Formula BMW UK Championship heads north.
While no Formula BMW UK Championship competitor can claim Oulton Park as a home event, current championship leader Matt Howson (Filsell Motorsport) will feel he is getting a little nearer his home town of Preston as the series heads north to Cheshire just fifty miles down the road.
Oulton Park is the third of the five circuits visited so far where the drivers tested before the start of the season. This test on the 11th and 12th March had the Fortec Motorsport drivers Sam Bird and Stian Sørlie taking it in turns to top the time sheets, while in the Rookie class Jonathan Legris (Pegasus Motorsport Int) was quickest on day one and Michael Meadows (Master Motorsport) on day two.
At Oulton Park last year Stian was on the podium for race two, which was the first win for João Urbano (Carlin Motorsport Team Portugal). While Stian has stayed with the British series for a second year, and is currently third in the points, João opted to compete in the German Formula BMW ADAC Championship this year. He has been successful as he won one of the European Grand Prix support races at the Nürburgring and round 9 of the series in Brno. He has also been testing at the Portuguese Estoril track for A1 Team Portugal in a much more powerful V8 engined car.
The last race meeting at Brands Hatch was particularly successful for the drivers who only a year ago were competing for Rookie honours. Formula BMW Scholarship drivers from 2004 occupied the podium for race two. Sam Bird took his first ever win, Jordan Wise finished right behind him for his first ever podium and Ross Curnow was third.
The weekend after Oulton Park all the competitors will have the chance to be guests of BMW (UK) at one of the most spectacular motorsport events of the year - the Goodwood Festival of Speed. Michael Meadows will have his car on display at the event that attracts tens of thousands of visitors.
When the drivers arrive for free practice two of them will have aged a year as the day before (Thursday, 16th June) is Matt Harris's 19th birthday and the previous Monday (13th June) Simon Walker-Hansell will have turned 17. Ross Curnow will have to wait until the 28th June for his birthday and then he will turn 18.
At Oulton Park there will be free practice on Friday (17th June) from 09.00 to 10.15 and 11.25 to 12.40. There will be a different timetable for this weekend as, following qualifying on Saturday (18th June) from 08.30 to 08.50 and 13.30 to 13.50, the first 12 lap race of the weekend will be on the same day at 16.20. On Sunday (19th June) there will just be the second 12 lap race at 14.05.
Key Facts
Winners: Matt Howson 3, Stian Sørlie 2, Nathan Antunes 1, Simon Walker-Hansell 1, Sam Bird 1.
Pole Positions: Sam Bird 3, Nathan Antunes 2, Matt Howson 2, Simon Walker-Hansell 1.
Podiums: Matt Howson 5, Sam Bird 5, Nathan Antunes 3, Ross Curnow 2, Richard Keen 1, Stian Sørlie 3, Dean Smith 1, Simon Walker-Hansell 1, Niall Breen 1, Oliver Turvey 1, Jordan Wise 1.
Championship Points: 1. Matt Howson 91, 2. Sam Bird 87, 3. Stian Sørlie 73, 4. Nathan Antunes 60, 5. Ross Curnow 59, 6. Dean Smith 55.
Rookie Wins: Euan Hankey 4, Michael Meadows 2, , Jonathan Legris 1, Dominique Cauvin 1.
Rookie Podiums: Michael Meadows 5, Euan Hankey 7, Aaron Steele 3, Jonathan Legris 4, Dominique Cauvin 3, Joe Osborne 1, Ed Hoy 1.
Rookie Points: 1. Euan Hankey 125, 2. Michael Meadows 100, 3. Jonathan Legris 74, 4. Dominique Cauvin 61, 5. Aaron Steele 60, 6. Joe Osborne 54, 7. Edward Hoy 40.
Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005 the series will be held in Germany, Britain, Asia and the USA. Up-and-coming drivers as young as 15-years-old are given the opportunity of entering motor racing with the high-tech, standard FB02 race car.
This racing car has been seen on the grid since 2002 and has set standards particularly on the safety technology front. The single-seater is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine up to 230km/h and exceeds by far the safety requirements for its class. BMW Motorsport has developed the FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat especially for Formula BMW. The HANS safety system is also mandatory.
In 2005, Formula BMW will be staged five times as part of the Formula One support programme. All the series offer a multifaceted Education and Coaching Programme as well as sponsorship for promising racing talents. The best-known alumni of this talent hothouse are Formula One drivers Ralf Schumacher and Christian Klien.
BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen: "Formula BMW offers talented young drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching Programme we have designed specially for them, they learn everything they need to know to hold their own in the big wide world of motor racing. Formula BMW has shot out of the blocks to become the top entry-level class for Formula racing worldwide."
In December 2005 the Bahrain International Circuit will host the first Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series will compete against each other. The winner will get the chance to test a Formula1 car.
