2010 Formula BMW Europe

[budalla]

I think Kovacic can handle it without difficulty. He was quickest driver in 300hp Mitsubishi Turbo powered F3 Dallara Jim Russell Cars out of 40 drivers in all the legal qualifying runs. Gary Carlton only driver quicker when he was given a seperate run in much better conditions and newer tyres.

Yet he was youngest at 16 yrs of age. The closest age to him was 18/19 and Gary Carlton is 24! He is same age as Mitch evans and he won a round in F3 Australia. Kovacic has driven sprint cars on the dirt, Late model Nascar at California and high powered shifter karts no problem, all more power than F3 (power to weight)

He was definately the deserving driver in Jim Russell, however, politics got involved as usual in these type of series/shootout competitions. Kovacic results in 2009 have been impecccable and he is the most successful young Australian to have raced abroad in 2009 with barely any budget, behind Daniel Ricciardo (Unlimited funds do help him even tough h is very good). He has been on the podium no less than 6 occasions and won a race (only Rookie in FBMW to do so) with 3 fastest laps and also the track record at Mosport. This is why the Australian Motorsport Federation have issued him with a scholarship. He has more potential than most due to his young age. By the way - he still also races karts and when he does it - still shows that he is one of the quickest around. This was shown at the recent South Australian Kartin Titles where he competed in 2 classes and duly won and also at the Jim Russell Shootout where he beat some of the best inthe business including Gary Carlton, Gustavo Menezes, Tyler Bennet etc by over 6 seconds.

[Tom Emmen]

EuroInternational: Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz Jr
Josef Kaufmann Racing: Robin Frijns
Mücke Motorsport: Timmy Hansen, Alessio Picariello
DAMS:
Fortec Motorsport: Jack Harvey, George Katsinis
Eifelland Racing:
Räikkönen Robertson Racing:
Scuderia Coloni (not certain):
Motaworld Racing:
U.S. Formula Project: Michel Lewis

[Juntos]

Kovacic was everything less than impressive at Singapore GP this year but he has a legion of fans around here.

What is going to happen at Mucke following last year polemic?

[N.A-D.R]

That sounds great for Kovacic. Thanks for the news.

[Tom Emmen]

TEsting Schedule 2010

9/10 March Monza, 21/22 March Barcelona, 6/7 April Silverstone, 12/13 April Spa-Francorchamps, 20/21 April Zandvoort and 25/26 May Budapest.

[Juntos]

Malaysian rising star Fahmi Ilyas shall be announce soon. Fortec?

[Go_For_Pole]

EuroInternational: Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz Jr
Josef Kaufmann Racing: Robin Frijns, Hannes van Asseldonk
Mücke Motorsport: Timmy Hansen, Alessio Picariello
DAMS:
Fortec Motorsport: Jack Harvey, George Katsinis
Eifelland Racing:
Räikkönen Robertson Racing: Mackenzie Taylor,
U.S. Formula Project: Michel Lewis
Motaworld Racing:

Scuderia Coloni or RC/Autotechnica: ?

[08u05]

Can the two GP Shootout winners be added to Raikonnen Robertson's lineup?

Daniel Domit and Tio Ellinas

[Go_For_Pole]

It is Eftihios Ellinas, although I am not surprised to see a much easier on the tongue Tio. A bit like George Katsinis instead of the actual Greek Giorgos.

[Tom Emmen]

EuroInternational: Daniil Kvyat, Carlos Sainz Jr
Josef Kaufmann Racing: Robin Frijns, Hannes van Asseldonk
Mücke Motorsport: Timmy Hansen, Alessio Picariello
DAMS:
Fortec Motorsport: Jack Harvey, George Katsinis
Eifelland Racing:
Räikkönen Robertson Racing: Mackenzie Taylor, Eftihios Ellinas, Daniel Domit
U.S. Formula Project: Michel Lewis
Motaworld Racing:

Scuderia Coloni or RC/Autotechnica: ?

[gomick]

How many cars are we expecting will be on the grid come round 1?

[Go_For_Pole]

I would say eight teams are safe so 24 at the very least. Not sure about Motaworld and Coloni plus there is also a question mark about the RC/Autotechnica team. Who knows, we may even see Daltec take a spot.

[Go_For_Pole]

This year's Juniors are Robin Frijns (best 09 Europe rookie), Michael Lewis (best 09 US rookie), Carlos Sainz, Petri Suvanto, Marc Aurel Coleselli, Marciej Bernacik (replaces Farnbacher).

[dragster]

Very strong BMW Junior rookie line up.....plus other very fast rookies no BMW Junior

[bothfeetin]

let's see what will happen this year - without Muecke's stupid mistake - putting the boogie part in it, the series winner may have been somebody else - but Kudoo to Eurointernational! And see the line up they have this year?

