Formula BMW World Final Expectations

[DucatiThrust]

for those who didn't hear about it:
"22 October 2005: Manama – With the season’s final rounds in the four international Formula BMW series fast approaching, preparations are in full swing for the Formula BMW World Final scheduled to be held from 13-16 December at the Bahrain International Circuit.

34 drivers from 15 nations will be vying for the honour of fastest Formula BMW driver in the world. Awaiting the winner will be an invaluable prize to test drive with the BMW run Formula One team.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen: “Top drivers from the four Formula BMW series are taking part in the Formula BMW World Final. I’m looking forward to some high-calibre and thrilling motor racing in Bahrain. To take the World Final title you’ve got to beat drivers from four continents. It’s going to be a tough piece of work winning that Formula One test drive!”

The contestants, some of them no older than 16, will be pitting their skills in a number of preliminary heats before the final on 16th December. Along with the leaders in the Formula BMW ADAC Championship – Sébastien Buemi and Nicolas Huelkenberg – the Formula BMW Asia front-runner Salman Al Khalifa, as well as the top drivers in the Formula BMW UK Championship and Formula BMW USA, will also be competing in the World Final."

Any predictions about it?

Personally, I'm guessing Shaikh Salman Al Khalifa will win because its his home circuit and he probably knows it best. He made the highest number of laps on it.

[Kicking-back]

The winner will come from the UK or German series, without a doubt

[Daisy]

I have no idea how strong the British championship, the German championship is strong, Buemi, Huelkenberg and Urbano are definately candidate winners.

[Go_For_Pole]

Originally Posted by Kicking-back

The winner will come from the UK or German series, without a doubt

Well without the best guys from US coming, this is bound to be the case

[sceptic]

If this had been at the end of last year I would definitely have predicted a German winner. But this season I reckon it's going to be someone from the UK championship.

It will be interesting to see whether they change the format, because originally they were expecting more entries than they actually got. It was originally going to be run like the Formula Ford Festival, with a series of heats and sub-finals before the final.

[Daisy]

I'm going for Huelkenberg now, after what happend on Hockenheim yesterday, he will definately be out on revenge on Buemi.

[Emma]

I'd be putting my money (if I had any) on Sam Bird to win. He's, well he's just amazing in my eyes.

[Boro]

Originally Posted by Go_For_Pole

Well without the best guys from US coming, this is bound to be the case

the best guys from US can't hold a candle to the best of the europeans.

Tobias Hegwald ran two races in North America and he was as quick Phillipe and Lacroix et al.

Back home, the kid is mid-pack judging from the timing sheets racing at Mucke.

[cavvy]

Can anyone direct me a list of starters - there are Aussies running in both Asia & the US that I am aware of.
A bit of support from home can not go astray.

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by cavvy

Can anyone direct me a list of starters

Al Fardan, Hamad Bahrain Bison Team Meritus
Al Khalifa, Salman Bahrain Team E-Rain
Antunes, Nathan Australia Motaworld Racing
Bird, Sam UK Fortec Motorsport
Boughey, Robert Thailand Bison Team Meritus
Buemi, Sébastien Switzerland ASL Team Mücke Motorsport
Coletti, Stefano Monaco ASL Team Mücke Motorsport
Curnow, Ross UK Nexa Racing
Davison, James Australia Bison Team Meritus
Dzikevic, Andzej Lithuania 4speed Media GmbH
Ebrahim, Armaan India Team E-Rain
Glew, Philip UK Promatecme/Soper Sport
Hankey, Euan UK Nexa Racing
Harris, Matt UK Team SWR
Hegewald, Tobias Germany ASL Team Mücke Motorsport
Herberts, Adrien Canada Atlantic Racing Team
Holzer, Marco Germany AM Holzer Motorsport GmbH
Howson, Matt UK Filsell Motorsport
Hülkenberg, Nicolas Germany Josef Kaufmann Racing
Johnson, Race USA Bison Team Meritus
Lee, Matt USA Autotecnica
Legris, Jonathan UK Mark Burdett Motorsport
Onidi, Fabio Italy ASL Team Mücke Motorsport
Piscopo, Edoardo Italy Eurointernational
Schlegelmilch, Harald Latvia 4speed Media GmbH
Smith, Dean UK Coles Racing
Sorlie, Stian Norway Fortec Motorsport
Stevens, Reed USA Bison Team Meritus
Summerton, Jonathan USA ASL Team Mücke Motorsport
Turvey, Oliver UK Team SWR
Urbano, Joao Portugal ASL Team Mücke Motorsport
Wasem, Dominik Germany AM Holzer Rennsport GmbH
Wickens, Robert Canada Autotecnica
Wise, Jordan UK Motaworld Racing

- there are Aussies running in both Asia & the US that I am aware of.
A bit of support from home can not go astray.

Nathan Antunes and James Davidson are thw two Aussies involved...

[cavvy]

Michael Patrizi from Western Australia is currently in 2nd place in Asia with two seconds in Japan & a win in China - I hope the list is not final.

[hindy]

Originally Posted by cavvy

Michael Patrizi from Western Australia is currently in 2nd place in Asia with two seconds in Japan & a win in China - I hope the list is not final.

