Rounds 3 and 4 - Mid-Ohio - Preview
The 2005 Formula BMW USA Championship will mark two important milestones when it stops at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on May 21 - 22 for Rounds 3 and 4. Racing in support of the American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio weekend, this will be the first time the Championship has ever raced at the venerable Lexington, Ohio circuit and, the 22 drivers entered, will make Rounds 3 and 4 the largest fields yet in Formula BMW USA Championship history. The 13 classic turns of Mid-Ohio's 2.258-miles have crowned many amateur and professional sports car racing champions in past years and is sure to provide a perfect venue for Rounds 3 and 4 of the Championship as the young Formula BMW USA drivers continue the first stages of their racing careers.
With a win in Round 1 and a third place finish in Round 2, Kevin LaCroix leads both the Overall and Rookie point standings. The 16-year old from St-Eustache, Quebec, Canada will be looking for another winning weekend as he will want to bring the Championship lead home when Formula BMW USA races in support of the Canadian Grand Prix on June 10 - 12.
Maxime Soulet, 21, of Belgium, could not quite grab the brass ring in Rounds 1 and 2, but did reach the podium in both races. He backed up a third in Round 1 with a second in Round 2 and stands only five points behind La Croix.
Richard Philippe, 15, the pole winner in both Rounds 1 and 2, took the Round 2 victory. He is third in the Overall standings and second in the Rookie points.Both LaCroix's and Philippe's wins were flag-to-flag, but, as shown in the 2004 Formula BMW USA Championship, that is usually the exception rather than the rule in Formula BMW USA. As the rest of the field gains confidence, they will certainly bring the battle to LaCroix, Soulet and Philippe.
Practice and qualifying for Round 3 will be held on Friday, May 20th. Qualifying for Round 2 will be at 10:45 a.m. Saturday and the Round 3 race is scheduled to start at 3:35 p.m. The Round 4 race will start at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 22.
Championship Standings:
1. Kevin LaCroix (AIM Autosport, 32), 2. Maxime Soulet (Gelles Racing, 27), 3. Richard Philippe (Team Autotecnica, 20), 4. Reed Stevens (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 18), 5. James Davison (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 16), 6. Robert Wickens (Team Apex Racing USA, 16), 7. John Zartarian (Jensen Motorsport, 10), 8. Rob Bunker (AIM Autosport, 8), 9. Justin Moon (Gelles Racing, 6), 10. Matthew Lee (Twintooth/BRM Motorsport, 5), 11. Race Johnson (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 2), 12. Tom Sutherland (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 2), 13. Doug Boyer (Jensen Motorsport, 0), 14. Derek Burseth (Burseth Racing, 0), 15. Nathan DePagter (DRE Autosport, 0), 16. Jules Duc (Jensen Motorsport, 0), 17. Adrien Herberts (Atlantic Racing Team, 0), 18. Daniel Herrington (Jensen Motorsport, 0), 19. Darin Marcus (Gelles Racing, 0), 20. Ryan Phinny (Gelles Racing, 0)
Rookies: 1. Kevin LaCroix (35), 2. Richard Philippe (20), 3. James Davison (20), 4. Robert Wickens (20), 5. Reed Stevens (19), 6. Rob Bunker (12), 7. John Zartarian (12), 8. Justin Moon (10), 9. Matthew Lee (7), 10. Race Johnson (5), 11. Darin Marcus (1), 12. Doug Boyer (1), 13. Ryan Phinny (0), 14. Jules Duc (0), 15. Adrien Herberts (0), 16. Nathan DePagter (0)
StatisticsWinners 2005: LaCriox (1), Philippe (1)Pole Positions: Philippe (2)Podiums: LaCroix (2), Soulet (2), Philippe (1), Stevens (1)
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 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 the chance to test a BMW WilliamsF1 Team car.
