Formula BMW Europe, 12-14.9.08: Round 15, Monza (IT).

Formula BMW Europe, 12-14.9.08: Round 15, Monza (IT).

Gutierrez takes early victory in Formula BMW Europe 2008,
Geronimi wins Round 15 in Monza.

Monza (IT), 13 September 2008. Mexican driver Esteban Gutierrez (Josef Kaufmann Racing) has won the Formula BMW Europe 2008 title in Monza, Italy. With a fourth-placed finish in Saturday’s race, seven wins so far and 11 podium places, the 17-year-old has an unassailable lead of 30 points after the 15th of 16 rounds. Behind him, his German team-mate Marco Wittmann from Markt Erlbach has secured second place in the overall rankings.

After 12 laps on the fastest track in the racing calendar (top speed 225.3 km/h), the winner of the 15th round of Formula BMW Europe was Brazilian Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing), who beat polesetter Carlos Huertas (CO/Double R Racing) and Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing). It turned out to be a turbulent race. Behind Geronimi, who went straight to the front of the 26-strong field of drivers at the start, numerous slipstream duels repeatedly catapulted new drivers into the front positions.

Gutierrez, who won the Rookie title in last year’s Formula BMW USA, at one stage dominated Formula BMW Europe’s field of 30 contestants when he raked in six wins in a row. Only once was he forced to abandon a race, namely in the ninth round in Budapest following a collision with another potential title contender, Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing). With four races of the season to go, Gutierrez had already carved out a lead of 67 points but lost 35 points on a single weekend due to his poor qualifying results in Spa. In Monza he fought a spectacular battle to move up from sixth on the grid to second, but ultimately to finish in fourth place, surviving some tough challenges from his fellow contenders in numerous duels, during which he even lost part of his engine cover. His title victory this season highlights Gutierrez as the most successful driver of Formula BMW Europe 2008.

After 15 out of 16 rounds, Gutierrez leads the overall standings with an incontestable 333 points, ahead of Wittmann (303) and Tambay (260). The Rookie Cup champion has yet to be decided, but Michael Christensen (DK/Double R Racing, 144 points) managed to extend his points lead over David Mengesdorf (DE/Mücke Motorsport, 124) to 20. The team title had already been claimed in Spa by Josef Kaufmann Racing currently with 669 points, ahead of Eifelland Racing (451).

Winner Formula BMW Europe,
Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing):
“Winning the Formula BMW Europe title is something very special for me. I had a lot of tough races on unusual circuit. From race to race I was able to learn new things every time. Everyone is asking me where I go from here. I think about things step by step. It’s a long way right to the top of Formula One, but when you look at former Formula BMW drivers like Vettel and Rosberg, for example, you see that an advance of that kind is certainly possible.”

Runner-up Formula BMW Europe,
Round 15, 3rd place: Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing):
“On the podium I had a tear in one eye and a smile in the other. Of course I’m happy about my runner-up title. The chances of taking overall victory were just too slim, although that is naturally what I would have liked. Our team performance is sensational: Josef Kaufmann Racing takes first and second place in the overall rankings and wins the team title. Congratulations to Esteban and my team. Here in Monza it was quite a crazy race. All those overtaking manoeuvres were exciting and also great fun.”

Round 15, 1st place: Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing):
“We had some really good fights here in Monza. In the first few laps Juncadella and Gutierrez got very close to me, but then I managed to open up a slight gap. Over the radio somebody from my team was talking to me and pushing me all the way. For me it was a wonderful race.”

Round 15, 2nd place: Carlos Huertas (CO/Double R Racing):
“Naturally I’m delighted with my best result of the season. I got away to a good start, although Geronimi passed me. In the first few laps you really had to watch you didn’t spend too much time on the many wet patches on the circuit. At one point my car and Juncadella’s touched, and after that my steering was bent. On Sunday I’ll be starting from second on the grid. From that position, anything is possible in Monza.”

Results round 15:
1. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 24:28.862
2. Carlos Huertas (CO/Double R Racing) 24:34.756
3. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 24:34.848
4. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 24:35.366
5. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 24:35.404
6. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 24:39.193
7. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 24:39.459
8. Facundo Regalia* (ES/Eurointernational) 24:39.753
9. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 24:42.048
10. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 24:43.611
11. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 24:44.936
12. Giancarlo Vilarinho (BR/Eurointernational 24:45.477
13. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 24:55.722
14. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 24:57.381
15. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 25:04.938
16. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 25:16.682
17. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 25:17.726
18. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 25:33.183
19. Asad Rahman* (AE, Motaworld Racing) 25:59.977
Not classified: Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International), Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational), Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing), Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing), Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport), Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team), Joel Volluz (CH/DAMS Team). Fastest race lap: Giancarlo Vilarinho (BR/Eurointernational) 2:00.242.
* Rookie

Points standings after 15 out of 16 rounds:
1. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 333,
2. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 303,
3. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 260,
4. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 236,
5. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 156,
6. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 145,
7. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 144,
8. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 136,
9. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 124,
10. Carlos Huertas (Co/Double R Racing) 120,
11. Mihai Marinescu (RO/FMS International) 116,
12. William Buller (GB/Fortec Motorsport) 81,
13. Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GB/Double R Racing) 73,
14. Jazeman Jaafar (MY/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 67,
15. Facundo Regalia* (ITA/Eurointernational) 57,
16. Doru Sechelariu (RO/Fortec Motorsport) 52,
17. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 38,
18. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 37,
19. Jim Pla (FR/DAMS Team) 36,
20. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 33,
21. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 20,
22. Mathijs Harkema (NL/Motaworld Racing) 20,
23. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 14,
24. Jordan Williams (GB/DAMS Team) 4,
25. Juan Cevallos (EC/Mücke Motorsport) 3,
26. Bastian Graber (DE/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 2,
27. Anthony Comas (FR/Mücke Motorsport) 0,
28. Kyle Mitchell (ZA/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 0,
29. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 0.

Rookie standings:
1. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 144,
2. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 124,
3. Facundo Regalia* (ITA/Eurointernational) 57,
4. Henrique Martins* (BR/Eifelland Racing) 38,
5. Kazeem Manzur* (GB/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 37,
6. Ramon Pineiro* (ES/Fortec Motorsport) 33,
7. Ollie Millroy* (GB/FMS International) 20,
8. Thomas Hillsdon* (GB/Motaworld Racing) 14,
9. Asad Rahman* (AE/Motaworld Racing) 0.

Team standings:
1. Josef Kaufmann Racing 669, 2. Eifelland Racing 451, 3. Double R Racing 336, 4. Eurointernational 289, 5. Fisichella Motor Sport International 281, 6. DAMS Team 175, 7. Fortec Motorsport Ltd. 164, 8. Mücke Motorsport 127, 9. AM-Holzer Rennsport 69, 10. Motaworld Racing 34.