Formula BMW Americas Grads Making Big Strides in 2009 Open-Wheel Competition.

As one of the world’s top open-wheel driver-development series, the Formula BMW
Americas series has provided many drivers with their first experiences in open-wheel racing.

Now in its sixth season of competition, the drivers that have come through the
Formula BMW Americas series are climbing to the top of the open-wheel racing
world – using lessons learned and skills honed through their time behind the wheel of the BMW FB02 race car.

Inaugural season graduate Graham Rahal has had the most immediate success of
anyone to have come through the Formula BMW Americas series since its inception
in 2004. The son of three-time Indy Car champion Bobby Rahal has gone on to
become the youngest race winner in Indy Car history, claiming that honor with a
2008 victory in the Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. One of the rising stars of the series, Rahal has already scored two Indy Car poles this year and started fourth in this year’s Indianapolis 500.
“Formula BMW Americas provided me with the best possible training ground to
begin my open-wheel racing career,” Rahal said. “The car is challenging, the race
courses are first-rate and the entire program taught me lessons that I use even today.
I could not be happier with my experience that I received during my time in Formula
BMW Americas.”

The Indy Lights series has seen a strong Formula BMW Americas influence in 2009
with four former drivers earning podium finishes. 2007 grad Sebastian Saavedra sat
on pole at St. Pete and won the Lights race at Kansas while Jonathan Summerton
placed second at St. Pete as well as winning the pole for the Atlantic race at Sebring.

2005 Formula BMW Americas champion Richard Philippe was second in the Lights
race at Long Beach while 2004 competitor James Hinchcliffe has podium results
from St. Pete and Long Beach. 2006 graduate Simona de Silvestro has carried the
Formula BMW Americas flag to the Atlantic series as well, scoring a victory at Utah
last month.
“For me Formula BMW was the perfect first step in my formula car career. The car
was designed for drivers transitioning from karts to cars and it fulfills that position
flawlessly,” said Hinchcliffe. “On top of that, the series is more active than any other
on earth in preparing drivers for the other side of being a professional driver. The
media training and the introduction to the need for physical training are incredibly
valuable to a young driver and I think that FBMW drivers leave so much better
prepared and that is why you see so many become successful in racing.”

The influence has not been limited to U.S.-based open-wheel racing, as 2006
Formula BMW Americas champion Robert Wickens won a pair of F2 races from pole
in Valencia last month while 2007 series champion Daniel Morad has been
competing for Team Lebanon in the A1GP championship. Last year’s Formula BMW
Americas champion Alexander Rossi has also continued his climb, taking part in the
International Formula Masters Series in 2009.

The role that the Formula BMW Americas series and its sister championships in
Europe and Asia play as one of the worldwide leaders in driver development is most
clearly displayed in the Formula 1 paddock. All-time Formula BMW victory leader
Sebastian Vettel became the youngest driver to ever score a championship point in
F1 competition just three years after competing in Formula BMW. In all, five of this
year’s Formula 1 drivers have come through the Formula BMW ranks, as have three
current F1 test drivers.

Drivers looking to continue the tradition of success in the Formula BMW Americas
series can take their first steps by taking part in a pair of Licensing Courses, to be
held at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah. The courses will run from July 8-10
and August 17-19. Interested drivers should contact Series Manager Randy Biggs at
randy.biggs@partner.formulabmw.com or at (614) 216-5882.