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Woodcliff Lake, NJ - September 28, 2005... BMW announced today the names of the five young drivers that will be awarded a 2006 Formula BMW USA Junior scholarship. Each will receive a $40,000 scholarship towards participation in the 2006 Formula BMW USA Championship and automatic enrollment in Formula BMW USA Education and Coaching Program. The 2006 Formula BMW USA Junior drivers that will race in the distinctive BMW Motorsport livery are Brandon Bealer (16), of Coalville, Ill.; Jordan Dick (17), of Northville, Mich.; David Garza (17), of Monterrey, Mexico ; Maxime Pelletier (15), of Longueuil, Quebec, Canada; and Robert Thorne (15), of Langhorne, Pa. The five winners were selected in a competition between 18 young drivers invited from two previous Formula BMW USA licensing schools held in July. On August 31 to September 1, the two-day “shoot-out”, was held at the Formula BMW Racing Center at the "Circuit de la Communitat" in Valencia, Spain. During practice sessions, instructors provided feedback while keeping an expert eye out for those who had the potential to wear the BMW Junior colors. The program culminated with two sessions of evaluations where all drivers were scored by five instructors, that included BMW Touring Car driver Joerg Mueller and Formula BMW USA driving coach Peter Argetsinger. The five young men selected for a 2006 Formula BMW USA scholarship will join a select group of very talented Formula BMW USA Junior alumni. Since Formula BMW began in North America in 2004, 12 young men have competed, or are currently competing, as Juniors. Current 2005 Formula BMW Juniors are Adrien Herberts; Kevin Lacroix; Robert Wickens; Justin Moon; Reed Stevens and Richard Philippe. Philippe leads both the Overall and Rookie standings heading into the final two rounds of the 2005 Championship, continuing the strong performance and high standard the first group of Formula BMW USA Juniors established in 2004. In the first season of Formula BMW USA, Junior James Hinchcliffe won the inaugural Formula BMW USA Rookie title. Along with fellow Rookie Graham Rahal, he has gone on to race in the Star Mazda Series this year. They currently stand third and fourth in driver points respectively. Tom Milner is racing a BMW Team PTG M3 in the Rolex Sports Car Series. With two wins and four podium finishes to-date this year he stands sixth in Driver Points. Jonathan Summerton continues to race in the Formula BMW ADAC Championship in Germany, standing 10th in driver points. The BMW Junior program continues to be one of the hallmarks of BMW’s commitment to motorsports by providing young drivers with the best start possible. Beginning in 1977, the BMW Junior program has been instrumental in providing an excellent foundation for many young drivers, among them Marc Surer, Eddie Cheever, Manfred Winkelhock and Sebastian Vettel.
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