For the BMW WilliamsF1 team the European Grand Prix would produce a mixed result with Nick Heidfeld scoring his second second place finish in a row but for team-mate Mark Webber his race would come to an end at the first corner when he was involved in an accident with Montoya, seeing him end up in the gravel and out of the race.

With pole position holder Nick Heidfeld leading the cars away on their formation lap we were getting ready for the start of the 60 lap European Grand Prix, at the famous Nürburgring circuit. The track temperature was at a high 43 degrees Celsius. Mark Webber was in third for the start of the race.

Could the two BMW WilliamsF1 cars get away from the start cleanly or would they have the same problems that hindered them at Monaco. Trulli's mechanics were late clearing the grid.

Nick would bring his car to a stop and wait for the rest of the grid to form up
behind him. But the race start was yellow flagged with Fisichella's Renault stalling and the marshals were not able to push his car way, possibly a transmission problem. The car was wheeled away with a jack while Nick was bringing the field through the Veedol chicane to form up on the grid for the second start.

The start would see Kimi leading Nick into the first corner. Montoya and Webber would collide at the first corner and Mark was in the gravel and out of the race. Mark's front wheel hit the side of Montoya's car in the run into the first corner and both cars would spin off. Ralf would straight ahead at Turn one. Barrichello was also involved in this mess. Coulthard was fourth from twelfth. At the end of the first lap Kimi was leading from Nick, Trulli, Coulthard, Alonso, and Massa. Ralf would pit for a new nose, joined by sato who would also get a new front wing.

Lap two and Kimi was leading by 2.2 seconds and has set the fastest lap with a time of 1m:32.073. Nick was 4.1 seconds ahead of Trulli. Lap three and Nick would set the fastest lap, a 1m:31.323, and was now just 1.9 seconds behind Kimi. Lap four and Michael was in eleventh. Kimi and Nick were fighting hard at the front seeing Trulli drop away from the pair.

Lap five an it was another fastest lap for Nick, a 1m:31.287. Coulthard had closed in onto Trulli. Fisichella was in twelfth. Both Barrichello and Montoya would pass Button for eighth. Ralf was running last as a result of another accident started by
Montoya, a repeat of 2004. Nick was just 2.1 seconds behind Kimi and was keeping in touch with the McLaren. Red Bull's Liuzzi was running in seventh, seeing both Red Bull cars in the points.

Trulli was given a drive through penalty for his mechanics leaving the grid late.
Another fastest lap for Nick on lap eight, a 1m:31.128, as he continued to follow
Kimi. Trulli would take to the pit lane for his penalty seeing Coulthard now in
third. Barrichello would pass Liuzzi for seventh going into the chicane. Michael was still in eleventh. it was announced that the race was now over 59 laps rather than 60.

Kimi would set a fastest lap with a time of 1m:30.940, to pull his lead out to 2.3
seconds. Alonso was in fourth followed by Massa, Barrichello, Liuzzi, and Montoya. Trulli was in ninth after his penalty. Barrichello would pit from sixth on lap twelve. This explained Rubens pace. Nick would make his first stop and would rejoin in fourth ahead of Massa. Kimi was now nineteen seconds of second placed Coulthard after lap fourteen. Such was Kimi's lead that he would be able to stop without losing the lead.

Alonso was right behind Coulthard, 1.3 seconds. Lap sixteen and Montoya was
pressuring Liuzzi for sixth. Kimi's lead was now out to 21.4 seconds. Coulthard would set a personal best time of 1m:31.706 as he tried to stay ahead of Alonso. Kimi would pit on the start of lap nineteen, seeing a Red Bull car leading the race. Kimi would rejoin in third. Trulli would also pit. Liuzzi and Montoya would pit, as well as Massa. Lap twenty and David world pit, joined by Michael Schumacher. David would rejoin in sixth.

Lap twenty two and Kimi was just 5.6 seconds behind Alonso but the Renault had yet to stop. Alonso would set a new fastest lap with a time of 1m:30.816. Nick was in third 3.9 seconds behind Kimi. Lap twenty three and Fisichella would pit, while Coulthard was given a drive through penalty for speeding in the pit lane. The start of lap twenty four would see Fernando pit, joined by Button from fifth. David would take his penalty.

Nick was now in second 4.0 seconds behind Kimi, with Alonso 15.7 seconds behind Nick in third followed by Barrichello, Coulthard, Massa, Michael Schumacher, and Montoya. Michael was right behind Massa challenging him for sixth. Montoya was right behind Michael. Ralf would pit from fourteenth. Nick was able to close the gap to Kimi to just 2.0 seconds on lap twenty seven, but this may have been due to traffic. The next lap it was out to 2.3 seconds. The gasp between most of the driver had grown seeing the only battle been between Michael and Montoya for seventh. On lap twenty nine Nick was able to close in on Kimi, the gap now down to 2.1 seconds.

