SYOSSET, N.Y., Nov. 7 - Team Autotecnica's Matt Lee of Syosset, N.Y., who finished second in the 2006 Formula BMW USA driver championship, will be among the top drivers from around the world who will compete in the Dell Formula BMW World Final 2006 in Valencia, Spain Nov. 24-26.

Lee would like nothing better than to receive the top prize, a Formula One test drive with the BMW Sauber Formula One team, as a birthday present. He will turn 17 on Nov. 27.

Lee will drive the same Team Autotecnica-prepared car that he had so much success in this year during the tough, 14-race Formula BMW USA season. With two victories, four second-place finishes, one third and five poles, Lee finished just six points behind this year's champion, Canadian Robert Wickens, in the closest points battle in the series' history.

Lee was one of only three Americans who competed in the first annual Formula BMW World Final last year in Bahrain. A total of 34 drivers from the four regional series (the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom and Asia) represented 15 different countries in last year's event. A similar entry list is expected this year.

Lee feels that his past experience at last year's World Final will help him in Spain.

"Now I know what to expect regarding the European driving style," Lee said. "This year at the World Final I'll take a more aggressive approach to everything."

Another thing that should help is that he successfully completed a two-day school at the same track, the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, in 2005.

"It's been awhile since I've been at the track, but as I recall it's pretty flat," Lee noted. "It's a typical European track, with rumble strips and nice surfaces.

"I need to get some more information about the event, but as far as I know it will be a heat-race format like last year," added Lee, who attends Syosset High School.

"Autotecnica has some unfinished business to take care of at the Valencia World Final with Matt Lee in the driver's seat," said Enrico Diano, manager and technical director for Team Autotecnica. "Last year in the Bahrain World Final Autotecnica performed to an impressive level that brought both its drivers near the top of the world. In the 2006 Formula BMW USA season, Autotecnica and Matt Lee finished second in the overall standings after two wins and many podiums. Both Autotecnica and Matt Lee are hungry for a title in their name, and winning the 2006 Formula BMW World Final title would be the best way to satisfy that hunger.

"The team has been pushing ahead since the end of the season to extract the highest performances possible from the car and the crew," Diano added. "A World Final is not something to be taken lightly, and we are committed to providing a perfect car and team for our driver. A BMW Sauber F1 test would be a nice birthday gift for Matt, seeing that he will turn 17 the day after the World Final race."

Lee's car is sponsored in part by Bumper to Bumper, Autoparts Warehouse, the Francis A. Lee Company, Matt-Con Services Corp. and Integrated Structures. It also carries a ThinkFirst decal for a not-for-profit organization that Lee supports. ThinkFirst promotes safety in order to combat brain and spinal cord injuries.

More information about Lee can be found on his Web site at twintooth.com. Team Autotecnica's Web site, which has recently been revamped, can be found at autotecnicagroup.com. Series information is available at formulabmwusa.com, while ThinkFirst's Web site is at thinkfirst.org.