In preparation for its fifth season Formula BMW USA is changing and growing to better meet the needs of young racing drivers in North, Central and South America. To recognize the scope of the championship, Formula BMW USA will add two rounds in support of the Brazilian Formula 1 Grand Prix and be renamed Formula BMW Americas. To further strengthen the young driver development program, BMW Motorsport will also increase the Junior scholarship award to $80,000.

Formula BMW Americas reflects the growth of Formula BMW worldwide. Formula BMW Germany and Formula BMW UK announced on June 28th that the two series will reorganize to form Formula BMW Europe. Formula BMW Europe, Formula BMW Americas and Formula BMW Asia will now comprise the new face of Formula BMW.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen is happy about the upgrading of the series: - “Formula BMW is becoming more and more international. What we do with Formula BMW Europe we continue with Formula BMW Americas. We pay contribution to the fact that we had growing interest from the bordering regions - in that case the South American region. In 2007, we had Formula BMW USA drivers from Brazil and Colombia. South American youngsters already comprise more than one-third of the entry in the upcoming October scholarship course. We therefore look forward to continuing to increase Formula BMW’s presence there.”

While the balance of the 14-race Formula BMW Americas schedule is yet to be finalized, BMW Motorsport is pleased to announce that, despite the loss of the United States Grand Prix, the season will again be anchored by races at two Formula 1 Grands Prix. Formula BMW will race for a fifth consecutive year in support of the Canadian Grand Prix, on June 6-8, and, new for 2008, Formula BMW drivers will race at the Brazilian Grand Prix on October 31 to November 2. The remainder of the 14-race schedule will take place at a combination of American Le Mans Series, Champ Car World Series and Rolex Sports Car Series weekends.

A cornerstone of Formula BMW is the unique Junior program and for 2008 BMW Motorsport will award four scholarships worth $80,000. Esteban Gutierrez, the 2007 Formula BMW USA Rookie of the year, will be offered the first Junior scholarship.
The additional three scholarships will be awarded to drivers chosen from the October 3-4 scholarship shoot-out and a second, newly-added licensing/scholarship course on December 13-14. One scholarship will be awarded to the top driver in each course with the final scholarship going to the next most promising driver from the combined events. The winners will be announced the week of December 17th. Both courses will be held at the Formula BMW Racing Center at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, in Valencia, Spain.

BMW Motorsport will be attending the Copa Brazil, in Ipatinga, Brazil, on October 13 to introduce Formula BMW to young karters. The event is the most important championship in Brazil with participants competing in 13 different categories and will be a perfect platform to promote the growing Formula BMW series in South America. BMW works driver for WTCC Team Germany, Augusto Farfus, will join the event together with representatives of BMW Motorsport and Formula BMW USA.

Also, the series will hold a promotion at the Stars of Karting Final, in Las Vegas, Nevada, which will be held from October 19-21 with more than 150 young karters participating.

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.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

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