BMW TEAM PTG M3s READY FOR HOUSTON AND MID-OHIO
Woodcliff Lake, N J - May 8, 2006... Following two test days at two different
tracks in less than one week, BMW Team PTG is prepared for the American Le Mans
Series to restart after a two-month break following the season-opening 12 Hours
of Sebring in March. The team recently completed a successful test at Summit
Point Raceway, in Summit Point, West Virginia, on April 25th and quickly
followed that with a second test day at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on May 2.
The next two weekends will see the BMW M3s race on the new 1.7-mile street
circuit at the Lone Star Grand Prix in Houston, Texas on May 12th, followed by
the May 21st American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio at the newly resurfaced Mid-Ohio
Sports Car Course. While Houston is a new venue, PTG has seen great success at
Mid-Ohio. A BMW Team PTG M3 was on the pole and won the GT class in both Rolex
Sports Car Series races at the venerable Ohio circuit in the two previous
years.
"The test at Summit was to ensure that the gearbox failures we experienced at
Sebring were fixed," said PTG boss Tom Milner. "We were forced to retire both
M3s there, so our season truly begins in Houston. I know our drivers are
optimistic for a good result, but I expect tough conditions and we are racing
at night. The tight circuit and short straights may lessen the fact that we
have the smallest engine in the field, but we still don't have the torque that
displacement brings. It is the torque that pulls you from corner to corner on a
short course."
Joey Hand, who will co-drive the No. 21 BMW Team PTG M3 with Bill Auberlen,
said "At Summit Point we did try some new construction Yokohama tires and we
were very close to our quick times from previous years. It was a good sign that
we are making progress. At Mid-Ohio we got in a few hours before the rain came.
With no rubber down, the new surface was very slippery in the dry. In the rain
it was like ice. We were able to try Yokohama's new rain tire so we are better
prepared in case it turns wet. In 2001, the original Houston circuit gave me my
first Atlantic win of that season and was the catalyst to a streak that won me
the Rookie of the Year title. Hopefully, Houston can do the same for BMW this
year."
Justin Marks, who will team up with newly signed PTG driver Martin Jensen in
the No. 22 M3, said "There are two parts to Mid-Ohio - the tight, twisty parts
favor the M3, but the long straights favor our competitors. I did score both
the Rolex GT and Grand Am Cup poles for BMW at Mid-Ohio last season, but it is
one of those tracks that is difficult to get the set-up exact. Even on my pole
laps I always felt I had left some time behind. The new surface is certainly an
x-factor this year. Historically, we have had a hard time getting grip over the
concrete patches so the new surface could prove to make a big difference for
us."
Practice and qualifying for the Lone Star Grand Prix will be held on Thursday,
May 11 with the two-hour-and-forty-five-minute race scheduled to begin at 8:00
p.m. local time Friday night. The American Le Mans at Mid-Ohio weekend begins
on May 19th with the race scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. on May 21st.
Background:
2006 marks the 11th season of competition for the BMW Team PTG M3s and the
first full season of ALMS competition since 2001. In 10 years, BMW Team PTG has
won a total of 53 races in both sprint and endurance racing series and 14
sports car racing championships. In 2005, BMW Team PTG won 7 of 13 Rolex Sports
Car Series races entered.