Rounds 13 and 14 - Series heads to Ireland.
As the Formula BMW UK Championship makes its annual popular trip to Ireland it is still Sam Bird who is top of the pecking order.
The Fortec Motorsport driver has now won five races on the trot and has a 53 point lead in the championship over team-mate, Stian Sørlie.
Croft could be termed a perfect ten for Sam. He was on pole for both races, won both races and set the fastest lap in both races. The Rookie drivers did not do so well as the first and second drivers in this championship battle both had a non finish. Euan Hankey (Barwell Motorsport) was able to retain his lead, but it has now been reduced dramatically to just three points over Michael Meadows (Master Motorsport). However, Jonathan Legris (Formula Racing Ltd) was able to give his new team a good start with a first and second in the class.
The drivers who are part of the Education and Coaching programme had a fitness re-test, to check how their fitness had improved since the original test at Bayer Leverkusen facilities in March. The final test will be at the last race of the season at Brands Hatch. The fitness instructors were pleased that most of the drivers showed a significant improvement.
The next major happening for aspiring Formula BMW drivers is the Formula BMW UK Championship Licence Course at Valencia. There will be two sessions, the first on the 1st and 2nd August and the second on the 3rd and 4th August. The entrants for these will have the chance to drive the cars and if their talent is spotted by series Chief Instructor, Andy Priaulx, could be invited back to compete in the Scholarship Shoot Out for the 2006 season in September. This has proved very popular, but there are still places left and registration should be done through BMW (UK).
Mondello will be a new experience for many drivers and included in this will be the two who can claim this as a home race. Obviously Niall Breen (Barwell Motorsport) from Dundalk is very much a local. Niall's first win in karts in 1995 when he was eight came here, but that track only used the first and last corners of the main race track. "It will be my first race on the full track, so I shall be learning it along with everyone else, and my last visit there in a kart was in 1998," said the law student. The surprise 'local' is Rookie Cup leader Euan Hankey. Euan, like his team-mate, holds an Irish passport. However, for the Somerset born driver this was because his mother comes from Sligo.
At Mondello there will be free practice on Friday (22nd July) from 09.30 to 11.00 and 13.35 to 15.05. The Saturday timetable has qualifying from 11.10 to 11.30 and 14.35 to 14.55. Then it is back to the traditional timetable with both races on Sunday. They are both ten laps long and will start at 10.00 and 14.35.
Key Facts
Winners: Sam Bird 5, Matt Howson 3, Stian Sørlie 2, Nathan Antunes 1, Simon Walker-Hansell 1.
Pole Positions: Sam Bird 7, Nathan Antunes 2, Matt Howson 2, Simon Walker-Hansell 1.
Podiums: Sam Bird 9, Matt Howson 5, Nathan Antunes 3, Ross Curnow 2, Richard Keen 1, Stian Sørlie 5, Dean Smith 3, Simon Walker-Hansell 2, Niall Breen 1, Oliver Turvey 3, Jordan Wise 1, Duarte Felix da Costa 1.
Championship Points: 1. Sam Bird 167, 2. Stian Sørlie 114, 3. Dean Smith 103, 4. Matt Howson 97, 5. Simon Walker-Hansell 81, 6. Nathan Antunes 68.
Rookie Wins: Euan Hankey 5, Michael Meadows 4, Jonathan Legris 2, Dominique Cauvin 1.
Rookie Podiums: Michael Meadows 8, Euan Hankey 8, Jonathan Legris 7, Dominique Cauvin 4, Joe Osborne 4, Aaron Steele 3, Ed Hoy 1.
Rookie Points: 1. Euan Hankey 155, 2. Michael Meadows 152, 3. Jonathan Legris 132, 4. Joe Osborne 101, 5. Dominique Cauvin 82, 6. Aaron Steele 80, 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.
