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NEWS Formula BMW - 2008

     

06.07.2008 Formula BMW Europe - Races 5 + 6 - Silverstone

     

Double Victory for Kaufmann Driver Esteban Gutiérrez in Silverstone - Marco Wittmann two times in Top 5 - Kazeem Manzur in Top Ten

     

Free Practise: In the free practise for the rounds 5 and 6 of this year´s Formula BMW Europe Season 2008, which had been held on the traditional British Circuit of Silverstone, the Kaufmann Drivers Gutiérrez and Wittmann showed a strong performance from the beginning on. At the end of practise Gutiérrez was 3rd and Wittmann 6th. Slightly strugelling was Kazeem Manzur on P 24.

 

Qualifying: In the Qualifying Esteban Gutiérrez showed a very strong performance with taking both Pole Positions. Marco Wittmann qualified himself on P 5 and P 4. After the qualifying session both drivers had been punished with a penalty by the Stewards of the Meeting for "leaving the track" at turn 1. The penalty of taking away the fastest qualifying lap was quite hard for both drivers, specially because both hadn´t had any advantage of their mistake when leaving the track. In the end Gutiérrez was on P 2 for both races and Wittmann on P 7 and P 9. Kazeem Manzur improved his performance from free parctise a lot and qualified on P 14 and P 11.

 

Race 1: Esteban Gutiérrez was able to take the lead in the first lap of the race. Afterwards the young Mexican dominated the race. Lap after lap he opened the gap to the following. After 13 laps Gutiérrez won his thrid race of the season with an advance of over 8 secondes. Marco Wittmann also showed a strong race. Strating P 7 he overtook some drivers in front and was on P 4 in the final lap. A little mistake in the Abbey Chikane caused a loss of one position and he finally finished 5th. Kazeem Manzur showed the best race of this year so far. After a good opening lap and some very good overtaking action he made his way up to 10th position.

 

Race 2: On Sunday Morning the race was started under difficult wet conditions. Esteban Gutiérrez, like the day before, was able to catch the lead of the fiel in the opening lap of the race. Later on, he once again dominated the race. With constant race laps which had been 1 second faster than the rest of the field he took his 4th win in a row with over ten seconds advantage over the second placed driver. Starting from P 9 Marco Wittmann also had a strong race. Like his teammate, beeing very fast under wet conditions, he made his up to a strong 5th position. In the end he was running out of time to catch any more driver and finally he finished on 5th position. Kazeem Manzur as well had a strong race. Beeing 9th after the opening lap he was pushed of the track by another driver and dropped back to 15th. With smart driving and good overtaking action he was able finally finish on 11th.

     
     
Pictures from Silverstone