BMW TEAM PTG RETURNS TO DAYTONA WITH FOUR M3s
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - June 29, 2005... BMW Team PTG will return to its full
complement of four GT class BMW M3s at the June 30th Brumos Porsche 250 looking
to move up in the Rolex Sports Car Series GT class points battle.
With practice, qualifying and a 250-mile race packed into one long day and
night, the traditional summer return to Daytona International Speedway marks
the half-way point of the 2005 season.
BMW Team PTG has won three of the six races to-date and BMW stands second in GT
Manufacturer points. Following the first win of the season at the April 3rd
Grand American 400 at California Speedway, BMW Team PTG swept the GT podium of
the Road and Track 250 at Laguna Seca on May1. The third win came at the Six
Heures du Circuit Mont-Tremblant on May 22.
Four drivers stand in the top-10 in Driver points. Joey Hand is sixth, Tom
Milner and Justin Marks are seventh and 2004 Rolex Sports Car Series GT
Champion Bill Auberlen is ninth. For this race, BMW Team PTG owner Tom Milner
continues to mix the lineup to maximize the team?s performance. Hand and Marks
will drive the No. 16 F1 Air M3 and Auberlen and Milner will co-drive the No.
21 BMW Team PTG M3. Kelly Collins and RJ Valentine will drive the No. 17 F1 Air
M3. Chris Gleason and Ian James will drive the No. 22 BMW Team PTG M3.
"After racing three M3s at the two six-hour races, we are back with all four
cars for this race," said Milner. "Not only will that increase our odds for
success at a track that can prove difficult for us, but we have worked very
hard to bring four improved M3s to Daytona. We are very pleased with the
results of recent testing and think we will be able to take better advantage of
the newly resurfaced infield section. With the smallest engines in the GT class
we are at a distinct disadvantage on the banking, so we must focus on our
strengths - and that is in the infield."
Last season, BMW Team PTG finished 1-2 at this event with Auberlen and Marks
sharing the victory and Hand and Boris Said second.
The day begins at 9:00 a.m. with a one-and-one-half hour practice session.
Qualifying is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The Brumos Porsche 250 is scheduled to
start at 7:15 p.m. ET and will be televised live on Speed Channel beginning at
8:00p.m. ET.
Background:
2005 marks the tenth season of competition for BMW M3s of BMW Team PTG and 30th
anniversary of BMW of North America's motorsport programs. BMW Team PTG has won
a total of 49 races in both sprint and endurance racing series and 14 sports
car racing championships. In 2004, BMW Team PTG swept the Rolex Sports Car
Series GT class Manufacturer, Driver and Team Points championships, winning 10
of 12 races.
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