Rookie Sensation Gutierrez leads start to finish at Road America

Tambay, a Formula BMW Germany Junior and Rookie, finished third in yesterday's Round 11 race, both weekend podium finishes coming from the outside front row starting spot. Tambay was also credited with the fastest lap of the race, 2:18.321 minutes on the final lap.

Eurointernational teammate and Overall point standings leader Daniel Morad (Eurointernational) finished third. This is the 17-year old Canadian's ninth podium of the year that includes five wins, three seconds and one third.

Philip Major (Autotecnica) and Robert Thorne (Team Apex Racing USA) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Gutierrez and Tambay quickly established a gap on the first lap. Behind them the racing behind was very close with Ricardo Favoretto (HBR Motorsport Team USA) in third, strongly challenged by Round 11 winner Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing). Rossi spun off the track and rejoined the race at the back of the field. Favoretto was assessed a drive through penalty for avoidable contact and after failing to report to pit lane for the penalty, he was not scored for the final three laps.

The top-finishing Rookie drivers were Gutierrez (P1), Tambay (P2), Eric Morrow (P10), Timothy Hollowell (P12) and Favoretto (P16).

Winner Gutierrez said, "My job was to get a gap on the first lap. Yesterday I was passing cars and today was very different. It was a nice change to not have cars in front of me and to focus on consistent lapping and not make mistakes. It was a good race."

Tambay added, "Perhaps I woke up too late. I made a charge in the last two laps with the draft, but Esteban was really fast. I was closing in the final laps and I am not sure I could win, but it was a very good result to come here and get two podiums. Thank you to my team Eurointernational for a great car."

Morad commented, "Coming into this race, I knew I had to score points for the championship and by finishing third it will be up to me to finish more than 51% of the next race. After yesterday, the team really got behind me and motivated me to focus. I owe this finish to my team who stayed very late to give me a great car. I drove more conservatively today and fell back at the start but I thought I could get third so I tried and managed to get it on the last lap"

Morad still leads the Overall point standings over Gutierrez, Rossi, Pelletier and Guerrero.

The final two rounds of the championship will be held at Mosport International Raceway in support of ALMS on August 24-26, 2007.

Round 12 - Results (10 laps)
1 Esteban Gutierrez (R) Autotecnica 23:13.881
2 Adrien Tambay (R) EUROINTERNATIONAL 23:14.283
3 Daniel Morad EUROINTERNATIONAL 23:22.292
4 Philip Major Autotecnica 23:22.749
5 Robert Thorne Team Apex Racing USA 23:29.036
6 Yannick Hofman EUROINTERNATIONAL 23:29.962
7 Steven Guerrero HBR Motorsport Team USA 23:31.503
8 Julia Landauer Team KMA Racing 23:34.547
9 Alexander Rossi Team Apex Racing USA 23:36.818
10 Eric Morrow (R) Hearn Motorsports 23:37.788
11 Mike Hill Team KMA Racing 23:40.058
12 Timothy Hollowell (R) Team KMA Racing 23:41.976
13 Jordan Dick JD Racing 23:43.461
14 Maxime Pelletier HBR Motorsport Team USA 23:53.568
15 Jordan Lynch Hearn Motorsport 23:53.660
16 Ricardo Favoretto (R)* HBR Motorsport Team USA 16:22.762 Not Running
*Car 34 not scored for laps 8-10 for failure to obey black flag

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)
8. Michael Vincec (Jensen Motorsports, 12)

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.