Lewis named top rookie

Laguna Beach resident Michael Lewis earned the 2009 Formula BMW Americas Rookie Driver championship Sunday at the Mosport International Raceway in Canada.

Lewis arrived to Mosport in second place in the Rookie Championship standings, trailing by only two points. But he drove the No. 42 Eurointernational car consistently in four practice sessions, eventually qualifying fourth for the Saturday and Sunday final events, ahead of rookie competitors James Kovacic of Australia and Alex Ellis of Canada.

“I knew that I had to keep my focus, learn the track, be fast and qualify in the top four to have a chance to compete for the Rookie Championship,” Lewis said in a release.

On Saturday morning in Round 13, Lewis finished fifth. In Round 14 on Sunday, he started great and ended up in fourth place, earning him the rookie title.

“It really is a dream come true to reach maybe the more difficult goal of the season, but we did it,” said Eurointernational team owner Antonio Ferrari in the release. “We are very pleased about this. This is also the first time we won the rookie championship in the Formula BMW Americas Championship, so this is another big achievement. And Michael perfectly executed everything. It was a very difficult situation, and under pressure, he performed very well. We are very happy about everything he achieved.”

Lewis said he felt the same way.

“It is truly an honor for me and the entire Eurointernational team to be able to compete for the Rookie Championship this year,” he said. “There was a great rookie class this year and it was hard racing at each event ... It was a great way to end my first season in formula car racing.”

Lewis will finish out the 2009 season competing in USAC California Pavement Ford Focus series events, as well as the Ford Focus portion of the annual Thanksgiving Grand Prix race at Toyota Speedway in Irwindale to end the season.