Reed Stevens wins in Denver

Reed Stevens (HBR Motorsports Team USA) took the Round 12 Formula BMW USA victory today at the Grand Prix of Denver. He finished .517 seconds ahead of Ryan Phinny (Hearn Motorsports) in the 23-lap race around the 1.657-mile temporary street course. The win was Stevens' third of the year and moved the 21-year old Californian up one position to third in the overall points. Phinny, making the most of his first front row start, delivered his very first runner-up finish and set a new race record (1:14.854) on lap 22. Point leader Robert Wickens (EuroInternational) finished third, moving back to an 18 point margin over Matt Lee in second. Lee, the Round 11 winner yesterday and polesitter today, finished ninth.

Daniel Morad (AIM Autosport) was again the highest finishing Rookie driver in the field, moving up one spot from his Round 11 finish to fourth today. Race Johnson (HBR Motorsport Team USA) finished fifth, but was penalized by IMSA 20 seconds for unjustifiable risk that moved him back to the 11th finishing position. Following this decision Sebastian Saavedra (Gelles Racing) moved up to round out the top-five. Maxime Pelletier (Gelles Racing) also received a 20 second penalty from IMSA for blocking and was moved from his 10th finishing position to 16th.

Simona de Silvestro (EuroInternational), moved to the rear of the 24-car field following post-qualifying technical inspection, kept her championship hopes alive by finishing sixth. Her fine drive, passing 17 competitors, meant she only lost one place in overall points to fourth, ten points from Stevens in third.