Formula BMW Americas (formerly Formula BMW USA) visited Canada twice in 2007, in June for the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, and in August for the ALMS weekend at Mosport International Raceway. They are a great racing series that includes many Canadian drivers. The 2007 overall champion was Daniel Morad from Markham, Ontario, Canada.
In 2008 the series' only visit to Canada was June 7-8 at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montreal, Que..
2008 SEASON FORMULA BMW VIDEO
Formula BMW video highlites of the 2008 season from Alexander Rossi's perspective
2009 DRIVERS STANDINGS FINAL 2009 STANDINGS AFTER MOSPORT AUGUST 30, 2009
POS DRIVER TEAM POINTS
1 Gabby Chaves Eurointernational 235
2 Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 187
3 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 143
4 Michael Lewis Eurointernational 111
5 James Kovacic Team Apex 102
6 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 95
7 Joao Victor Horto Team Apex 91
8 Daniel Vela Eurointernational 56
9 Martin Sala Team Apex 54
10 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 38
11 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 19
12 Freddy Zebede Jensen Motorsport 9
13 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 3
EVENT 6 - MOBIL 1 GRAND PRIX OF MOSPORT BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO AUGUST 28- 30, 2009
FORMULA BMW AMERICAS WRAPS UP SEASON AND SERIES
The Formula Americas season and series concluded at Mosport International Raceway this weekend with Round 13 and 14.
Giancarlo Vilarinho earned his seventh Formula BMW Americas win of the season August 30 at Mosport International Raceway in the last ever series race.
The 2009 Formula BMW Americas champion is EuroInternational's Gabby Chaves. Michael Lewis won the Rookie Cup, with a fourth place finish in the final race at Mosport.
"I had a really great time this year running in the Formula BMW Americas championship and much of what I learned here will help me throughout my career," Chaves said. "Today was a good race for me, I really wanted to finish on the podium, and we were able to run hard and get a good finish."
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAG
1 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Team Autotecnica
2 2 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational 0.855
3 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 2.310
4 14 Alex Ellis Team Autotecnica 4.877
5 42 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 7.215
6 18 Joao Horto Team Apex Racing USA 7.339
7 5 Daniel Vela Euro Junior Team 11.330
8 6 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 17.816
9 19 Martin Sala Team Apex Racing USA 19.009
10 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen MotorSport 31.189
11 20 James Kovacic Team Apex Racing USA NO TIME
MOSPORT RACE #2, AUGUST 30, 2009 RESULTS
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAG
1 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational
2 2 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational 1.033
3 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Team Autotecnica 4.243
4 42 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 6.529
5 20 James Kovacic Team Apex Racing USA 6.579
6 18 Joao Horto Team Apex Racing USA 6.705
7 19 Martin Sala Team Apex Racing USA 18.968
8 5 Daniel Vela Euro Junior Team 23.365
9 14 Alex Ellis Team Autotecnica 23.631
10 6 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 47.780
11 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen MotorSport 48.580
EVENT 5 - ROAD AMERICA, ELKHART LAKE, WIS AUGUST 14- 16, 2009
ROAD AMERICA RACE #1, MAY 15 RESULTS, 2009
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAPS LAG
1 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 10
2 2 Gabby Chaves Eurointernational 10 5.191
3 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 10 6.875
4 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 10 12.339
5 18 Joao Horto Team Apex 10 13.252
6 42 Michael Lewis Eurointernational 10 13.333
7 12 Olivier Lombard Eurointernational 10 14.201
8 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 10 19.719
9 5 Daniel Vela Euro Junior Team 10 20.043
10 6 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 10 28.253
11 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 10 2:38.884
12 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 1 9 Laps
ROAD AMERICA RACE #2, MAY 16 RESULTS, 2009
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAPS LAG
1 2 Gabby Chaves Eurointernational 10
2 18 Joao Horto Team Apex 10 4.432
3 42 Michael Lewis Eurointernational 10 4.931
4 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 10 6.219
5 12 Olivier Lombard Eurointernational 10 7.893
6 5 Daniel Vela Euro Junior Team 10 15.688
7 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 10 15.818
8 6 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 10 16.255
9 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 10 22.194
10 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 10 38.048
11 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 2 8 Laps
12 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 2 8 Laps
ROAD AMERICA RACE #3, MAY 16 RESULTS, 2009
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAPS LAG
1 2 Gabby Chaves Eurointernational 9
2 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 9 1.254
3 42 Michael Lewis Eurointernational 9 2.082
4 12 Olivier Lombard Eurointernational 9 2.820
5 18 Joao Horto Team Apex 9 3.076
6 6 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 9 4.160
7 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 9 5.053
8 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 9 6.008
9 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 0 9 Laps
10 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 0 9 Laps
11 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 0 9 Laps
12 5 Daniel Vela Euro Junior Team 0 9 Laps
EVENT 4 - LIME ROCK PARK LAKEVILLE, CONN, JULY 17- 18, 2009
JAMES KOVACIC, GABBY CHAVES SPLIT LIME ROCK WEEKEND
For Australian James Kovacic, Connecticut seemed an unlikely destination to celebrate his 16th birthday, but since the Formula BMW Americas schedule took him to Lime Rock Park, Kovacic figured he should do something special to mark the occasion.
