GABBY CHAVES EARNS SWEEP OF OPENING FORMULA BMW AMERICAS WEEKEND

Gabby Chaves (EuroInternational) had about as good a weekend as a race car
driver can hope for as the 2009 Formula BMW Americas Championships opened this
weekend in Puebla, Mexico. Chaves won poles for both events and never trailed
in either race, again going wire-to-wire to win Sunday's Round 2 at the
2.09-mile Miguel E. Abed road course.

Starting from pole, Chaves made a strong launch from the standing start to hold
off his EuroInternational teammate Giancarlo Vilarinho heading into the first
turn, then inherited a large cushion when Vilarinho suffered a mechanical
problem at the halfway point. Gianmarco Raimondo (Autotecnica) earned a solid
second place, but could not challenge the Colombian-American Chaves, who won by
4.898 seconds.

"This was a great way to start the season for me and my team," Chaves said. "I
was able to get a good start and when Giancarlo had his problem I ended up with
some more room to breathe. Now I get to celebrate, then get back to my physical
training and get ready for Virginia and our next race."

Raimondo came from fifth on the grid to score his first podium of the season,
getting past his teammate Alex Ellis and Jensen Motorsport's Freddy Zebede in
the first two laps to slip into third. He climbed to second on Lap Seven when
Vilarinho retired and built a solid advantage over the battle for third place,
that was eventually claimed by his Autotecnica stablemate Ellis.

"This was a better run for us today and one that we needed to get back into the
swing of things," Raimondo reported. "The car was good and we had a good race,
but I just couldn't get close enough to Gabby at the end."

Ellis made a strong late-race run to score his first Formula BMW Americas
podium finish, slipping past James Kovacic (Team Apex) in Turn 14 on the last
lap of the race to score third. Kovacic was promoted to third on Lap Seven, and
held Ellis at bay for the next seven orbits of the Puebla road circuit, and
seemingly had the spot clinched when Ellis fell off the pace with three laps to
go. But the Canadian stormed back to close the gap and sealed the deal on the
last lap, running the fastest lap of the race to do it.

"I had made a mistake and dropped back, but as I was coming back I noticed that
he (James) was leaving the door open a little in Turn 14," Ellis recalled. "So
on the last lap I knew I had to go for it and I got it. This was a lot more
competitive than I expected and I am happy with a podium finish."

Kovacic held on for fourth and is second in the point standings after two
races, while Daniel Vela finished fifth for the second straight race.

The series will be back in action on the final weekend of April as the Formula
BMW Americas Championship heads to Virginia International Raceway April 24 26.

Round 2 Race Results - Puebla

Pos Car # Name Team Gap
1 2 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational -
2 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 4.898
3 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 10.629
4 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 12.378
5 5 Daniel Vela EuroInternational 16.510
6 24 Freddy Zebede Jensen Motorsport 32.046
7 18 Joao Victor Horto Team Apex 32.794
8 42 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 50.214
9 6 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 57.677
10 21 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 1:19.912
11 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 8 Laps
12 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 8 Laps
13 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport Excluded
#13 Car excluded for weight violation

Championship Standing after 2 of 14 Rounds

Pos Car # Name Team
Points
1 2 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational 42
2 50 James Kovacic Team Apex 22
3 14 Daniel Vela EuroInternational 16
4 20 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 15
5 5 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 15
6 24 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 14
7 18 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 13
8 42 Joao Victor Horto Team Apex 10
9 6 Freddy Zebede Jensen Motorsport 9
10 13 Martin Sala Team Apex 4
11 21 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 3
12 9 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 0
13 19 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 0

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.