24-Hour-Race Nürburgring - Race Report

Team BMW Motorsport has taken a one two with its BMW M3 GTR cars in the
Nürburgring 24 Hour Race. Pedro Lamy (POR), Duncan Huisman (NLD),
Andy Priaulx (GBR), Boris Said (USA) completed a total of 139 laps in
the GT Coupe car number 2 over the 25.378 kilometre Nordschleife, to
take the win. Their team-mates, Dirk Müller (GER), Jörg
Müller (GER), Hans-Joachim Stuck (GER) Dirk Müller (GER),
Jörg Müller (GER), Hans-Joachim Stuck (GER) came second after
completing 134 laps. Last year BMW also celebrated a one two in the
German Eifel region. In 2004, however, it was the trio of Dirk
Müller (GER), Jörg Müller (GER), Hans-Joachim Stuck
(GER) who took the top step of the podium. For BMW it is the 18th
outright victory at the Nordschleife, and for the eighth time BMW cars
claimed a one two. For the first time in the history of BMW a team has
claimed consecutive one two victories. BMW Motorsport Director, Mario
Theissen, followed the exciting race via GPS from Barcelona, where
this weekend the Spanish Grand Prix was being held. "A huge
complement to the whole team," said Theissen, "To repeat last
year's one two under these extreme weather conditions is a fantastic
achievement. With this the M3 GTR has earned an honorary place in the
BMW Museum. Here in Barcelona for the Formula 1 Grand Prix we were kept
in constant touch with what was happening and were following the action
with great anticipation. Also many thanks to the Formula 1 mechanics in
Munich, who wanted to visit the 24 hour marathon, but instead of this
built up two new engines for Nick and Mark." Over the course of
the weekend 180,000 motor racing enthusiasts witnessed this long
distance classic, and they should not regret having been there, even
though they were exposed to bad weather conditions. Right from the start
the 217 competitors displayed racing at its best. Exciting duels and
spectacular overtaking manoeuvres were taking place all the time.
Despite some problems at the start - car number 2 was involved in a
collision on lap six and car number 1 had to have a suspension change
on lap 14 - Team BMW Motorsport quickly found its racing rhythm. Even a
clutch change for the German BMW drivers and a subsequent pit stop for
over and hour, failed to make Team Manager Charly Lamm's crew lose its
cool. Both driver line-ups impressed with consistently quick lap times.
Dirk Müller set the fastest lap time on lap 90 with 8:47.602. This
was impressive proof of the 500bhp sports cars' competitiveness during
the 33rd running of the 24 hour race. While achieving this, the seven
drivers of Team BMW Motorsport withstood the typical Eifel weather
conditions. Frequently within just a few minutes, sunshine, heavy rain
showers and hail storms occurred. In the end it was Said who crossed
the line in winning car number 2 in a total of 23 hours 58 minutes
47.179seconds in sunny conditions. Stuck, who has won at the
Nurburgring three times was at the wheel of car number 1 when it took
the chequered flag. For Said it was his first overall win in the 24
hour race at the Nürburgring, and the same goes for Huisman and
Priaulx, who was a Rookie this year and showed an impressive
performance. Lamy, however, steps up into the category of the very few
drivers who have succeeded in winning in the green hell a total of four
times. Prior to this year's success the 33-year-old won in 2001 and
2002. In 2004 he was also entered as a driver in the winning BMW M3 GTR
car number 42, but never got to drive in the race. With the one two at
the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race the successful racing career of the
BMW M3 GTR comes to an end. The muscular GT sports car was developed
back in 2001 for the American Le Mans Series and brought BMW the title
in the GT class at its first attempt. Further reactions: Charly Lamm
(Team BMW Motorsport Team Manager): "I think the BMW M3 GTR will
now enter the history books as a winning car. We kept our calm even in
tricky situations, and that once again paid off. Before the race I did
not think it was possible to repeat last years victory." Pedro
Lamy (Car No 2): "It has been a very difficult race as we had to
push hard at the beginning. Everyone was having problems and then
suddenly everything changed, and for the last couple of hours we have
just been trying to get the car to the finish. It is a great track and
this race is special, particularly the way the fans support the
event." Duncan Huisman (Car No 2): "It is pretty special to
be part of this. I am sad this is the last race for the car. My start
was perfect, but I have to take the mistake at the start of the event
on my account, but since then we have had a fantastic race and I have
enjoyed it thoroughly. On my final lap on my last stint I had snow - I
have never had snow in a 24 hour race so that makes it special
again." Boris Said (Car No 2): "Driving the car over the
finish line was awesome. I can't thank the team enough for giving me
this opportunity. To say I appreciate what everyone has done for me is
an understatement. I have spent the past 24 hours driving an amazing
car and working with some of the best guys in the sport and that
includes those both in and out of the car." Andy Priaulx (Car No
2): "I suppose I must consider myself as the Rookie in our team. I
have had a great time and in my final stint I just wanted to hand the
car back to the team in the condition I was given it. It is an amazing
event and an amazing car. It comes into its own in the conditons we
have had here, especially when it is a bit damp and greasy. It has been
a great experience for me and one I shall never forget."
Results 1. Lamy / Said / Huisman / Priaulx (BMW M3 GTR) 23:58:47.179,
2. D. Müller / J. Müller / Stuck (BMW M3 GTR) +5 Laps, 3.
Zakowski / Lechner / Bert (Dodge Viper GTS-R) +7 Laps, 4. Beil /
Fischer / Hulverscheid / Althoff (Porsche 911 GT3) +9 Laps, 5. Bermes /
Koll / Schornstein / Bovensiepen (Porsche GT3 Cup) +9 Laps, 6. Ickx /
Duve / Hemroulle / Lambrecht (Porsche GT3 Cup) +10 Laps, 7. Schmidt
/Ney /Bär / Irmgartz (Porsche 911 GT3 RS) +11 Laps, 8. Morin /
Morin / Morin / Levin (Porsche 996 GT3 Cup) +11 Laps, 9. Luhr /
Bernhard / Collard / Tiemann (Porsche 911 GT3-MR) +12 Laps, 10. Alzen /
Alzen / Ludwig / Dumbreck (Porsche 996 Turbo) +13 Laps.