Ruiz Making the Most of Study Abroad, Formula BMW Style

Alexandre Ruiz

Brazilian Alexandre Ruiz is taking the summer to do a study abroad program. But while other 15 year-olds may be doing the same thing this summer, it’s likely none of them are studying threshold braking, slip angles and weight transfer. And their campus certainly isn’t anything like the 2.258-mile Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. But for the Formula BMW Americas driver, that’s exactly what he is doing and enjoying every bit of it.

With two race weekends under his belt that have yielded three Top-5 finishes, one might say that his tutelage is going quite well. But Ruiz remains realistic. He knows that despite the encouraging results thus far, he has more to learn and more to offer.

“I’m really enjoying my time racing in Formula BMW here in North America. It’s been a great experience with all around. From racing at two great tracks (Laguna Seca, Circuit Gilles Villeneuve) to the team (Apex-HBR Racing) to the whole Formula BMW Americas program, I’m learning a lot," beams Ruiz.

The Mid-Ohio race weekend comes shortly after a big Formula 1 race weekend as Ruiz added to his multi-cultural experience with the north of the border weekend in Montreal for rounds three and four.

“Racing at an F1 event was really inspirational. I know that as I gain more experience this year, I’ll improve on my results and get closer to my dream," he says. “But I’m taking one race at a time, so right now, all of my thoughts are on Mid-Ohio."

As usual, two rounds of the 2008 Formula BMW Americas Series will tackle the challenging twists, turns, ups and downs of Mid-Ohio, a circuit that will be completely new to Ruiz. Then again, so were the previous two. Ruiz is proving a fast learner on this summer abroad program.

2008 Formula BMW Americas Race Schedule/Results

DATE CIRCUIT ROUNDS/Results
May 16-18 Laguna Seca Raceway P5 & P4
June 6-9 Canadian Grand Prix P14&P5
June 20-22 Mid Ohio Sports Car Course 5 & 6
July 11-12 Lime Rock Park 7 & 8
Aug 7-10 Road America 9 & 10
Sept 27-28 Thunderbolt Raceway 11 & 12
Oct 31 – Nov 2 Grand Prix of Brazil Interlagos 13 & 14