Formula BMW Americas names 2008 Junior Scholarship Winners

Formula BMW Americas is pleased to announce the winners of the four 2008 BMW Junior scholarships. They are; Colombian-born Juan Arenas, 18, of Miami, Florida; Mikael Grenier, 15, of Quebec, Canada; and Alexandre Ruiz, 16, of Sao Paulo, Brazil. These three young men were selected from the 23 participants from Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Peru and the United States who competed in the two scholarship shoot- outs held this year at the Formula BMW Racing Center at the Circuit de la Comunitat Valenciana Ricardo Tormo, in Valencia, Spain.

The fourth 2008 Formula BMW Americas Junior scholarship will be awarded to Ricardo Favoretto. Favoretto, 19, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, finished as runner-up to 2007 Formula BMW USA Rookie champion Esteban Gutierrez, who will compete in the Formula BMW Europe Championship in 2008.

Each 2008 Formula BMW Americas Junior will receive $80,000 towards participation in the championship and automatic complimentary enrollment in the Education and Coaching program.

While the balance of the 14-race Formula BMW Americas schedule is yet to be finalized, the season will again be anchored by races at two Formula 1 Grands Prix. Formula BMW will race for a fifth consecutive year in support of the Canadian Grand Prix, on June 6-8, and Formula BMW drivers will race at the Brazilian Grand Prix for the first time on October 31 to November 2. The remainder of the 14-race schedule will take place at a combination of American Le Mans Series, Champ Car World Series and Rolex Sports Car Series weekends.