FORMULA BMW USA - ROUNDS 13 & 14, MOSPORT, PREVIEW

One of seven drivers in the 15-car field who competed at Mosport last year, Morad's experience is sure to see that he will collect the lion's share of points again this weekend. He needs only a seventh-place finish in the first race of the weekend to clinch the title over this season's Rookie champion Esteban Gutierrez (Team Autotecnica), the only driver with a chance to beat Morad. 16-year old Gutierrez, from Monterrey, Mexico, has scored a record eight poles and secured the Rookie title with his fourth win of the season in Round 12 at Road America.

Three drivers who could challenge Gutierrez in the Overall points are Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing USA) and HBR Motorsport Team USA teammates Maxime Pelletier and Steven Guerrero. Californian Rossi has come on strong in the closing stages of the season, winning two of the last four races. He stands third in Overall points. Second-year Formula BMW USA drivers Pelletier and Guerrero are fourth and fifth respectively. Pelletier has four podium finishes to-date and Guerrero has never finished out of the top-10.

An official test day will be held on Thursday, August 23. The final Formula BMW USA weekend of the 2007 season begins on Friday with practice sessions at 9:35 - 10:00 a.m. and 12:55 - 1:20 p.m. Round 13 qualifying is scheduled for 5:15 - 5:40 p.m. Round 14 qualifying will be held at 8:00 - 8:25 a.m. Saturday with the Round 13 race starting at 5:00 p.m. The Round 14 will start at 1:30 p.m. Sunday.

Championship points after 12 of 14 races:
1. Daniel Morad (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 444),
2. Esteban Gutierrez (Team Autotecnica, 377),
3. Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing USA, 335)
4. Maxime Pelletier (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 321),
5. Steven Guerrero (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 320),
6. Robert Thorne (Team Apex Racing USA, 301)
7. Yannick Hofman (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 298), ,
8. Jordan Dick (JD Racing, 288)
9. Ricardo Favoretto (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 283),
10. Sebastian Saavedra (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 258)
11. Philip Major (Team Autotecnica, 246)
12. Jeffrey Petriello (Team KMA Racing, 242)
13. Eric Morrow (Hearn Motorsports, 228)
14. Tim Hollowell (Team KMA Racing, 202)
15. Mike Hill (Team KMA Racing, 180),
16. Julia Landauer (Team KMA Racing, 154),
17. Adrien Tambay (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 109)
18. Lindsey Adams (Team Apex Racing USA, 84),
19. Matt Ferris (Gelles Racing, 80),
20. Billy Goshen (Hearn Motorsports, 48)
21. Felipe Polehtto (Team Apex Racing USA, 28)
21. Jordan Lynch (Hearn Motorsports, 28)
22. Keenan Schmitke (Gelles Racing, 24)
23. Michael Vincec (Jensen Motorsports, 12)

Rookies:
1. Esteban Gutierrez (377),
2. Ricardo Favoretto (283)
3. Jeffrey Petirello (Team KMA Racing, 242)
4. Eric Morrow (228)
5. Tim Hollowell (202)
6. Adrien Tambay (109)
7. Keenan Schmitke (24)
7. Michael Vincec (Jensen Motorsports, 12)

Statistics:
Winners 2007:
Morad (5),
Gutierrez (4),
Saaverda (1),
Rossi (2).

Pole Positions:
Gutierrez (8),
Morad (2),
Rossi(1),
Major (1).

Podiums:
Petriello (1),
Rossi (2),
Morad (3),
Guerrero (2),
Saaverda (3),
Gutierrez (3),
Major (1),
Pelletier (4),
Favoretto (1),
Thorne (1),
Tambay (2)

Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level championship in Formula racing. In 2007 the series will be held in Germany, the UK, Asia and the USA. More than 80 up-and-coming drivers, some as young as 15-years old, will compete worldwide. Racing four times in support of the Formula One World Championship, Formula BMW offers a worldwide stage, training through a multifaceted Education and Coaching Program and BMW's longstanding Junior scholarship for deserving drivers.

The FB02 race car is propelled by a 140 bhp BMW engine, reaching speeds up to 140 mph. The design exceeds the FIA safety requirements for its class, with the BMW Motorsport developed FORS (Formula Rescue Race Seat), and the mandatory HANS (Head and Neck Support) safety system.

From November 24 to 26, 2006 the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo hosted the second Formula BMW World Final. 37 young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series competed against each other with the winner Christian Vietoris receiving a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.