NEWS Formula BMW - 2008

28.02.2008 Formula BMW Europe Season 2008

Esteban Gutiérrez sets the pace at first official Formula BMW Europe test in Monza

The first official test days of the new Formula BMW Europe 2008 have taken place in Monza. On the morning of the first day drivers couldn´t do any laps on the high speed circuit due to very bad fog. In the afternoon the track was clear and Team and drivers gained their first experience on the new track. Set up work was on the schedule until the end of the first day. In the end Esteban Gutiérrez set the second fastest lap. Marco Wittmann was on position 8 and young Kazeem Manzur was placed on 10th position.

On the second day the Kaufmann Drivers improved their performance from the day before. Young Mexican Esteban Gutiérrez set the fastest overall laptime for both days. Rookie Driver Kazeem Manzur also showed a very strong performance with putting himself on position 8 although his engine was slightly lacking on top speed. Marco Wittmann was suffering some technical engine problems as well and was therefore only on position 12.

At the second official testing session at Zolder (Belgium) the Kaufmann Drivers proofed again that their are in very good shape for this year´s Formula BMW season. Marco Wittmann and Kazeem Manzur have been constantly within the top positions during the morning and afternonn session. In the morning session Marco Wittmann secured second fastest laptime, while Kazeem Manzur did the ninth fastest time.

In the afternoon session Wittmann stabilized his position from the morning with finishing third fastest at the end of the day. Young Briton Rookie Kazeem Manzur improved constantly in the afternoon session and finished on a superb seventh place very close to the top five.

At the official testing days of Formual BMW Europe at Barcelona all Kaufmann Drivers once again showed a strong performance. Team as well as all drivers had been the first time to Barcelona and concentrated on working out the right car setting at the first day. At the end of the first day the Kaufmann Drivers were placed on 2nd - Marco Wittmann, 3rd - Esteban Gutiérrez and 8th - Kazeem Manzur.

On the second day the positions of the drivers didn´t change a lot. At the final Classification Esteban Gutiérrez was 3rd, followed by teammate Marco Wittmann on 4th position. Young Kazeem Manzur again shortened the gap to the front but still was on 8th position.

During the two day Introductory Test of Formula BMW Europe at Silverstone, where all Formula BMW Europe Teams had to take part, the Kaufmann Drivers showed that they are in very good shape for this year. On the first day, practise start and Safety-Car exercises had been on the schedule. After that two free practise sessions haven taken place under wet conditions. At the end of day one Esteban Gutiérrez once again had set the fastest overall laptime. Teammate Marco Wittmann placed himself on position 6. Rookie Driver Kazeem Manzur unused to wet conditions was only on P 21.

The second day of free practise was under normal dry conditions. Esteban Gutiérrez and Marco Wittmann showed a very strong performance over the whole day. At the end both Kaufmann Drivers set the fastest lap times. Esteban Gutiérrez was the fastest closely followed by Teammate Marco Wittmann on position 2. Young Briton Kazeem Manzur had some problems with his new set of tires what put him only on P 17 at the end of the day.