FORMULA BMW USA - MOSPORT - RACE 13 AND 14
Daniel Morad - Winner and Champion
Daniel Morad (Eurointernational) ended the 2007 Formula BMW USA season as he began it - a winner. After clinching the Overall title yesterday with a fourth-place finish in Round 13, the 17-year old Canadian added a record sixth win today.
Morad led from the pole and was never passed in the 16-lap race at Mosport International Raceway, finishing .652 seconds ahead of season-long rival Esteban Gutierrez (Autotecnica). Morad set a new race record on lap nine with a 1:23.464 minute lap. 16-year old Gutierrez, from Monterrey, Mexico, won this season’s Rookie Championship earlier this month at Road America and finished second to Morad in the Overall point standings. He took a record nine poles this year, winning four times.
Maxime Pelletier (HBR Motorsport Team USA) finished third, the fifth time this season the second-year Formula BMW USA driver has podiumed. HBR Motorsport teammates Junior Ricardo Favoretto and Steven Gurerrero rounded out the top-five finishers.
There was no question about the weather for today’s race as a bright afternoon sun shone on the 14-car grid. Morad answered the green lights with a great start, opening up a 2.4 second gap to Gutierrez by the time the race’s only yellow flag flew for a lap nine crash by Mike Hill (Team KMA Racing). The field followed the BMW M Coupe safety car until the green flag waved to begin lap 13 with Morad, Gutierrez, Pelletier, Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing USA) and Favoretto in the top-five. Favoretto and Guerrero moved up in the final two laps as Rossi faded to sixth.
Morad’s Eurointernational won their second consecutive Formula BMW USA Team Championship.
Morad said, “Formula BMW USA has meant so much to me. There are so many aspects to this series that help you, but ultimately they make sure it is up to the driver. 6 wins, 10 podiums and the championship - I couldn’t ask for much more, could I?”
Gutierrez said, “Three years ago I convinced my mom and dad to buy me a go kart so to finish second overall and win the Rookie championship in my first season in formula car racing is like a dream come true.”
Pelletier said, “I am disappointed not to have won this year, but after changing teams and finishing on the podium five times I know this year was a success. I led at Indy and almost won at Lime Rock, but came up a little bit short. I know what I have learned in two seasons of Formula BMW USA will serve me well as I move ahead.”
The top-finishing Rookie drivers were Gutierrez (P2), Ricardo Favoretto (P4), Eric Morrow (P11) and Timothy Hollowell (P12).
As Formula BMW USA continues developing plans for 2008 and following years, one more major event is on the calendar of many Formula BMW USA competitors this season - the Formula BMW World Final in Valencia, Spain on November 24-25th with its grand prize to the winner - a test with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.
Round 14 - Results (16 laps)
1 Daniel Morad EUROINTERNATIONAL 26:02.467
2 Esteban Gutierrez (R) Autotecnica 26:03.119
3 Maxime Pelletier HBR Motorsport Team USA 26:04.136
4 Ricardo Favoretto (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 26:05.982
5 Steven Guerrero HBR Motorsport Team USA 26:07.094
6 Alexander Rossi Team Apex Racing USA 26:07.768
7 Yannick Hofman EUROINTERNATIONAL 26:08.082
8 Robert Thorne Team Apex Racing USA 26:10.145
9 Jordan Dick JD Racing 26:10.478
10 Philip Major Autotecnica 26:11.355
11 Timothy Hollowell (R) Team KMA Racing 26:12.225
12 Julia Landauer Team KMA Racing 26:12.225
13 Eric Morrow (R)* Hearn Motorsports 26:31.616
14 Mike Hill Team KMA Racing 26:12.169 not running
* Car 12 penalized 20 seconds for violation of 2007 IMSA code 5.6 (avoidable contact)
Championship points after 14 of 14 races:
1. Daniel Morad (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 478), 2. Esteban Gutierrez (Team Autotecnica, 436), 3. Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing USA, 410) 4. Maxime Pelletier (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 382) 5. Steven Guerrero (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 378), 6. Robert Thorne (Team Apex Racing USA, 367) 7. Yannick Hofman (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 363), 8. Ricardo Favoretto (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 345), 9. Jordan Dick (JD Racing, 332), 10. Philip Major (Team Autotecnica, 298) 11. Eric Morrow (Hearn Motorsports, 262), 12. Sebastian Saavedra (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 258) 13. Jeffrey Petriello (Team KMA Racing, 242) 14. Tim Hollowell (Team KMA Racing, 242) 15. Mike Hill (Team KMA Racing, 210), 16. Julia Landauer (Team KMA Racing, 202), 17. Adrien Tambay (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 109) 18. Lindsey Adams (Team Apex Racing USA, 84), 19. Matt Ferris (Gelles Racing, 80), 20. Billy Goshen (Hearn Motorsports, 48) 21. Felipe Polehtto (Team Apex Racing USA, 28) 22. Jordan Lynch (Hearn Motorsports, 28) 23. Keenan Schmitke (Gelles Racing, 24) 24. Michael Vincec (Jensen Motorsports, 12)
Rookies: 1. Esteban Gutierrez (436), 2. Ricardo Favoretto (345) 3. Eric Morrow (262), 4. Jeffrey Petirello (Team KMA Racing, 242) 5. Tim Hollowell (242) 6. Adrien Tambay (109) 7. Keenan Schmitke (24) 8. Michael Vincec (Jensen Motorsports, 12)
Background:
Formula BMW is the world’s leading entry-level championship in Formula racing. In 2007 the series will be held in Germany, the UK, Asia and the USA. More than 80 up-and-coming drivers, some as young as 15-years old, will compete worldwide. Racing four times in support of the Formula One World Championship, Formula BMW offers a worldwide stage, training through a multifaceted Education and Coaching Program and BMW’s longstanding Junior scholarship for deserving drivers.
The FB02 race car is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine, reaching speeds up to 140 mph. The design exceeds the FIA safety requirements for its class, with the BMW Motorsport developed FORS (Formula Rescue Race Seat), and the mandatory HANS (Head and Neck Support) safety system.
From November 24 to 26, 2006 the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo hosted the second Formula BMW World Final. 37 young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series competed against each other with the winner Christian Vietoris receiving a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.
