Rookie Marcus Ericsson (Fortec Motorsport) gained his fourth double pole of the year, setting himself up perfectly for the climax of the season tomorrow when he looks to become Champion in Rounds 17 and 18 of the Formula BMW UK Championship.
After two difficult sessions, interrupted by three red flags, Ericsson put in a measured performance on his first visit to Knockhill. He was up to speed after only a few laps in practice and topped the time sheets every session so far this weekend.
"The car was set up just right so it allowed me to learn the circuit really quickly and we haven't had to make many changes," said Ericsson. "It's perfect. Of course I'm nervous going into tomorrow but if I wasn't nervous that would be wrong so I'm looking forward to it and I'm going to drive to win the Championship!"
The top five remain the same for both races tomorrow with Henry Surtees (Carlin Motorsport) and Valle Makela (Nexa Racing) putting in impressive performances to finish second and third respectively, splitting the title contenders.
Surtees said: "I've got two front row grid spots, so I'm looking forward to the races which should be very exciting and interesting. Ericsson is very quick but we'll see what we can do."
Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport), currently Ericsson's closest title rival, will start fourth for both races tomorrow ahead of Josef Kral (Double R Racing) in fifth. The pair are the only two in a position to steal the title from Ericsson this weekend and will be giving everything they have in the final showdown.
"I made a mistake in the last corner which cost me too much time," said Kral. "I know I'm fast though so tomorrow will be good."
With the final races of the Formula BMW UK Championship fast approaching, a fantastic season of racing has left three youngsters still in contention for the title. With only 13 points lead, Ericsson will have to fight hard to keep Arundel and Kral behind him with the only thing certain, tomorrow will see our 2007 Champion crowned.
Results - Qualifying Round 17.
Pos Driver Nat Team Time
1. Marcus Ericsson SWE (Fortec Motorsport) R 50.948
2. Henry Surtees GB (Carlin Motorsport) R 51.355
3. Valle Makela SF (Nexa Racing) 51.386
4. Henry Arundel GB (Fortec Motorsport) 51.389
5. Josef Kral CZ (Double R Racing) 51.598
6. Jonathan Legris GB (Motaworld Racing) 51.640
7. Sam Abay AUS (Team Loctite) 51.669
8. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs GB (Fortec Motorsport) R 51.685
9. Anthony Comas F (Victory Engineering) 51.811
10. Carlos Huertas COL (Double R Racing) R 51.816
11. Kimiya Sato J (Nexa Racing) 51.860
12. Daniel McKenzie GB (Fortec Motorsport) 51.878
13. Michael Moyers GB (Hyperion Motorsport) 51.958
14. Jordan Williams GB (Team Loctite) 51.980
15. Rupert Svendsen-Cook GB (Team Loctite) R 52.040
16. Doru Sechelariu ROM (Fortec Motorsport) 52.133
17. Matt Bell GB (Motaworld Racing) R 52.219
18. Tom Gladdis GB (Team BRD) R 52.489
19. Adam Butler GB (Team BRD) R 52.803
Results - Qualifying Round 18.
Pos Driver Nat Team Time
1. Marcus Ericsson SWE (Fortec Motorsport) R 51.019
2. Henry Surtees GB (Carlin Motorsport) R 51.291
3. Valle Makela SF (Nexa Racing) 51.452
4. Henry Arundel GB (Fortec Motorsport) 51.538
5. Josef Kral CZ (Double R Racing) 51.590
6. Oliver Webb GB (Carlin Motorsport) R 51.664
7. Kimiya Sato J (Nexa Racing) 51.676
8. Jonathan Legris GB (Motaworld Racing) 51.700
9. Sam Abay AUS (Team Loctite) 51.710
10. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs GB (Fortec Motorsport) R 51.756
11. Carlos Huertas COL (Double R Racing) R 51.832
12. Anthony Comas F (Victory Engineering) 51.948
13. Jordan Williams GB (Team Loctite) 51.982
14. Daniel McKenzie GB (Fortec Motorsport) 52.011
15. Doru Sechelariu ROM (Fortec Motorsport) 52.081
16. Rupert Svendsen-Cook GB (Team Loctite) R 52.215
17. Tom Gladdis GB (Team BRD) R 52.326
18. Matt Bell GB (Motaworld Racing) R 52.342
19. Michael Moyers GB (Hyperion Motorsport) 52.486
20. Adam Butler GB (Team BRD) R 52.747
R indicates driver eligible for Rookie Cup
Championship Points Tables.
Drivers
1. Ericsson (5 wins) 584, 2. Arundel 571 (1 win), 3. Kral (6 wins) 565, 4. Makela (1 win) 461, 5. Sato (1 win) 454, 6. Surtees 421 (1 win), 7. Legris 412 (1 win), 8. Abay 383, 9. McKenzie 358,10. Quaife-Hobbs 357.
Rookies
1. Ericsson 584, 2. Surtees 421, 3. Quaife-Hobbs 357, 4. Webb 350, 5. Huertas 330, 6. Gladdis 240, 7. Svendsen-Cook 158, 8. Holland 90, 9. Butler 88, 10. Bell 52.
Teams
1. Fortec Motorsport 1205, 2. Nexa Racing 927, 3. Double R Racing 898, 4. Carlin Motorsport 770, 5. Team Loctite 680, 6. Motaworld Racing 524, 7. Victory Engineering 180, 8. Team BRD 180, 9. Hyperion Motorsport 32.
Notes to Editors: Copyright free Formula BMW images for press purposes are now available. Please register on www.formulabmw-images.com.
