Formula BMW World Final - Vietoris and Farfus thrilled at
chance to drive a BMW Sauber F1 Team car.
A dream came true on Thursday for Christian Vietoris (GER)
and BMW works driver Augusto Farfus (BRA): both drove with
the BMW Sauber F1 Team as part of the programme for the Formula
BMW World Final at the "Circuit de la Comunitat"
in Valencia (ESP). Vietoris won this event in 2006, and in
doing so was given the opportunity for his first Formula 1
drive. For Farfus, the outing in the BMW Sauber F1 Team car
was the reward for a successful season in the FIA World Touring
Car Championship. As recently as last Sunday, Farfus was still
battling for the World Championship title with BMW Team Germany
at the season finale in Macau (MAC).
Vietoris was first to complete his initial "taster laps"
round the 4.005-kilometre track. The 18-year-old, who took
overall victory in the 2006 Formula BMW Germany season, quickly
came to terms with the unfamiliar car. He did 62 laps and
constantly improved his times.
"That was an amazing experience", said Vietoris,
who raced in German Formula 3 in 2007, and is currently fighting
for points with the German team in the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport.
"I have spent many years working towards the chance to
drive a Formula 1 car. The g forces, braking effect and speed
are simply phenomenal. This car is great fun to drive. It
has certainly given me a more accurate impression of the unbelievable
power and aerodynamics that are at work in Formula 1. Today's
drive has made me even more determined to make it into the
elite motor sport class."
Farfus has already made it to the top in the world of touring
cars. To date, the 24-year-old has clocked up seven race victories
in the World Championship, and has been very impressive at
the wheel of the BMW 320si WTCC in 2007. He could do nothing
about the collision in the first race in Macau, which brought
a premature end to his title hopes. This disappointment soon
gave way to joy at the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car.
"A big thank you to BMW and Mario Theissen for giving
me the opportunity to have this extraordinary experience,"
said Farfus after 33 laps. "At the beginning, I was obviously
trying to become acquainted with the car. As I had very little
time to prepare myself, I feel my neck muscles a bit more
than usual. In fact, I haven't raced a single-seater car for
four years - not to mention a Formula 1 car. Lap by lap the
feeling for this returned. It's just amazing how quickly things
happen in a Formula 1 cockpit. This requires the highest level
of concentration all the time."
From Friday, 35 drivers from 19 countries will be battling
it out to follow Vietoris and Farfus. The winner of this year's
Formula BMW World Final will also be given the chance to drive
with the BMW Sauber F1 Team. The final race begins at 14:50hrs
local time (13:50hrs GMT) on Sunday.
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