Formula Bmw Americas Preseason Testing Program Continues

With less than one month to go before the green flag falls on the 2009 Formula BMW Americas Championship season, the next batch of future open-wheel racing stars head to Carolina Motorsports Park this week for the series' final preseason testing session.

Fresh off a promising opening test two weeks ago, the Formula BMW Americas Championship will take to the 2.3-mile road course in Kershaw, South Carolina for a two-day Introductory Test, where track time is balanced with education and coaching in preparation for the March 20-22 season opener in Puebla, Mexico.

Interest in the Formula BMW Americas Championship has continued to grow over the winter as the first test has already seen an increase in drivers over 2008. Last year's Formula BMW Americas Rookie champion Gianmarco Raimondo will return for a renewed assault on the title with Team Autotecnica, battling alongside established outfits such as three-time team champion Eurointernational, Jensen Motorsport, and Team Apex, as well as new squads Andersen Racing, OS Racing and Robali Motorsports.

The first test session, held at Palm Beach International Raceway two weeks ago, gave the Formula BMW Americas drivers two days of track time in the FB02 to get back in the swing of driving a race car again. The outing at CMP will see the drivers doing much more than sitting behind the wheel however, as the focus changes toward learning what it takes to be a championship racer.

Not only will the drivers receive plenty of seat time at the Introductory Test, but they will also participate in their first Education and Coaching Program seminars. Designed to help the youngsters improve more than their racecraft, the Formula BMW Education and Coaching Program meetings at CMP will include media training and photography sessions.

"The drivers and teams certainly showed their skills at the opening test, and we are looking forward to watching everyone prepare themselves for a run at the Formula BMW Americas Championship crown," said Rahal Letterman Ventures co-owner Bobby Rahal. "The program is designed to do more for the young driver than simply to let them drive, and this week's test is a big part of that."

The official Introductory Test will be the last session prior to the 2009 Formula BMW Americas Championship, which opens with Rounds 1 and 2 at Puebla, Mexico on March 20 - 22. There will be six more test days slated for drivers and teams throughout the season as well.

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