Formula BMW Pacific.

Macau Grand Prix confirmed on sterling calendar.


Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Formula BMW Pacific has confirmed the calendar for the 2009 season, the best compilation of race meetings in the series’ seven-year history.

The season will open in support of the 2009 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix in April, and close in spectacular fashion at the 56th Macau Grand Prix in November.

In between, Formula BMW Pacific will be part of two Asian Festival of Speed (AFOS) weekends, in Malaysia and Indonesia, where the field of young talent will have ample opportunities to hone their skills over four rounds at each meeting, before once again supporting the FIA Formula One World Championship, this time in Singapore.

In late October, Formula BMW Pacific will be part of the FIA World Touring Car Championship round at Japan’s Okayama International Circuit, before travelling to Macau for the grand finale of 2009.

After a successful debut in 2008 on Macau’s famous Guia street circuit, Formula BMW Pacific is delighted to be returning to a track which is often referred to as the ultimate test of man and machine. Often referred to as the launching pad of future motorsport heroes, many of this year’s Formula 1 drivers have raced at Macau in the headline FIA Formula 3 Intercontinental Cup, including current World Champion Lewis Hamilton and BMW Sauber F1 Team driver Robert Kubica, who finished second there in 2004.

While the November 18-22 Macau Grand Prix will certainly be a date circled on the calendar, Formula BMW Pacific has created a season full of exciting challenges and opportunities to further the development of its field of talented youngsters.

When the season gets underway with two rounds in support of the 2009 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix, the drivers, many of whom will be making their single seater debuts, will be launched straight into the thick of the motor racing world.

Formula BMW Pacific will return to Malaysia’s Sepang International Circuit a month later for four rounds as part of the AFOS. Another AFOS event follows in July at Sentul International Circuit, Indonesia, giving the drivers plenty of valuable track time to prepare themselves for a challenging autumn race schedule.

Following an August break, the series will resume in September at the 2009 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix. In 2008, the series made history by being the first cars ever to race on the Marina Bay street circuit, and this year Formula BMW Pacific will be looking to build on that success with two exciting races in support of Formula One’s only night race.

In October, the series travels to Okayama, Japan with the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Formula BMW Pacific will contest two rounds on what will be a brand new circuit for the series.

The 2009 Formula BMW Pacific season will then conclude at the Macau Grand Prix in what is expected to be another exceptional event.

This year’s s calendar, unprecedented in its quality, gives Formula BMW Pacific the unique advantage of being able to provide drivers with both prestigious race meetings at which to showcase their skills to some of the most influential people in international motorsport, and extensive track time to develop their racing talent to the full.

The calendar, combined with a comprehensive and professional training programme, confirms Formula BMW Pacific as the premier single seater series in the region.

Formula BMW Pacific 2009

Provisional Calendar



Date
Country
Circuit
Races

2 – 5 April
Malaysia
Sepang Int. Circuit (F1)
1 & 2

21 – 24 May
Malaysia
Sepang Int. Circuit (AFOS)
3, 4, 5 & 6

16 – 19 July
Indonesia
Sentul Int. Circuit (AFOS)
7, 8, 9 & 10

24 – 27 Sept.
Singapore
Marina Bay Circuit (F1)
11 & 12

29 Oct. – 1 Nov.
Japan
Okayama Int. Circuit (WTCC)
13 & 14

18 – 22 Nov.
Macau
Guia Circuit (MGP)
15




Background:

Formula BMW is the world’s leading entry-level series in formula racing. In 2009 the three Formula BMW series – Formula BMW Europe, Formula BMW Pacific and Formula BMW Americas – will be held in the key motor sport markets of Europe, pan-Asia and North and South America. Formula BMW will be regularly held on the undercard of Formula One. The series gives young racing talents the chance to enter professional motor sport in a safe racing car – the Formula BMW FB02.

The FB02 has been in use since season 2002. It is powered by a 140 hp BMW engine that takes it to a top speed of up to 230 km/h. It ranks among the safest vehicles in its category and exceeds the FIA safety regulations that govern this class of car. Innovations such as the FORS (Formula Rescue Seat) were developed by BMW Motorsport specifically for Formula BMW. Following Formula One, Formula BMW was the first single-seater series outside the US in which the HANS system was made mandatory.

Formula BMW drivers have the opportunity to take part in an Education and Coaching Programme that runs parallel with the racing season. The programme includes driver coaching at the races by professional race drivers, attending a Formula One test, fitness courses, tuition in driving technique and strategy, as well as seminars on sponsoring and sport management.

Among the 20 team drivers in this season’s Formula One, there are now five Formula BMW graduates: Nico Rosberg, Adrian Sutil, Sebastian Vettel, Sebastién Buemi and Timo Glock.

Note to editors:

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