The Canadian factor in the Formula BMW USA Championship

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - January 25, 2006... Canadian race car drivers have made an
impact on the world of motorsport. Not only famous names as Jacques Villeneuve
with the BMW Sauber F1 Team are competing in the top leagues of racing, but
also the next generation of young Canadian racers continues to succeed in one
the world's leading entry-level classes in Formula racing, the Formula BMW USA
championship.
Formula BMW USA can look back on two sensational seasons in which talented
young Canadians made a substantial contribution to the success of the
championship.

In its first season Junior driver James Hinchcliffe (18) of Oakville, Ontario
won the 2004 Formula BMW USA Rookie of the Year title. "Being a Canadian racing
in Formula BMW USA was fantastic," Hinchcliffe stated. "Obviously there are far
more Americans in the series so it was nice to be one of the few to represent
Canada and bring some success." In 2005 the youngster raced in the Star Mazda
Series finishing third in the Overall Championship.

The Champ Car Atlantic Championship is all new for Hinchcliffe in 2006 and he
takes stock of his previous successes, "Formula BMW USA was such a good
springboard into professional motorsport because we were put in front of the
right people to be noticed. Considering Canada's relatively small population,
it produces a very high number of racing talents. Every year another driver
from Canada finds success. I am glad that I was one of them and look forward to
seeing what Canadians can do in the motorsport scene in the coming years."

In its second year, the Formula BMW USA championship announced three Canadian
scholarship recipients out of six: Kevin Lacroix (16) of Saint-Eustache,
Quebec; Robert Wickens (16) of Toronto, Ontario; and Adrien Herberts (16) of
Coquitlam, British Columbia. The young Canadian guns competed very successfully
in 2005: Lacroix won the runner-up title, followed by Wickens finishing third
in the Overall and Rookie point standings.

Additionally, Robert Wickens won the invitational Formula BMW race at the Race
of Champions in Paris, France and competed in the inaugural Formula BMW World
Final in Bahrain. At the Bahrain International Circuit the youngster showed
impressive speed in four days of competition. Despite having to start from the
back of the field, he passed 21 competitors in the World Final race to finish
sixth.

Afterwards he was offered the chance to become the first Canadian ever to join
the Red Bull Junior Team. "Being the first Canadian to be a part of the Red
Bull Junior Team really means a lot to me," stated Robert. "Canada has a lot of
really talented up-and-coming drivers and for me to be chosen is a real honor.
I hope to make Canada proud!"

Wickens will return to the Formula BMW USA championship in 2006 as a Formula
BMW Scholarship recipient and member of the Red Bull Junior Team. "I think that
Formula BMW is the best development series for young racers coming out of
karting," said Wickens. "With its Education and Coaching Program it is the only
series in the world that actually helps to develop the best racers possible.
I'm sure I will use what I have learned from this program for many years to
come."

With the decision to sign Canadian Jacques Villeneuve to the new BMW Sauber F1
Team, BMW selected one of the truly eminent representatives in the world of
motorsport. The reasons why Canada produces such good open-wheel race car
drivers is difficult to explain for the passionate Formula One pilot, "I am not
sure, but perhaps it's because of growing up always doing motocross, skiing and
that stuff. Since I was five years old I was racing cars, and then I had no
other choice, but to make sure I would be good enough to be successful."

Regarding the success of the Canadians in the Formula BMW USA championship
Villeneuve stated, "I don't know them personally, but it's good that there is a
series that can allow younger people to start racing, to get out of go-karts
and to move to the next level. There is not just one road to success. There are
many different roads and you have to take the opportunities where they are."

The road many young Canadian racers are taking is Formula BMW USA and they are
finding that their natural talent combined with one of the world's most unique
entry-level open wheel racing championships is fast making them hot properties
as they climb the world motorsports ladder.

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2006
the series will be held in Germany, the UK, 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.

The FB02 race car has been seen on the grid since 2002 and has set standards
particularly on the safety technology front. The single-seater is powered by a
140 bhp BMW engine, reaching speeds up to 140 mph and exceeds the FIA safety
requirements for its class. BMW Motorsport has developed the FORS (Formula
Rescue Race Seat) especially for Formula BMW. The HANS (Head and Neck Support)
safety system is also mandatory.

In 2006, Formula BMW will occur five times as a support series to Formula One
races. All of the international series offer a multifaceted Education and
Coaching Program as well as sponsorship for promising racing talents. The
best-known alumni are Formula One drivers Ralf Schumacher, Christian Klien and
Nico Rosberg.

BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen, "Formula BMW offers talented young
drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching Program we have
designed specially for them, they learn everything they need to know to hold
their own in the world of motor racing. Formula BMW has become one of the top
entry-level classes for Formula racing worldwide."

On December 13 to 16, 2005 the Bahrain International Circuit hosted the first
Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional Formula
BMW series competed against each other. The winner Marco Holzer will get a test
drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.