August 2007

ROAD AMERICA – ROUND 12 – RACE

Rookie Sensation Gutierrez leads start to finish at Road America, Major Close to Podium in 4th.

	Esteban Guiterrez

Elkhart Lake, Wis. – Aug. 12, 2007… 16 year-old Esteban Gutierrez (Autotecnica), of Monterrey, Mexico, took the Round 12 Formula BMW USA victory from his record eighth pole of the season today at Road America. He led from standing start to checkered flag, finishing .402 seconds ahead of Adrien Tambay (Eurointernational) in the 10-lap race. The win was his fourth of the year and extends his lead in the Rookie point standings and consolidates his second place in the Overall point standings.

Tambay, a Formula BMW Germany Junior and Rookie, finished third in yesterday’s Round 11 race, both weekend podium finishes coming from the outside front row starting spot. Tambay was also credited with the fastest lap of the race, 2:18.321 minutes on the final lap.

Daniel Morad (Eurointernational), Philip Major (Autotecnica) and Robert Thorne (Team Apex Racing USA) finished third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Gutierrez and Tambay quickly established a gap on the first lap. Behind them the racing was very close with Ricardo Favoretto (HBR Motorsport Team USA) in third, strongly challenged by Round 11 winner Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing) resulting in Rossi spinning off the track and rejoining the race at the back of the field. Favoretto was assessed a drive through penalty for avoidable contact and after failing to report to pit lane for the penalty, he was not scored for the final three laps.

The top-finishing Rookie drivers were Gutierrez (P1), Tambay (P2), Eric Morrow (P10), Timothy Hollowell (P12) and Favoretto (P16).

Winner Gutierrez said, “My job was to get a gap on the first lap. Yesterday I was passing cars and today was very different. It was a nice change to not have cars in front of me and to focus on consistent lapping and not make mistakes. It was a good race.”

Tambay added, “Perhaps I woke up too late. I made a charge in the last two laps with the draft, but Esteban was really fast. I was closing in the final laps and I am not sure I could win, but it was a very good result to come here and get two podiums. Thank you to my team Eurointernational for a great car.”

Morad still leads the Overall point standings over Gutierrez, Rossi, Pelletier and Guerrero.

The final two rounds of the championship will be held at Mosport International Raceway in support of ALMS on August 24-26, 2007.

Round 12 – Results (10 laps)

1 Esteban Gutierrez (R) Autotecnica 23:13.881
2 Adrien Tambay (R) EUROINTERNATIONAL 23:14.283
3 Daniel Morad EUROINTERNATIONAL 23:22.292
4 Philip Major Autotecnica 23:22.749
5 Robert Thorne Team Apex Racing USA 23:29.036
6 Yannick Hofman EUROINTERNATIONAL 23:29.962
7 Steven Guerrero HBR Motorsport Team USA 23:31.503
8 Julia Landauer Team KMA Racing 23:34.547
9 Alexander Rossi Team Apex Racing USA 23:36.818
10 Eric Morrow (R) Hearn Motorsports 23:37.788
11 Mike Hill Team KMA Racing 23:40.058
12 Timothy Hollowell (R) Team KMA Racing 23:41.976
13 Jordan Dick JD Racing 23:43.461
14 Maxime Pelletier HBR Motorsport Team USA 23:53.568
15 Jordan Lynch Hearn Motorsport 23:53.660
16 Ricardo Favoretto (R)* HBR Motorsport Team USA 16:22.762 Not Running
*Car 34 not scored for laps 8-10 for failure to obey black flag

Championship points after 12 of 14 races:

1. Daniel Morad (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 444), 2. Esteban Gutierrez (Team Autotecnica, 377), 3. Alexander Rossi (Team Apex Racing USA, 335) 4. Maxime Pelletier (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 321), 5. Steven Guerrero (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 320), 6. Robert Thorne (Team Apex Racing USA, 301) 7. Yannick Hofman (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 298), , 8. Jordan Dick (JD Racing, 288) 9. Ricardo Favoretto (HBR Motorsport Team USA, 283), 10. Sebastian Saavedra (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 258) 11. Philip Major (Team Autotecnica, 246) 12. Jeffrey Petriello (Team KMA Racing, 242) 13. Eric Morrow (Hearn Motorsports, 228) 14. Tim Hollowell (Team KMA Racing, 202) 15. Mike Hill (Team KMA Racing, 180), 16. Julia Landauer (Team KMA Racing, 154), 17. Adrien Tambay (EUROINTERNATIONAL, 109) 18. Lindsey Adams (Team Apex Racing USA, 84), 19. Matt Ferris (Gelles Racing, 80), 20. Billy Goshen (Hearn Motorsports, 48) 21. Felipe Polehtto (Team Apex Racing USA, 28) 21. Jordan Lynch (Hearn Motorsports, 28) 22. Keenan Schmitke (Gelles Racing, 24) 23. Michael Vincec (Jensen Motorsports, 12)

Rookies: 1. Esteban Gutierrez (377), 2. Ricardo Favoretto (283) 3. Jeffrey Petirello (Team KMA Racing, 242) 4. Eric Morrow (228) 5. Tim Hollowell (202) 6. Adrien Tambay (109) 7. Keenan Schmitke (24) 7. Michael Vincec (Jensen Motorsports, 12)

Courtesy of formulabmwusa.com