The young Team Apex pilot became the first driver to win a Formula BMW Americas race from a starting spot other than the pole this year as he came from fifth on the starting grid to score his first career win. Kovacic split the race weekend with Colombian-American Gabby Chaves, as Chaves' victory in Saturday's first race propelled him back into the series points lead.
Chaves won the day's first event in dramatic fashion as he swiped the lead from Autotecnica's Gianmarco Raimondo on a late restart, then held off a fierce last-corner charge from the Canadian to win by 0.032 seconds. Raimondo got a great run coming off the final corner of the 1.53-mile Lime Rock track, drafted right to the gearbox of Chaves' Eurointernational machine before coming up half a carlength short in the drag race to the checkered flag.
"I caught a gap on the restart and was able to get inside and take the lead, then was able to build it a little," Chaves recalled. "Gianmarco came at me hard at the end but I was able to hold him off. This was a great weekend for me, as we moved another step closer to our goal of winning the Formula BMW Americas championship!"
Raimondo settled for his second runner-up finish of the year while Kovacic showed a glimpse of things to come by snaring the third spot ahead of a season-best fourth-place run by Dominican Daniel Vela. The win for Chaves, coupled with an eighth-place finish by Eurointernational's Giancarlo Vilarinho, moved Chaves into the points lead.
The second race was a fierce battle, run under sunny skies and the hottest temperatures of the weekend. Alex Ellis controlled the race from the pole for the first 13 laps, while Kovacic steadily made his way through the field. The Aussie moved to fourth on Lap 5, was third by Lap 7, and dashed by Chaves for second after just one more orbit of the LRP circuit. He then set his sights on Ellis, chasing him for nearly three full laps before an Ellis spin promoted Kovacic to the lead.
Kovacic held off strong challenges from Chaves and Raimondo over the next two laps, but was equal to the task, stretching his lead to a full second before a Robert Garcia crash brought out the yellow flag under which the race would eventually end.
"I can't even explain how happy I am about getting my first win," grinned Kovacic. "I don't know what our Team Apex guys did to this car but it was really fast. I tried to keep out of trouble, find good spots to make my passes and drive hard."
Chaves held on for second and maintained his streak of finishing on the podium in every race through the nine rounds of 2009. Raimondo finished third for his sixth podium of the year while Brazilian Joao Horto set a new career high by bringing his Team Apex machine home in fourth. Horto's countryman Vilarinho rebounded from a tough opening race to round out the top five.
The series will compete at the 4.048-mile Road America layout with a tripleheader August 14-16, and will wrap up the 2009 schedule with a doubleheader at Mosport two weeks later.
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LIME ROCK RACE #1, JULY 18, 2009 RESULTS
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAPS LAG
1 2 Gabby Chaves Eurointernational 20
2 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 20 0.032
3 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 20 1.828
4 5 Daniel Vela Euro Junior Team 20 2.734
5 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 20 3.126
6 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 20 4.013
7 18 Joao Horto Team Apex 20 4.723
8 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 20 5.917
9 13 Barrett Mertins(R) Jensen Motorsport 20 1:09.203**
10 21 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 18 2 Laps
11 12 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 12 8 Laps*
12 42 Michael Lewis Eurointernational 1 19 Laps*
*Cars 42, 6 excluded - FBMW SSR 3.19.5 (outside mechanical assistance)
**Car 13 penalized 30 seconds for violation of 2009 IMSA Code 5.6
(avoidable contact)
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LIME ROCK RACE #2, JULY 18, 2009 RESULTS
POS NO TEAM DRIVER LAPS LAG
1 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 21
2 2 Gabby Chaves Eurointernational 21 1.143
3 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 21 1.578
4 18 Joao Horto Team Apex 21 1.744
5 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 21 2.474
6 42 Michael Lewis Eurointernational 21 3.898
7 5 Daniel Vela Euro Junior Team 21 4.017
8 6 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 21 4.630
9 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 21 5.485
10 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 21 7.392
11 21 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 17 4 Laps
12 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 7 14 Laps
EVENT 3 - MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK TOOELE, UTAH, MAY 15 - 17, 2009
GIANCARLO VILARINHO WINS ALL 3 RACES AT TOOELE
Giancarlo Vilarinho (Eurointernational) lives in Miami as he pursues his racing career, but the 17-year-old Brazilian may be considering a move to Salt Lake City after he dominated the three-race Formula BMW Americas weekend at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah, winning Rounds 5, 6 and 7.
