2009 Formula BMW-Americas

JOWT Blog · 20 Jan 2009, 02:08 (Ref:2374974)

Several teams have started to make roster announcements for 2009, so I figured it would be a good time to start a 2009 season thread.

JOWT Blog · 20 Jan 2009, 02:15 (Ref:2374978)

Recent updates:

Gianmarco Raimondo re-signed with Autotecnica. Raimondo became the first rookie in series history to sweep the opening round, claiming the top podium spot on both days at Laguna Seca (2008).

Wilson Philippe, younger brother of Nelson and Richard, has reportedly signed with EUROINTERNATIONAL for 2009.

Alex Ellis and James Kovacic have signed with OS Racing for the 2009 season.

Teams are expected to make a few more announcements later this week. Feel free to join in and post any updates/news regarding the Formula BMW-Americas series for 2009.

JOWT Blog · 20 Jan 2009, 18:15 (Ref:2375479)

Giancarlo Vilarinho has re-signed with Eurointernational and will run a full schedule alongside Wilson Philippe.

**gomick** · 21 Jan 2009, 09:12 (Ref:2375900)

how many phillipe brothers are there & what has happened to richard & nelson

Allan Craighead · 28 Jan 2009, 20:54 (Ref:2381664)

Not sure how many Philippe's their are, as originally I'd only heard of Richard and Nelson. As for 2009, it appears Richard will be running in Indy Lights, likely with Genoa Racing. It has been rumored that Nelson is planning on returning to the cockpit this year as well, racing in the IndyCar Series.

Cheers,

Al.

**gomick** · 29 Jan 2009, 07:54 (Ref:2381893)

hard to believe that nelson disappeared after winning at glod coast indy in 2007...

Lam Pak · 1 Feb 2009, 15:09 (Ref:2383704)

Eurointernational Giancarlo Vilarinho, Wilson Philippe
Autotecnica Gianmarco Raimondo
OS Racing Alex Ellis, James Kovacic
Atlantic Gabby Chavez (?)
Amir Nasr Racing Lucas Foresti (?)
Apex
Andersen

Allan Craighead · 3 Feb 2009, 16:11 (Ref:2387527)

I would expect Gabby Chaves will drive for Andersen in FBMW until 16, then will make the switch to the team's Star Mazda program. We'll see however.

Cheers,

Al.

**gomick** · 4 Feb 2009, 09:55 (Ref:2388016)

Is there going to be more than 10 cars in 09...

JOWT Blog · 10 Feb 2009, 14:54 (Ref:2392594)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomick

Is there going to be more than 10 cars in 09...

It's really tough to predict how the turn-out will be in 2009, due to these trying economic times. I expect every racing series will see some kind of drop, but I hope I'm wrong.

I do know that the Formula BMW-Americas series expect 15 drivers to participate in the first test of the year next week at Palm Beach International Raceway.

**gomick** · 11 Feb 2009, 10:30 (Ref:2394519)

well that will be an improvement on 2008...

JOWT Blog · 18 Feb 2009, 00:57 (Ref:2399370)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOWT Blog

I do know that the Formula BMW-Americas series expect 15 drivers to participate in the first test of the year next week at Palm Beach International Raceway.

...scratch that... they only had eleven drivers participate. Gabby Chaves set the fastest lap of the two day test at PBIR with a 1:16.232.

JOWT Blog · 5 Mar 2009, 03:58 (Ref:2409286)

The entry numbers aren't looking great.... the series had 12 entries in this week's test at Carolina Motorsports Park. That said, if you look around at the various series out there, several seats are yet to be filled.

I have some notes and lap-times from the first two official FBMW-Americas tests of 2009 linked below.

Palm Beach International Test

Carolina Motorsports Park Test

**gomick** · 23 Mar 2009, 22:07 (Ref:2423105)

13 cars turned up to Rounds 1 & 2 of the series at Puebla as a support to the WTCC. Gabby Chaves won both races after starting from pole in both aswell...

**gomick** · 31 Mar 2009, 00:26 (Ref:2429450)

Points after 2 rounds...

