BMW in the world

Formula BMW

Formula BMW is a junior racing formula for single seater cars. It is positioned at the bottom of the motorsport career ladder alongside the longer established Formula Ford category. Like Formula Ford, it is intended to function as the young kart racing graduate's first experience of car racing. The new formula was created by BMW Motorsport in 2001, with the first of its championships being inaugurated in Germany in 2002. Selected competitors from each series meet in the World Final at the end of each season, with the promise of a Formula One test for the winner. From 2011 onwards BMW has ceased to support the Pacific and Europe series, in favor of the Formula BMW Talent Cup.[1] Those series will continue to run, albeit independently. BMW has prior experience of junior formula racing, as a successful engine supplier in Formula Two and, more briefly, Formula Three in the 1970s. Its European F2 Championship program, which ran from 1973 to 1981, contributed to six drivers' titles in partnership with March. The company ended its participation prior to its first entry into Formula One in the 1980s. BMW returned to the junior categories in Germany in 1991, as the engine supplier to the Formula ADAC championship.[2] The first champion was Christian Abt.[3] It was in 2001 that BMW decided to significantly increase its involvement in the series; ADAC remained the sanctioning body, but BMW Motorsport devised the package of regulations and commissioned the new chassis. The new formula made its debut at Hockenheim in April 2002.[4] Among the series' more notable teams was Team Rosberg, founded by former Formula One world champion Keke Rosberg, which entered the original Formula BMW ADAC in 1999 and continued into the all-new championship. The team took Rosberg's son, Nico, to the 2002 championship title in his rookie yea .[5] By 2006, Nico Rosberg had progressed to Formula One. Formula BMW then expanded to encompass four championships across three continents. The German series was followed by a south-east Asian championship in 2003,[6] and series in the United Kingdom and the United States were launched the following year.[7] The UK and German championships merged into a new pan-European series in 2008.[8][9] [edit]Overview Competitors benefited from BMW Motorsport's Education and Coaching Program, which is based at two Formula BMW Racing Centres at the Circuit de Valencia in Spain and the Bahrain International Circuit at Sakhir, Bahrain. The centres provided courses in race driving, chassis setup, fitness and nutrition, media management, and sponsorship searching.[10] To be eligible to compete in Formula BMW, drivers had to be at least fifteen years old, and must not have competed in any international racing series other than karting. They must have held an International racing license no higher than Grade C.[11] (FIA International racing licenses are graded from A to D, with an additional super-license above Grade A.)[12] Competitors must take part in a Licensing Course at one of the Racing Centres.[13][14] BMW also provided an annual scholarship for five young drivers in each championship, between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, who were chosen through a selection process. It provides each driver with a budget of ?35,000 in the UK,[15] US$50,000 in Asia, and US$40,000 in the USA.[16] The best drivers from each championship were invited to the Formula BMW World Final, which takes place at one of the Formula BMW Racing Centres in December of each year. The 2006 event was held at Valencia. It is composed of a series of elimination heats followed by a final race. The winner was awarded a Formula One test with BMW-Sauber.