24-Hour-Race Nürburgring - Bulletin 5

The Nürburgring 24 Hour Race enters its deciding stages. Four hours
before the end of this marathon the two BMW M3 GTRs of Team BMW
Motorsport are running first and second. Since lap 90 the BMW M3 GTR
car number 2 of Pedro Lamy (POR), Duncan Huisman (NLD), Andy Priaulx
(GBR), Boris Said (USA) has been leading the race. Six laps behind, and
in second place, is the GT sports car of last year's winners, Dirk
Müller (GER), Jörg Müller (GER), Hans-Joachim Stuck
(GER). Currently it is Lamy who is at the wheel of the leading M3 GTR.
On lap 115 the 33-year-old took over the 500bhp car from Huisman. When
the Dutchman was in the car the Nordschleife proved once again how
quick the weather conditions can change in the Eifel. Huisman left the
pits on rain tyres, after heavy showers on some parts of the 25.378
kilometre track. It was only two laps later when he headed back to the
pits to change to cut slicks as the conditions had improved rapidly.
However, the hail then came, and so when Huisman brought the car in for
Lamy to take over the Schnitzer racing team had to change the tyres to
wets again. The second BMW M3 GTR is currently being driven by
Jörg Müller. The 35 year old is consolidating the second
place car number 1took over from the Nissan Skyline GTR (Car No 44) on
lap 90 after its retirement. Before that Stuck had increased the gap to
the third placed Dodge Viper GTS-R of Peter Zakowski. Following an
additional pit stop on lap 109, Jörg is also currently on wet
tyres. Andy Priaulx (BMW M3 GTR Car No 2): "For me it's my first
24 hour race on the Nordschleife and I can only say it is amazing. At
night you can see the fans sitting round the camp fires and the
fireworks going off. The most moving moment was the sun rise over the
stunning landscape. It is good fun to race here. To be leading this
race makes this experience even better."