Formula BMW ADAC Championship - Rounds 5 and 6 - Spa-Francorchamps - Preview

Through Eau Rouge with a little help from above. Spa. After many years,
the legendary racing circuit of Spa-Francorchamps makes its comeback as
the venue of a Formula BMW ADAC race. When the 26 young drivers hit the
Belgian track this weekend (13th to 15th May 2005) they will have to
summon up some courage, for the hilly circuit in the Ardennes that
boasts motor racing's most notorious sequence of turns - the Eau Rouge
- presents drivers with a particularly tough challenge. In order to
keep everything under control during the race, the drivers turn to some
unusual methods. "I'm always very focused on a race track,"
explains Sergio Perez Mendoza (4speed Media) of Mexico, just 15.
"But I also look forward to a little divine help." The
youngest participant in the series has attached a postcard-sized
picture of Jesus to the right of his shift lever. He was given this
consecrated image by his mother Lourdes. "Whenever I'm successful,
my parents make a two-hour journey to a church in Tanhuato Michoacan
and give thanks," reveals the number three in the Rookie
Championship. Italian driver Fabio Onidi (Eifelland Racing) also relies
on a guardian angel in his cockpit. Next to his steering wheel is a
small metal plaque of Padre Pio, the Italian Capuchin friar who was
canonised in 2002. Concealed from prying eyes, a gold cross can be
found inside the car of Sébastien Buemi (CHE/ADAC
Berlin-Brandenburg), currently in second place in the championship.
"It's to protect him," says a mechanic. Attached to the
cockpit of Tobias Hegewald's car (Waldbreitbach/ADAC
Berlin-Brandenburg) is a sketch of the circuit. "The sketch is so
that I can explain to the engineer during set-up work exactly where
there are problems," says the driver from the
Rhineland-Palatinate. But not even Hegewald can manage without a few
positive vibes. In the corner of the windscreen is a sticker that says
"Good luck, Tobi". When important information appears on the
steering wheel display while the car is moving - such as the operating
temperature, lap times and current gear selection - great concentration
is essential. Three-times race winner and championship leader Nicolas
Hülkenberg (Emmerich/Josef Kaufmann Racing) has added an extra
snippet of information. On his steering wheel is a note with the
reminder to "Leave more time for downshifting." "I get
annoyed at my mistakes," explains the 17-year-old from North
Rhine-Westphalia. "The note helps me improve my technique on the
race track." Championship standings after 4 out of 20 races (top
5): 1. Nicolas Hülkenberg (GER, Emmerich/Josef Kaufmann Racing,
75), 2. Sébastien Buemi (CHE/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg, 55), 3.
Nick de Bruijn (NLD/Josef Kaufmann Racing, 31), 4. Chris van der Drift
(NLD/Team Rosberg, 26), 5. João Urbano (POR/ADAC
Berlin-Brandenburg, 22). Points Rookie Championship (top 5): 1. Nicolas
Hülkenberg (80), 2. Nick de Bruijn (45), 3. Sergio Perez Mendoza
(MEX/4speed Media, 37), 4. Martin Ragginger (AUT/ADAC
Berlin-Brandenburg, 36), 5. Stefano Coletti (MCO/Eifelland Racing, 32).
Background: Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in
Formula racing. In 2005 the series will be 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. 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 will be staged five times as part of the Formula One
support programme. 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 get the chance to test a BMW WilliamsF1
Team car.