Stevens Wins Round 14; Philippe Wins Championship
Reed Stevens (HBR Motorsport Team USA) saved his best for last to take his first win of the season in the final round of the 2005 Formula BMW USA Championship. The 20-year old BMW Junior driver, runner-up in Sunday's Round 13 race, led every lap of the 13-lap contest, finishing .374 seconds ahead of fellow Junior Richard Philippe (Team Autotecnica).
Philippe, starting from his sixth pole position of the season, remained within striking distance of Stevens every lap, but the 15-year old knew his real race was with Kevin Lacroix (AIM Autosport) . Tied with Lacroix in Overall points and three points ahead in Rookie points, Philippe only had to finish ahead of Lacroix to take both the Overall and Rookie titles. Lacroix, forced to start at the rear of the 18-car field after failing post-qualifying technical inspection, charged to sixth, but ultimately had to settle for second in both Championships.
Round 13 winner Edoardo Piscopo (EuroInternational) rounded out the podium, capping a stellar weekend for the 17-year old Italian. He moves to fifth in the Championship, despite missing the opening two rounds of the season.
Rob Bunker (AIM Autosport) took advantage of his sixth starting position to finish fourth - both season's best efforts. Daniel Herrington (Jensen Motorsport) also recorded his best result of the year, finishing fifth, and setting the fastest lap of the race (1:28.581) on lap nine.
The top finishing Rookies were Stevens (P1), Philippe (P2), Piscopo (P3), Bunker (P4) and Lacroix (P6).
The top-four drivers in Overall points are BMW Junior drivers; Philippe (151), Lacroix (142), Wickens (122) and Stevens (110). Edordo Piscopo (108) rounds out the top-five. The top-five in Rookie points are: Philippe (160), Lacroix (150), Wickens (140), Stevens (124) and Davison (117).
Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO of BMW (US) Holding Corp. said, "The entire BMW family congratulates Richard Philippe, the 2005 Formula BMW USA Overall and Rookie Champion. His performance was exceptional and all of us at BMW wish him even greater success as he continues his motorsports career. Our sincerest appreciation and admiration also goes out to every Formula BMW USA driver, team and family member for sharing a motorsports passion that is at the very foundation of the BMW brand."
An elated Stevens said, "I was hoping for a double win weekend, but a second place yesterday, followed by a first place in the final race is great for us. We started off the year very strong, struggled in the middle of the season, and had a very strong finish. Three podiums in the last four races along with the win today feels very good. You are never satisfied unless you are first, but considering where we fell to - I think as far back as seventh at one point - I am very glad that we did come back to finish in the top-five. If we had been better prepared at the beginning of the season I think I could have been there with Richard and Kevin battling for the Championship. But as it is, fourth place in the Championship makes for a great season."
Equaly pleased, Philippe said, "I feel very good as a lot of hard work has paid off. Emotionally, it was very difficult to have to decide the Championship in the last race, but we came out on top. This was my first year racing cars and I learned a lot. When I started my goal was to win every single race, but I saw that this wasn't possible. I won three races and after I tried to finish consistantly. Today, I knew that Kevin started in the back. I just needed to be consistent and finish ahead of him. I wanted to win badly. I started first and finished second - I am only slightly disappointed, but happy that I have won the Championship."
Piscopo added, "Today we didn't have enough speed to win, but I am really glad that we are on the podium again. That is what matters. I had a really good start, but on this track it is not so easy to overtake. Moreover, if you miss it on the first laps, the race is done. I want to thank EuroInternational for the great car. I never had problems, it never broke and I am sure we will have a really good chance in Bahrain. Unfortunately, I missed the first races and then I made some experience mistakes at the beginning. I am happy to finish fifth in the Championship. If I had raced in the first two races I know I would have finished even better."
