Rounds 7 and 8 - Nuerburgring - Race - Urbano makes his mark at the Nürburgring.
The Formula BMW ADAC Championship made an appearance at the Nürburgring as a successful lead-up to the Formula One race. 25 talented junior drivers delighted tens of thousands of spectators at the European Grand Prix with nailbiting duels before two radiant winners stepped onto the podium. On Saturday, Nicolas Hülkenberg (Emmerich/Josef Kaufmann Racing) finished in first place ahead of Sébastien Buemi (CHE/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) and Tim Sandtler (Bochum/AM-Holzer Rennsport). On Sunday it was João Urbano (POR/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) who prevailed over Hülkenberg and Buemi.
"On Sunday, there were five countries represented among the top six. It reflects the international standing of the Formula BMW ADAC Championship," said ADAC Sports President Hermann Tomczyk summing up his impressions. BMW Motorsport Director Dr Mario Theissen was equally fascinated: "Our junior talents have delivered some outstanding sport in front of an impressive backdrop. I'm looking forward to more exciting racing as the season goes on." Four different winners in eight races bear witness to the close competition within the championship. Hülkenberg has claimed four wins so far, Buemi two, Chris van der Drift (NLD/Team Rosberg) and Urbano one each.
Hülkenberg tops the overall rankings with 135 points, ahead of Buemi with 102 and van der Drift (70). The 17-year-old haulage company apprentice from Emmerich, North-Rhine Westphalia also heads the Rookie Championship with 160 points. In this classification for newcomers to the Formula series he has carved out a 76-point gap to put Martin Ragginger (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg, 84) and Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX/4speed Media, 71) firmly in their places. "I'm very happy about this comfortable points cushion. Driving in front of a Formula One crowd was very special for me," stated Hülkenberg.
"After my win on Sunday a heavy weight was lifted from my shoulders. I desperately want to finish the season among the top three. With my many accidents so far that didn't seem possible," said Urbano, whose sporting career is backed among others by soccer star Luis Figo. Buemi is already looking ahead to the forthcoming races in Brno/Czech Republic (3rd to 5th June) and in Oschersleben (24th to 26th June): "I'm looking forward to the upcoming circuits. They suit me and my team and I'm hoping I'll be able to get right up there among the front-runners."
Mexican driver Perez Mendoza will also take plenty of incentive along to the next championship races. The youngest competitor in the Formula BMW ADAC Championship, at just 15 years and five months, he made his mark at the season opener in Hockenheim with a sensational second place and in race eight at the Nürburgring with a brilliant piece of catching-up work: starting from 19th on the grid, he fought his way up into eight place. "Of course I want to be on the podium again. I'll give my all to achieve that," said Perez Mendoza of his future ambitions.
Race 8, placings: 1. João Urbano (POR/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) 21:11.654, 2. Nicolas Hülkenberg (Emmerich/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 21:12.339, 3. Sébastien Buemi (CHE/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) 21:13.889, 4. Fabio Onidi (ITA/Eifelland Racing) 21:15.967, 5. Tim Sandtler (Bochum/ AM-Holzer Rennsport) 21:25.098, 6. Chris van der Drift (NLD/Team Rosberg) 21:26.334, 7. Natacha Gachnang (CHE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 21:26.444, 8. Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX/4speed Media) 21:27.659, 9. Markus Niemelä (FIN/Team Rosberg) 21:27.852, 10. Henri Karjalainen (FIN/Team Rosberg) 21:28.859, 11. Mika Mäki (FIN/Mika Mäki) 21:29.908, 12. Martin Ragginger (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) 21:31.151, 13. Christian Vietoris (Lissendorf/MLX-Eifelland Racing) 21:31.298, 14. Marco Idili (NLD/HBR Motorsport) 21:31.874, 15. Marco Holzer (Bobingen/AM-Holzer Rennsport) 21:33.710, 16. Nick de Bruijn (NLD/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 21:36.423, 17. Tobias Hegewald (Waldbreitbach/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) 21:37.816, 18. Andzej Dzikevic (LTU/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg) 21:39.151, 19. Dominik Wasem (Seiboldsdorf/HBR Motorsport) 21:39.292, 20. Jonathan Summerton (USA/Team Rosberg) 21:39.742, 21. Benjamin Leuchter (Duisburg/Team Lauderbach Motorsport) 21:40.757, 22. Johnny Cecotto jun. (Munich/Team Lauderbach Motorsport) 21:52.291.
DNF: Jens Höing (Berlin/Team Rosberg), Stefano Coletti (MCO/Eifelland Racing), Harald Schlegelmilch (LVA/AM-Holzer Rennsport).
Pole position: Urbano.
Fastest race lap: Hülkenberg 2:04.689 min. Circuit length: 51.463 km (10 laps).
Race 8, Rookie placings (newcomers to the Formula series):1. Nicolas Hülkenberg (Emmerich/Josef Kaufmann Racing), 2. Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX/4speed Media), 3. Mika Mäki (FIN/Mika Mäki), 4. Martin Ragginger (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg), 5. Christian Vietoris (Lissendorf/MLX-Eifelland Racing), 6. Marco Idili (NLD/HBR Motorsport), 7. Nick de Bruijn (NLD/Josef Kaufmann Racing), 8. Tobias Hegewald (Waldbreitbach/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg), 9. Johnny Cecotto jun. (Munich/Team Lauderbach Motorsport).
DNF: Höing, Coletti.
Championship standings after 8 out of 20 races: 1. Hülkenberg (135), 2. Buemi (102), 3. van der Drift (70), 4. Urbano (51), 5. de Bruijn (34), 6. Onidi (33), 7. Perez Mendoza (32), 8. Ragginger (31), 9. Gachnang (28), 10. Holzer (28), 11. Sandtler (24), 12. Niemelä (20), 13. Summerton (18), 14. Leuchter (16), 15. Coletti (12), 16. Vietoris (4), 17. Mäki (3), 18. Karjalainen (2), 19. Idili (2), 20. Hegewald (2), 21. Dzikevic (1).
Rookie standings: 1. Hülkenberg (160), 2. Ragginger (84), 3. Perez Mendoza (71), 4. de Bruijn (61), 5. Coletti (61), 6. Mäki (46), 7. Hegewald (44), 8. Vietoris (42), 9. Idili (34), 10. Cecotto jun. (19), 11. Höing (17).
