AIM Autosport Scores Big in California

LAGUNA SECA / MONTEREY, CALIFORNIA – The AIM Autosport Formula BMW USA team traveled to Laguna Seca Raceway in picturesque Monterey, California for the opening two rounds of the 2005 championship. Based on pre-season testing with rookie drivers Kevin Lacroix and Rob Bunker – the team had high expectations for a solid start to this year’s campaign.

In race one Kevin Lacroix executed a stellar standing start few professional racers ever master, the 16 year old rookie driver rocketed from his fourth starting position and stole the race from the 19 other Formula BMW USA competitors. With the lead firmly in hand by turn one he led the 15-lap contest flag-to-flag, finishing 1.694 seconds ahead of Reed Stevens.

Kevin jumped into the lead at the very first turn, never looked back and went on to win his very first career open-wheel race starting from fourth place, the 16-year old rookie from St-Eustache, Quebec had a perfect start and overtook pole sitter Richard Philippe and two other cars to ease his way up in the lead.

AIM teammate Rob Bunker started ninth on the grid and drove a steady race, staying out of trouble to finish seventh in race one.

In race two Kevin started third and finished third behind Philippe and Soulet as the race was marked by two full-course caution periods, but the top-three never changed. Rob had an excellent start and jumped ahead of several competitors, again driving a smooth race coming home seventh.

Kevin Lacroix #22 (AIM Autosport /Auto Parts Plus-Uni-Select
/Pennzoil/CR/ SKF Motor sports/Raybestos/Tenneco Automotive/Les Pièces d'auto Lacroix)
Race One: Qualified- fourth (1:30.874) / Finished- first (+1.694 sec.)
Race Two: Qualified- third (1:29.746) / Finished- third

Quotes from Kevin:
“In race one my car was fast enough to keep me in the lead and the fight behind was furious between three or four cars. I'm very happy and my team deserves much credit. "The start was very good," said an excited Lacroix. "I don't know what I did, but I was like a rocket. Maybe it was because I went to Space Camp. The battles behind me allowed me to focus on the track ahead." I am confident looking towards Mid-Ohio and am pleased to lead the Championship.


Rob Bunker #18 (AIM Autosport /Team RennSport)
Race One: Qualified- ninth (1:31.671) / Finished- seventh
Race Two: Qualified- eleventh (1:31.225) / Finished- seventh

Quotes from Rob:
"Seven-seven is pretty solid as far as championship points are concerned. We'll hunt for a little more, but for the first weekend, it's not bad at all. Rob said he prepared for the Formula One-style starts by watching drag-racing on television. "Since I was a little kid, I sat in front of the TV and watched John Force to the starting light. Every time the light would go down, I'd slap my hand against something." Bunker was satisfied with his race finishes. "We need to work on the setup a little bit. But when it comes down to it, it's up to me to make the car work, so I'll work on that myself," he said.


Race One Results:
1 Kevin Lacroix (R) AIM Autosport
2 Reed Stevens (R)
3 Maxime Soulet
4 John Zartarian (R)
5 James Davison (R)
6 Robert Wickens (R)
7 Rob Bunker (R) AIM Autosport
8 Matthew Lee (R)
9 Tom Sutherland
10 Race Johnson (R)
11 Justin Moon (R)
12 Doug Boyer (R)
13 Ryan Phinny (R)
14 Daniel Herrington
15 Darin Marcus (R)
16 Adrien Herberts (R)
17 Derek Burseth
18 Jules Duc (R)
19 Nathan DePagter (R)
20 Richard Philippe (R)

Race Two Results:
1 Richard Philippe (R)
2 Maxime Soulet
3 Kevin Lacroix (R) AIM Autosport
4 Robert Wickens (R)
5 James Davison (R)
6 Justin Moon (R)
7 Rob Bunker (R) AIM Autosport
8 Reed Stevens (R)
9 Matthew Lee (R)
10 Race Johnson (R)
11 Darin Marcus (R)
12 Doug Boyer (R)
13 Derek Burseth
14 Tom Sutherland
15 Nathan DePagter (R)
16 John Zartarian (R)
17 Jules Duc (R)
18 Ryan Phinny (R)
19 Daniel Herrington
20 Adrien Herberts (R)

- Rounds three and four of the Formula BMW USA Championship will be held at Mid-Ohio on May 20-22.