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."