Formula BMW USA - Round 9 - Barber Motorsports Park - Race

Lacroix back on top in Round 9

Birmingham, Ala. - July 30, 2005. Formula BMW USA Junior driver Kevin Lacroix
(AIM Autosport) won Round 9 of the 2005 Formula BMW USA Series today at the
Barber Motorsports Park. The 16-year old Canadian led wire-to-wire, in the
30-minute contest completing 14 laps of the 2.3-mile, 16-turn circuit. In
taking his fourth victory of the season, he consolidates his lead in Overall
points and moves back to the lead in the Rookie points.

Edoardo Piscopo (EuroInternational) came from the seventh starting position to
finish second, .414 seconds behind Lacroix. Following post-race technical
inspection, Piscopo was excluded from the results, moving Richard Philippe
(Team Autotecnica) to second place. Philippe maintains his hold on second place
in both the Overall and Rookie points. Maxime Soulet (Gelles Racing) was
credited with third, with the rest of the field moving up one position after
Piscopo's exclusion.

18 cars took the standing start as Ryan Campbell dropped out on the formation
lap and Jules Duc started from the pit lane. Lacroix took charge immediately
with Philippe, Robert Wickens, Piscopo and Maxime Soulet filling out the
top-five in the early laps. Reed Stevens, required to start from the rear of
the grid, quickly moved into the top-10. He ended the day in sixth place.

On lap six, a crash by Adrien Herberts in turn three brought out the safety
car. As the green flag restarted the race on lap 10, Piscopo passed Philippe
for second. Robert Wickens slowed with mechanical problems in the final four
laps and dropped from fifth to 10th. Tom Sutherland, Stevens, Rob Bunker, Race
Johnson and Justin Moon all took advantage of his slowing car and moved up for
top-10 finishes. In holding off Piscopo on the final lap, Lacroix set the
fastest lap of the race (1:28.503).

"It was a really good race," said Lacroix. "Richard seemed to be a bit slower
than me so I was pulling him. After the restart, I saw Piscopo right behind me
and I knew he was faster. With only four laps left I was able to hold him off
and win the race."
Philippe said, "On the restart, my tires were a little cold and I made a
mistake, allowing Piscopo to get by me. Now there are five more points between
Kevin and me, but there is still tomorrow and other weekends where I can still
win some races. I will have to look for any advantage. We will do the best we
can tomorrow."
Lacroix continues to lead the Overall points with 107 points. Philippe is
second (99), and Wickens third (85).

Lacroix also regains the Rookie points lead with 110 over Philippe (104) second
and Wickens (100) third.

The top finishing Rookies were Lacroix (P1), Philippe (P2), Davison (P4),
Stevens (P6) and Bunker (P7).
Tomorrow's Round 10 race is scheduled to start at 3:30 p.m.

Round 9 - Results (14 laps)

1 Kevin Lacroix (R) AIM Autosport 26:14.054
2 Richard Philippe (R) Team Autotecnica 26:16.635
3 Maxime Soulet Gelles Racing 26:19.113
4 James Davison (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 26:20.467
5 Tom Sutherland HBR Motorsport Team USA 26:23.585
6 Reed Stevens (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 26:24.392
7 Rob Bunker (R) AIM Autosport 26:24.757
8 Race Johnson (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 26:25.129
9 Justin Moon (R) Gelles Racing 26:25.196
10 Robert Wickens (R) Team Apex Racing USA 26:26.353
11 Daniel Herrington Jensen MotorSport 26:26.363
12 Matthew Lee (R) Twintooth/BRM Motorsport 26:26.831
13 Darin Marcus (R) Gelles Racing 26:27.271
14 Doug Boyer (R) Jensen MotorSport 26:27.602
15 Jules Duc (R) Jensen MotorSport 26:37.909
16 Derek Burseth Burseth Racing 26:53.685
17 Dan Abbale Atlantic Racing Team 10 laps
18 Adrien Herberts (R) Atlantic Racing Team 5 laps
19 Ryan Campbell (R) Gelles Racing 0 laps
20 Edoardo Piscopo (R) EuroInternational excluded

Championship points after 9 of 14 races:
1. Kevin Lacroix (AIM Autosport, 107), 2. Richard Philippe (Team Autotecnica,
99), 3. Robert Wickens (Team Apex Racing USA, 85), 4. Maxime Soulet (Gelles
Racing, 79), 5. James Davison (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 65), 6. Reed Stevens
(HBR Motorsport Team USA, 63), 7. Tom Sutherland (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 34),
8. Edoardo Piscopo (EuroInternational, 26), 9. Justin Moon (Gelles Racing, 23),
10. John Zartarian (Jensen MotorSport, 23), 11. Rob Bunker (AIM Autosport, 22),
12. Tobias Hegewald (Atlantic Racing Team, 22), 13. Jonathan Summerton (Walker
Racing, 22), 14. Daniel Herrington (Jensen MotorSport, 18), 15. Race Johnson
(HBR Motorsport Team USA, 13), 16. Matthew Lee (Twintooth/BRM Motorsport, 8),
17. Adrien Herberts (Atlantic Racing Team, 8), 18. Darin Marcus (Gelles Racing,
7), 19. Doug Boyer (Jensen MotorSport, 2), 20. Paul Rees (Walker Racing, 1),
21. Derek Burseth (Burseth Racing, 0), 22. Ryan Campbell (Gelles Racing, 0),
23. Nathan DePagter (DRE Autosport, 0), 24. Jules Duc (Jensen MotorSport, 0),
25. Scott Harnell (SDH3 with Cinema Concepts, 0), 26. Ryan Phinny (Gelles
Racing, 0), 27. Paul Rees (Walker Racing, 0), 28. Robbie Pecorari (Walker
Racing, 0), 29. Dan Abbale (Atlantic Racing Team)

Rookies:
1. Kevin Lacroix (110), 2. Richard Philippe (104), 3. Robert Wickens (100), 4.
Reed Stevens (76), 5. James Davison (73), 6. Rob Bunker (39), 7. Justin Moon
(34), 8. Edoardo Piscopo (34), 9. Race Johnson (32), 10. John Zartarian (31),
11. Tobias Hegewald (22), 12. Darin Marcus (20), 13. Matthew Lee (20), 14.
Adrien Herberts (19), 15. Doug Boyer (10), 16. Ryan Campbell (3), 17. Jules Duc
(2), 18. Nathan DePagter (0), 19. Ryan Phinny (0)

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 140 mph and by far exceeds 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 program. All the series offer a multifaceted Education and Coaching
Program 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 Dr. Mario Theissen: "Formula BMW offers talented young
drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching Program 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 a Formula One test drive.