Esteban Gutierrez Triumphs in the Old Continent and Becomes the First Formula BMW Europe Champion

Monza, Italy – September 18, 2008 – Young and proudly Mexican talent Esteban Gutierrez Gutierrez, of the Josef Kaufman Racing team, finished his participation in the Formula BMW Europe series with excellent results. After getting an excellent fourth place in Saturday's race, which offered many interesting takeovers,  and once again showed the level of competitiveness in the European series, in which future stars of the maximum category of world motor sports racing are found.  Only a few points were enough for the young driver to conquer the Formula BMW Europe championship, before the last race of the 2008 season which took place on Sunday and in which Gutierrez showed once more his talent and intelligence in front of thousands of fans that attended the historical Italian Circuit where the driver from Monterrey offered once again impeccable driving and in the end managed to cross the finish line in third place and thus close the Formula BMW season in the champion’s podium.

After 16 races, fans form all over the World will definitely never forget this orange and silver-striped race car number 7, which offered young and old a memorable season that will remain in the world motor sports books and will be a part of world auto racing history forever. His dedication, commitment, professionalism and personality will remain in the minds of all those who had the opportunity to share this season with the Mexican talent.

Gutierrez becomes the first champion of the series; after having achieved 3 pole positions, 7 triumphs (6 of the consecutive), 3 second places, two third places and 12 spots on the podium. Esteban was able to add up 353 points, 23 more than his talented teammate Marco Wittman, who took second place in the championship. With these results, Esteban and Marco helped their Josef Kaufmann Racing team also conquer the team championship, to thus reinforce that they were the best team of the season.  

“What can I say? It’s in credible to be able to finish the season on the podium. Up to the last race, all drivers improved more and more, which means that it was not easy. Now I feel that time flew by. This unforgettable experience started in Monza, Italy, only seven months ago, and suddenly I’m champion here in Monza and now all the tests and races are behind me. I thank God for the opportunity of being here representing my Mexico, my country, of learning so many things and at the same time maturing as a person and as a professional driver. I want to dedicate this achievement to all those people who believed in me, my family, my friends, fans, the media and my team and my sponsors Multigama, Nutrilite, and Nemak, I’ll never forget their unconditional support through good times and bad times. We will keep working very hard preparing every day to follow the right path in search of my dreams of one day becoming a Formula One driver, and to keep putting the name of Mexico way up high," Esteban commented. 

State of the driver’s championship after 16 races of 16 (First 10 places):

1. Esteban Gutierrez (MX/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 353,
2. Marco Wittmann (DE/Josef Kaufmann Racing) 327,
3. Adrien Tambay (FR/Eifelland Racing) 260,
4. Daniel Juncadella (ES/Eurointernational) 237,
5. Tiago Geronimi (BR/Eifelland Racing) 187,
6. Michael Christensen* (DK/Double R Racing) 158,
7. Pedro Bianchini (BR/FMS International) 145,
8. Kevin Breysse (FR/DAMS Team) 136,
9. Carlos Huertas (Co/Double R Racing) 136,
10. David Mengesdorf* (DE/Mücke Motorsport) 124,

Statistics after 16 races of 16:

Pole positions:

4 Juncadella (2 x Zolder, 2 x Budapest),
3 Gutierrez (2 x Hockenheim, 1 x Valencia),
2 Tambay (2 x Barcelona),
2 Pineiro (2 x Silverstone),
2 Geronimi (1 x Spa, 1 x Monza)
1 Breysse (1 x Valencia)
1 Wittmann (1 x Spa)
1 Huertas (1 x Monza)

Race Wins:

(7) Gutierrez (2 x Zolder, 2 x Silverstone, 2 x Hockenheim, 1 x Valencia)
(3) Geronimi (1 x Valencia, 2 x Monza)
(2) Tambay (2 x Barcelona)
(2) Juncadella (2 x Budapest)
(1) Wittmann (1 x Spa)
(1) Breysse (1 x Spa)

Now Esteban will keep preparing physically and mentally for the World Formula BMW Final, and for the different tests that will be programmed in other series during the rest of the year, looking forward to the 2009 season. As soon as we have a formal test calendar we will let everyone know so that they can keep following the Mexican driver's career.

Next event for Esteban Gutierrez:

For more information regarding Esteban Gutierrez, his team Josef Kaufmann Racing, his sponsor Multigama or the Formula BMW Europe series, you can visit their official websites: www.estebangtz.com, www.jk-racing.de , www.multigama.com, www.nemak.com, www.amway.com & bmw-motorsport.com.