
Round 9 and 10 Barber Motorsports Park July 29 - 31
Round 11 and 12 Grand Prix of Denver Aug. 12-14
Round 13 and 14 Road Atlanta Sept. 29 ? Oct. 1

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005 the series will be held in Germany, Britain, Asia and the USA. Up-and-coming drivers as young as 15 years of age are given the opportunity of entering motor racing with the high-tech, standard FB2 race car.

Since 2002, this racecar has been seen on the grid and has set standards particularly on the safety technology front. A single-seater propelled by a 140 bhp BMW motorcycle engine up to 140 miles per hour, it exceeds by far the safety requirements for its class. BMW Motorsport has developed the FORS Formula Rescue Seat especially for Formula BMW, and the HANS safety system is also mandatory.

In 2005, Formula BMW will be a support race at five different Formula One race weekends worldwide. Formula BMW offers a multifaceted Education and Coaching Program, as well as sponsorship for promising racing talents via the Junior Program. The best-known alumni of Formula BMW are Formula One drivers Ralf Schumacher, Christian Klien and Timo Glock.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen: "Formula BMW offers talented young drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching Program we have designed specially for them, they learn everything they need to know to hold their own in the big wide world of motor racing. Formula BMW has shot out of the blocks to become the top entry-level class for Formula racing worldwide."

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