Interesting snippets from the international Formula BMW series.

Munich. Formula BMW is in full swing around the world. Formula BMW Germany is
joined by Formula BMW Asia, Formula BMW USA and the Formula BMW UK Championship
on the motor sport calendar. Together, they have thrown up some interesting
facts over the first half of the season.

Formula BMW Germany: Did you know...?

... that Christian Vietoris (GER/Josef Kaufmann Racing) heads the standings
with six victories after ten of the 18 rounds of Formula BMW Germany?

... that the battle for the rookie title in Formula BMW Germany is extremely
tight? Philipp Eng (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg), on 149 points, has a small
lead over Jens Klingmann (GER/Eifelland Racing) with 147.

... that three guest drivers have lined up for Formula BMW Germany races? The
Canadian Formula BMW USA driver Robert Wickens (CAN/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg)
and Briton Oliver Oakes (GBR/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) from the Formula BMW UK
Championship used the opportunity to add an extra international element to the
race on the undercard of the Formula One Grand Prix at the Nürburgring. Jules
Duc (USA/GU-Racing Motorsportteam) from Formula BMW USA then joined the field
for the ninth and tenth rounds of the championship at Oschersleben.

... that the Romanian Andrei Harnagea (ROM/GU-Racing Motorsportteam) caused a
sensation in a launch event in Bucharest taking place before the start of the
season? The schoolboy driver piloted a Formula BMW around the Government Palace
in a show of horsepower enjoyed by thousands of spectators. Six camera crews
and numerous print media were on hand to report on the event.

... that Formula BMW Germany sees a total of 21 drivers from eleven countries
(Finland, Japan, Mexico, Monaco, the Netherlands, Austria, Romania, Russia,
Switzerland, the Czech Republic and Germany) lining up on the grid?

Formula BMW Asia: Did you know ...?

... that this season, Formula BMW Asia includes 19 rounds, the most ever?

... that Formula BMW Asia points leader Sam Abay (AUS/Team E-Rain) competed in
the BMW M3 Track Attack race at the Formula 1 Foster's Australian Grand Prix
along with BMW Sauber F1 Team test driver Robert Kubica, and Bruno Senna,
nephew of the late Ayrton Senna?

... that the Formula BMW Asia Juniors visited the Formula 1 paddock and took part
in a Q&A with BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Nick Heidfeld at the Formula 1 Petronas
Malaysian Grand Prix?

... that Formula BMW Asia Juniors currently occupy the 3rd to 6th positions in
the Formula BMW Asia overall championship standings?

... that 2005 Formula BMW Asia driver Michael Patrizi (AUS/Motaworld Racing) of
Australia is currently 7th in the Formula BMW UK Championship, and is competing
in a full season courtesy of BMW Motorsport as a reward for his outstanding
performance last season?

... that 2003 Formula BMW Asia champion Ho-Pin Tung currently leads the German
Recaro Formula 3 Cup?

Formula BMW UK: Did you know ...?

... that World Touring Car Championship leader Andy Priaulx is acting as mentor
to all this year's Formula BMW UK drivers and that Nigel Mansell, the1992 F1
World Champion, is ambassador to the Formula BMW UK Championship?

... that Nigel Mansell's two sons, Leo and Greg (both GB/Mansell Motorsport), are
both competing in this year's UK series with Greg currently lying fourth in the
Rookie Cup as they both continue in their first season of car racing?

... Niall Breen (IRL/Fortec Motorsport) actually leads the Formula BMW UK
Championship with a total of four wins and studies law along the way?

... that Niall Quinn (IRL/Carlin Motorsport) has led Rookie Cup since Round Two
at Mondello Park?

... that the Formula BMW UK Championship has produced six different winners from
the first ten races of the season?

... that Oliver Oakes (GB/Team Loctite) went karting with Portuguese football
player Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United as part of a feature being
filmed for Eurosport?

... that Ross Curnow (GB/Nexa Racing) has made the most ever Formula BMW UK
Championship starts with 50 races to his name (after Round Ten) and is the
only person to win a race in each year the series has been running in the UK
(since 2004)?

Formula BMW USA: Did you know ...?

... that in 2006 Formula BMW USA has the largest field with 26 drivers (from
seven countries) ever and more drivers than the other Formula BMW championships?

... that BMW Junior driver Robert Wickens (CAN/Team Apex Racing USA) leads the
Championship points since Round 3 in Lime Rock?

... that Frankie Muniz (USA/Jensen Motorsport) is a famous Hollywood actor known
from "Malcolm in the Middle"?

... that Formula BMW USA driver Simona De Silvestro (ITA/EuroInternational) who
had two third-place finishes in support of the US Grand Prix is the first woman
ever on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway podium? She is the most successful
female driver in Formula BMW worldwide as she stands fourth in the Championship
points (after Round 8).

... that Maryeve Dufault (CAN/Hearn Motorsports) who raced in Montreal and
Indianapolis in Formula BMW USA is a former Miss Hawaiian Tropic International
and top-model?

... that Formula BMW Germany drivers Stefano Coletti (MCO/EuroInternational) and
Tobias Hegewald (GER/Atlantic Racing Team) raced in the US series in support of
the Canadian and the United States Grand Prix?

Media contact:

Benjamin Titz, BMW Motorsport Communications,
Mobile: +49-179-74-38-088, benjamin.titz@bmw.de