World Final entry list announced

2006 DELL Formula BMW World Final.
38 drivers from all over the world compete for a BMW Sauber F1 Team test.

Munich, 26th October, 2006. From 24th to 26th November, Valencia will be the venue for the clash of the most gifted drivers from the four international Formula BMW series. The DELL Formula BMW World Final is contested by 38 drivers from 18 countries. They all just can't wait for the season highlight. After all, they are not going to battle it out for the US$60,000 prize money alone. At the same time, the winner will also be rewarded with a Formula One test with the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

"Just as it was the case last year, the second edition of the World Final will be contested by nearly every driver who succeeded in shining in our entry-level series over the course of the year," says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. "I'm delighted we are able to offer the young talents the chance of competing with other drivers from all parts of the world."

Indeed: The international make up of the 2006 DELL Formula BMW World Final entry list is truly remarkable. Drivers from the four regional series held in Germany, Great Britain, Asia and North America are taking part in the event held at Valencia's "Circuit de la Comunitat", with some of them travelling to Spain's Mediterranean coast from nations as far away as Colombia or Mexico.

Quite obviously, this year's Formula BMW Champions must be regarded as some of the top favourites. This particularly applies to Christian Vietoris (GER/Josef Kaufmann Racing) and Niall Breen (IRE/Fortec Motorsport) who succeeded in securing the German and British Championship titles respectively with a clear lead over their closest rivals. Vietoris has been victorious in eight of the 18 Formula BMW Germany rounds contested so far, while Breen won nine of the 20 Formula BMW UK Championship races.

However, the two champions will have to cope with competitive opponents from overseas: Robert Wickens (CAN/EuroInternational), who claimed the Formula BMW USA title, proved in last year's World Final he has got what is needed to deliver in style in an international field. In the final race in Bahrain, he performed an impressive chase and worked his way up from 25th position to finish sixth. Furthermore, the 2006 Formula BMW Asia Champion, Earl Bamber (NZL/Team Meritus), will also contest the World Final, thus completing the "Quartet of Formula BMW Champions".

On the other hand, Marco Holzer (GER) proved in the maiden running of the event that dark horses may also hope to win the World Final. At the end of the 2005 Formula BMW Germany season the young gun had to settle for 13th position. In Bahrain, however, he displayed a clearly improved form and secured victory. This year, there are numerous drivers -- such as Formula BMW USA Rookie Cup winner Daniel Morad (CAN/AIM Autosport) or Henry Arundel (GBR/Fortec Motorsport), who clinched the British Series' Rookie Cup -- who are keen on repeating Holzer's feat. The current leader in the German Rookie Cup, Jens Klingmann (GER/Eiffelland Racing), might also become a factor in the battle for glory in Spain.

<pre> DELL Formula BMW World Final Entry List:

Driver                  Nationality     Team
Philip Major            Canada          AIM Autosport
Daniel Morad            Canada          AIM Autosport
Nick de Bruijn          Netherlands     ASL-Team Mucke-Motorsport
Christian Engelhart     Germany         ASL-Team Mucke-Motorsport
Niall Quinn             Ireland         AM-HolzerRennsport GmbH
Matthew Lee             USA             Team Autotecnica
Jens Klingmann          Germany         Eifelland Racing
Mika Maki               Finland         Eifelland Racing
Martin Ragginger        Austria         Eifelland Racing
Stefano Coletti         Monaco          EurInternational
Robert Wickens          Canada          EuroInternational
Matt Howson             Great Britain   Filsell Motorsport
Daniel Murray           Ireland         Filsell Motorsport
Henry Arundel           Great Britain   Fortec Motorsport
Niall Breen             Ireland         Fortec Motorsport
Jack Clarke             Great Britain   Fortec Motorsport
Euan Hankey             Great Britain   Fortec Motorsport
Daniel McKenzie         Great Britain   Fortec Motorsport
Daniel Ricciardo        Australia       Fortec Motorsport
Ross Curnow             Great Britain   Gelles Racing
David Garza             Mexico          Gelles Racing
Adrien Herberts         Canada          Gelles Racing
Maxime Pelletier        France          Gelles Racing
Ryan Phinny             USA             Gelles Racing
Sebastian Saavedra      Colombia        Gelles Racing
Andrei Harnagea         Romania         GU-Racing Motorsport Team
Jens Hoing              Germany         GU-Racing Motorsport Team
Maximilian Wissel       Germany         GU-Racing Motorsport Team
Frankie Muniz           USA             Jensen Motorsport
Daniel Campos Hull      Spain           Josef Kaufmann Racing
Josef Kral              Czech Republic  Josef Kaufmann Racing
Christian Vietoris      Germany         Josef Kaufmann Racing
Tom Dunstan             Great Britain   Team Loctite
Oliver Turvey           Great Britain   Team Loctite
Fabio Leimer            Switzerland     Matson Motorsport
Earl Bamber             New Zealand     Team Meritus
Matt Hamilton           Great Britain   Motaworld Racing
Jonathan Legris         Great Britain   Motaworld Racing

-credit: bmw