On lap thirty Nick would take the lead when Kimi was to make a mistake and take to the gravel in an error on the Finns part. Kimi was now 1.6 seconds behind Nick. But Nick would pit on lap thirty one allowing Kimi back into the lead and Alonso into second fourteen seconds behind the McLaren. Nick would rejoin in fourth behind Rubens. Nick would have to make another stop.

Lap thirty two and Kimi was 15.7 seconds ahead of the Renault. Rubens would pit from third on lap thirty four, allowing Nick back into third. Rubens was out in fourth ahead of Coulthard. Kimi would run wide at Turn one as he passed Villeneuve's Sauber. Things were looking somewhat difficult for the Finn. Ralf would spin out and into the gravel ending for him what had turned out to be a disaster of a race. Lap thirty six and Kimi's lead was 15.1 seconds. Nick was 23.8 seconds behind the McLaren. Rubens was 15.5 seconds behind Nick. The closet fight was between Michael Schumacher and Montoya for seventh.

Lap forty and Kimi was now 28.0 seconds ahead of Nick, so even with the McLaren stops Nick will not be able to take the lead. Nick would continue to fall back from the McLaren and on lap forty two it was 29.3 seconds. Nickwas 15.0 second behind Alonso, but the Renault had yet to make its second stop. Kimi would pit from the lead on lap forty three allowing Alonso into the lead. It was reported that Kimi had damage to his right bargeboard. Kimi would come out in second. At the front Alonso was really pushing setting a new fastest lap of 1m:30.711. Would Nick have to pit again?

Lap forty five and Massa would pit from seventh. Kimi's lead over Nick was 7.6
seconds. Montoya and Trulli would pit from seventh and eighth. At the front Alonso would make a mistake and go off through a gravel trap, losing seven seconds on that lap. His lead was now down to 7.6 seconds with Kimi just 6.7 seconds ahead of Nick. Michael Schumacher would pit from sixth.

On lap forty seven Alonso would pit from the lead. His mechanics would clear gravel from his sidepods. The Spaniard would come out behind Barrichello. Coulthard would pit from fifth on lap forty eight. Nick was now just 4.0 seconds behind the McLaren, while Rubens would pit allowing Alonso back into third. But we still did not know if Nick needs to stop again.

Lap forty nine and Nick was now just 1.8 seconds behind Kimi. Alonso was 8.2 seconds behind the FW27. Kimi had done a very slow lap of 1m:34.192 allowing the German to close the gap. But it would all come to an end as Nick had to pit from second on lap fifty one seeing any chance of that second place finish disappear. Fisichella would also pit from sixth. But at least Nick did come out ahead of Rubens in third place so he should see the podium. Kimi's lead was now 7.4 seconds, with Nick 14.8 seconds behind Alonso. But the Finn appeared to be struggling. Would he hold onto the lead? Lap fifty two and the gap was now just 6.1 seconds back to Alonso. massa would have an off but would continue.

Kimi's right front tyre was looking very second hand as he fought to stay in the
lead. Lap fifty three and his lead was down to 4.9 seconds. Nick was in a fairly safe third with Rubens 4.8 seconds behind him. Coulthard was in fifth, followed by Schumacher, Fisichella, Montoya, Trulli and Massa. Lap fifty four and the lead had dropped to be just 4.4 seconds. Michael Schumacher would take a trip through the gravel but keeps his sixth place. Massa would suffer a tyre failure, pitting for a new tyre and nose. Lap fifty five and Kimi's lead was 4.0 seconds. The next lap it was down to 3.5 seconds. Nick was now 17.0 seconds behind Alonso appearing to have settle for his third place.

Kimi was having severe vibration problems with his right front tyre. With just two laps remaining could Kimi keep the lead as Alonso was now just 2.7 seconds behind the McLaren. Rubens was also closing the gap to Nick, been just 2.9 seconds behind the FW27.

With the start of the last la Kimi was just 1.5 seconds ahead of Alonso and in a
dramatic finish to the race Kimi's tyre would fail and he would end up in the gravel
and retire. This would see Alonso leading from a now second placed Nick Heidfeld. The tyre failure had also damaged Kimi's front suspension. So with the end of the lap Alonso would take the chequered flag to win the European GP from Nick Heidfeld and Rubens Barrichello. Coulthard was in fourth, Michael Schumacher fifth. The final three places were taken by Fisichella, Montoya and Trulli. One has to feel very sad for Kimi to retire with just one lap to go.