34 drivers from four series gunning for the titleThe season's final rounds in the four international Formula BMW series are fast approaching, and preparations are in full swing for the Formula BMW World Final.
Two months before the inaugural event the field of starters has been confirmed: from 13th to 16th December at the Bahrain International Circuit, 34 drivers from 15 nations will be vying for the honour of fastest Formula BMW driver in the world. Awaiting the winner is an invaluable prize: a test drive with the BMW run Formula One team.
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen: "Top drivers from the four Formula BMW series are taking part in the Formula BMW World Final. I'm looking forward to some high-calibre and thrilling motor racing in Bahrain. To take the World Final title you've got to beat drivers from four continents. It's going to be a tough piece of work winning that Formula One test drive!"
The contestants, some of them no older than 16, will be pitting their skills in a number of preliminary heats before the final on 16th December. Along with the leaders in the Formula BMW ADAC Championship - Sébastien Buemi and Nicolas Huelkenberg - the Formula BMW Asia front-runner Salman Al Khalifa, as well as the top drivers in the Formula BMW UK Championship and Formula BMW USA, will also be competing in the World Final.
The following drivers have signed up for the event:
Driver - Nation - Team
Al Fardan, Hamad - Bahrain - Bison Team MeritusAl Khalifa, Salman - Bahrain - Team E-RainAntunes, Nathan - Australia - Motaworld RacingBird, Sam - UK - Fortec MotorsportBoughey, Robert - Thailand - Bison Team MeritusBuemi, Sébastien - Switzerland - ASL Team Mücke MotorsportColetti, Stefano - Monaco - ASL Team Mücke MotorsportCurnow, Ross - UK - Nexa RacingDavison, James - Australia - Bison Team MeritusDzikevic, Andzej - Lithuania - 4speed Media GmbHEbrahim, Armaan - India - Team E-RainGlew, Philip - UK - Promatecme/Soper SportHankey, Euan - UK - Nexa RacingHarris, Matt - UK - Team SWRHegewald, Tobias - Germany - ASL Team Mücke MotorsportHerberts, Adrien - Canada - Atlantic Racing TeamHolzer, Marco - Germany - AM Holzer Motorsport GmbHHowson, Matt - UK - Filsell MotorsportHülkenberg, Nicolas - Germany - Josef Kaufmann RacingJohnson, Race - USA - Bison Team MeritusLee, Matt - USA - AutotecnicaLegris, Jonathan - UK - Mark Burdett MotorsportOnidi, Fabio - Italy - ASL Team Mücke MotorsportPiscopo, Edoardo - Italy - EurointernationalSchlegelmilch, Harald - Latvia - 4speed Media GmbHSmith, Dean - UK - Coles RacingSorlie, Stian - Norway - Fortec MotorsportStevens, Reed - USA - Bison Team MeritusSummerton, Jonathan - USA - ASL Team Mücke MotorsportTurvey, Oliver - UK - Team SWRUrbano, Joao - Portugal - ASL Team Mücke MotorsportWasem, Dominik - Germany - AM Holzer Rennsport GmbHWickens, Robert - Canada - AutotecnicaWise, Jordan - UK - Motaworld Racing
Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005 the series will be held in Germany, the UK, 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."
