Championship - Rounds 5 and 6 - Rockingham - Preview Formula BMW UK Championship and BMW's Finest Racing Cars Top Bill at BMW Power FestivalThe inaugural BMW Power Festival will bring a variety of motor racing entertainment to the fans. The stars of the future will be racing in the two rounds of the Formula BMW UK Championship, while there will be displays of some of the finest racing cars that have proved winners for BMW.
The young drivers in the Formula BMW UK Championship have already competed in four rounds of the series, and things could not be closer at the top of the points table. It is the Fortec Motorsport drivers, Stian Sørlie and Sam Bird, who are joint leaders with 52 points each, thanks to Stian winning both Thruxton races and Sam being quick, consistent and finishing in the points in all races to date. Not surprisingly Fortec Motorsport is also leading the Teams' championship with a very healthy 105 points from Nexa Racing and Team SWR Pioneer, who are joint second on 39.
Euan Hankey (Barwell Motorsport) is the Rookie who has come closest to the podium with a fourth place in Thruxton, however, it is Michael Meadows (Master Motorsport) who leads him in the points standings. Joe Osborne (Nexa Racing) has had a rocky start to his Rookie challenge with two spectacular accidents getting him the wrong sort to publicity. However, Rockingham is his home track - about thirty miles from his home in Olney, Buckinghamshire - so he is hoping to add more points to his current tally of 20.
Rockingham is the home of the BMW Performance Centre and so always has on site models from the brand's complete product range. However, this weekend there will be three very special BMW cars being put through their paces on the Northamptonshire circuit - the BMW WilliamsF1 Team car, the BMW V12 LMR, that won the Le Mans 24 Hour race, and the BMW 320i WTCC, that is competing for BMW Team UK in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Formula BMW UK Championship Chief Instructor and BMW Team UK's reigning FIA European Touring Car Champion, Andy Priaulx, will be at the wheel of all three for their demonstration laps on race day.
From the Rockingham races onwards there will be a change of driver at Team SWR Pioneer. While Richard Keen has now left the series, his place in car number 44 will be taken by Oliver Turvey, who drove for the team in 2004 and won the second race at Rockingham.
Fans of cricket rather than motor racing can also see one of the legends of their sport if they go to the Mark Burdett Motorsport garage. A guest there this weekend will be former English test cricketer, Alan Lamb. Alan will be watching the exploits of Rookie driver, Ed Hoy, who is his daughter Katie's boyfriend. Also no doubt Sam Bird will have some stories to tell, as on the 17th May he will be in Monaco playing in a charity football match alongside a host of sporting stars including Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, and Kimi Raikkonen.
On the birthday front Niall Breen (Barwell Motorsport) turned 19 last Sunday (8 May) and Lars Viljoen (Team SWR Pioneer) will be 20 next Wednesday (18 May). The course car for this event will a new BMW M5 and one lucky ticket holder will be given a ride round the circuit in this by Andy Priaulx. The winning number will be picked out prior to the event.
At Rockingham on Saturday (21 May) first qualifying will be from 11.05 to 11.25 and second qualifying from 14.25 to 14.45. The two 15 lap races will be held on Sunday (22 May) at 11.25 and 15.05.
Key Facts
Winners: Stian Sørlie 2, Matt Howson 1, Nathan Antunes 1.
Pole Positions: Nathan Antunes 2, Sam Bird 2.
Podiums: Matt Howson 1, Nathan Antunes 2, Ross Curnow 1, Sam Bird 3, Richard Keen 1, Stian Sørlie 3, Dean Smith 1.
Championship Points: 1=. Stian Sørlie and Sam Bird 52, 3. Nathan Antuens 38, 4=. Ross Curnow and Richard Keen, 6. Matt Howson 30.
Rookie Wins: Michael Meadows 2, Euan Hankey 2. Rookie Podiums: Michael Meadows 4. Euan Hankey 3, Aaron Steele 2, Joe Osborne 1, Dominique Cauvin 1, Ed Hoy 1.
Rookie Points: 1=. Michael Meadows 70, 2. Euan Hankey 55, 3. Aaron Steele 44, 4. Edward Hoy 30, 5. Dominique Cauvin 21, 6. Joe Osborne 20.
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 BMW WilliamsF1 Team car.