For more information on the Formula BMW UK Championship please visit www.formulabmwuk.co.uk.
After two difficult sessions, interrupted by three red flags, Ericsson put in a measured performance on his first visit to Knockhill. He was up to speed after only a few laps in practice and topped the time sheets every session so far this weekend.
"The car was set up just right so it allowed me to learn the circuit really quickly and we haven't had to make many changes," said Ericsson. "It's perfect. Of course I'm nervous going into tomorrow but if I wasn't nervous that would be wrong so I'm looking forward to it and I'm going to drive to win the Championship!"
The top five remain the same for both races tomorrow with Henry Surtees (Carlin Motorsport) and Valle Makela (Nexa Racing) putting in impressive performances to finish second and third respectively, splitting the title contenders.
Surtees said: "I've got two front row grid spots, so I'm looking forward to the races which should be very exciting and interesting. Ericsson is very quick but we'll see what we can do."
Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport), currently Ericsson's closest title rival, will start fourth for both races tomorrow ahead of Josef Kral (Double R Racing) in fifth. The pair are the only two in a position to steal the title from Ericsson this weekend and will be giving everything they have in the final showdown.
"I made a mistake in the last corner which cost me too much time," said Kral. "I know I'm fast though so tomorrow will be good."
With the final races of the Formula BMW UK Championship fast approaching, a fantastic season of racing has left three youngsters still in contention for the title. With only 13 points lead, Ericsson will have to fight hard to keep Arundel and Kral behind him with the only thing certain, tomorrow will see our 2007 Champion crowned.
Results - Qualifying Round 17.
Pos Driver Nat Team Time
1. Marcus Ericsson SWE (Fortec Motorsport) R 50.948
2. Henry Surtees GB (Carlin Motorsport) R 51.355
3. Valle Makela SF (Nexa Racing) 51.386
4. Henry Arundel GB (Fortec Motorsport) 51.389
5. Josef Kral CZ (Double R Racing) 51.598
6. Jonathan Legris GB (Motaworld Racing) 51.640
7. Sam Abay AUS (Team Loctite) 51.669
8. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs GB (Fortec Motorsport) R 51.685
9. Anthony Comas F (Victory Engineering) 51.811
10. Carlos Huertas COL (Double R Racing) R 51.816
11. Kimiya Sato J (Nexa Racing) 51.860
12. Daniel McKenzie GB (Fortec Motorsport) 51.878
13. Michael Moyers GB (Hyperion Motorsport) 51.958
14. Jordan Williams GB (Team Loctite) 51.980
15. Rupert Svendsen-Cook GB (Team Loctite) R 52.040
16. Doru Sechelariu ROM (Fortec Motorsport) 52.133
17. Matt Bell GB (Motaworld Racing) R 52.219
18. Tom Gladdis GB (Team BRD) R 52.489
19. Adam Butler GB (Team BRD) R 52.803
Results - Qualifying Round 18.
Pos Driver Nat Team Time
1. Marcus Ericsson SWE (Fortec Motorsport) R 51.019
2. Henry Surtees GB (Carlin Motorsport) R 51.291
3. Valle Makela SF (Nexa Racing) 51.452
4. Henry Arundel GB (Fortec Motorsport) 51.538
5. Josef Kral CZ (Double R Racing) 51.590
6. Oliver Webb GB (Carlin Motorsport) R 51.664
7. Kimiya Sato J (Nexa Racing) 51.676
8. Jonathan Legris GB (Motaworld Racing) 51.700
9. Sam Abay AUS (Team Loctite) 51.710
10. Adrian Quaife-Hobbs GB (Fortec Motorsport) R 51.756
11. Carlos Huertas COL (Double R Racing) R 51.832
12. Anthony Comas F (Victory Engineering) 51.948
13. Jordan Williams GB (Team Loctite) 51.982
14. Daniel McKenzie GB (Fortec Motorsport) 52.011
15. Doru Sechelariu ROM (Fortec Motorsport) 52.081
16. Rupert Svendsen-Cook GB (Team Loctite) R 52.215
17. Tom Gladdis GB (Team BRD) R 52.326
18. Matt Bell GB (Motaworld Racing) R 52.342
19. Michael Moyers GB (Hyperion Motorsport) 52.486
20. Adam Butler GB (Team BRD) R 52.747
R indicates driver eligible for Rookie Cup
Championship Points Tables.
Drivers
1. Ericsson (5 wins) 584, 2. Arundel 571 (1 win), 3. Kral (6 wins) 565, 4. Makela (1 win) 461, 5. Sato (1 win) 454, 6. Surtees 421 (1 win), 7. Legris 412 (1 win), 8. Abay 383, 9. McKenzie 358,10. Quaife-Hobbs 357.
Rookies
1. Ericsson 584, 2. Surtees 421, 3. Quaife-Hobbs 357, 4. Webb 350, 5. Huertas 330, 6. Gladdis 240, 7. Svendsen-Cook 158, 8. Holland 90, 9. Butler 88, 10. Bell 52.
Teams
1. Fortec Motorsport 1205, 2. Nexa Racing 927, 3. Double R Racing 898, 4. Carlin Motorsport 770, 5. Team Loctite 680, 6. Motaworld Racing 524, 7. Victory Engineering 180, 8. Team BRD 180, 9. Hyperion Motorsport 32.
Notes to Editors: Copyright free Formula BMW images for press purposes are now available. Please register on www.formulabmw-images.com.
For more information on the Formula BMW UK Championship please visit www.formulabmwuk.co.uk.
