Vietoris and Farfus to get first taste of F1

The Formula BMW World Final held from 23rd to 25th November isn't the only highlight attracting the motor-racing world's interest. In the run-up to the event, Christian Vietoris and Augusto Farfus are going test for the BMW Sauber F1 Team.

Christian Vietoris will be offered his chance of testing the F1.07 as early as on Thursday, with the test being the reward for his triumph in the 2006 Formula BMW Final. On the same day, Brazil's BMW touring car works driver Augusto Farfus (BMW Team Germany) also will get the opportunity to complete some laps at the wheel of the BMW Sauber F1 Team's Formula One car.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen explains: "In his first year, Augusto Farfus has settled extremely well into our BMW fold and is already a fully integrated member of BMW Team Germany. In recognition of Augusto's achievements, we want to give him the chance to test our Formula One car for a few hours in the run-up to the Formula BMW World Final. It also underlines our philosophy of forging links between our motor sport projects: after Jörg Müller, Dirk Müller, Andy Priaulx and Alessandro Zanardi, Augusto Farfus will be the fifth touring car driver to get behind the wheel of one of our Formula One racers."

Anyone wanting victory on the 3.1km Spanish circuit will have to prove their skills in a number of events that weekend: Friday sees the qualifying followed by the Super Pole competition, while on Saturday drivers will be scoring points in the six heats to decide their starting positions for Sunday's race.

Candidates for victory in Valencia are numerous. Three of the four winners of this year's Formula BMW Championships in Germany, the UK, Asia and North America will be joining the action: Formula BMW Germany champion Jens Klingmann and BMW USA champion Daniel Morad. The UK series' runner-up Josef Král and Henry Arundel will also be jockeying for position. From Formula BMW Asia, champion Zahir Ali will be joining the ranks.

As the event progresses, the 35 drivers from 19 nations will be able to gain a more complete picture of what they can expect if they win: the BMW Sauber F1 Team will captivate spectators with demonstration laps throughout the weekend. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen will be following the action live, along with Nick Heidfeld, Timo Glock (won the German Formula BMW series in 2001) and Sebastian Vettel (won the German Formula BMW series in 2004) from Formula 1.