“I feel very happy to have come to an agreement with ART, to compete in this series,” he said. “I will put all my effort and dedication to obtain the best possible results with a lot of enthusiasm.”

The seventeen year old Mexican has a very impressive track record in his short career with a second place in the U.S. Formula BMW championship in 2007 followed by the European win in 2008. He started from pole position in the World Final, but ended third. He also made guest appearances in both International Formula Master (where he finished third at Imola) and in the German Formula 3 championship.

ART Grand Prix (formerly ASM Formule 3) has won the Formula 3 Euro Series in the last five years with Nicolas Hülkenberg (2008), Romain Grosjean (2007), Paul Di Resta (2006), Lewis Hamilton (2005) and Jamie Green (2004)

“We are pleased to have found in Rahal Letterman Racing a professional, well integrated partner with great experience in US motorsport,” commented BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. “The Formula BMW races held in support of the ALMS will generate synergy effects in terms of PR, marketing and logistics. Lapwing Management already set the bar high last year as far as the organization of the series is concerned, and we thank them warmly for their work. The concept is also proving a success from a sporting perspective, as demonstrated not least by Alexander Rossi. The US driver recently backed up his Formula BMW Americas title triumph with victory in the Formula BMW World Final. We are hoping that the expansion of the race calendar into Mexico as part of the World Touring Car Championship event there will further increase interest from all the Americas in the line-up for 2009.”

Adrien Tambay‘s first season out of karts came in 2007 when he started racing in the German Formula BMW Series (Formula BMW ADAC). He managed to score two wins in his debut season and after another three wins this year he moves up to F3.

Formula BMW World Final – Mexico City
1. Alexander Rossi – USA
2. Michael Christensen – Denmark
3. Esteban Gutierrez – Mexico

V8 Brasil – Sao Paolo
1. Thiago Camilo – Brazil
2. Ricardo Sperafico – Brazil
3. Ingo Hoffman – Brazil
Ricardo Mauricio 2008 champion.

GP2 Asia – Dubai
1. Kamui Kobayashi – Japan
2. Davide Valsecchi – Italy
3. Roldan Rodriguez – Spain
Race 2 cancelled.

Speedcar Series – Dubai
1. Vitantonio Liuzzi – Italy
2. Heinz-Harald Frentzen – Germany
3. Gianni Morbidelli – Italy
Race 2 cancelled.

V8 Supercars – Oran Park
1. Jamie Whincup – Australia
2. Craig Lowndes – Australia
3. Russell Ingall – Australia

1. Garth Tander – Australia
2. Russell Ingall – Australia
3. Steven Richards – Australia

1. Rick Kelly – Australia
2. Garth Tander – Australia
3. Craig Lowndes – Australia

Jamie Whincup 2008 champion.

V8 Development Series – Oran Park
1. Dean Canto – Australia
2. Jack Perkins – Australia
3. Jonathon Webb – Australia

1. Jack Perkins – Australia
2. Tim Slade – Australia
3. Dean Canto – Australia

Steve Owen 2008 champion.

Formula Ford Australia – Oran Park
Race 1 cancelled.

1. Paul Laskazeski – Australia
2. Daniel Erickson – Australia
3. Chaz Mosters – Australia

1. Daniel Erickson – Australia
2. Paul Laskazeski – Australia
3. Kristian Lindbom – Australia

Paul Laskazeski 2008 champion.

Eng said: “This has been a fantastic experience. I quickly got used to the car and gained confidence with every kilometre. You soon work out where the ideal points are for gear shifting, and also learn the perfect braking points. It’s a very nice feeling if you can improve lap-by-lap.”

The previous World Final winners to have been given the F1 test prize are 2005 winner Marco Holzer and 2006 winner Christian Vietoris. Other Formula BMW drivers that has had the chance to drive a Formula 1 car with the aid of BMW are Nico Rosberg, Ho Pin Tung and Sebastian Vettel.

Also behind the wheel of the BMW Sauber F1.08 will be Robert Kubica and Augusto Farfus. Augusto Farfus, works driver for the BMW WTCC team will make his second appearance in a Formula 1 car. Farfus went down the Touring Car road after he winning both the European Formula Renault and the Euro 3000 single seater championships.