Vilarinho completed a three-race sweep of the Formula BMW Americas events this weekend at the 2.2-mile MMP East Course as he again led wire-to-wire to win Sunday's event. The victory, which came by a scant .327 seconds over Gabby Chaves, was the fifth consecutive series win for Vilarinho and the seventh in as many outings for the series-leading Eurointernational squad.
"I tried to work really hard this week with the team and with the car and it paid off in good results," Vilarinho said. "I like this track a lot, it's really important to manage the tires here and it suits my style well. I am very happy to take the lead in the championship but there is a lot more to do this season."
Chaves (Eurointernational) and Formula BMW Junior Gianmarco Raimondo (Autotecnica) resumed their battle on Sunday after spending the weekend's previous two races battling fiercely throughout each lap. Chaves held off Raimondo to score the second spot, settling for second after nearly swiping the lead on a late restart.
The field circulated behind the safety car after contact between Robert Garcia and Barrett Mertins brought out the caution flag, with the cleanup leaving the field just one green-flag lap to settle the day's events. Chaves got a strong restart and slipped his nose to the rear of Vilarinho's car heading into the first turn, but wisely saw that further pressing the issue could have caused contact that could have ruined his day.
"I thought I had him going into the first corner. I thought I had him outbraked, but I just wasn't close enough," said Chaves. "This was a tough weekend. We were fast in the test sessions, but couldn't seem to get it working during the race."
Raimondo held off Michael Lewis (Eurointernational) for the final step on the podium, marking Raimondo's second podium finish of the weekend. The Canadian was just one second behind the leader at the end of 15 laps, finishing a run that saw him maintain his third-place spot in the season standings.
"It was a very difficult race today, there was a lot of pressure through the whole race," Raimondo said. "Overall it was a decent weekend. We would have liked to have done better, but we showed that we can run with the Eurointernational cars, now we just need to move up a little bit and get some wins."
Lewis widened his lead in the Rookie standings with his fourth-place finish in Sunday's race, while James Kovacic (Team Apex) and Alex Ellis (Autotecnica) followed in sixth and seventh. The Formula BMW Americas series will take the next month off, allowing teams and drivers to concentrate on training for the second half of the season. The series gets back to action July 17-18 with its annual sojourn to Lime Rock Park where Rounds 8 and 9 will be contested on the 1.53-mile Connecticut race course.
MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK RACE #1, MAY 16 RESULTS, 2009
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAPS LAG
1 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho Eurointernational 15
2 2 Gabby Chaves Eurointernational 15 2.994
3 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 15 4.013
4 42 Michael Lewis Eurointernational 15 11.074
5 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 15 16.592
6 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 15 22.173
7 5 Daniel Vela Euro Junior Team 15 22.803
8 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 15 24.165
9 18 Joao Horto Team Apex 15 31.066
10 21 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 15 49.841
11 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 15 53.180
12 6 Wilson Phillipe Euro Junior Team 15 1:14.604 *
*Car 6 penalized 30 seconds by the Stewards of the Meet
for violation of 3.20.1 of the 2009 Formula BMW Americas SSR
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MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK RACE #2, MAY 17 RESULTS, 2009
POS NO TEAM DRIVER LAPS LAG
1 9 Eurointernational Giancarlo Vilarinho 15
2 42 Eurointernational Michael Lewis 15 0.520
3 2 Eurointernational Gabby Chaves 15 2.957
4 50 Autotecnica Gianmarco Raimondo 15 3.480
5 20 Team Apex James Kovacic 15 4.764
6 14 Autotecnica Alex Ellis 15 5.968
7 18 Team Apex Joao Horto 15 8.999
8 13 Jensen Motorsport Barrett Mertins 15 16.149
9 6 Euro Junior Team Wilson Phillipe 15 17.621
10 19 Team Apex Martin Sala 15 18.491
11 21 Robali Motorsports Robert Garcia 15 18.586
12 5 Euro Junior Team Daniel Vela 7 8 Laps *
*Car 5 excluded - FBMW SSR 3.19.5 (outside mechanical assistance)
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MILLER MOTORSPORTS PARK RACE #3, MAY 17 RESULTS, 2009
POS NO TEAM DRIVER LAPS LAG
1 9 Eurointernational Giancarlo Vilarinho 15
2 2 Eurointernational Gabby Chaves 15 0.327
3 50 Autotecnica Gianmarco Raimondo 15 1.025
4 42 Eurointernational Michael Lewis 15 1.405
5 20 Team Apex James Kovacic 15 2.273
6 14 Autotecnica Alex Ellis 15 2.794
7 18 Team Apex Joao Horto 15 8.991
8 6 Euro Junior Team Wilson Phillipe 15 19.892
9 5 Euro Junior Team Daniel Vela 15 1:09.827
10 13 Jensen Motorsport Barrett Mertins 14 1 Laps
11 19 Team Apex Martin Sala 13 2 Laps
12 21 Robali Motorsports Robert Garcia 9 6 Laps
EVENT 2 - VIRGINIA INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY ALTON, VIRGINIA, APRIL 25 - 26, 2009
GIANCARLO VILARINHO SWEEPS FORMULA BMW AMERICAS WEEKEND AT VIR
Giancarlo Vilarinho came to the United States from his native Brazil a year ago to pursue his racing dream, moving to Miami to join the Formula BMW Americas Championship without knowing a word of English.
