USA: 2007 scholarship shoot-out to be held in Spain

FORMULA BMW USA SPEEDS INTO 2007
Junior scholarship shoot-out in Valencia, Spain to be held Sept. 18-19

Woodcliff Lake, NJ - September 13, 2006-- There is no slowing Formula BMW USA. With Robert Wickens' name in the record books as 2006 Formula BMW USA champion, the series is already preparing for the 2007 season by searching for the next group of BMW Junior drivers during a two-day scholarship shoot-out at the Formula BMW Racing Center in Valencia, Spain on September 18-19.

Wickens, a 2006 Junior driver, is part of a BMW Motorsport scholarship program that has its roots planted firmly in racing history. At BMW, the tradition of promoting young talent goes back to the late 1970s. BMW doesn't just offer gifted young go- kart drivers a seat in a Formula racing car - it promotes the most promising candidates as Formula BMW USA Juniors. Underlining BMW's commitment to the discovery and grooming of future young talent, the scholarship shoot-out has been designed so that the most talented drivers, rather than the most financially healthy, succeed. In order to differentiate the scholarship recipients from all other series entries, the Juniors race in the distinctive BMW Motorsport livery.

From the pool of 28 talented drivers who passed the Formula BMW licensing course this year, 18 have received an invitation back to Valencia to compete for one of four 2007 $40,000 Formula BMW USA Junior scholarships. In addition to the monies, Formula BMW USA Juniors are automatically enrolled in Formula BMW's comprehensive Education and Coaching Program. Provided by a team of experts from the international motorsport scene the E & C program includes training in the areas of physical fitness, media, racing car set-up and driving technique.

Representing the global reach of the Formula BMW program invited drivers include Zachary Beard, 16, USA; Richard Compollo, 16, Guatemala; Ian Costa, 17, USA; Daanish Dalal, 16, Canada; Ricardo Favoretto, 18, Brazil; Grant Hebner, 18, USA; Timothy Hollowell, 17, USA; Chris Homan, 18, Canada; Alexander Jacovides, 15, South Africa; Martijn Mol, 18, Netherlands; Eric Morrow, 17, USA; Jeffrey Oleen, 16, USA; Jeffrey Petriello, 18, Canada; Robin Stonesifer, 18, USA; Dex Tuttle, 17, USA; Michael Vincec, 15, Canada; Brett Smrz, 15, USA and Kristine Daggett, 17, USA.

In addition to the four Juniors that will emerge from the scholarship shoot-out, a fifth scholarship is automatically awarded to the winner of the Rookie Cup from the previous season. Canadian Daniel Morad, the 2006 Rookie Champion, will receive a scholarship for 2007 and return for a second year of Formula BMW USA competition.

He said, "I will be especially proud to race in the BMW colors next year. It means that you get a lot more attention and people look at you in a different way because you have a paint scheme similar to the BMW Sauber F1 cars. I am also going to be in the Education & Coaching program again. It is a great program that gives you a lot of help. The scholarship will also help me next year with the funding. It takes a lot of pressure off me to find the money. Before this season started I had an invitation back to Valencia for the 2006 scholarship shoot-out. But I actually didn't go back to Valencia which was probably a big mistake. Therefore I am now even happier to receive a scholarship."

From November 24 to 26, 2006 the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo will host the second Formula BMW World Final. Young racing drivers from the four regional Formula BMW series will compete against each other with the winner receiving a test drive with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

-credit: bmw.usa