Formula BMW USA gears up for World Final

Nine drivers and five teams from the US series will compete at the
DELL Formula BMW World Final

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - November 9, 2006... The DELL Formula BMW World Final is now
firmly on the agenda of the Formula BMW USA drivers and teams. For the nine
drivers from the US series that have chosen to accept the challenge, the World
Final will provide a unique opportunity to pit themselves against the best
drivers from the four international Formula BMW series held in Germany, the UK,
Asia and the United States. Five teams from Formula BMW USA will find their way
to Spain to support the young aspiring racing talents in their battle for the
ultimate championship in its class.

From November 24-26, the second DELL Formula BMW World Final is to be held on
the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo in Spain. Racing in a
tournament format, 37 young drivers from 16 countries will be competing not
only for the US $60,000 prize money, but also for the winner's award: a test
with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

The international flavor of Formula BMW USA is readily apparent as not only
drivers from the USA will fly to Spain's Mediterranean coast, but also talented
racers from Canada and Colombia will make their appearance at the World Final
to compete with other drivers from all over the world.

The 2006 Formula BMW USA championship was decided at Mosport International
Raceway at the beginning of September with BMW Junior driver Robert Wickens
(17), from Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada taking the title. Wickens, who finished
sixth in the inaugural Formula BMW World Final last year, is one of the
favorites heading toward Valencia, driving for his team EuroInternational. He
will, however, face strong competition not only from the other three regional
Formula BMW champions, but also from drivers he faced season-long.

Formula BMW USA runner-up Matt Lee (17), from Syosset, NY, finished the season
only six points behind Wickens. He will line up with Team Autotecnica. Winning
two races including the final Round at Mosport, Lee will challenge the
competitors with his remarkable determined driving style.

Formula BMW USA Rookie Champion Daniel Morad (16), from Markham, Ontario
Canada, who was already awarded with a BMW Junior scholarship towards 2007
participation in Formula BMW USA, will compete with AIM Autosport alongside
Canadian Philip Major (17) from Ottawa. Major finished the Formula BMW USA
season 21st in the championship points.

Team Gelles Racing will run five cars in the World Final with four seats taken
by drivers from Formula BMW USA. They are Sebastian Saavedra (16), from Bogotá,
Colombia who finished second in Rookie points; French-Canadian BMW Junior
driver Maxime Pelletier (16) from Longueuil, Quebec who finished third in the
Rookie championship; Ryan Phinny (17) from Carmel Valley, California who
finished tenth overall and 11th place finisher Canadian Adrien Herberts (17)
from Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Frankie Muniz (20) from Los Angeles, California will compete with his team
Jensen Motorsport. He finished 30th in Formula BMW USA, his first season of
open-wheel competition in Formula BMW USA this year.

Wickens, who is testing with his team in Italy, proved himself in last year's
World Final as a potential candidate for motor racing's top echelon. In the
final race in Bahrain, he performed an impressive charge and worked his way up
from the 25th starting position to finish sixth. Remembering his performance he
states, "I think that the competition for the 2006 World Final will be just as
strong as last year or maybe even stronger. I am happy that there are more
drivers coming from the US championship this year." And he adds, "I think my
chances of doing well are extremely good. A lot of people are probably
expecting me to be fast because I am one of the four champions attending. I'm
confident that if I can show the speed I did last year and use the experience
that I gained, I will have a very good shot at the Formula 1 test."

Morad says, "I am really looking forward to this great opportunity to compete
with some of the best drivers from around the world, and I have no doubt the
competition will be fierce. This has become a very high profile event, not only
for its ultimate prize, a Formula One test, but also for the great opportunity
to perform in front of the who's who of motorsports." The Rookie adds, "This
being my first year in auto racing, it has been a tremendous learning
experience for me; and I feel comfortable and confident in myself that, with
the help of my team, I can be one of the front runners."

Muniz states, "The experience in Valencia should be amazing. It's a great way
to close out my year in Formula BMW. Since the final Formula BMW USA race, I
have tested my Champ Car Atlantic race car for 10 days, so I am going to push
and try to make the top-10 at the DELL Formula BMW World Final now that I have
so much more experience."
Constructed in 1999, Valencia's "Circuit de la Comunitat Ricardo Tormo" is an
ideal host for the DELL Formula BMW World Final. With its mild winter
temperatures and unique stadium-style surroundings the Ricardo Tormo circuit is
a spectacular facility characterized by a never-ending burst of tight corners
connected by short straights that promise exciting race action.

Press contact for DELL Formula BMW World Final
Benjamin Titz, BMW Corporate Communications, Motorsport, Office: +49 (0)89 382
22998, Mobile: +49 (0) 179 7438088, benjamin.titz@bmw.de

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.