His English is improving after having been in the U.S. for a year, and after his impressive performance this weekend at Virginia International Raceway, Vilarinho will be adding the words 'victory' and 'championship contender' to his list of ready vocabulary terms.
The 17-year-old Vilarinho dominated the two-race weekend at VIR, as a victory in Sunday's event gave the Eurointernational driver a sweep of the two races and moved him to within 15 points of teammate Gabby Chaves for the lead in the series standings after four races.
"Today's race was a little tougher for me," Vilarinho said after beating Chaves to the checkered flag by .510 seconds. "The track was hotter, and it was hotter inside the car, then we had the caution period on the third lap, so I had to concentrate and get a good restart. But I did and we got the result we needed to get back into the championship hunt."
Vilarinho led from the drop of the green flag, although the 15-year-old Chaves never fell more than a second back after wresting the second spot away from James Kovacic (Team Apex) at the start. Chaves, who ran the fastest lap of the race with a new track record time of 1:56.293, stayed within reach of Vilarinho, but could never get in range to make a pass after 11 orbits of the 3.27-mile VIR road course.
"Yesterday it was a bigger gap to the leader, so I am happy that it was closer today," Chaves said. "We fought hard and were able to continue scoring points and maintaining our lead in the championship."
Gianmarco Raimondo (Autotecnica) took advantage of a fast car and his year of Formula BMW Americas experience to snare the third spot, earning his second podium result of the season. He moved into third when Kovacic and then Alex Ellis (Autotecnica) suffered problems, and then fought off a strong challenge from Team Apex's Martin Sala to stay there.
"I had to use all my experience today to avoid incidents, find the right line to defend my position and to find the best way around the track," explained the 18-year-old Raimondo. "There were a couple of moments that were close and I was starting to have a problem with the car, but it worked out well."
Sala started fourth but had slipped back to sixth before making his late-race charge. He moved to within a half-second of Raimondo in the waning laps of the event, and finished as the race's top rookie after his fourth-place run. Michael Lewis (Eurointernational) rounded out the top five, rebounding from a problem on Saturday that left him out of the top 10. Ellis battled back from his brief off-course excursion to finish sixth, allowing him to widen his lead in the rookie point standings to three points over Kovacic.
VIR RACE #1, APRIL 25 RESULTS, 2009
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAPS LAG
1 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 12
2 2 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational 12 0.463
3 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 12 0.751
4 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 12 1.085
5 18 Joao Horto Team Apex 12 1.493
6 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 12 2.087
7 6 Wilson Phillipe Euro Junior Team 12 2.817
8 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 12 3.559
9 5 Olivier Lombard EuroInternational 12 4.460
10 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 12 4.552
11 42 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 9 3 Laps
12 21 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 8 4 Laps
VIR RACE #2, APRIL 26 RESULTS, 2009 RESULTS
POS NO DRIVER TEAM LAPS LAG
1 9 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 11
2 2 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational 11 0.510
3 50 Gianmarco Raimondo Autotecnica 11 5.359
4 19 Martin Sala Team Apex 11 6.776
5 42 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 11 13.363
6 14 Alex Ellis Autotecnica 11 19.376
7 18 Joao Horto Team Apex 11 28.404
8 20 James Kovacic Team Apex 11 34.055
9 6 Wilson Phillipe Euro Junior Team 11 43.596
10 21 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 11 55.878
11 13 Barrett Mertins Jensen Motorsport 1 10 Laps
12 5 Olivier Lombard EuroInternational 0 11 Laps
Formula BMW Americas will begin the 2009 Championship race with Rounds 1 & 2 at Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway at the 3.24-mile Autodromo Puebla Amozoc road course on March 21-22. The race is being run in conjunction with the second round of the FIA World Touring Car Championship.
