Gutierrez wins ahead of Christensen.

 

Silverstone, 5th July 2008. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) won the fifth round of the Formula BMW Europe on Britain’s classic Silverstone race track. The 16-year-old Mexican dominated the drivers’ field and was victorious against Michael Christensen (DK/Double R Racing) and Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing). Gutierrez threw his arms up in delight as he was crossing the line in first place: He was celebrating his third victory in Formula BMW Europe. The “Rookie of the Year” from the North American Formula BMW last year even honoured his car at the winners’ ceremony. He had parked it directly under the podium balcony and gave it a big champagne shower.
Gutierrez started in second place on the grid and immediately took the lead in the 29-strong drivers’ field during the first lap. He was followed by Formula BMW Junior Christensen, who is competing in the season as a rookie for the British team Räikkönen Robertson Racing, moving up from position four to second place. Tambay lost his position at the start and took up third place in the leading group of cars during the second lap. The trio maintained this sequence throughout the 25-minute race until they were flagged past the finishing line.
The first pole position for Ramon Pineiro (ES/Fortec Motorsport) brought him no luck. He was in sixth place in the third lap when he went into the gravel, succeeded in getting the FB02 back on course but fell back to18th place.
The weekend began with some ups and downs for the six drivers from Great Britain. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (Double R Racing) from Ipswich went into the race as the best British driver in eleventh place on the grid. He finished in ninth place. Kazeem Manzur (Josef Kaufmann Racing), born in Milton Keynes, took tenth place. Jordan Williams (DAMS Team) from Tavistock drove to 14th place. 16-year-old Thomas Hillsdon (Motaworld Racing) came in eighteenth. Ollie Millroy (FMS International) from Claygate was 24th. William Buller (Fortec Motorsport) from Islip failed to finish the race.
Gutierrez (134 points) continues to lead the overall rankings and extended his lead over Tambay (112 points). Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational, 94 points) is positioned number three.

 

1st place Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing):
“My victory looked simpler than it actually was. There was a strong wind that caused me a lot of trouble especially taking corners. I had to make sure that I stayed on track. I’m absolutely delighted with my victory because 25 people have come to Silverstone from Mexico especially to see me racing.”

 

 

 

2nd place Michael Christensen (DK/Double R Racing):
“Although I got off to a good start, I was very tense in the first three rounds. Then I found there was no danger coming from behind and I calmed down. I’m very satisfied with my best result for the season. Particularly given that this is my first season.”

 

3rd place Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing):
“Unfortunately, I started off rather badly. I was simply unable to keep up with the leaders. When the other drivers put on pressure from behind, I concentrated on not making any mistakes. This meant I was able to keep my position. We need to do some work on the car for Sunday’s race, so that I can drive onto the podium again.”

 

Dr. Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director:
“I saw a good race today. Only a few drivers came off the track and there were no accidents. Since the first race in Barcelona, I have observed a steep learning curve. The young drivers are improving from race to race and that’s nice to see. That’s the purpose of Formula BMW Europe: The aim is for the field to keep on improving.”

Results Round 5:
1. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25:09.856,
2. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 25:17.880,
3. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 25:20.382,
4. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 25:21.729,
5. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25:22.014,
6. Carlos Huertas (Co/Double R Racing) 25:22.458,
7. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 25:23.308,
8. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 25:23.799,
9. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 25:33.608,
10. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25:34.461,
11. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 25:34.905,
12. Facundo Regalia* (ES/Eurointernational) 25:35.610,
13. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 25:40.334,
14. Jordan Williams (GB/DAMS Team) 25:43.311,
15. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 25:43.641,
16. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 25:43.887,
17. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 25:45.110,
18. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 25:45.158,
19. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 25:45.177
20. Giancarlo Vilarinho (BR/Eurointernational) 25:45.738,
21. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 25:46.088,
22. Juan Cevallos (EC/Mücke Motorsport) 25:46.814,
23. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 25:55.136,
24. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 25:59.262,
25. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 26:17.923,
26. Bastian Graber (DE/AM-Holzer Rennsport) + 1 lap,
27. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) + 2 laps
Not classified: William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport), Velibor Jovanovic (SER//Mücke Motorsport). Fastest race lap: Gutierrez 1:54.801
* Rookie

 

Standings after 5 out of 16 rounds:
1. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 134,
2. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 112,
3. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 94,
4. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 94,
5. Carlos Huertas (Co/Double R Racing) 64,
6. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 53,
7. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 48,
8. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 45,
9. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 38,
10. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 35,
11. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 32,
12. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 27,
13. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 24,
14. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 17,
15. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 13,
16. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 12,
17. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 10,
18. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 9,
19. Jordan Williams (GB/DAMS Team) 4,
20. Facundo Regalia (ITA/Eurointernational) 4,
21. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 1.

 

Rookie standings:
1. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 45,
2. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 38,
3. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 13,
4. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 12.
5. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 10,
6. Facundo Regalia* (ITA/Eurointernational) 4.

 

Team standings:
1. Josef Kaufmann Racing 240,
2. Eifelland Racing 129,
3. Double R Racing 129,
4. Fisichella Motor Sport International 101,
5.Eurointernational 96,
6. Fortec Motorsport Ltd. 68,
7. Mücke Motorsport 45,
8. DAMS Team 40,
9. AM-Holzer Rennsport 17,
10. Motaworld Racing 0.

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