MUNIZ JOINS THE PROFESSIONAL MOTOR RACING WORLD AS RACE CAR DRIVER FOR THE JENSEN MOTORSPORT TEAM TO CHALLENGE FOR THE 2006 FORMULA BMW USA CHAMPIONSHIP.
Frankie Muniz, a successful film and Emmy nominated television actor, has started an exciting new career as a professional race car driver. Muniz has agreed to a comprehensive 2-year program with the professional Jensen MotorSport racing team to pursue his passion for professional car racing. Frankie is the newest member of the team, and will compete in the prestigious Formula BMW USA championship in 2006, and the Champ Car Atlantic championship in 2007.
Muniz states, “I have had an incredible time these past 8 years as an actor. Having done little else but work since age 12, and with a passion for fast cars, professional race car driving is something that I am really excited to pursue”.
Muniz (20) continues, “Eric Jensen, and the entire Jensen team, have taught me a great deal during our winter testing program. My times are now competitive with the best young drivers, and I am very focused on learning as much as possible to be able to race with the best this year and next. It’s pretty cool and quite motivating that in such a short time I will be able to race on the same famous tracks with Formula One and Champ Car drivers worldwide. This is such an incredible opportunity.”
Formula BMW has quickly become one of the most impressive developmental racing series in the world. Formula BMW USA is a championship contested annually by some of the top young driving prospects, on some of the most famous circuits on the continent, including the Formula One races at Montreal and Indianapolis. Frankie will be competing with an elite list of young drivers in the 2006 series as he prepares to advance up the racing ladder to the Champ Car Atlantic series in 2007, with view to either competing in the Formula One or Champ Car World Series in the future. The effectiveness of Formula BMW has produced many top drivers, including two current Formula One drivers - Nico Rosberg and Ralf Schumacher.
Jensen MotorSport Team President Eric Jensen states: "Frankie has performed extremely well in pre-season testing. He is quickly learning the multitude of skills required to be a competitive professional race car driver. Frankie has an ambitious plan to compete in the Formula BMW USA championship in 2006, and the Champ Car Atlantic championship in 2007. Given his passion and apparent skills, the entire Jensen MotorSport team is excited to have Frankie as one of our drivers for the next two years, and we are expecting some great successes together."
Jensen continues, "Race fans and fans of Frankie personally will be able to watch him compete live at seven (7) races on the 2006 Formula BMW USA championship calendar, including:
May 19-21 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (near Columbus, Ohio)
May 26-29 Lime Rock Park, Connecticut
June 23-25 Canadian Grand Prix @ Montreal (with Formula One)
June 30 - July 2 United States Grand Prix @ Indianapolis (with Formula One)
July 28-30 San Jose Grand Prix, California (with Champ Car World Series)
August 11-13 Denver Grand Prix, Colorado (with Champ Car World Series)
September 1-3 Mosport Raceway, Toronto, Canada
The Champ Car Atlantic championship is the world famous feeder category to the Champ Car World Series. That championship competes at many famous circuits including the Long Beach Grand Prix, about 30 miles from Frankie’s home in Hollywood, California. Fans will be able to see Frankie race live in front of big crowds in many other cities in the 2007 season including Denver, San Jose, Cleveland, Houston, Montreal, Portland, and more..
Frankie has every intention of continuing his acting career. “Malcolm in the Middle” will come to an end in March after seven successful years and Muniz will next appear in the Disney/Spyglass feature film, “Stay Alive,” a thriller produced by McG, slated for wide release on March 24th.
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