Formula BMW Germany - Races 1 and 2 - Hockenheim

Races 1 + 2, 7-9 April, Hockenheimring.

Back-to-back wins for Marco Holzer.

Hockenheim. Marco Holzer (Bobingen/AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH) stole the show on
the first weekend of the Formula BMW Germany series in Hockenheim with
back-to-back victories. On both Saturday and Sunday Holzer crossed the finish
line ahead of Christian Vietoris (Lissendorf/Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Mika
Mäki (FIN/Eifelland Racing). "At last I've been able to prove that my success
at the Formula BMW World Final in Bahrain was not a flash in the pan," said the
17-year-old German.

Holzer, who started Sunday's race on pole, locked horns with second-place man
Vietoris in a gripping battle at the head of the field. A mistake by Vietoris
was enough to cost the Kaufmann team driver his short-lived lead. "I made an
error and ended up on the dirty side of the track. Marco took full advantage."
Both drivers also competed in Formula BMW last year, but success had proved
elusive. The youngsters used the winter break to prepare themselves as well as
possible for the new season.

"I focussed very much on the endurance training side of things," said Vietoris,
"and went running for at least an hour six times a week." Holzer also worked
hard on his fitness, completing numerous strength and endurance programmes
under the watchful eye of a professional trainer. "I got up to go jogging at
5.30 a.m. this weekend as well and really saw the benefits in the race at 9
a.m.," he explained.

However, his rivals are equally as determined. "Two third places isn't bad,"
said Mäki, "but I'm looking to do better still in the next few races. I always
set out to win." The leading rookie Philipp Eng (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg)
was satisfied with his weekend's performances. The Formula BMW newcomer
finished seventh on both Saturday and Sunday.

The group of juniors supported by BMW left Hockenheim with an impressive haul
of points. Nick de Bruijn (NLD/Josef Kaufmann Racing) secured sixth position on
Sunday, with Patrick Kronenberger (Friedrichshafen/Josef Kaufmann Racing)
taking eighth place and Jens Klingmann (Leimen/Eifelland Racing) crossing the
finish line in tenth. A total of 21 drivers from eleven different countries
lined up for the Formula BMW Germany races over the weekend.

Race 2, placings:
1. Marco Holzer (Bobingen/AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH) 19:33.082,
2. Christian Vietoris (Lissendorf/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 19:35.844,
3. Mika Mäki (FIN/Eifelland Racing) 19:36.487,
4. Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) 19:42.212,
5. Stefano Coletti (MCO/Eifelland Racing) 19:42.791,
6. Nick de Bruijn (NLD/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 19:46.989,
7. Philipp Eng (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) 19:49.134,
8. Patrick Kronenberger (Friedrichshafen/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 19:49.981,
9. Dominik Wasem (Seiboldsdorf/AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH) 19:54.178,
10. Jens Klingmann (Leimen/Eifelland Racing) 19:56.353,
11. Josef Král (CZE/Micánek Motorsport - Brno) 19:56.824,
12. Tobias Hegewald (Waldbreitbach/ADAC Mittelrhein) 19:57.225,
13. Maximilian Wissel (Hörstein/GU-Racing Motorsportteam) 19:57.476,
14. Christian Zacherl (Munich/AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH) 19:59.254,
15. Yoshitaka Kuroda (JPN/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) 20:07.673,
16. Oskar Paegle (RUS/Eifelland Racing) 20:10.359,
17. Fabio Leimer (CHE/Team Rosberg) 20:13.344,
18. Devis Schwägli (CHE/Kath Racing) 20:21.786,
19. Andrei Harnagea (ROM/GU-Racing Motorsportteam) + 1 lap.
DNF: Martin Ragginger (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg), Jens Höing
(Berlin/GU-Racing Motorsportteam).

Pole position: Holzer. Fastest lap: Marco Holzer 1:45.098 min. Track length:
50.314 km (11 laps).

Race 2, Rookie placings (newcomers to the formula series):
1. Philipp Eng (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg),
2. Patrick Kronenberger (Friedrichshafen/Josef Kaufmann Racing),
3. Jens Klingmann (Leimen/Eifelland Racing),
4. Josef Král (CZE/Micánek Motorsport - Brno),
5. Maximilian Wissel (Hörstein/GU-Racing Motorsportteam),
6. Christian Zacherl (Munich/AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH),
7. Oskar Paegle (RUS/Eifelland Racing),
8. Fabio Leimer (CHE/Team Rosberg),
9. Andrei Harnagea (ROM/GU-Racing Motorsportteam).

Championship standings after 2 out of 18 races:
1. Marco Holzer (Bobingen/AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH, 40),
2. Christian Vietoris (Lissendorf/Josef Kaufmann Racing, 30,
3. Mika Mäki (FIN/Eifelland Racing, 24),
4. Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg, 18),
5. Nick de Bruijn (NLD/Josef Kaufmann Racing, 16)
6. Stefano Coletti (MCO/Eifelland Racing, 8),
7. Philipp Eng (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg, 8),
8. Jens Höing (Berlin/GU-Racing Motorsportteam, 6),
9. Patrick Kronenberger (Friedrichshafen/Josef Kaufmann Racing, 4),
10. Josef Král (CZE/Micánek Motorsport - Brno, 3),
11. Jens Klingmann (Leimen/Eifelland Racing, 3),
12. Dominik Wasem (Seiboldsdorf/AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH, 2).

Rookie standings:
1. Philipp Eng (40),
2. Patrick Kronenberger (25),
3. Josef Král (25),
4. Jens Klingmann (24),
5. Christian Zacherl (12),
6. Maximilian Wissel (11),
7. Fabio Leimer (11),
8. Oskar Paegle (8),
9. Andrei Harnagea (4).

Background:

Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in formula racing. In 2006
the series will be held in Germany, Great Britain, Asia and the USA.
Up-and-coming drivers as young as 15 years of age are given the opportunity to
take their first steps in formula motorsport with the high-tech FB02 racing car
used by all the teams.

This racing car has been a feature on the grid since 2002 and has set new
standards in safety technology in particular. The single-seater is powered by a
140 bhp BMW engine and reaches 230km/h. It also comfortably exceeds the safety
requirements specified by motorsport's world governing body (the FIA) for its
class and even matches Formula One standards. BMW Motorsport has developed the
FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat especially for Formula BMW. The HANS safety
system is also mandatory.

In 2006 Formula BMW will appear five times on the Formula One support
programme. All the series offer a multifaceted Education and Coaching Programme
as well as sponsorship for promising racing talents. The best-known alumni of
this talent hothouse are Formula One drivers Ralf Schumacher, Christian Klien
and Nico Rosberg.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen commented: "Formula BMW offers talented
young drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching Programme we
have designed specially for them, they learn everything they need to know to
hold their own in the big wide world of motor racing. Formula BMW has shot out
of the blocks to become the top entry-level class for formula racing worldwide."

The Bahrain International Circuit hosted the first Formula BMW World Final from
13-16 December 2005. Young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW
series battled it out in the desert, Marco Holzer from Germany claimed victory
and was awarded a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.