FORMULA BMW AMERICAS DRIVERS COMPLETE FINAL TEST OF THE SEASON

Eurointernational teammates Alexander Rossi, Giancarlo Vilarinho and David Ostella topped the time sheets, all with laps in the 1:17 minute range. Rossi set the quickest lap of the test, 1:17.052 minutes, around the 10-turn, 2.25-mile circuit.

With a 32 point lead in the Overall standings, Alexander Rossi (Eurointernational) could lock up the Championship at Thunderbolt when the series returns on Sept. 27- 28 for Rounds 13, 14 and 15.

Rossi only needs to gain 11 more points over his closest rival, Ricardo Favoretto, in the three rounds at Thunderbolt to clinch the title. The series finishes at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November.

The Rookie Championship has tightened up considerably with Formula BMW Junior drivers, Gianmarco Raimondo, Mikael Grenier and Alexandre Ruiz within only six points of each other.

19 Karters Invited to Participate in 2009 Formula BMW Junior Scholarship Shoot-out 19 young karters who had attended licensing courses this year were invited back to the Formula BMW Racing Center, in Valencia, Spain, to vie for up to four Formula BMW Junior scholarships. BMW will award a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) scholarships. The number of scholarships awarded will be entirely at the discretion of BMW. Each scholarship for Formula BMW Americas 2009 will have a maximum value of $ 80,000.

With the conclusion of the 2008 season, more than 100 drivers will have started their motorsport careers with Formula BMW Americas.

Formula BMW Americas on SPEED Channel

Beginning with the broadcast of the European Grand Prix and continuing through the final six Formula One Grands Prix, SPEED will feature Formula BMW Americas highlights from Montreal, Mid-Ohio, Lime Rock, Road America, Thunderbolt and Sao Paulo. A one-half hour review of the 2008 Formula BMW Americas season is planned. The broadcast date has not been set.

Background:

Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level series in formula racing. In 2008 the three Formula BMW series - Formula BMW Europe, Formula BMW Pacific and Formula BMW Americas - will be held in the key motor sport markets of Europe, pan-Asia and North and South America. The end of the year will see the Formula BMW World Final staged for the fourth time. The winner will be granted the opportunity of a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Formula BMW will be held on the undercard of Formula One on 12 occasions. The series gives young racing talents the chance to enter professional motor sport in a safe racing car - the Formula BMW FB02.

The FB02 has been in use since season 2002. It is powered by a 140 hp BMW engine that takes it to a top speed of up to 230 km/h. It ranks among the safest vehicles in its category and exceeds the FIA safety regulations that govern this class of car. Innovations such as the FORS (Formula Rescue Seat) were developed by BMW Motorsport specifically for Formula BMW. Following Formula One, Formula BMW was the first single-seater series outside the US in which the HANS system was made mandatory.

Formula BMW drivers have the opportunity to take part in an Education and Coaching Program that runs parallel with the racing season. The program includes driver coaching at the races by professional race drivers, attending a Formula One test, fitness courses, tuition in driving technique and strategy, as well as seminars on sponsoring and sport management.

Among the 20 team drivers in this season's Formula One, there are now four Formula BMW graduates: Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil, Sebastian Vettel and Timo Glock. The test and reserve drivers add three more to the tally, namely Christian Klien, Sebastien Buemi and Nicolas Hülkenberg.

In the words of BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen:
"With our worldwide Formula BMW concept, we offer drivers and teams a platform which, in this format, is unprecedented in a junior series and which allows them to benefit from our Formula One involvement. Through Formula BMW the drivers are equipped with the tools they need to assert themselves successfully in the world of professional motor racing"