PUEBLA RACE #1, MARCH 21 RESULTS
POS DRIVER TEAM LAG
1 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational
2 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 1.993
3 James Kovacic Team Apex 12.973
4 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 13.266
5 Daniel Vela EuroInternational 21.768
6 Joao Victor Horto Team Apex 23.057
7 Martin Sala Team Apex 27.130
8 Freddy Zebede Jensen MotorSport 27.231
9 Alex Ellis Team Autotecnica 48.907
10 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 1:24.258
11 Barrett Mertins Jensen MotorSport 2 Laps
12 Gianmarco Raimondo Team Autotecnica 10 Laps
13 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 13 Laps
PUEBLA RACE #2, MARCH 22, 2009 RESULTS
POS DRIVER TEAM LAG
1 Gabby Chaves EuroInternational -
2 Gianmarco Raimondo Team Autotecnica 4.898
3 Alex Ellis Team Autotecnica 10.629
4 James Kovacic Team Apex 12.378
5 Daniel Vela EuroInternational 16.510
6 Freddy Zebede Jensen MotorSport 32.046
7 Joao Victor Horto Team Apex 32.794
8 Michael Lewis EuroInternational 50.214
9 Wilson Philippe Euro Junior Team 57.677
10 Robert Garcia Robali Motorsports 1:19.912
11 Giancarlo Vilarinho EuroInternational 8 Laps
12 Martin Sala Team Apex 8 Laps
DQ Barrett Mertins Jensen MotorSport 59.261
GABBY CHAVES SWEEPS OPENING FORMULA BMW AMERICAS WEEKEND
Gabby Chaves (EuroInternational) had about as good a weekend as a race car driver can hope for as the 2009 Formula BMW Americas Championships opened this weekend in Puebla, Mexico. Chaves won poles for both events and never trailed in either race, again going wire-to-wire to win Sunday's Round 2 at the 2.09-mile Miguel E. Abed road course.
Starting from pole, Chaves made a strong launch from the standing start to hold off his EuroInternational teammate Giancarlo Vilarinho heading into the first turn, then inherited a large cushion when Vilarinho suffered a mechanical problem at the halfway point.
Gianmarco Raimondo (Autotecnica) earned a solid second place, but could not challenge the Colombian-American Chaves, who won by 4.898 seconds.
"This was a great way to start the season for me and my team,"Chaves said. "I was able to get a good start and when Giancarlo had his problem I ended up with some more room to breathe. Now I get to celebrate, then get back to my physical training and get ready for Virginia and our next race."
Raimondo came from fifth on the grid to score his first podium of the season, getting past his teammate Alex Ellis and Jensen Motorsport's Freddy Zebede in the first two laps to slip into third. He climbed to second on Lap Seven when Vilarinho retired and built a solid advantage over the battle for third place, that was eventually claimed by his Autotecnica stablemate Ellis.
"This was a better run for us today and one that we needed to get back into the swing of things,"Raimondo reported. "The car was good and we had a good race, but I just couldn't get close enough to Gabby at the end."
Ellis made a strong late-race run to score his first Formula BMW Americas podium finish, slipping past James Kovacic (Team Apex) in Turn 14 on the last lap of the race to score third. Kovacic was promoted to third on Lap Seven, and held Ellis at bay for the next seven orbits of the Puebla road circuit, and seemingly had the spot clinched when Ellis fell off the pace with three laps to go. But the Canadian stormed back to close the gap and sealed the deal on the last lap, running the fastest lap of the race to do it.
"I had made a mistake and dropped back, but as I was coming back I noticed that he (James) was leaving the door open a little in Turn 14," Ellis recalled. "So on the last lap I knew I had to go for it and I got it. This was a lot more competitive than I expected and I am happy with a podium finish."
Vilarinho completed a three-race sweep of the Formula BMW Americas events this weekend at the 2.2-mile MMP East Course as he again led wire-to-wire to win Sunday's event. The victory, which came by a scant .327 seconds over Gabby Chaves, was the fifth consecutive series win for Vilarinho and the seventh in as many outings for the series-leading Eurointernational squad.
His English is improving after having been in the U.S. for a year, and after his impressive performance this weekend at Virginia International Raceway, Vilarinho will be adding the words 'victory' and 'championship contender' to his list of ready vocabulary terms.
