'Malcolm in the Middle' TV Star Frankie Muniz Among Formula BMW Entries

TV and movie actor Frankie Muniz will compete for the Formula BMW USA championship this season.

Frankie Muniz, a successful film and Emmy-nominated television actor, will race in the Formula BMW USA championship at Lime Rock Park on Memorial Day weekend.

Muniz, 20, was the lead character on the hit television show “Malcolm in the Middle” for past seven years. He has signed a two-year contract with the Jensen MotorSport racing team with the goal of competing in the Champ Car Atlantic series in 2007.

Rounds 3 and 4 of the Formula BMW USA championship are part of the Rolex GT Series Challenge at Lime Rock, May 26-29. The series will conduct sprint races on Saturday and Monday.

“I have had an incredible time these past eight years as an actor,” Muniz said. “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.”

“(Jensen MotorSport Team President) 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.”

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. The effectiveness of Formula BMW has produced many top drivers, including two current Formula One drivers - Nico Rosberg and Ralf Schumacher.

Muniz 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.

"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,” Jensen said. “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.”