USA: Maxime Pelletier Lime Rock race notes

Now sitting 4th in the standings
Maxime Pelletier, 2nd and 5th at Lime Rock

Lime Rock, July 8, 2007. - Maxime Pelletier had another very satisfying weekend with HBR Motorsports in the fourth double header program of the Formula BMW USA series at the Lime Rock, Connecticut facility with a pair of Top 5 results: in the first race, he climbed on the podium for the third consecutive time with a solid second place, 0,215 second shy of his first single seater victory. In the second race, starting from ninth place on the grid, he carved his way up to fifth: in the process, the 16-year earned enough championship points to assure him of the fourth place going into the next round in San José. Pelletier was happy with his results although he missed his first win by very little.

"Too bad I couldn't hold on to the lead when I was ahead of the field, claimed Pelletier. In the first race, I took the lead and was driving clear after a full-course yellow but I came upon a backmarker and had to wait for a better passing area since Lime Rock is so fast. Then Sebastian (Saavedra) went inside and took the lead while I was slowed down by this car. I went back to work and tried to get my due back but I ran out of laps. Sebastian and I were teammates last year and I wouldn't have tried something foolish to take us out."

"In the second race, I knew I had to be patient, starting from 9th. I waited for a few guys to make mistakes and passed a gew on my own and got a fair 5th overall. In this race, I wanted to get as much points in the standings. I'm fourth after eight rounds and I aim to be second at the end of the season. That will give me some time to get even with my friend Sebastian ! "

Next step: the San José Grand Prix

It will be a few weeks before Pelletier and Hillebrand Motorsports travel across America to the San José Grand Prix. The BMW USA next double header will be part of the Champ Car program on this temporary street event. "San José is narrow and fast, adds the 16-year old. This is a place where we need top speed and a lot of braking. We also must to be aware of our our track position and other cars when we come into those slow corners. Again, the qualifying session will be very important and I trust Peter (Hillebrand) and I will have a good car like we have in the last three programs."

With Hillebrand Motorsports

Maxime Pelletier is in his second year in the North American premier ladder series Formula BMW USA after being nominated Junior driver last year. He is racing with the Austrian HBR Motorsports team. Lime Rock was the fourth of seven double header programs in the 2007 schedule. Pelletier is now fourth in the 2007 standings only 30 points away from third and 35 from second.

-credit: poleposition.ca