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."
Results1. 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.
