From 24th to 26th November, Valencia will be the venue for the clash of the most gifted drivers from the four international Formula BMW series. The DELL Formula BMW World Final is contested by 38 drivers from 18 countries. They all just can't wait for the season highlight. After all, they are not going to battle it out for the US$60,000 prize money alone. At the same time, the winner will also be rewarded with a Formula One test with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.
"Just as it was the case last year, the second edition of the World Final will be contested by nearly every driver who succeeded in shining in our entry-level series over the course of the year," says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. "I'm delighted we are able to offer the young talents the chance of competing with other drivers from all parts of the world." Indeed: The international make up of the 2006 DELL Formula BMW World Final entry list is truly remarkable. Drivers from the four regional series held in Germany, Great Britain, Asia and North America are taking part in the event held at Valencia's "Circuit de la Comunitat", with some of them travelling to Spain's Mediterranean coast from nations as far away as Colombia or Mexico.
Quite obviously, this year's Formula BMW Champions must be regarded as some of the top favourites. This particularly applies to Christian Vietoris (GER/Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Niall Breen (IRE/Fortec Motorsport) who succeeded in securing the German and British Championship titles respectively with a clear lead over their closest rivals. Vietoris has been victorious in eight of the 18 Formula BMW Germany rounds contested so far, while Breen won nine of the 20 Formula BMW UK Championship races.
However, the two champions will have to cope with competitive opponents from overseas: Robert Wickens (CAN/EuroInternational), who claimed the Formula BMW USA title, proved in last year's World Final he has got what is needed to deliver in style in an international field. In the final race in Bahrain, he performed an impressive chase and worked his way up from 25th position to finish sixth. Furthermore, the 2006 Formula BMW Asia Champion, Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus), will also contest the World Final, thus completing the "Quartet of Formula BMW Champions".
On the other hand, Marco Holzer (GER) proved in the maiden running of the event that dark horses may also hope to win the World Final. At the end of the 2005 Formula BMW Germany season the young gun had to settle for 13th position. In Bahrain, however, he displayed a clearly improved form and secured victory. This year, there are numerous drivers - such as Formula BMW USA Rookie Cup winner Daniel Morad (CAN/AIM Autosport) or Henry Arundel (GBR/Fortec Motorsport), who clinched the British Series' Rookie Cup - who are keen on repeating Holzer's feat. The current leader in the German Rookie Cup, Jens Klingmann (GER/Eiffelland Racing), might also become a factor in the battle for glory in Spain.
