MOSPORT – ROUND 13 & 14 – QUALIFYING

Gutierrez Scores Round 13 Pole, Morad Awarded Round 14 Pole

Round 13: Qualifying The three drivers that have found the top step of the Formula BMW USA podium this season will line up in the first three positions for Round 13. 2007 Rookie Champion Esteban Gutierrez (Autotecnica), of Monterrey, Mexico, recorded his record ninth pole of the season in Round 13 qualifying yesterday. His lap of 1:24.275 minutes around Mosport International Raceway’s 2.459-miles bested Overall point leader Daniel Morad (Eurointernational) by .322 seconds. This is the fifth time this season the two will face off from the front of the grid. Morad, a native of Toronto, has won five races to Gutierrez’s four and leads him by 67 points. Gutierrez clinched the Rookie title, won by Morad last season, in Round 12 at Road America on August 12th.

Californian Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing USA), twice a winner this season, will start third (1:25.026).

Round 14: Qualifying

The inclement weather that visited Mosport yesterday, rain delaying the Round 13 qualifying session, developed into a heavy fog this morning that forced the cancellation of Round 14 qualifying. The field will line up based on Overall points with Daniel Morad (Eurointernational), Esteban Gutierrez (Autotecnica) and Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing USA) again the top-three.

Morad, the only driver in the top-three with experience at Mosport, said, “I would like to win this weekend, but I have learned that championships are remembered more than race wins so my focus is to clinch the title in the first race.” Rookie champion Gutierrez said, “I have learned a great deal this year – I think more than if I raced anywhere else. My team and family have given me so much support that there is always a winning atmosphere. This circuit is very fast. I think passing will be difficult so starting on the front row is very important.”

Rossi added, ”Mosport is an awesome track and my goal for the weekend is to make sure I finish third overall – but, be ready to move up if Esteban has a bad race. I will have to watch Maxime (Pelletier) as he has been coming on strong. I’ll be looking to move up, but keeping one eye on Maxime.”

The Round 13 race will start at 5:00 p.m. today. The Round 14 race is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow following a 15-minute warm up session at 8:30 a.m.

Round 13 Qualifying – Results

1 Esteban Gutierrez (R) Autotecnica 2:24.275
2 Daniel Morad EUROINTERNATIONAL 2:24.597
3 Alexander Rossi Team Apex Racing USA 2:25.026
4 Maxime Pelletier HBR Motorsport Team USA 2:25.261
5 Steven Guerrero HBR Motorsport Team USA 2:25.494
6 Philip Major Autotecnica 2:25.594
7 Ricardo Favoretto (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA 2:25.624
8 Eric Morrow (R) Hearn Motorsports 2:25.933
9 Robert Thorne Team Apex Racing USA 2:26.005
10 Timothy Hollowell (R) Team KMA Racing 2:26.055
11 Julia Landauer Team KMA Racing 2:26.088
12 Jordan Dick JD Racing 2:26.311
13 Yannick Hofman EUROINTERNATIONAL 2:26.403
14 Mike Hill Team KMA Racing 2:26.407

Round 14 Qualifying – Results

1 Daniel Morad EUROINTERNATIONAL
2 Esteban Gutierrez (R) Autotecnica
3 Alexander Rossi Team Apex Racing USA
4 Maxime Pelletier HBR Motorsport Team USA
5 Steven Guerrero HBR Motorsport Team USA
6 Robert Thorne Team Apex Racing USA
7 Yannick Hofman EUROINTERNATIONAL
8 Jordan Dick JD Racing
9 Ricardo Favoretto (R) HBR Motorsport Team USA
10 Philip Major Autotecnica
11 Eric Morrow (R) Hearn Motorsports
12 Timothy Hollowell (R) Team KMA Racing
13 Mike Hill Team KMA Racing
14 Julia Landauer Team KMA Racing

Courtesy of formulabmwusa.com