Barcelona, 26th April 2008. BMW Junior driver Adrien Tambay (FR/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 (ES/Eurointernational) from Barcelona and Esteban Gutierrez (MX/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 (DK/Double R Racing) Facundo Regalia (ES/Eurointernational), escaped their accidents and were declared uninjured after being checked in the medical centre.

1st Adrien Tambay (FR/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 (ES/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.”

3 rd 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.”

For the drivers, the race weekend in Barcelona consists of two Races: Race 2 will be on Sunday 09.15-09.45 hrs.
Results
Race 1
1. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 26:35.195,
2. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 26:36.074,
3. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 26:36.959,
4. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 26:37.357,
5. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 26:39.978,
6. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 26:40.582,
7. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 26:45.554,
8. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 26:46.776,
9. Carlos Huertas (Co/Double R Racing) 26:46.867,
10. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 26:48.993,
11. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 26:49.909,
12. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 26:50.463,
13. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 26:51.224,
14. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 26:52.874,
15. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 26:53.402,
16. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 26:54.114,
17. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 26:57.193,
18. Bastian Graber (DE/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 26:59.582,
19. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 27:00.243,
20. Giancarlo Vilarinho (BR/Eurointernational) 27:00.486,
21. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 27:03.244,
22. Juan Cevallos (EC/Mücke Motorsport) 27:03.370,
23. Jordan Williams (GB/DAMS Team) 27:08.186,
24. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 27:12.018,
25. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) + 2 laps.
Not Classified:
Melvin Moh (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport), Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing), Facundo Regalia* (ES/Eurointernational), Anthony Comas (FR/Mücke Motorsport)
Excluded: David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport)
Fastest Lap: Wittmann 1:51.388..

* Rookie

Championship standings after 1 out of 16 races:
1. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 31 Points,
2. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 24,
3. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 20,
4. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 18,
5. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 16,
6. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 14,
7. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 12,
8. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 10,
9. Carlos Huertas (Co/Double R Racing) 8,
10. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 6,
11. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 5,
12. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 4,
13. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 3,
14. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 2,
15. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 1.

Rookie standings:
1. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 3,
2. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 2.