Formula BMW Americas at Thunderbolt Raceway, Millville, NJ 9/27/08

[AwesomeM3]

FORMULA BMW AMERICAS - PREVIEW - ROUNDS 13 AND 14, THUNDERBOLT RACEWAY
09/22/2008

Formula BMW Americas will hold Rounds 13 and 14 at Thunderbolt Raceway, in
Millville, NJ, on September 27 - 28 in conjunction with the ARCA Loud Energy Drink 150. This is the first time that Formula BMW has supported a NASCAR-sanctioned series event.

With a 32 point lead in the point standings, Californian Alexander Rossi
(Eurointernational) could lock up the title at Thunderbolt. Rossi only needs to net 11 more points over his closest rival, Ricardo Favoretto (Autotecnica), to clinch the title with an unbeatable 43 point lead. With 12 Rounds of the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Championship now completed, Rossi has scored six poles, six wins and 8 fastest laps. The second-year driver tops the record books with nine career Formula BMW Americas victories.

Favoretto, who switched from Eurointernational to Autotecnica after Round 9 and
had the fourth fastest time in the Thunderbolt test, has one win and five runner up
finishes this season. His goal at Thunderbolt is simple. He must finish in the points - and ahead of Rossi - if he is to carry the Championship chase to his home, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Rossi set the fastest times of the Eurointernational team and the rest of the field
during the Sept. 2 - 3 Thunderbolt Official Test so he knows the 2.25-mile, 10-turn
circuit as well as anyone. The exit curbing was still unfinished at the test and the
track's edge took its toll on the undersides of most everyone's FBO2 racing car, but all the drivers had favourable comments about the challenging circuit.

The Rookie Championship has tightened up considerably with Formula BMW Junior drivers, Gianmarco Raimondo (Autotecnica), Apex HBR Racing teammates Mikael Grenier and Alexandre Ruiz within only six points of each other. Grenier and Ruiz have come on strong of late. Each driver scored two podium finishes at Road America. Raimondo, the surprise double-winner at Laguna Seca, has had a run of bad luck in recent races. Grenier did not participate in the Sept. 2 - 3 Official Test at Thunderbolt so will at a disadvantage, but the youngest driver in this year's field (15 years, 11 months) is still sure to be a factor.

On Saturday, Sept. 27 practice will be held at 8:00 a.m., followed by qualifying for
Rounds 13 and 14 at 10:45 a.m. The Round 13 race begins at 4:40 p.m. The Round 14 race is scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m. Sunday. Round 15, previously scheduled for the same weekend, has been cancelled to allow teams adequate time to prepare their cars before they are containerized for shipment to Brazil. The series will conclude along with the Formula One World Championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix on Nov. 2.

[skierman64]

Are you going?

I thought Thunderbolt had 14 turns not 10 as stated above.

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by skierman64

Are you going?

I thought Thunderbolt had 14 turns not 10 as stated above.

I can't go on Sunday, but let me know if you're interested in going on Saturday. We can cruise down in your M3.

You know the Thunderbolt circuit better than I do, but I don't remember how many turns it has.

[skierman64]

I can't go, I'm at BMW CCA Octoberfest this weekend. I just got here tonight. Haven't seen anything so for, but I'll take pics and share them when I get back home.

[AwesomeM3]

Oh, I forgot it's Octoberfest this weekend. We'll talk when you get back. Have fun and take lots of pics!