GABBY CHAVES GOES WIRE-TO-WIRE TO WIN FORMULA BMW AMERICAS OPENER

Gabby Chaves (EuroInternational) led from start to finish to win the opening
round of the 2009 Formula BMW Americas Championship in Puebla, Mexico, but
Saturday afternoon's race was nowhere near as easy as the opening sentence
makes it sound.

Polesitter Chaves paced all 14 trips around the 2.09-mile Miguel E. Abed road
course, but he had to go hard the entire way as his EuroInternational teammate
Giancarlo Vilarinho filled his mirrors on every lap. The two stayed within
three carlengths of each other for the whole event, but Chaves was able to hold
off his stablemate to score his first win of the year.

"The race was very hard and I had to battle the whole way to get the win,"
Chaves said. "It was a great way to start the season and I am happy to get a
victory for EuroInternational, but we have more work to do tomorrow."

Vilarinho started second and made life difficult for Chaves as the two
EuroInternational drivers pulled out to a bit of a gap over a hard-charging
James Kovacic (Team Apex) who had moved to third after starting sixth.
Vilarinho kept the pressure on, but could not get close enough to challenge
Chaves and settled for the second spot.

"I kept working really hard, but couldn't quite get there," Vilarinho lamented.
"The track was tricky and it was tough to get a run anywhere but we are happy
with such a strong start to the championship. I think I learned a couple of
things that we can work on at the start of the race and try to get a better
result!"

Kovacic made a strong move from the third row on the grid to vault into third
place on the second lap of the race as the Australian poured past the inside of
Michael Lewis (EuroInternational) into Turn One. Lewis fought back valiantly in
his pursuit of the Team Apex machine, coming agonizingly close on a number of
occasions, but Kovacic was equal to the task to earn his first podium finish.

"This is a great result for our team and for me coming to Formula BMW Americas
and I am very happy," Kovacic reported. "I really like these cars. They are
very challenging and demanding to drive and Michael was really pushing me. I'm
tired, but glad we were able to get on the podium."

Lewis held on for fourth while his EuroInternational teammate Daniel Vela used
a strong move in Turn One on the eighth lap to secure the fifth spot. Joao
Horto and Martin Sala teamed up to make a late run in the waning laps, securing
sixth and seventh places in the final order for Team Apex.

The second round of the championship will take place tomorrow at Puebla, with
Chaves starting from pole again by virtue of his qualifying effort on Saturday
morning. Vilarinho will start second while Alex Ellis (Autotecnica) and Freddy
Zebede (Jensen Motorsport) will make up the second row.

Round 1 Race Results - Puebla

Pos Car # Name Team Gap
1 2 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational -
2 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 1.993
3 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 12.973
4 42 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 13.266
5 5 Daniel Vela EuroInternational 21.768
6 18 Joao Victor Horto Team Apex 23.057
7 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 27.130
8 24 Freddy Zebede Jensen Motorsport 27.231
9 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 48.907
10 6 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 1:24.258
11 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 2 Laps
12 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 10 Laps
13 21 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 13 Laps

Background:

Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level series in formula racing. In
2009 the three Formula BMW series - Formula BMW Europe, Formula BMW Pacific and
Formula BMW Americas - will be held in the key motor sport markets of Europe,
pan-Asia and the Americas. Formula BMW will be regularly held on the undercard
of Formula One. The series gives young racing talents the chance to enter
professional motor sport in a safe racing car - the Formula BMW FB02.

The FB02 has been in use since the 2002 season. It is powered by a 140 hp BMW
engine that takes it to a top speed of up to 140 mph. It ranks among the safest
vehicles in its category and exceeds the FIA safety regulations that govern
this class of car. Innovations such as the FORS (Formula Rescue Seat) were
developed by BMW Motorsport specifically for Formula BMW. Following Formula
One, Formula BMW was the first single-seater series outside the US in which the
HANS system was made mandatory.

Formula BMW drivers have the opportunity to take part in an Education and
Coaching Program that runs parallel with the racing season. The program
includes driver coaching at the races by professional race drivers, attending a
Formula One test, fitness courses, tuition in driving technique and strategy,
as well as seminars on sponsoring and sport management.

Among the 20 drivers expected to compete this season in Formula One, there are
now five Formula BMW graduates: Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil, Sebastian Vettel,
Sebastién Buemi and Timo Glock.

Note to editors:

Information and copyright free Formula BMW images for press purposes will be
available at the BMW Motorsport Press Club at www.press.bmw- motorsport.com (no
registration is required). More information can be found at www.formula bmw.com
and www.formulabmwamericas.com.

Press Contact:

Formula BMW Americas Press Officer: Eric Mauk Tel. +614.529.7000 x104,
+614.264.1254 mobile E-Mail: eric.mauk@partner.formulabmw.com

BMW NA Motorsports Press Officer: Bill Cobb, Tel. +1.215.295.3115,
+1.215.431.7223 mobile, E-Mail: bill.cobb@partner.formulabmw.com.