Formula BMW USA - Miller Motorsports Park - Round 1 - Race

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Roy Oliemuller
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MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK - ROUND 1 - Race
Morad Starts 2007 Season with Round 1 Victory

BMW Junior Daniel Morad (Eurointernational) became the first race winner of the
2007 Formula BMW USA Championship by taking the Round 1 victory today at Miller
Motorsports Park, in Tooele, Utah.

It was the second career Formula BMW win for the 2006 Rookie Champion as he
bested the 20-car field in the 17-lap race. Starting from the second position,
he finished .758 seconds ahead of fellow Junior team member Jeffrey Petriello
(Team KMA). Alexander Rossi (Hearn Motorsports) finished third.

Using his experience Morad got a good start and took the lead heading into the
first turn. Polesitter Esteban Gutierrez (Autotechnica) followed in second. At
the end of the turn 12 he dropped behind both Petriello and Rossi.

He followed Rossi closely and tried a pass on lap nine, but ultimately had to
settle for fourth. Ricardo Favoretto (HBR Motorsport Team USA) rounded out the
top five.

Morad set the fastest lap of the race and a new lap record (1:30.739) on lap 12.
A full-course caution occurred on the next lap for contact between Phillip
Major (Autotecnica) and Julia Landauer (Team KMA). The restart on lap 15
allowed Favoretto to make his move over Sebastian Saavedra (Eurointernational)
for fifth, placing three BMW Juniors in the top-five.

Morad held a two-car advantage over Petriello as the field began the
penultimate lap. Unfortunately a mid-pack crash between Maxime Pelletier
(Gelles Racing) and Mike Hill (Team KMA) ultimately collected Matt Ferris
(Gelles Racing), Tim Hollowell (TADD Motorsports) and Eric Morrow (Hearn
Motorsports). All continued except for Ferris and the race ended under the
second caution of the race.

The top-finishing Rookies were Petriello (P2), Gutierrez (P4), Ricardo
Favoretto (P5), Hollowell (P14) and Keenan Schmitke (P15).

The Round 2 race is scheduled to start at 11:10 a.m. tomorrow.

"It was not exactly the start I was looking for as I did not get as much
wheelspin as I was looking for," said Morad. "This circuit has a lot of
traction off the start. Once I was up front I controlled the pace, keeping a
marginal lead so as not to cook the tires. We need to use them tomorrow as
well. The final yellow was a big relief as I did not have to push any harder."

Petriello said, "The start was very tight as everyone bogged down. You had to
be very careful. I was able to get by Esteban at the beginning. It was a lot of
work keeping Alexander behind me."

Rossi added, "At the start of the race my goal was to maintain fourth, but when
Daniel and Jeffrey got close it allowed me to get past Esteban. Jeffrey drove a
great race. I could not get by so focused on keeping Esteban behind me."

Championship points after 1 of 14 races:
1. Daniel Morad (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 45), 2. Jeffrey Petriello (Team KMA Racing,
40), 3. Alexander Rossi (Hearn Motorsports, 37), 4. Esteban Gutierrez (Team
Autotecnica, 34), 5. Ricardo Favoretto (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 32),
6.Sebastian Saavedra (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 30), 7. Robert Thorne (Gelles Racing,
28), 8. Steven Guerrero (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 26), 9. Felipe Polehtto (Team
Apex Racing USA, 24), 10. Jordan Dick (JD Racing, 22), 11. Yannick Hofman
(EUROINTERNATIONAL, 20), 12. Phillip Major (Team Autotecnica, 18), 13. Lindsey
Adams (Team Apex Racing USA, 16), 14. Timothy Hollowell (TADD Motorsports, 14),
15. Keenan Scmitke (Gelles Racing, 12), 16. Mike Hill (Team KMA Racing, 10),
18. Maxime Pelletier (Gelles Racing, 8), 19. Matt Ferris (Gelles Racing, 6),
20. Julia Landauer (Team KMA Racing, 2)

Rookies: 1. Jeffrey Petriello (45), 2. Esteban Gutierrez (40), 3. Ricardo
Favoretto (37) 4. Timothy Hollowell (34), 5. Keenan Schmitke (32), 6. Eric
Morrow (30)

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level championship in Formula racing.
In 2007 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 four 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 hosted the second Formula BMW World Final. 37 young racing drivers from
the four regional Formula BMW series competed against each other with the
winner Christian Vietoris receiving a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

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Please register on www.formulabmw-images.com.