ALMS Petit Le Mans half distance - BMW Motorsport

Race Saturday, half-distance
Round 8, American Le Mans Series
6 October 2001, Braselton, Ga.


BMW Motorsport leading GT 

Munich/Braselton.   BMW Motorsport was first and third in the GT class after 
five hours of the 10-hour / 1000-mile Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta.  JJ 
Lehto (FIN) started the No. 42 BMW M3 GTR from the pole position.  He and 
Fredrik Ekblom (S) led for the first 90 minutes.  Their teammate Dirk Müller 
(D), driving with Jörg Müller (D), started second in the No. 43 GTR.  He took 
the class lead from Ekblom and held it until 2h25, when Lehto regained the 
lead.  Lehto was hit by a prototype car 10 minutes later and pitted, losing 
one lap to Dirk Müller, who retook the lead.  Karl Wendlinger (D), the third 
driver in the No. 42 car, drove a double stint from about 3h15 to 5h15.  At 
the halfway mark, the No. 43 car was first in class and the No. 42 third.

The No. 6 BMW Team PTG GTR, driven by Hans Stuck (D), Boris Said (USA) and 
Bill Auberlen (USA) was second after five hours.  The No. 10 PTG car, driven 
by Niclas Jönsson (S), Brian Cunningham (USA) and David Murry (USA) retired 
after 3h45 with a driveshaft failure.

 
JJ Lehto #42:  "We're running well.  We've been quick all the time.  We just 
had a little tangle with the Dyson car and lost a lap, so we'll have to get 
it back."
 
Fredrik Ekblom #42:  "It's been good so far.  The car works good and the pit 
stops have been really good.  We had a small incident that put us one lap 
behind the leader, but for sure, we will come back." 

Karl Wendlinger #42:  "I stayed in the car because it wasn't that difficult, 
got new tires and fuel.  I feel okay, no problem.  I always feel more 
comfortable with more time in the car."

Jörg Müller #43:  "We're fine at the moment, we're saving fuel, saving the 
car.  If it's just half-time it means there's half-time to go.  We really 
have to watch the mirrors and carry it home to finish in front of the 
Porsches."
 
Dirk Müller #43:  "My first two stints went really, really well, without any 
problems.  It's quite tough because Jörg and I are doing it alone.  I had a 
very short break after my first stint and jumped in again for an additional 
full stint.  But I'm feeling good, having pasta and looking forward to the 
rest of the race." 
 


BMW Press: Guido Stalmann, tel +49 (0) 89 382 23401, 
fax +49 (0) 89 382 27563, e-mail: Guido.Stalmann@bmw.de




Sylvia Proudfoot
spur07@cs.com
403 287 3945