BMW Team PTG practice-SPEED WC

All Three M3s Back On Track

Today¹s final, late-day, official practice saw all three BMW Team PTG M3s on
track as repairs to the No. 6 BMW M3 of Boris Said from yesterday¹s testing
accident were completed just before the session began.

At the end of the day Bill Auberlen, driving the No. 7 M3, was the sixth
fastest in class with a lap of 2:15.394.  With only one timed lap of
2:18.394, the No. 6 M3 of Boris Said was 13th quick and Hans Stuck, in the
No. 8 M3, was 30th at a 2:37.490.

Of the three Team PTG drivers, only Auberlen will be able to take advantage
of World Challenge¹s unique qualifying procedure where just the top 10
drivers from today¹s practice sessions begin from the head of the line in
tomorrow¹s only qualifying session.  While it might not seem to be much of
an advantage, being among the first on the track and out ahead of the large
field can make it much easier to get in a quick lap.

Boris Said, driver No. 6 BMW Team PTG M3:
"The guys did an unbelievable job getting the car fixed. Our weekend started
off terribly so we have nowhere to go but up. Although it was quite dark out
there my first impressions are that the car felt almost back to normal."

Bill Auberlen, driver No. 7 BMW Team PTG M3:
"I really don¹t have any complaints.  The day has gone well for me in both
classes and I am especially happy with this car. We are following our plan
and I¹m ready to qualify and ready to race."

Hans Stuck, driver No. 8 BMW Team PTG M3:
"I still have to work on the braking as I am not happy with the brake
balance.  I have to learn the pedal as this car normally runs with ABS, but
with only the computer removed the pedal is a bit funny feeling.  I have to
pump the pedal before a corner and it is a distraction. Finally we got the
seat in the right position."

You have spent a lot of time adjusting the seat, what is the importance of
the seat position? "The seat has to be the right position for my feet. Your
legs cannot be completely straight and must be at a good angle and
complement the position of your hands for the steering wheel and gear lever.
In the beginning the seat was totally to the right so I was offset to the
pedals, but we have begun to get it sorted. If you sit correctly, you drive
faster because you do not have to worry about where your feet are."