Woodcliff Lake, NJ - The decidedly difficult 2.54-miles of the Road Atlanta circuit in Braselton, Georgia will set the stage for the final two rounds of the 2005 Formula BMW USA Championship and determine who will win the Overall and Rookie titles. Known for its challenging mixture of high and low speed corners, Road Atlanta also includes some of the largest elevation changes seen in North American road courses and rewards those drivers who are fast, smooth and patient.
Three BMW Junior drivers have topped the Formula BMW USA field throughout the season and are in contention for both the Overall and Rookie Championships. Sharing eight wins in the previous 12 rounds of competition, Richard Philippe (Team Autotecnica), Kevin Lacroix (AIM Autosport) and Robert Wickens (Team Apex Racing USA) have the most to win - and lose - at Road Atlanta.
Philippe, with five poles and three wins this season, stands two points ahead of Lacroix in Overall points and three ahead of Wickens in Rookie points.
The 15-year old Frenchman knows what he has to do to win the Championship. "I have driven Road Atlanta before when we tested in March so it won't be new for me," he says. "I think consistency will be the key there. I am sure we will be in the front, but some great drivers will be up there as well. I just need to be in front of Kevin and Robert."
After a difficult weekend in Denver, Lacroix, who has led the standings for most of the season, does not feel he has lost any momentum. He says, "I think I have a good chance to win the Championship because I am only two points behind Richard. I had some bad luck in Denver, but when we tested at Road Atlanta I was really good. I had the second fastest time."
Wickens, 11 points back in the Overall standings and second to Philippe in Rookie points, has two wins and two third-place finishes. The only driver to have finished every race in the top-10, he scored his first pole of the year in Round 12 at Denver showing that he may have found more speed to add to his consistency.
He says, "My team and I will go to Road Atlanta in the same manner we have approached every other race. Each race is a new experience on a new track and we have been quite successful in rising to any challenge. If we continue to do what we have done, we can win the Championship."
Two one-half hour practice sessions will be held on Wednesday, September 28, followed by Round 13 qualifying at 3:45 p.m. Round 14 qualifying will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with the Round 13 race is scheduled to start at 3:20 p.m. The Round 14 race is scheduled to start at 12:45 p.m. on Friday, and the Championship Banquet will begin at 6:00 p.m. that evening.
A total of 30 drivers have competed in at least one Formula BMW USA race this year and while the titles will be decided at Road Atlanta, the season will not be completely finished. All Formula BMW drivers worldwide who qualify can participate in the Formula BMW World Final at the Bahrain International Circuit on December 13th through 16th. Formula BMW drivers from the Asian, German, UK and North American Formula BMW programs will compete for the World Final crown and a BMW Formula One test.
Championship points after 12 of 14 races:
1. Richard Philippe (Team Autotecnica, 128), 2. Kevin Lacroix (AIM Autosport, 126), 3. Robert Wickens (Team Apex Racing USA, 117), 4. James Davison (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 92), 5. Maxime Soulet (Gelles Racing, 81), 6. Edoardo Piscopo (EuroInternational, 76), 7. Reed Stevens (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 75), 8. Tom Sutherland (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 39), 9. Race Johnson (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 36), 10. Rob Bunker (AIM Autosport, 31), 11. Justin Moon (Gelles Racing, 25), 12. John Zartarian (Jensen MotorSport, 23), 13. Tobias Hegewald (Atlantic Racing Team, 22), 14. Jonathan Summerton (Walker Racing, 22), 15. Daniel Herrington (Jensen MotorSport, 20), 16. Matthew Lee (Twintooth/BRM Motorsport, 10), 17. Adrien Herberts (Atlantic Racing Team, 8), 18. Doug Boyer (Jensen MotorSport, 8), 19. Michael Patrizi (Walker Racing, 8), 20. Darin Marcus (Gelles Racing, 7), 21. Paul Rees (Walker Racing, 1), 22. Derek Burseth (Burseth Racing, 0), 23. Ryan Campbell (Gelles Racing, 0), 24. Nathan DePagter (DRE Autosport, 0), 25. Jules Duc (Jensen MotorSport, 0), 26. Scott Harnell (SDH3 with Cinema Concepts, 0), 27. Ryan Phinny (Gelles Racing, 0), 28. Paul Rees (Walker Racing, 0), 29. Robbie Pecorari (Walker Racing, 0), 30. Dan Abbale (Atlantic Racing Team)
Rookies:
1. Richard Philippe (137), 2. Robert Wickens (134), 3. Kevin Lacroix (132), 4. James Davison (105), 5. Reed Stevens (89), 6. Edoardo Piscopo (84), 7. Race Johnson (58), 8. Rob Bunker (52), 9. Justin Moon (39), 10. John Zartarian (31), 11. Matthew Lee (23), 12. Tobias Hegewald (22), 13. Doug Boyer (21), 14. Darin Marcus (20), 15. Adrien Herberts (19), 16. Ryan Campbell (4), 17. Jules Duc (2), 18. Nathan DePagter (0), 19. Ryan Phinny (0)
Statistics:
Winners 2005: Lacriox (4), Philippe (3), Wickens (1), Davison (1), Piscopo (1)
Pole Positions: Philippe (4), Hegewald (2), Summerton (2), Lacroix (1), Piscopo (1)
Podiums: Lacroix (3), Soulet (5), Philippe (3), Stevens (2), Davison (2), Piscopo (1), Moon (1), Hegewald (1), Wickens (2), Summerton (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 140 mph and by far exceeds 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 a Formula One test drive.
- BMW Group -
photos by Charlie Roeber PhotoGraphics automobilsport.com
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