Bergmeier passes his first Formula test with flying colours

Hockenheim: E merging talent Tamino Bergmeier from Melle completed his first Formula test successfully and his prospects look good for a similarly successful career.

Having been a kart pilot at 13 years of age, he could hardly believe it when the news came that he'd been invited to a Formula 4 exhibition test. The Rössler racing team from Fulda contacted him regarding a date for the first Formula 4 test at the Hockenheimring. One of the top Formula teams in Europe wanted to see him drive. Tamino was over the moon. A date was found, and fitted in nicely into Tammy's racing calendar.

The appointed day was the 25th of August, and Tammy travelled to Hockenheim the day before in order to be on time at the racetrack at 9:30 in the morning. Bergmeier had already acquainted the racing team with his body data so that they were able to prepare the car for him. The seat and pedal positions were fine-tuned at the track so that he was able to attain the optimum body position in the vehicle. He was comprehensively instructed as to the technology involved in Formula racing cars before he embarked on his first lap, and he fastened his seat belt in the tight cockpit. Now his main task consisted of making his way slowly round the course to get a feel for the racing car. Clutch, brakes and steering; everything was different from the karts that Bergmeier knew. It was a matter of learning and using these new elements step-by-step. Lap after lap, the youngster became more and more familiar with the machine, and he increased his speed. Then, after about 20 minutes, he returned to the pits for the initial evaluation of his data. Switching points, braking zones, brake pressure, brake duration and curve attack and exit positioning were precisely analysed and discussed, before the newbie returned to the track. This procedure continued all day long, and time simply flew by. He was performing better and better on each and every lap, and one could see the bond forming between Tammy and his car.

Late that afternoon they had one final discussion, and Bergmeier was over the moon that he'd achieved so much that day. Team boss Thomas Rössler was very impressed by Tamino's achievements and praised him highly; "We've seen many young drivers here over the summer, but none could match your achievements, even though they were all older than you. I am totally inspired by your performance and I'd be happy to invite you to join our team.“ Rössler's words came as a great surprise to Tammy. But there was more: "I'd like to suggest that you use this coming year as a preparatory and testing year, and when you reach 15 you can enter your first Formula 4 racing season. We'd train you to race every race track on the simulator, and then send you testing with the team. What do you think, Tammy?“

Bergmeier was speechless and didn't know what to say. "Of course I would very much like to accept your kind offer. It is something which I could never have dreamed of that I'd be this far so soon. I'd like to start immediately.“ answered the highly motivated youngster. "To achieve a plan in motor sport, one has to have a certain budget to hand. We will exert ourselves using all of our experience to help provide concepts for sponsors. Motor sport is a team sport“, added Thomas Rössler.
„We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to the Ravenol motor sport director, Martin Huning, who really looks after me and makes so much possible“, said the boy from Melle, overjoyed after his great day at Hockenheim.

More up-to-the-minute information can be accessed at: www.tamino-bergmeier.de or on Facebook at: Tamino Bergmeier Official Fan Page.