Yes, that is the final list.
The closing date for entries was at the start of this month.

[optical]

The major events in the USA series attracted drivers from the other series. Whats clear with the USA series is that 90% of the drivers are rookies and not done many miles.

U.S. Grand Prix
Indianapolis Motor Speedway / 2.605 miles
June 17-19, 2005 / Indianapolis, Indiana

Pos Car Driver Team Lap Time Mph In Lap
23 8 James Davison (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 1:37.162 96.519 7
1 1 Richard Philippe (R) Team Autotecnica 1:37.493 96.192 12
2 13 Tobias Hegewald (R) Atlantic Racing Team 1:37.499 96.186 6
10 6 Darin Marcus (R) Gelles Racing 1:37.535 96.150 10
12 15 Jonathan Summerton Walker Racing 1:37.541 96.144 13
4 25 Robbie Pecorari Walker Racing 1:37.575 96.111 9
5 66 Robert Wickens (R) Team Apex Racing USA 1:37.575 96.111 6
15 7 Race Johnson (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 1:37.657 96.030 6
9 5 Maxime Soulet Gelles Racing 1:37.738 95.950 10
3 22 Kevin Lacroix (R) AIM Autosport 1:37.757 95.932 5
8 11 Adrien Herberts (R) Atlantic Racing Team 1:37.811 95.879 10
14 16 Edoardo Piscopo (R) EuroInternational 1:37.821 95.869 11
16 2 Daniel Herrington Jensen Motorsport 1:37.829 95.861 10
6 9 Tom Sutherland HBR Motorsport Team USA 1:37.866 95.825 7
7 10 Reed Stevens (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 1:37.948 95.745 6
11 3 Justin Moon (R) Gelles Racing 1:38.015 95.679 5
13 33 Doug Boyer (R) Jensen Motorsport 1:38.127 95.570 13
19 31 Nathan DePagter (R) DRE Autosport 1:38.359 95.345 10
21 4 Ryan Campbell (R) Gelles Racing 1:38.823 94.897 12
17 44 Matthew Lee (R) Twintooth/BRM Motorsport 1:38.900 94.823 5
18 18 Rob Bunker (R) AIM Autosport 1:38.939 94.786 8
22 12 Jules Duc (R) Jensen Motorsport 1:38.999 94.728 6
24 43 John Zartarian (R) Jensen Motorsport 1:39.211 94.526 2
20 98 Derek Burseth Burseth Racing 1:39.671 94.090 7

Denver Grand Prix
Denver Street Circuit / 1.657 miles
August 12-14, 2005 / Denver , Colorado

Pos Car Driver Team Lap Time Mph Diff
1 8 James Davison (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 1:15.704 78.796 -.---
2 66 Robert Wickens (R) Team Apex Racing USA 1:15.769 78.729 0.065
3 22 Kevin Lacroix (R) AIM Autosport 1:15.840 78.655 0.136
4 16 Edoardo Piscopo (R) EuroInternational 1:15.876 78.618 0.172
5 7 Race Johnson (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 1:16.040 78.448 0.336
6 11 Adrien Herberts (R) Atlantic Racing Team 1:16.062 78.425 0.358
7 44 Matthew Lee (R) Twintooth/BRM Motorsport 1:16.164 78.320 0.460
8 3 Justin Moon (R) Gelles Racing 1:16.250 78.232 0.546
9 10 Reed Stevens (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 1:16.272 78.210 0.568
10 5 Maxime Soulet Gelles Racing 1:16.429 78.049 0.725
11 9 Tom Sutherland HBR Motorsport Team USA 1:16.452 78.025 0.748
12 15 Michael Patrizi Walker Racing 1:16.533 77.943 0.829
13 2 Daniel Herrington Jensen Motorsport 1:16.715 77.758 1.011
14 6 Darin Marcus (R) Gelles Racing 1:16.932 77.539 1.228
15 1 Richard Philippe (R) Team Autotecnica 1:17.052 77.418 1.348
16 18 Rob Bunker (R) AIM Autosport 1:17.303 77.166 1.599
17 33 Doug Boyer (R) Jensen Motorsport 1:17.390 77.080 1.686
18 12 Jules Duc (R) Jensen Motorsport 1:17.928 76.548 2.224
19 4 Ryan Campbell (R) Gelles Racing 1:18.390 76.096 2.686
20 77 Dan Abbale Atlantic Racing Team 1:19.475 75.058 3.771

[Emma]

Actually, Jordan Wise might spring a surprise...

[Dr Venom]

my outside bet will go to the other motoworld driver Mr Antunes

[hindy]

who is this posting in my name?

JH

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by hindy

who is this posting in my name?

JH

Sorry Hindy, that was me - I hadn't realised that the computer was logged in as you until after I posted.

[hindy]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Sorry Hindy, that was me - I hadn't realised that the computer was logged in as you until after I posted.

Bl;oody hell identity theft! You let someone on the radio and then they take over your life!

will you pay all my bills now as well!....

JH

[F1 Prospects]

Keep an eye out for Robert Wickens who finished third in BMW USA in his rookie season.