Formula BMW
NA: Alexandre Ruiz Millville weekend summary
Ruiz Puts Previous Experience to Use in New Jersey Double top-five in New Jersey sets the stage for Rookie showdown in Brazil (Millville, NJ) 28 September 08 -- After getting his bearings in testing around the ten-turn 2.17-mile Thunderbolt ...
Published: Sep 30, 2008, 9:38 PM
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Ruiz Puts Previous Experience to Use in New Jersey
Double top-five in New Jersey sets the stage for Rookie showdown in Brazil
(Millville, NJ) 28 September 08 -- After getting his bearings in testing around the ten-turn 2.17-mile Thunderbolt Raceway at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, Alexandre Ruiz posted a double top-five Formula BMW Americas race weekend in the Apex-HBR Racing No. 19 to close out the North American segment of the 2008 season. Ruiz moved into second position in the Formula BMW America's Rookie battle following his fifth-place finish in round 13 at New Jersey Motorsports Park this weekend, but will be fighting the final two rounds from fourth position in the Rookie order after a dramatic round 14.
With the standing start staged on a wet but drying track, Ruiz and Apex-HBR Racing teammate Jorge Goncalvez waged a mammoth battle in the closing laps, with Ruiz emerging ahead to take the fourth place finish just .017 seconds ahead of his teammate. While he had been hoping to make more progression in the Rookie and Championship standings, Ruiz knows he will have two more chances to improve during the final two rounds, scheduled for November 1-2 in his native Brazil. Four Rookie racers are split by just 12 points.
"I had been hoping to get back on the podium again and to be further up in the Rookie standings, but it was still a very exciting weekend," said Ruiz. "The race with Jorge was very close, and now things are close with all of us Rookies. This has been good for me, to come and race in America, to get to race at a Formula 1 event, and to learn about living away from home and racing on new tracks. I've learned a lot this season, and even though I want to keep fighting for good results, this has been an experience that I know I can work from. Now we get to go to Brazil and race. I've been looking forward to that for so long, and I hope I can have a good home weekend and finish the Rookie points as well as I can."
The Brazil race outing marks the first race foray for the series outside of North America. However, the category is an international one, with several concurrent championships staged around the globe producing racers like recent first-time Formula 1 race winner Sebastien Vettel.
2008 Formula BMW Americas Race Schedule/Results
DATE CIRCUIT ROUNDS/Results
May 16-18 Laguna Seca Raceway P5 & P4
June 6-9 Canadian Grand Prix P14&P5
June 20-22 Mid Ohio Sports Car Course P4&P6
July 11-12 Lime Rock Park P9&P9
Aug 7-10 Road America P4, P3 & P3
Sept 27-28 Thunderbolt Raceway P5& P4
Oct 31 - Nov 2 Grand Prix of Brazil Interlagos 16 &17
Background:
Formula BMW is the world's leading entry-level class in Formula racing. In 2008 theseries will be held across Europe, Asia Pacific and the USA. Up-and-coming drivers 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 the FIA safety requirements for its class. BMW Motorsport has developed the FORS Formula Rescue Race Seat especially for Formula BMW. The HANS safety system is also mandatory.
BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen: "Formula BMW offers talented young drivers more than just a car. In the Education and Coaching Program we have designed especially 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."
-credit: Sunday Group Management/Ruiz
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