Formula BMW UK Championship - Round 17 - Silverstone - Race

Bird makes dramatic comeback and Legris is top Rookie.

Silverstone, 17 August, 2005. Sam Bird (Fortec Motorsport) was back to his
winning ways in the first race of the Silverstone weekend. In fact the podium
for round 17 of the Formula BMW UK Championship mirrored the championship
points positions with Dean Smith (Nexa Racing) second and Matt Howson (Filsell
Motorsport) third.

For Sam this was a relief after two bad weekends in Mondello Park and
Knockhill, and he is now leading Dean in the championship battle by 29 points.
However, it was not so good for his team-mate, Stian Sørlie, who was not able
to capitalise on his first pole of the year and ended up fourth, the same as
his position in the championship.

In the Rookie Cup battle it was Jonathan Legris (Mark Burdett Motorsport) who
took the win, while the championship leaders Euan Hankey (Barwell Motorsport)
and Michael Meadows (Master Motorsport) both had problems. Euan had to drive
for half the race with a broken front wing, while Michael picked up some debris
so he had to make a pit stop to replace a punctured left front tyre.

For Sam this was win number six and his comment was: "I reckon that was my best
win of the year and I really feel back on form. I overtook Nathan for the lead
into the complex and was able to keep Dean at bay, despite the fact in mid race
I was not that quick." Dean admitted his race was compromised from the start:
"I lost out in the first corner and then once I got in Sam's air I could not
keep up. I had to stay close but could not get by." Third placed Matt was blunt
about his third: "This was the worst third place I have had as far. For me the
worst scenario was to be behind the two drivers ahead of me in the points. I
need more pace so we have to see what we can do for tomorrow."

Jonathan reckoned he had his best start of the year but then got caught behind
other cars so lost the momentum. However, this didn't stop him as he explained:
"I did some of my best overtaking manoeuvres and the car was fine as the race
pace was very good." Euan was dropping back from the front of the Rookie Cup
battle but his team thought he was just slow. "They didn't realise I had a
broken front wing with a single bolt holding it on. However, I managed to hold
on there to get some important points."

At the start it was Nathan who got away first and by the end of lap one was
four tenths of a second ahead of Sam. However, on lap three at the complex Sam
got by and was leading by six tenths as they crossed the line. Nathan then lost
out to both Dean and Matt on lap four and by the end of lap five Sam was a
second and a half in front of his main championship rival. Behind them Euan was
well ahead of his Rookie rivals, but then just after half distance started to
fall back and a hard charging Jonathan took the class lead on lap 13. The only
two retirements of the race, Aaron and Chris, had a collision on lap 12 which
saw Chris retire on the spot with the right rear side of his car badly
damaged. Meanwhile at the front Sam was not able to relax as Dean was
shadowing his every move and at the end of lap 14 was just a tenth of a second
behind. Stian may have dropped down the order in the early laps, but came back
strong at the end piping Nathan for fourth and on lap 20 setting the fastest
lap of the race.

Results - Race - Round 17 - 20 laps.

1 Sam Bird (GBR) (Fortec Motorsport) 19:57.637
2 Dean Smith (GBR) (Nexa Racing) 19:57.946
3 Matt Howson (GBR) (Filsell Motorsport) 20:01.932
4 Stian Sørlie (GBR) (Fortec Motorsport) 20:03.853
5 Nathan Antunes (AUS) (Motaworld Racing) 20:06.292
6 Oliver Turvey (GBR) (Team SWR Loctite) 20:06.754
7 Niall Breen (IRE) (Barwell Motorsport) 20:07.768
8 Jordan Wise (GBR) (Nexa Racing) 20:07.987
9 Duarte Felix da Costa (POR) (Carlin Motorsport) 20:09.495
10 Simon Walker-Hansell (GBR) (Carlin Motorsport) 20:11.114
11 Jonathan Legris (GBR) (Mark Burdett Motorsport) R 20:11.304
12 Dominique Cauvin (F) (Motaworld Racing) R 20:13.352
13 Ross Curnow (GBR) (Promatecme/Soper Sport) 20:15.091
14 Euan Hankey (GBR) (Barwell Motorsport) R 20:22.390
15 Lars Viljoen (GBR) (Team SWR Loctite) 20:26.932
16 Matt Harris (GBR) (Team SWR Loctite) 20:27.979
17 Joe Osborne (GBR) (Nexa Racing) R 20:30.748
18 Michael Meadows (GBR) (Master Motorsport) R 19 laps

Not classified
Aaron Steele (GBR) (Mark Burdett Motorsport) R 12 laps
Chris Holmes (GBR) (Fortec Motorsport) 11 laps

Fastest Lap: Stian Sørlie (Fortec Motorsport) 58.816secs, 100.32mph, 161.44kph.
Pole Position: Stian Sørlie (Fortec Motorsport) 58.087secs, 101.57mph
R indicates driver eligible for Rookie Cup

Rounds 18 of the Championship will be Silverstone on the 18th September.

Championship Points Tables
Drivers1. Bird (6 wins) 203, 2. Smith (2 wins) 174, 3. Howson (3 wins) 154, 4.
Sørlie (2 wins) 133, 5. Curnow (1 win) 107, 6. Walker Hansell (1 win) 106, 7.
Antunes (1 win) 98, 8. Turvey 91, 9. Wise 59, 10.. Felix da Costa 58, 11.
Hankey 37, 12. Keen 33, 13. Harris (1 win) 29, 14. Meadows 27, 15. Breen 26,
16. Legris 12, 17. Viljoen 6, 18=. Cauvin and Osborne 5, 20, Steele 4, 21. Leon
3, 22=. Goldstraw, Macleod, Rees 2, 25. Holmes 1.

Rookies
1. Hankey (6 wins) 225, 2. Meadows (5 wins) 190, 3. Legris (3 win) 174, 4.
Osborne (1 win) 155, 5. Steel (1 win) 125, 6. Cauvin (1 win) 124, 7. Hoy 40.

Teams
1. Fortec Motorsport 337, 2. Nexa Racing 236, 3. Carlin Motorsport 164, 4. Team
SWR Loctite 159, 5. Filsell Motorsport 156, 6. Promatecme/Soper Sport 107, 7.
Motaworld Racing 103, 8. Barwell Motorsport 63, 9. Master Motorsport 27, 10.
Pegasus Motorsport International 13, 11.= Formula Racing Ltd, Mark Burdett
Motorsport 4.

Background:

Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005
the series will be held in Germany, Britain, Asia and the USA. Up-and-coming
drivers as young as 15-years-old are given the opportunity of entering motor
racing with the high-tech, standard FB02 race car.

This racing car has been seen on the grid since 2002 and has set standards
particularly on the safety technology front. The single-seater is propelled by
a 140 bhp BMW engine up to 230km/h and exceeds by far the safety requirements
for its class. BMW Motorsport has developed the FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat
especially for Formula BMW. The HANS safety system is also mandatory.

In 2005, Formula BMW will be staged five times as part of 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 and
Christian Klien.

BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen: "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."

From 13th to 16th December 2005 the Bahrain International Circuit will host the
first Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional
Formula BMW series will compete against each other. The winner will get a
Formula One test drive.