Rounds Thirteen and Fourteen of the Formula BMW UK Championship 2006 will see a hungry pack of challengers try to halt the winning habit of runaway series leader Niall Breen (Fortec Motorsport).
After taking his second maximum points of the season last time out at Croft, Breen now heads the leader board by an amazing 50 points. Following a great performance at Croft where he followed Breen home in both races, Ross Curnow (Nexa racing) has propelled himself up to second in the table ahead of Euan Hankey (Fortec Motorsport) and Michael Meadows (Master Motorsport). However, with only nine points between the trio there is still everything to play for. The dark horse looking to spoil the party for the front-runners at Donington Park will be Formula BMW occasional, Matt Howson (Filsell Motorsport). Back for his third event of the season, Donington will make Howson eligible to take part in the Formula BMW World Final in Valencia at the end of the year where he will be able to pit himself against the best of the best from the four Formula BMW series from across the globe.
Howson is one of the most talented stars on the UK race scene, clearly shown when he put on a master class of driving in the torrential rain at both Oulton Park and Brands Hatch earlier in the year. The Norwich-born racer currently lies tenth in the championship, an impressive feat having only competed in four of the previous 12 rounds, and will be one to watch this weekend.
Niall Quinn (Carlin Motorsport) continues his lead in the Rookie Cup, a competition open to Formula BMW debutants aged 16-20, but after a fantastic double Rookie victory at Croft last time out, Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport) was able to capitalise on a troubled weekend for the Irishman, reducing Quinn's lead to only eight points. Eighteen points now separate Quinn at the top of the table and Sato (Rowan Motor Racing) in third, setting the stage for some close racing from the newcomers.
With the season now at a telling point, the Leicestershire circuit, with its fast sweeping corners, promises some epic wheel-to-wheel action as the youngsters do battle this weekend. At Donington Park, free practice will be on Thursday, 27th July from 10.10 to 11.15 and 14.40 to 15.45. On Saturday (29th July) first qualifying will be from 11.45 to 12.05 and second qualifying from 16.20 to 16.40. The two 16 lap races will be held on Sunday (30th July) at 09.50 and 15.00.
List of Registered Competitors for Donington Park:
No. Driver Nat. Entrant
1 Niall Breen IRL Fortec Motorsport
2 Euan Hankey GB Fortec Motorsport
3 Henry Arundel (R) GB Fortec Motorsport
4 Oliver Turvey GB Team Loctite
5 Niall Quinn (R) IRL Carlin Motorsport
6 Oliver Oakes GB Carlin Motorsport
7 Michael Meadows GB Master Motorsport
8 Kimiya Sato (R) J Rowan Motor Racing Ltd.
9 Ross Curnow GB Nexa Racing
10 Tom Dunstan (R) GB Nexa Racing
11 Jack Clarke (R) GB Nexa Racing
13 Chris Holmes GB Mackie Motorsport
14 Matt Howson GB Filsell Motorsport
15 Daniel Murray (R) IRL Filsell Motorsport
16 Roger Orgee (R) GB Coles Racing
20 Daniel McKenzie GB Promatecme - RPM
28 Jonathan Legris GB Motaworld Racing
29 Michael Patrizi AUS Motaworld Racing
40 Marcus Weller (R) GB Promatecme - RPM
42 Joe Osborne GB Coles Racing
44 Leo Mansell GB Mansell Motorsport
50 Greg Mansell (R) GB Mansell Motorsport
98 Matthew Hamilton (R) GB Coles Racing
(R) indicates Driver eligible for Rookie Cup
After taking his second maximum points of the season last time out at Croft, Breen now heads the leader board by an amazing 50 points. Following a great performance at Croft where he followed Breen home in both races, Ross Curnow (Nexa racing) has propelled himself up to second in the table ahead of Euan Hankey (Fortec Motorsport) and Michael Meadows (Master Motorsport). However, with only nine points between the trio there is still everything to play for. The dark horse looking to spoil the party for the front-runners at Donington Park will be Formula BMW occasional, Matt Howson (Filsell Motorsport). Back for his third event of the season, Donington will make Howson eligible to take part in the Formula BMW World Final in Valencia at the end of the year where he will be able to pit himself against the best of the best from the four Formula BMW series from across the globe.
Howson is one of the most talented stars on the UK race scene, clearly shown when he put on a master class of driving in the torrential rain at both Oulton Park and Brands Hatch earlier in the year. The Norwich-born racer currently lies tenth in the championship, an impressive feat having only competed in four of the previous 12 rounds, and will be one to watch this weekend.
Niall Quinn (Carlin Motorsport) continues his lead in the Rookie Cup, a competition open to Formula BMW debutants aged 16-20, but after a fantastic double Rookie victory at Croft last time out, Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport) was able to capitalise on a troubled weekend for the Irishman, reducing Quinn's lead to only eight points. Eighteen points now separate Quinn at the top of the table and Sato (Rowan Motor Racing) in third, setting the stage for some close racing from the newcomers.
With the season now at a telling point, the Leicestershire circuit, with its fast sweeping corners, promises some epic wheel-to-wheel action as the youngsters do battle this weekend. At Donington Park, free practice will be on Thursday, 27th July from 10.10 to 11.15 and 14.40 to 15.45. On Saturday (29th July) first qualifying will be from 11.45 to 12.05 and second qualifying from 16.20 to 16.40. The two 16 lap races will be held on Sunday (30th July) at 09.50 and 15.00.
List of Registered Competitors for Donington Park:
No. Driver Nat. Entrant
1 Niall Breen IRL Fortec Motorsport
2 Euan Hankey GB Fortec Motorsport
3 Henry Arundel (R) GB Fortec Motorsport
4 Oliver Turvey GB Team Loctite
5 Niall Quinn (R) IRL Carlin Motorsport
6 Oliver Oakes GB Carlin Motorsport
7 Michael Meadows GB Master Motorsport
8 Kimiya Sato (R) J Rowan Motor Racing Ltd.
9 Ross Curnow GB Nexa Racing
10 Tom Dunstan (R) GB Nexa Racing
11 Jack Clarke (R) GB Nexa Racing
13 Chris Holmes GB Mackie Motorsport
14 Matt Howson GB Filsell Motorsport
15 Daniel Murray (R) IRL Filsell Motorsport
16 Roger Orgee (R) GB Coles Racing
20 Daniel McKenzie GB Promatecme - RPM
28 Jonathan Legris GB Motaworld Racing
29 Michael Patrizi AUS Motaworld Racing
40 Marcus Weller (R) GB Promatecme - RPM
42 Joe Osborne GB Coles Racing
44 Leo Mansell GB Mansell Motorsport
50 Greg Mansell (R) GB Mansell Motorsport
98 Matthew Hamilton (R) GB Coles Racing
(R) indicates Driver eligible for Rookie Cup
