Free Practise:
On the high speed circuit of Monza the free practise was held under
wet conditions. The Kaufmann Drivers had been on top of the timing
screens for a long while untill the track started to dry up. In the
end every lap was getting quicker and finally the Kaufmann Drivers
were on the positions 9 - Wittmann, 11 - Gutiérrez and 14 - Manzur.
Qualifying:
In the Qualifying session the track was dry again. Gutiérrez and
Wittmann had been the fastest two drivers throughout the whole
Qualifying untill the final lap. Both drivers had set their times
without any draft during their lap. In the end some drivers who
catched a draft had set faster lap times and Gutiérrez was dropped
back to 6th and Wittmann to 8th position. For the second race
Gutiérrez was 3rd and Wittmann 4th on the grid. A disappointing
qualifying had Kazeem Manzur. He was only able to qualify on P18 and
22.
Race 1:
At the
start to the first race Gutiérrez moved up directly into 4th
position. Shortly after that he overtook the 3rd placed driver and
was catching up the leader. Fighting hard for the lead Gutiérrez had
contact and damaged his car. Parts of the sidebox and engine cover
were loose and Gutiérrez had to carry on with a damaged car. In the
meantime Marco Wittmann overtook Gutiérrez and both dirvers were
battleing for the lead. In the end after many overtaking moves
Wittmann finished 3rd just ahead of Teammate Gutiérrez on 4th
position. Kazeem Manzur had to retire after a strong starting phase
due to an unblamable contact of another driver.
Race 2:
The final race of the season was started under wet conditions. Marco
Wittmann took over 2nd position in the first corner, followed by
Esteban Gutiérrez on 3rd place. From that point on both drivers
attacked the leader but didin´t find a way pass him under those very
challengeing conditions. In the end the three leading cars passed
the start finish line side by side and with one thenth of a second
Wittmann and Gutiérrez had been beaten. Wittmann took 2nd place,
Gutiérrez finished 3rd. A very strong performance showed Kazeem
Manzur. Started from 22 place down the grid the fouhgt his way up to
a great 8th position in the end and scored his best season result.
Overall
the Team of Josef Kaufmann Racing is looking back to most successful
season in Formula BMW so far:
Esteban
Gutiérrez won 7 races, had 12 podium finishes and won the
championship title of the Formula BMW Europe 2008. Teammate Marco
Wittmann secured the Vize Championship Title of Formula BMW Europe
2008 with 1 victory and 11 podium finishes. In addition the Team of
Josef Kaufmann also won the the title "Formula BMW Europe Team
Trophy Winner 2008".
The Formula BMW Europe Season 2008 in numbers:
1. Place
Formula BMW Europe 2008 - Esteban Gutiérrez
2. Place
Formula BMW Europe 2008 - Marco Wittmann
18. Place
Formula BMW Europe 2008 - Kazeem Manzur
8
Victories
7 x 2nd
Place
8 x 3rd
Place
4 Pole
Positions
1. Place
Formula BMW Europe Team Championship 2008 - Josef Kaufmann Racing
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