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.