Formula BMW USA - Denver - Round 11 & 12 - Preview

FORMULA BMW USA - PREVIEW
ROUNDS 11 & 12, GRAND PRIX OF DENVER

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - August 7, 2006... The battle for the Formula BMW USA
championship continues on the streets of Denver, Colorado on August 11-13 when
Rounds 11 and 12 will be held at the Grand Prix of Denver. Denver is the second
street race of the season as Formula BMW USA travels with the Champ Car World
Series from San Jose. This is the third year Denver has been on the Formula BMW
USA schedule. The temporary circuit remains a 1.65-mile, nine-turn
concrete-walled layout encompassing the private streets around the Pepsi
Center. Twenty-six Formula BMW USA drivers have entered to compete on this
demanding track.
Canadian Robert Wickens (EuroInternational) has led the Overall points since
Round 3 and continues to lead the championship after three wins in Rounds 3, 7
and 10, two second and one third-place finish. Matt Lee (Autotecnica), winner
of Round 4 and runner-up in Rounds 5, 6 and 10, stands second, 20 points behind
Wickens. Simona De Silvestro (EuroInternational), only one point behind Lee,
rounds out the top-three. De Silvestro, the most successful woman ever in
Formula BMW worldwide, has only finished out of the top-five twice this season.
Stefano Coletti (EuroInternational), from Formula BMW Germany, who had a guest
appearance in the US series, stands fourth. Californian Reed Stevens (HBR
Motorsport Team USA) stands fifth after winning the season's opening race at
Mid-Ohio and Round 9 in San Jose.
Success in the Denver rounds will be crucial to every driver's title hopes
before the two final Rounds at Mosport International Raceway on September 1-3.
If anyone has an advantage at Denver, it may go to Wickens, Lee and Stevens as
they have experience on the street circuit with Formula BMW USA last season.
David Garza (EuroInternational), with two third-place finishes in Round 1 and
9, is on top of the Rookie points. Gelles Racing teammates Maxime Pelletier and
Sebastian Saavedra stand second and third respectively. The top-three in Rookie
points are only separated by nine points.
Wickens, a 17-year old BMW Junior driver said, "Going into Denver as the
point's leader feels great. I did very well in Denver last year and I hope to
do the same this year. I know EuroInternational can give me a great car and I
think a perfect weekend is very possible."
Lee, the 16-year old runner-up said, "Every point is crucial in the
championship. We're giving it our best effort and we'll just continue to stay
focused. I like the track; it's my favorite street circuit of all, and I like
street circuits in general. I got crashed out of both of the Denver races last
year, so I certainly don't want that to happen this year. I want to win them
both this time! I have a good team in Autotecnica, which helps." He added, "The
competition in the Formula BMW series is so tight that you have to give it your
best in every single session. Every lap we do in practice is important because
it helps us with our set-up for qualifying. Qualifying is really important
because the races are short and the street courses are very tight so that it's
hard to pass. We'll be doing our best from the moment we go on track for the
first practice session."
17-year old De Silvestro said, "I hope that in Denver I will finish on the
podium or win a race. The championship is very close and I hope to be able to
gain a lot of points. Denver will be a new circuit for me. I need to learn it
first and so I have a little disadvantage compared to Robert and Matt."
Practice will be held on Friday, August 11 at 8:00 a.m., followed by Round 11
qualifying at 11:45 a.m. Round 12 qualifying will be held at 8:00 a.m. on
Saturday with the Round 11 race scheduled to start at 12:15 p.m. After a 15
minute warm-up at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday, the Round 12 race is scheduled to start
at 10:15 a.m.

Championship points after 10 of 14 races:
1. Robert Wickens (Team Apex Racing USA, 112), 2. Matt Lee (Autotecnica, 92),
3. Simona de Silvestro (EuroInternational, 91), 4. Stefano Coletti
(EuroInternational, 77), 5. Reed Stevens (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 72), 6.
Daniel Morad (AIM Autosport, 49), 7. John Zartarian (Gelles Racing, 44), 8.
David Garza (EuroInternational, 40), 9. Race Johnson (HBR Motorsport Team USA,
38), 10. Sebastian Saavedra (Gelles Racing, 27), 11. Tom Sutherland (Jensen
Motorsport, 23), 11. Tobias Hegewald (Atlantic Racing Team, 23), 13. Doug Boyer
(AIM Autosport, 21), 13. Ryan Phinny (Hearn Motorsports, 21), 15. Adrien
Herberts (Gelles Racing, 19), 16. Maxime Pelletier (Gelles Racing, 18), 17.
Ryan Campbell (Gelles Racing, 15), 18. Scott Schroeder (American Spirit Grand
Prix, 12), 19. Yannick Hofman (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 8), 20. Jordan Dick
(Team Apex Racing USA, 6), 20. Philip Major (Atlantic Racing Team, 6), 22.
Robert Thorne (Team Autotecnica, 4), 23. Alex Navejar (Jensen Motorsport, 1),
24. Jules Duc (Hearn Motorsports, 0), 24. Marco Santos (Haberfeld & Walker
Racing, 0), 24. Steven Guerrero (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 0), 24. David Rangel
(Haberfeld & Walker Racing, 0), 24. David Farias (Jensen Motorsport, 0), 24.
Joel Jackson (Gelles Racing, 0), 24. Frankie Muniz (Jensen Motorsport, 0), 24.
Maryeve Dufault (Hearn Motorsports, 0)

Rookies: 1. David Garza (129), 2. Maxime Pelletier (124), 3. Sebastian Saavedra
(120), 4. Daniel Morad (115), 5. Jordan Dick (81), 6. Steven Guerrero (71), 7.
Robert Thorne (67), 8. Joel Jackson (51)

Statistics:
Winners 2006: Coletti (3), Wickens (3), Stevens (2), Morad (1), Lee (1)
Pole Positions: Lee (3), Wickens (2), Coletti (2), Garza (2), Morad (1)
Podiums: Wickens (6), Stevens (4), Lee (4), de Silvestro (4), Coletti (4),
Morad (2), Zartarian (2), Garza (2), Herberts (1), Sutherland (1)

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level championship in Formula racing.
In 2006 the series will be held in Germany, the UK, Asia and the USA. More than
80 up-and-coming drivers, some as young as 15-years old, will compete
worldwide. Racing five times in support of the Formula One World Championship,
Formula BMW offers a worldwide stage, training through a multifaceted Education
and Coaching Program and BMW's longstanding Junior scholarship for deserving
drivers.

The FB02 race car is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine, reaching speeds up to
140 mph. The design exceeds the FIA safety requirements for its class, with the
BMW Motorsport developed FORS (Formula Rescue Race Seat), and the mandatory
HANS (Head and Neck Support) safety system.

From November 24 to 26, 2006 the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo
Tormo will host the second Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from
the four regional Formula BMW series will compete against each other with the
winner receiving a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.