Formula BMW Europe, 1- 3.8.08: Rounds 9 + 10, Budapest (HU).

 

Juncadella gets the champagne treatment – twice.

 

Budapest, 3rd August 2008. Daniel Juncadella (Eurointernational) climbed to the top step of the Formula BMW Europe podium twice this weekend at the Hungaroring. On Saturday the 17-year-old Spaniard celebrated victory ahead of Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team). And on Sunday he clinched the race win from Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) in second place and Wittmann in third. On both occasions Juncadella started from pole position. The tenth round of the season ran smoothly and as far as possible the drivers managed to avoid unnecessary collisions. Among the prominent observers on the pit wall were BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen, BMW Board Member Ian Robertson and Torro Rosso boss Gerhard Berger.

 

After 10 of the season’s 16 rounds, a leading group of four drivers now dominate the overall standings in Formula BMW Europe. Gutierrez leads the way with six wins and 250 points ahead of Juncadella with two wins and 200 points. Then comes Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) with two wins and 198 points and Wittmann with six podium places and 194 points. In the rookie standings Danish driver Michael Christensen (DK/Double R Racing) has now taken over the lead held by David Mengesdorf (DE/Mücke Motorsport) going into the weekend. Driving for the British Raikkonen Robertson Racing team, Christensen now has 94 points and, like the German Mengesdorf (87 points), is one of the drivers supported by BMW.
Rounds 11 and 12 of Formula BMW Europe will take place in three weeks’ time (22nd-24th August) as part of the support programme for the F1 Grand Prix of Europe on the street circuit in Valencia.

 

1st place Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational):
“It has been a perfect weekend for me with two poles and two wins. However, they were not easy races. In the second race I had a lead of 1.5 seconds over the field after six laps, but then I saw on my pit board that Esteban was really going for it. That sent my pulse rate up, but I kept my concentration through to the finish. After my second places at Barcelona and Zolder I discovered in Budapest that the winner gets a real champagne soaking from the other guys. You can’t imagine how much it stings your eyes.”

 

2nd place Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing):
“I learnt a lot this weekend. The racing accident I had with Adrien on Saturday meant I didn’t get any points and had to make sure I was well prepared mentally for the next race. It worked out; I managed to finish second and know that many drivers would have gladly been in my place on the podium. It’s therefore not only wins that represent success for me. It is these kinds of experiences that take you forward.”

 

3rd place Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing):
“All in all, I was hoping for more from this weekend, especially after I qualified with two front-row places on the grid. Overtaking is not easy on this circuit as a rule – you really have to be very close to pull it off. I’m trying to look forward now. The street circuit in Valencia will be new for all the drivers. Our only knowledge of it is from a plan of the track and videos. We’ll be starting from fresh all over again.”

Results 10th round:
1. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 25:07.385
2. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25:08.487
3. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25:10.354
4. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 25:13.481
5. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 25:13.804
6. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 25:15.583
7. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 25:17.822
8. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 25:18.684
9. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 25:19.122
10. Carlos Huertas (CO/Double R Racing) 25:21.730
11. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 25:22.649
12. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 25:23.997
13. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 25:24.152
14. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 25:24.580
15. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 25:25.826
16. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 25:26.499
17. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 25:32.011
18. Philipp Eng (AT/Mücke Motorsport) 25:32.318
19. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 25:33.290
20. Facundo Regalia* (ES/Eurointernational) 25:33.481
21. Kyle Mitchell (ZA/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 25:38.749
22. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 25:38.831
23. Marlon Stockinger (PH/Eurointernational) 25:39.079
24. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 25:42.137
25. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 25:58.324
26. Juan Cevallos (EC/Mücke Motorsport) + 1 Runde.
Not classified: Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International). Fastest race lap: Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 1:50.432.

 

Standings after 10 out of 16 rounds:
1. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 250,
2. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 200,
3. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 198,
4. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 194,
5. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 101,
6. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 92,
7. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 92,
8. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 87,
9. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 81,
10. Carlos Huertas (Co/Double R Racing) 74,
11. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 64,
12. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 58,
13. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 44,
14. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 43,
15. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 37,
16. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 28,
17. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 22,
18. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 20,
19. Facundo Regalia* (ITA/Eurointernational) 18,
20. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 14,
21. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 9,
22. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 5,
23. Jordan Williams (GB/DAMS Team) 4,
24. Juan Cevallos (EC/Mücke Motorsport) 3,
25. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 2,
26. Anthony Comas (FR/Mücke Motorsport) 0,
27. Bastian Graber (DE/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 0,
28. Kyle Mitchell (ZA/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 0,
29. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 0.

 

Rookie standings:
1. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 92,
2. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 87,
3. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 28,
4. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 22,
5. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 20,
6. Facundo Regalia* (ITA/Eurointernational) 18,
7. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 14,
8. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 5,
9. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 0.

 

Team standings:
1. Josef Kaufmann Racing 470, 2. Eifelland Racing 255, 3. Eurointernational 214, 4. Double R Racing 210, 5. Fisichella Motor Sport International 207, 6. Fortec Motorsport Ltd. 119, 7. Mücke Motorsport 90, 8. DAMS Team 87, 9. AM-Holzer Rennsport 64, 10. Motaworld Racing 14.

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