Preview: Races 1 and 2, 7-9 April 2006, Hockenheimring
Out onto the race track aged 15.
The season is here at last. For weeks on end, the 21 Formula BMW Germany drivers have been feverishly awaiting the curtain-raiser in Hockenheim. Around half of them have never yet contested a race in the 140 bhp Formula car built by BMW. They have already gleaned some driving experience on a number of test days in the run-up to the season, but on the first race weekend every one of them will want to show that they are among the best in class.
"Of course I'm a little bit nervous," confesses Jens Klingmann, just 15 years old. The rookie from Leimen in Baden-Württemberg already earned his first spurs before the start of the season. He is one of the group of five drivers enjoying special sponsorship by BMW. The schoolboy receives 50,000 euros in financial backing for one season of Formula BMW Germany.
In addition, Klingmann can participate free of charge in the special Education and Coaching Programme. The curriculum drawn up for the young drivers is a broad-based one: under the guidance of professional coaches, the so-called "BMW Juniors" attend seminars that have a practical focus and are tailored to their specific needs. They cover the following subjects: driving technique and tactics, vehicle dynamics and chassis set-up, fitness and nutrition, media, sponsoring and sports management. "The demands placed on young racing drivers today are huge; only ongoing support and training can create the necessary foundations," says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen.
The racing talents, who hail almost entirely from the kart track, are keenly aware of the competition. In their personal driver profile, five of them have stated as their season's target winning the championship title. At Hockenheim they all aim to lay the foundation for that goal.
The drivers.
No. Name Team1 Marco Holzer (GER) AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH2 Martin Ragginger (AUT) ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg3 Stefano Coletti (MCO) ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg4 Yoshitaka Kuroda (JPN) ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg Rookie5 Philipp Eng (AUT) ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg Rookie6 Tobias Hegewald (GER) ADAC Mittelrhein7 Sergio Perez Mendoza (MEX) ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg8 Christian Vietoris (GER) Josef Kaufmann Racing9 Patrick Kronenberger (GER) Josef Kaufmann Racing Rookie10 Nick de Bruijn (NLD) Josef Kaufmann Racing (J)11 Jens Klingmann (GER) Eifelland Racing (J) Rookie12 Mika Mäki (FIN) Eifelland Racing14 Oskar Paegle (RUS) Eifelland Racing Rookie 15 Fabio Leimer (CHE) Team Rosberg (J) Rookie16 Christian Zacherl (GER) AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH Rookie17 Dominik Wasem (GER) AM-Holzer Rennsport GmbH18 Josef Král (CZE) Micánek Motorsport - Brno (J) Rookie19 Maximilian Wissel (GER) GU-Racing Motorsportteam (J) Rookie20 Devis Schwägli (CHE) Kath Racing21 Andrei Harnagea (ROM) GU-Racing Motorsportteam Rookie22 Jens Höing (GER) GU-Racing Motorsportteam
(J) = Formula BMW Germany Junior.
Background:Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2006 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 the FIA 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 2006, 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, Christian Klien and Nico Rosberg.
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."
From 13th to 16th December 2005 the Bahrain International Circuit hosted the first Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series competed against each other. The winner Marco Holzer will get a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.