Autotecnica???? Nope - they went Mazda USA - and F2000 ? The new buzz - ladder to Indy...sure why not ! safe bet now without FBMW - too European mentality - now truly American Stars and Stripes! Hurray!

yeah - good line up - only 24 out of 39 possible cars.

And where is Gabby Chaves - US Winner 2009??? Not with Euro??? Why not?

[dragster]

Bothfeetin....Mucke was cheating in 2009 Formula BMW Europe, where not mistakes !!!! No announce from Euro yet for the third, they must have something on their bag, as for Nasr last year.....

RC/Autotecnica was ever a real effort in Europe or only talk ?

Chaves is testing F3 in Europe and I do not see him back in FBMW.

24 cars is a good field in this economy knowing how much cost race FBMW Europe.

[Go_For_Pole]

Originally Posted by bothfeetin

yeah - good line up - only 24 out of 39 possible cars.

There could be more than 24, it's always difficult to get an idea for this field before official tests.

[gomick]

24 is a good number...

[rychard]

Axcil Jefferies tested for DAMS and Motaworld........

[Tom Emmen]

Petri Suvanto will join Josef Kaufmann Racing.

[bothfeetin]

Chaves in F3? GB, Italian or European?

Axcel in Europe FBMW? With Euro? Seems like a logical choice as they know each other.

When I said that Euro will have 6 cars - it meant to be that they run 2 teams @ 3 cars each - Antonio and his brother as a Euro Junior Team - still the same in my view. And....it may just be better from now on as Euro will not have to look for talent in other teams anymore and also need to go through the pain of raw development of drivers. Good for other teams also - no more raiding of 2. year potentially excellent FBMW drivers. All this being said in good spirits, so don't shoot me again!

I talked to one of the Malaysian mechanics yesterday....he got an offer from Atlantic to work on touring cars this year. Wonder what's going on there? Or only talk?

[sauber11]

Chaves tested with 2 teams in spanish formula 3 and 1 team in italian formula3.
But now, since he joined new ferrari junior drivers program i guess he will join italian f3.

[bothfeetin]

Originally Posted by dragster

Bothfeetin....Mucke was cheating in 2009 Formula BMW Europe, where not mistakes !!!! No announce from Euro yet for the third, they must have something on their bag, as for Nasr last year.....

RC/Autotecnica was ever a real effort in Europe or only talk ?

Chaves is testing F3 in Europe and I do not see him back in FBMW.

24 cars is a good field in this economy knowing how much cost race FBMW Europe.

Not so sure about being a mistake or outright cheating...Muecke's engineering staff is pretty swift....to do this on "real" purpose, with all the data acquisition, FBMW reading it constantly and so on.... pretty stupid if on purpose!

Euro - oh for sure...the rabbit will come out of the hat soon...ha and believe me - it will be a blast - again!

RC/Auto... Enrico always liked to go to Europe but here again....they are also not the "explorer" type of people team..they like to have a "for sure to win" driver. In my view this is the wrong approach...FBMW is a driver development program were teams should find out within a season who is a real driver and who's only talking. To "hire" a top runner from previous years in that or other series, to supplement him/her with a lesser but well funded driver - what's the real reason then? Team Championship titles!

I am not right you say? Well, look at what drivers in the past FBMW selected as Junior drivers (and not only FBMW but also Petronas!) - many of them were good drivers - only a very few had real talent. So FBMW and Petronas are on the right track with this JUNIOR Program - sift and sort, give the driver a chance to prove him/herself.

24 cars - yes - a good field! Agreed! As there are 39 spots available - why are there only 24 taken? Holzer not there anymore; Daltec will not go; Mota...no drivers so far in all the official tests; tell's you one thing - that there are too many new series for too little driver money pool. Started all with this feud between FIA / F1 or Bernie vs Mosley - soooo stupid!
And not to be put on the sidelines....glory hail America now has to do the same mistakes - a what? Ladder system to Indy? With F2000, Mazda, Indy Lights to the all and biggest - Indycars! Having successfully destroyed FBMW Americas the work continuous to discourage drivers.
Why do I say that? Do you believe for one moment that all the teams will spend money on 3 cars each for every series to run in? Nope - most of them have a tough time to pay now their bills, forget the extra burden of buying new cars.
And where is ATLANTICS now? The best series we ever had in N. America, long time, on all kinds of tracks etc...

All this will come down to one thing - who has the biggest EGO of the 5 people running today's motorsport scene! AND that is sad to see!

Nice to be able to rant!

[dragster]

Italiaracing.net report that Coloni is not racing any more FBMW Europe.
How many cars are now in the series ?

[dragster]

Originally Posted by sauber11

Chaves tested with 2 teams in spanish formula 3 and 1 team in italian formula3.
But now, since he joined new ferrari junior drivers program i guess he will join italian f3.

Chaves will end up in F3 Italia with a new team for the series but well known to all. This rumor is near a fact, waiting to be announced.