A total of 29 drivers have competed in at least one Formula BMW USA race this year and while the titles have been decided at Road Atlanta, the season will not be completely finished for some. All Formula BMW drivers worldwide who qualify can participate in the Formula BMW World Final at the Bahrain International Circuit on December 13th through 16th. Formula BMW drivers from the Asian, German, UK and North American Formula BMW programs will compete for the World Final crown and a BMW Formula One test.
Round 14 - Results (13 laps)
1 Reed Stevens (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 19:19.4152 Richard Philippe (R) Team Autotecnica 19:19.789 3 Edoardo Piscopo (R) EuroInternational 19:21.0364 Rob Bunker (R) AIM Autosport 19:25.1425 Daniel Herrington Jensen MotorSport 19:27.0696 Kevin Lacroix (R) AIM Autosport 19:29.698 7 John Zartarian (R) Gelles Racing 19:32.7558 Matthew Lee (R) Twintooth/BRM Motorsport 19:32.8719 Robert Wickens (R) Team Apex Racing USA 19:33.38610 Race Johnson (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 19:33.58911 Maxime Soulet Gelles Racing 19:34.04512 Doug Boyer (R) Jensen MotorSport 19:34.59313 Adrien Herberts (R) Atlantic Racing Team 19:39.68314 Justin Moon (R) Gelles Racing 19:39.79815 James Davison (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 19:42.39316 Tom Sutherland HBR Motorsport Team USA 19:43.76517 Ryan Campbell (R) Gelles Racing 19:55.84918 Derek Burseth Burseth Racing 20:02.118
Championship points after 14 of 14 races:1. Richard Philippe (Team Autotecnica, 151), 2. Kevin Lacroix (AIM Autosport, 142), 3. Robert Wickens (Team Apex Racing USA, 122), 4. Reed Stevens (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 110), 5. Edoardo Piscopo (EuroInternational, 108), 6. James Davison (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 104), 7. Maxime Soulet (Gelles Racing, 98), 8. Rob Bunker (AIM Autosport, 41), 9. Tom Sutherland (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 39), 10. Race Johnson (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 37), 11. Justin Moon (Gelles Racing, 31), 12. Daniel Herrington (Jensen MotorSport, 28), 13. John Zartarian (Jensen MotorSport, 27), 14. Tobias Hegewald (Atlantic Racing Team, 22), 15. Jonathan Summerton (Walker Racing, 22), 16. Matthew Lee (Twintooth/BRM Motorsport, 17), 17. Doug Boyer (Jensen MotorSport, 9), 18. Adrien Herberts (Atlantic Racing Team, 8), 19. Michael Patrizi (Walker Racing, 8), 20. Darin Marcus (Gelles Racing, 7), 21. Paul Rees (Walker Racing, 1), 22. Derek Burseth (Burseth Racing, 0), 23. Ryan Campbell (Gelles Racing, 0), 24. Nathan DePagter (DRE Autosport, 0), 25. Jules Duc (Jensen MotorSport, 0), 26. Scott Harnell (SDH3 with Cinema Concepts, 0), 27. Ryan Phinny (Gelles Racing, 0), 28. Robbie Pecorari (Walker Racing, 0), 29. Dan Abbale (Atlantic Racing Team)
Rookies: 1. Richard Philippe (160), 2. Kevin Lacroix (150), 3. Robert Wickens (140), 4. Reed Stevens (124), 5. James Davison (117), 6. Edoardo Piscopo (116), 7. Rob Bunker (62), 8. Race Johnson (61), 9. Justin Moon (45), 10. Matthew Lee (41), 11. John Zartarian (37), 12. Doug Boyer (24), 13. Tobias Hegewald (22), 14. Darin Marcus (20), 15. Adrien Herberts (19), 16. Ryan Campbell (4), 17. Jules Duc (2), 18. Nathan DePagter (0), 19. Ryan Phinny (0)
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 140 mph and by far exceeds 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 program. All the series offer a multifaceted Education and Coaching Program 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 Dr. Mario Theissen: "Formula BMW offers talented young drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching Program 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 a Formula One test drive.
