Formula BMW ADAC Championship - Rounds 15 and 16 - Nürburgring - Preview

Nailbiting duel for the championship title. Nürburg. The battle
for the Formula BMW ADAC Championship title is hotting up even more. In
races 15 and 16 on the Nürburgring (5th-7th August) the duel
between championship contenders Nicolas Hülkenberg (Emmerich/Josef
Kaufmann Racing) and Sébastien Buemi (CHE/ADAC
Berlin-Brandenburg) will be the focus of attention once again.
17-year-old Hülkenberg from North-Rhine Westphalia has 207 points
in the overall rankings, putting him a mere 12 points ahead of his
16-year-old Swiss rival. "Of course it would be great if I
finished up as champion," says Hülkenberg. But that is a goal
his keenest rival also has firmly in his sights. "I hope that in
the remaining six races I will benefit from my experience,"
counters Buemi. There's a similarly close-fought battle lined up
between third-placed João Urbano (POR/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg,
122) and Chris van der Drift (NLD/Team Rosberg), who is seven points
short of the Portuguese driver's tally. In their fight for crucial
points, both aim to bring their routine with Formula BMW to bear. In
2004, Urbano competed in the Formula BMW UK Championship while van der
Drift last year secured the title of Best Rookie in the Formula BMW
ADAC Championship. The first Formula BMW World Final, scheduled to be
held at the end of the season at the Bahrain International Circuit
(13th-16th December), will be casting its shadows before at the
Nürburgring. A delegation from the Middle East will be visiting
the tradition-steeped race track in the Eifel at the weekend.
Journalists and officials want to get a picture of the structure of the
Formula BMW ADAC Championship and the concentration of talent in
Germany. In 16 races, five different drivers have managed to claim
victory and eleven drivers gained a podium place. In December they will
be meeting the protagonists of the rival series in Asia, Britain and
the USA. Championship standings after 14 out of 20 races (top 6): 1.
Nicolas Hülkenberg (Emmerich/Josef Kaufmann Racing, 207), 2.
Sébastien Buemi (CHE/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg, 195), 3.
João Urbano (POR/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg, 122), 4. Chris van der
Drift (NLD/Team Rosberg, 115), 5. Nick de Bruijn (NLD/Josef Kaufmann
Racing, 72), 6. Natacha Gachnang (CHE/Josef Kaufmann Racing, 64).
Points Rookie Championship (top 6): 1. Hülkenberg (259), 2. de
Bruijn (135), 3. Martin Ragginger (AUT/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg, 127),
4. Mika Mäki (FIN/Mika Mäki, 117), 5. Sergio Perez Mendoza
(MEX/4speed Media, 111), 6. Stefano Coletti (Eifelland Racing, 86).
Stats and facts after 14 out of 20 races. Wins 2005: Nicolas
Hülkenberg (6), Sébastien Buemi (4), João Urbano (2),
Chris van der Drift (1), Mika Mäki (1). Pole positions: Nicolas
Hülkenberg (6), Sébastien Buemi (5), Nick de Bruijn (2),
Markus Niemelä (1). Podium places: Sébastien Buemi (11),
Nicolas Hülkenberg (10), João Urbano (6), Chris van der
Drift (5), Nick de Bruijn (2), Natacha Gachnang (2), Mika Mäki (2),
Sergio Perez Mendoza (1), Tim Sandtler (1), Marco Holzer (1), Jonathan
Summerton (1). Rookie wins: Nicolas Hülkenberg (12), Nick de
Bruijn (1), Mika Mäki (1). Rookie top 3 placings: Nicolas
Hülkenberg (13), Nick de Bruijn (9), Sergio Perez Mendoza (5),
Martin Ragginger (4), Mika Mäki (4), Stefano Coletti (2), Tobias
Hegewald (1), Christian Vietoris (1), Marco Idili (1), Cecotto jun.
(1), Jens Höing (1). Noteworthy facts: - In all, drivers from 13
countries are competing in the Formula BMW ADAC Championship: Finland,
Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Monaco, the Netherlands, Austria,
Portugal, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the USA and Germany. - This
year, Jonathan Summerton and João Urbano brought along
international experience of Formula BMW: Summerton competed in the 2004
Formula BMW USA, Urbano in the Formula BMW UK Championship. - Mika
Mäki drew most attention on the Norisring with the smallest Formula
BMW ADAC team. The 17-year-old Finn took a surprise win in race 13. His
mini-crew, who look after the car of the blond-haired driver from
Pirkkala, consists of just his father Ari, his mother Rita and mechanic
Kalle. - Championship leader Nicolas Hülkenberg secured the
rookie title at the Norisring with six races still to go before the end
of the season. The 17-year-old is among the group of eight Formula BMW
ADAC juniors backed by the ADAC and BMW with 50,000 euros and an
Education and Coaching Programme. Background: Formula BMW is the
world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2005 the series
is being held in Germany, Britain, Asia and the USA. Up-and-coming
drivers as young as 15 years old are given the opportunity of entering
motor racing with the high-tech, standard FB02 race car. This racing
car has been seen on the grid since 2002 and has set standards
particularly on the safety technology front. The single-seater is
propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine up to 230km/h and exceeds by far the
safety requirements for its class, and even meets Formula One
standards. BMW Motorsport has developed the FORS Formula Rescue Race
Seat especially for Formula BMW. The HANS safety system is also
mandatory. In 2005, Formula BMW is part of the Formula One support
programme five times. All the series offer a multifaceted Education and
Coaching Programme as well as sponsorship for promising racing talents.
The best-known alumni of this talent hothouse are Formula One drivers
Ralf Schumacher and Christian Klien. BMW Motorsport Director, Mario
Theissen: "Formula BMW offers talented young drivers more than
just a car. In the Education and Coaching Programme we have designed
specially for them, they learn everything they need to know to hold
their own in the big wide world of motor racing. Formula BMW has shot
out of the blocks to become the top entry-level class for Formula
racing worldwide." In December 2005 the Bahrain International
Circuit will host the first Formula BMW World Final. Young racing
drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series will compete against
each other. The winner will be offered a Formula One test drive.