The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

ALMS: BMW M3 GTR Crosses Golden Gate Bridge

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel
July 20, 2001

The streets of San Francisco have been the setting for some outstanding drives and drivers -- on television and movies -- but today those streets saw some truly outstanding drivers from the American Le Mans Series cross the Golden Gate Bridge in the "Buckle-Up Drive Across the Golden Gate Bridge."

Led by legendary road-racer Hans Stuck and the BMW Team PTG M3 GTR the five car parade began at Vista Point on the northern side of the bridge and wound through five miles of city streets before arriving at Ghirardelli Square. The drive was intended to raise awareness of the importance of wearing seat belts while in a motor vehicle.

"As much as I would have liked to drive faster - push my M3 through the gears as I would on the race track - today was not about that," said Stuck. "To go faster would have only shortened the ride and I was enjoying it too much. More importantly this drive was to raise the awareness of the public to the importance of wearing seat belts."

BMW Team PTG will debut two new BMW M3 GTRs at the X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sears Point Raceway on July 22.

Text provided by W. Cobb

Editors Note: To view hundreds of hot racing photos and art, visit The Racing Photo Museum and the Visions of Speed Art Gallery.