Breen closes on title but Olivers have a twist...
Bracknell, 4 August, 2006. The Formula BMW UK Championship 2006 bandwagon rolls into Norfolk this weekend for Rounds Fifteen and Sixteen of the season.
Formula BMW's star in the making, Niall Breen (Fortec Motorsport) still remains hot favourite for the title as his points lead grows each time out and the rest of the field run out of time to catch the flying Irishman.
However, after a closely fought race at Donington Park last time out, a battle is starting to emerge behind Breen between the two Olivers in the championship, one that goes back to way before their BMW days.
Oliver Turvey (Team Loctite) and Oliver Oakes (Carlin Motorsport) first raced together as novices at a Cadet kart race back in 1996 at Rowrah kart racing circuit in Cumbria. Oakes came off best back then, beating Penrith-born Turvey on home soil as they both started out on their motorsport careers.
After following slightly different paths following their initial skirmishes - Oakes, from Hopton in Norfolk stayed in karts to become 2005 FIA World Kart Champion while Turvey had a brief flirtation with car racing in Formula Renault in 2003 before moving full-time into Formula BMW two years ago - the pair have resumed their rivalry this season.
Last time out at Donington Park, the duo jostled for second place in race two, with Turvey getting the upper hand despite Oakes claiming fastest lap. This weekend at Snetterton, Turvey, who is currently studying for an engineering degree at Cambridge University, will be keen to claim revenge for that Rowrah event a decade ago by beating Oakes on his home turf.
Oakes has lived near Snetterton all his life but spent many years racing karts in mainland Europe. He topped the official Formula BMW test at the historic airfield track last month, but they say revenge is sweet and Turvey will be keen to taste it following his Donington triumph.
Looking further down the field, it was all change in the Rookie Cup last race with Kimiya Sato (Rowan Motor Racing) having a great weekend to take Niall Quinn's (Carlin Motorsport) place at the head of the leaderboard by three points. With Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport) third, only twelve points now separate the top three and so the final six rounds could see the crown land with any one of the trio.
Snetterton also sees the first appearance for a promising International Formula BMW racer. Seventeen-year-old Australian, Daniel Ricciardo will be racing with the Motaworld squad for a one-off race as Charlie Noble-Mundin is away until Silverstone. Ricciardo is competing in the Formula BMW Asia series and currently sits in fourth position in the championship, after stepping onto the podium six times this year so far.
At Snetterton, free practice will be on Friday, 11th August from 10.50 to 11.40 and 15.50 to 16.40. On Saturday (12th August) first qualifying will be from 11.00 to 11.20 and second qualifying from 14.50 to 15.10. The two 18 lap races will be held on Sunday (13th August) at 10.10 and 17.05.
List of Registered Competitors for Snetterton:
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
15 Daniel Murray (R) IRL Filsell Motorsport
16 Roger Orgee (R) GB Coles Racing
20 Daniel McKenzie GB Promatecme - RPM
26 Daniel Ricciardo AUS Motaworld Racing
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
Bracknell, 4 August, 2006. The Formula BMW UK Championship 2006 bandwagon rolls into Norfolk this weekend for Rounds Fifteen and Sixteen of the season.
Formula BMW's star in the making, Niall Breen (Fortec Motorsport) still remains hot favourite for the title as his points lead grows each time out and the rest of the field run out of time to catch the flying Irishman.
However, after a closely fought race at Donington Park last time out, a battle is starting to emerge behind Breen between the two Olivers in the championship, one that goes back to way before their BMW days.
Oliver Turvey (Team Loctite) and Oliver Oakes (Carlin Motorsport) first raced together as novices at a Cadet kart race back in 1996 at Rowrah kart racing circuit in Cumbria. Oakes came off best back then, beating Penrith-born Turvey on home soil as they both started out on their motorsport careers.
After following slightly different paths following their initial skirmishes - Oakes, from Hopton in Norfolk stayed in karts to become 2005 FIA World Kart Champion while Turvey had a brief flirtation with car racing in Formula Renault in 2003 before moving full-time into Formula BMW two years ago - the pair have resumed their rivalry this season.
Last time out at Donington Park, the duo jostled for second place in race two, with Turvey getting the upper hand despite Oakes claiming fastest lap. This weekend at Snetterton, Turvey, who is currently studying for an engineering degree at Cambridge University, will be keen to claim revenge for that Rowrah event a decade ago by beating Oakes on his home turf.
Oakes has lived near Snetterton all his life but spent many years racing karts in mainland Europe. He topped the official Formula BMW test at the historic airfield track last month, but they say revenge is sweet and Turvey will be keen to taste it following his Donington triumph.
Looking further down the field, it was all change in the Rookie Cup last race with Kimiya Sato (Rowan Motor Racing) having a great weekend to take Niall Quinn's (Carlin Motorsport) place at the head of the leaderboard by three points. With Henry Arundel (Fortec Motorsport) third, only twelve points now separate the top three and so the final six rounds could see the crown land with any one of the trio.
Snetterton also sees the first appearance for a promising International Formula BMW racer. Seventeen-year-old Australian, Daniel Ricciardo will be racing with the Motaworld squad for a one-off race as Charlie Noble-Mundin is away until Silverstone. Ricciardo is competing in the Formula BMW Asia series and currently sits in fourth position in the championship, after stepping onto the podium six times this year so far.
At Snetterton, free practice will be on Friday, 11th August from 10.50 to 11.40 and 15.50 to 16.40. On Saturday (12th August) first qualifying will be from 11.00 to 11.20 and second qualifying from 14.50 to 15.10. The two 18 lap races will be held on Sunday (13th August) at 10.10 and 17.05.
List of Registered Competitors for Snetterton:
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
15 Daniel Murray (R) IRL Filsell Motorsport
16 Roger Orgee (R) GB Coles Racing
20 Daniel McKenzie GB Promatecme - RPM
26 Daniel Ricciardo AUS Motaworld Racing
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
