Fifth win in a row for Gutierrez.

 

Hockenheim, 19th July 2008. The winner of the 7th race held on the support race programme of the Formula One Grand Prix in Hockenheim was Mexican Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing). It was his 5th consecutive win in Formula BMW Europe. His closest challenger for the lead in the overall rankings, Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing), finished as runner-up. Completing the podium line-up was German driver Marco Wittmann (Josef Kaufmann Racing) from Markt Erlbach near Nuremberg. The three leaders in the rankings were thus able to consolidate their respective positions.

 

It was an exciting race, peppered with plenty of jostling for position – as well as a safety car phase. On the first race lap British driver Ollie Millroy (GB/FMS International) was knocked out by a fellow contestant and rolled. Millroy was able to climb out of the vehicle uninjured. After the 28 drivers from 16 countries had been guided through the danger zone by the safety car for two laps, they used the opportunity to realign their positions. The leaders – polesetter Gutierrez, Tambay and Wittmann – crossed the line in this sequence. Behind them, Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport), Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational), Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) and Ramon Pineiro (ES/Fortec Motorsport) delighted the crowds with some impressive passing manoeuvres. Drawing the short straw here was Pineiro, whose car was hit by a rival on the final lap. The Spaniard had to abandon the race but was likewise uninjured.

 

The 8th race in Formula BMW Europe will take place on Sunday at 9.15-9.45 hrs.

 

1st place Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing):
“The conditions out on the track today really weren’t easy. It was raining before the start, and then the sun came out. We were driving on slicks and there were still pools of water in some of the corners. I had to concentrate totally so as not to make any mistakes. On the podium today, my national anthem was played in full for the first time. As a Mexican, by tradition I always place my hand on my heart. I’m proud to be Mexican, especially when it comes to motorsport.”

 

2nd place Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing):
“Right at the start of the race I managed to get past Juncadella. It was a pretty risky manoeuvre, but in the battle for the lead I have to take risks occasionally. Then I made a stupid mistake, which opened up the gap to Esteban. Halfway through the race I suddenly noticed some drops of rain on my visor. From then on I drove very carefully.”

 

3rd place Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing):
“I got off to a good start and managed to gain a position. On the first lap I was fast and went on the attack, but then the safety car came out. I didn’t get back into my stride straightaway. Of course a place on the podium is always great, but in the next race I’d quite like to be one or two steps higher up.”

Results 7th round:
1. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 24:39.519
2. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 24:46.292
3. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 24:46.670
4. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 24:58.922
5. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 25:01.340
6. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 25:01.804
7. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 25:02.364
8. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 25:02.990
9. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25:03.509
10. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 25:04.138
11. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 25:04.955
12. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 25:06.852
13. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 25:07.814
14. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 25:08.939
15. Facundo Regalia* (ES/Eurointernational) 25:09.513
16. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 25:11.315
17. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 25:12.060
18. Philipp Eng (AT/Mücke Motorsport) 25:15.627
19. Carlos Huertas (CO/Double R Racing) 25:15.966
20. Juan Cevallos (EC/Mücke Motorsport) 25:17.003
21. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 25:32.514
22. Alexander Rossi (US/Eurointernational) 25:35.924
23. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 25:45.012.
24. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 23:12.227
25. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 24:42.350
26. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 26:19.039.
Not classified: Joel Volluz (CH/DAMS Team), Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International). Fastest race lap: Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 1:46.333. * Rookie

 

Standings after 7 out of 16 rounds:
1. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 195,
2. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 156,
3. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 130,
4. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 120,
5. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 87,
6. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 82,
7. Carlos Huertas (Co/Double R Racing) 64,
8. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 63,
9. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 60,
10. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 39,
11. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 38,
12. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 37,
13. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 33,
14. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25,
15. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 24,
16. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 15,
17. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 14,
18. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 9,
19. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 9,
20. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 6,
21. Facundo Regalia* (ITA/Eurointernational) 5,
22. Jordan Williams (GB/DAMS Team) 4,
23. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 2,
24. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 1,
25. Juan Cevallos (EC/Mücke Motorsport) 0,
26. Anthony Comas (FR/Mücke Motorsport) 0,
27. Bastian Graber (DE/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 0,
28. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 0.

 

Rookie standings:
1. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 63,
2. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 60,
3. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25,
4. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 15,
5. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 14,
6. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 6,
7. Facundo Regalia* (ITA/Eurointernational) 5,
8. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 2,
9. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 0.

 

Team standings:
1. Josef Kaufmann Racing 349, 2. Eifelland Racing 178, 3. Fisichella Motor Sport International 175, 4. Double R Racing 162, 5. Eurointernational 123, 6. Fortec Motorsport Ltd. 69, 7. Mücke Motorsport 63, 8. DAMS Team 42, 9. AM-Holzer Rennsport 39, 10. Motaworld Racing 11.

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