1. Gabriel Chaves - 42
2. James Kovacic - 22
3. Daniel Vela - 16
4. Giancarlo Vilarinho - 15
5. Gianmarco Raimondo - 15
6. Alex Ellis - 14
7. Michael Lewis - 13
8. Joao V Horto - 10
9. Freddy Zebede - 9
10. Martin Sala - 4

Next round is at Miller Park on May 17....

bil588 · 18 Apr 2009, 02:29 (Ref:2443487)

How well or not well is Rahal handling the series now?

**gomick** · 18 Apr 2009, 02:32 (Ref:2443488)

Hope he is handling it well & last's longer than he did like when he was with Jaguar/Ford in F1...

**gomick** · 25 Apr 2009, 10:22 (Ref:2449122)

Rounds 3 & 4 are at Virginia Raceway this weekend with Star Mazda & Skip Barber - Giancarlo Vilarinho was fastest in qualifying for round 3... EuroInternational filled the top 4 spots, 12 cars qualified...

Round 3 Grid...

1. Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 1:57.314
2. Gabby Chaves EuroInternational 1:57.468
3. Michael Lewis EuroInternational 1:57.685
4. Olivier Lombard EuroInternational 1:57.861
5. James Kovacic Team Apex 1:57.993
6. Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 1:58.030

**gomick** · 26 Apr 2009, 22:32 (Ref:2450231)

Giancarlo Vilarinho dominated at Virginia, winning both races from the pole...

speedkills · 29 Apr 2009, 05:36 (Ref:2451961)

I wouldnt say that Gianmarco was as dominant here as Chaves was in Puebla. In the rd 3 he did dominate. In the 4th Rd he was chased very hard by Kovacic and Chaves and was never in a comfortable position

**gomick** · 29 Apr 2009, 10:36 (Ref:2452103)

Fair enough, never saw the races, just read the results - guess he could've always succumed to the pressure in round 4 & put it in the kitty litter

speedkills · 13 May 2009, 15:49 (Ref:2461758)

Official testing over the past 2 days is over as the teams and drivers prepare for qualifying on Friday at the famous Miller Motorsport Park, Salt Lake City Utah. Drivers will have one warm up session on friday before qualifying for Rds 5,6 and 7.
Last session official practice times are listed below:

1 2 Gabriel Chaves Eurointernational 01:29.368
2 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 01:29.370
3 50 Gianmarco Raimondo (J) Autotecnica 01:29.904
4 20 James Kovacic (R) Team Apex 01:30.237
5 18 Joao Victor Horto (R) Team Apex 01:30.376
6 14 Alex Ellis (R,J) Autotecnica 01:30.468
7 5 Daniel Vela (R,J) Euro Junior Team 01:30.475
8 42 Michael Lewis (R) Eurointernational 01:30.478
9 19 Martin Sala (R) Team Apex 01:31.073
10 6 Wilson Philippe (R) Euro Junior Team 01:31.537
11 13 Barrett Mertins (R) Jensen Motorsport 01:31.544
12 21 Robert Garcia (R,J) Robali Motorsports

Date

May 12, 2009

doubleyou · 13 May 2009, 17:12 (Ref:2461837)

Overall fastest combined times for Day 2 of testing at Miller Motorsports park.

1. Gabriel Chaves Eurointernational 01:28.728
2. Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 01:29.024
3. Michael Lewis (R) Eurointernational 01:29.275
4. Daniel Vela (R,J) Euro Junior Team 01:29.330
5. Gianmarco Raimondo (J) Autotecnica 01:29.389
6. Alex Ellis (R,J) Autotecnica 01:30.039
7. James Kovacic (R) Team Apex 01:30.205
8. Joao Victor Horto (R) Team Apex 01:30.581
9. Wilson Philippe (R) Euro Junior Team 01:31.052
10. Martin Sala (R) Team Apex 01:31.073
11. Barrett Mertins (R) Jensen Motorsport 01:31.433
12. Robert Garcia (R,J) Robali Motorsports 01:32.116

**gomick** · 18 May 2009, 01:19 (Ref:2464257)

Giancarlo Vilarinho got the triple race win at Miller Park...

JOWT Blog · 19 May 2009, 02:03 (Ref:2464901)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomick

Giancarlo Vilarinho got the triple race win at Miller Park...

Yeah he certainly had a great weekend. Sunday's victory marked five-consecutive Formula BMW Americas wins. --- pretty impressive.

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