It’s season two of Formula BMW Europe and, with a strong line up from around the world, the first signs are of an exciting year ahead for the youngsters. Some of the drivers are back for a second year in this prestigious series, while others are just starting out on their single seater careers.
The entry list has 26 drivers from 13 different nationalities racing for nine different teams. Drivers who are back for a second chance at winning the coveted title include 2008 Rookie of the Year, Michael Christensen, from Denmark, and Spain’s Daniel Juncadella, who won two races and finished fourth in the overall championship standings. As far as who comes from where is concerned, Great Britain and Spain can boast the largest number of competitors, with five each.
Other countries represented are France with four, Denmark and the Netherlands with two each and then just one driver from Brazil, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malaysia, Romania, Sweden and the United Arab Emirates. In total 13 drivers are back for year two, and no doubt last year’s experience on six of the seven Grand Prix circuits they will be visiting this year will be invaluable. The only new one will be the Nü rburgring, with the German Grand Prix alternating between this track and Hockenheim.
The eighth race has now been confirmed and this is at Zandvoort in The Netherlands on 12-14 June. The former Grand Prix circuit is always popular with drivers, and will be playing host to the Masters F3 race this weekend, so the Formula BMW drivers will be able to see first hand the formula they will aspire to race in next.
The Juniors, who will receive support from BMW in their first year out of karting, are Jack Te Braak and Robin Frijns from the Netherlands, George Katsinis from Greece and Olivier Lombard from France, who took over the slot originally offered to Switzerland’s Riccardo Galli, who now is not able to compete in the series.
Before the first race of the season supporting the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona all the competitors will have six two day tests at all the Grand Prix venues they visit except the Hungarian track, with the first of these having taken place in Spain on Monday and Tuesday this week. This will give them plenty of time to familiarise themselves with the cars and the circuits as well as take part in pre-season off track sessions covering all aspects of the series.
Formula BMW Europe Entry List.
No Name Team 2 Kazeem Manzur (GBR) Josef Kaufmann Racing 3 Facu Regalia (ESP) Josef Kaufmann Racing 4 Robin Frijns (NED) R Josef Kaufmann Racing 5 Jazeman Jaafar (MAS) Eifelland Racing 6 George Katsinis (GRE) R Eifelland Racing 7 David Mengesdorf (GER) Eifelland Racing 8 William Buller (GBR) Fortec Motorsport 9 Jack Harvey (GBR) R Fortec Motorsport 10 Antonio Martinez (ESP) R Fortec Motorsport 11 Daniel Juncadella (ESP) Eurointernational 12 Luiz Felipe Nasr (BRA) Eurointernational 14 Olivier Lombard (FRA) R Eurointernational 15 Michael Christensen (DEN) Mü cke Motorsport 16 Timmy Hansen (SWE) R Mü cke Motorsport 17 Jack Te Braak (NED) R Mü cke Motorsport 18 Jim Pla (FRA) DAMS 19 Javier Tarancon (ESP) DAMS 20 Come Ledogar (FRA) DAMS 21 Rupert Svendsen-Cook (GBR)Raikkonen Robertson Racing 22 Ramon Pineiro (ESP) Raikkonen Robertson Racing 23 Gregoire Demoustier (FRA) Raikkonen Robertson Racing 24 Doru Sechelariu (ROM) Fisichella Motor Sport International SPA 25 Kevin Gilardoni (ITA) Fisichella Motor Sport International SPA 27 Ollie Millroy (GBR) Motaworld Racing 28 Mikkel Mac (DEN) R Motaworld Racing 29 Asad Rahman (UAE) Motaworld Racing R = Rookie Driver
