24-Hour-Race Nürburgring - Bulletin 3

Ten hours after the start of the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race the two
BMW M3 GTRs are running second and fourth. Last year's winners Dirk
Müller (GER), Jörg Müller (GER), Hans-Joachim Stuck
(GER), are second in car number 1. At the moment it is Jörg
Müller who is trying to close the gap to the leading Porsche
work's drivers who are a lap in front. The number 2 BMW M3 GTR with
Pedro Lamy (POR), Duncan Huisman (NLD), Andy Priaulx (GBR), Boris Said
(USA) is currently in fourth in the long distance classic. On lap 51
Priaulx took over at the wheel of car number 2 from Lamy, just after
the former Formula 1 driver had set the fastest time for that 500 bhp GT
sports car. Lamy lapped the 25.378 kilometre Nordschleife in 9:00.477.
Three laps prior to that Stuck, who is competing in his 55th 24 hour
race, had clocked the fastest time for the second BMW M3 GTR with
9:00.132. Also as the night progresses the BMW drivers are coping well
on what must be the most demanding circuit in the world, and are able
to improve their lap times. Shortly before midnight car number 1 made
it to second, and then shortly afterwards the second BMW M3 GTR passed
the Dodge Viper GTS-R of Peter Zakowski. After the scheduled driver
changes, Jörg Müller rejoined in second, while Priaulx
rejoined just behind the Viper in fourth. The weather conditions on the
Nordschleife have improved over the past few hours and now the track
has completely dried out, so both BMW M3 GTRs are running on slick
tyres. Nevertheless, the temperature is going down and is at the moment
4°C. Pedro Lamy (BMW M3 GTR Car No 2): "The traffic is
terrible, I have lost a lot of time while overtaking but you can't take
risks. However, the car feels good." Dirk Müller (BMW M3 GTR
Car No 1): "As usual it is huge fun to drive here, however, you
have to concentrate all the time. Some smaller groups of cars are
sticking together on the track and that makes overtaking very difficult.
Up to now I have not had a really perfect lap."