Qualifying: Formula BMW Europe, 12-14.9.08: Rounds 15 + 16, Monza (IT).

 

Qualifying throws up surprises: Huertas and Geronimi on pole.

 

Monza (IT), 12 September 2008. The 15th round of Formula BMW Europe in Monza, Italy, will see Colombian Carlos Huertas (Double R Racing) starting from pole position on Saturday. On Sunday, Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) will be at the front of the grid. During free practice, the young drivers had to contend with a very wet track, and torrential rain meant that qualifying had to be postponed from Friday midday to the evening. When the drivers finally hit the track in the evening sun, these conditions threw up a number of surprises in the grid line-ups.

 

Huertas will be starting a race from pole position for the first time this season. It makes the driver from the Räikkönen Robertson Racing team the eighth polesetter in Formula BMW Europe’s regular 28-strong field of drivers. So far, the driver on pole has ended up the winner in eight out of 14 races. Rookie Facu Ragalia (ES/Eurointernational) similarly delivered his best qualifying result of the year in Monza by claiming second place on the front row of the grid for the 15th round.

 

On Monza’s high-speed race track, the up-and-coming young drivers had a particularly tough time driving over the challenging kerbs. Pole position in Monza is not quite as crucial as on other circuits, since the slipstream duels along the straights will allow for plenty of passing manoeuvres during the races. And that will boost the chances of title contender Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing), who will be starting the races from positions six (Round 15) and three (Round 16). His closest rival, Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing), will be eighth and fourth on the grid.

 

The Formula BMW Europe races take place in Monza on Saturday from 17.30 to 18 hrs and on Sunday from 8.45 to 9.15 hrs.

 

Carlos Huertas (CO/Double R Racing).
Round 15: Pole Position, Round 16: 2nd on the grid.
“I am happy about my first pole position. I had a clean lap without any mistakes. On the straight I went into the slipstream of another car and in the corners I made no mistakes. That is how I managed a clean lap. For the race on Saturday I need a good start and a good first lap. The podium places will be decided on the last laps.”

 

Facundo Regalia (ES/Eurointernational).
Round 15: 2nd on the grid, Round 16: 5th on the grid.
“This is a fantastic result both for me personally and for me as a rookie. It is my first time on this circuit, because I have not done the official test here. I was confident from the first lap and I braked very late. From the first row a podium is possible. I hope I can make it. The most important thing for me is to improve from race to race. What a start for the finale.”

 

Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing).
Round 15: 3rd on the grid, Round 16: Pole Position.
„After Spa now in Monza it is my second pole position. Starting first is not so vital, because everybody will be fighting until the last lap. If you are leading, the others will slipstream, pass, and leave you behind. As a driver you need a good strategy, if you want to win at the end. Of course a victory will be a perfect crowning to my season.”

Grid positions round 15:
1. Carlos Huertas (CO/Double R Racing) 1:59.327
2. Facundo Regalia* (ES/Eurointernational) 1:59.406
3. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 1:59.424
4. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 1:59.446
5. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 1:59.510
6. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 1:59.578
7. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 1:59.678
8. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 1:59.722
9. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 1:59.850
10. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 1:59.890
11. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 2:00.131
12. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 2:00.200
13. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 2:00.371
14. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 2:00.387
15. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 2:00.526
16. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 2:00.658
17. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 2:00.799
18. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 2:00.880
19. Giancarlo Vilarinho (BR/Eurointernational) 2:00.880
20. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 2:00.937
21. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 2:01.001
22. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 2:01.036
23. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 2:01.046.
24. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 2:01.795
25. Joel Volluz (CH/DAMS Team) 2:03.625
26. Asad Rahman* (AE, Motaworld Racing) 2:03.664
* Rookie

 

Grid positions round 16:
1. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 1:59.623
2. Carlos Huertas (CO/Double R Racing)1:59.642
3. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 1:59.682
4. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 1:59.843
5. Facundo Regalia* (ES/Eurointernational) 1:59.932
6. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 1:59.943
7. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 2:00.013
8. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 2:00.084
9. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 2:00.094
10. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 2:00.178
11. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 2:00.255
12. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 2:00.269
13. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 2:00.588
14. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 2:00.621
15. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 2:00.727
16. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 2:00.864
17. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 2:00.950
18. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 2:00.983
19. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 2:01.234
20. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 2:01.411
21. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 2:01.540
22. Giancarlo Vilarinho (BR/Eurointernational) 2:01.597
23. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 2:01.693
24. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 2:02.087
25. Asad Rahman* (AE, Motaworld Racing) 2:03.695
26. Joel Volluz (CH/DAMS Team) 2:04.542.
* Rookie

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