BMW Displays Winners at Sebring's 50th

NEWS FROM BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


BMW to Display Two Sebring Winners at Raceway's 50th Anniversary Bash


SEBRING, Fla. (March 12, 2002) -- BMW of North America, LLC, will
participate in Sebring International Raceway's 50th Anniversary celebration
this weekend by displaying two of its Sebring-winning BMWs:  the 1975 BMW
3.0 CSL that won overall that year, and the 1999 race-winning BMW V12 LMR.

BMWs have won the 12 Hours of Sebring four times since 1952 at this
venerable and time-honored circuit in the heart of Florida's fragrant orange
groves -- twice overall and twice in the GT class.

In 1975 the BMW Motorsport entry driven by Hans Stuck, Sam Posey, Brian
Redman and Allan Moffat won the first race for BMW of North America, Inc.,
just days after its incorporation.  BMW Motorsport team manager Jochen
Neerpasch's strategy that year was to use the No. 24 CSL driven by Stuck and
Posey to be the rabbit for the Porsches to chase.  It worked, as the
Porsches broke down, leaving the second No. 25 CSL of Redman and Moffat to
lead after the fourth hour and win the race.  Stuck and Posey each took a
driving stint in the No. 25 car later in the race.

In 1999, the BMW Motorsport-entered BMW V12 LMR, driven by JJ Lehto, Tom
Kristensen and Jorg Muller posted the closest margin of victory in the
race's history, as a mere 9.2 seconds separated first and second place at
the end of 12 long and difficult hours!  This was the car's first race and a
shakedown cruise for the upcoming 24 Hours of LeMans.  It produced a
hard-fought battle between BMW and Audi factory teams along with private
entries powered by Ferrari, Porsche, Ford and others.  Three months after
that 1999 debut win for the V12 LMR, the lessons learned were instrumental
in BMW's winning the company's very first 24 Hours of Le Mans, solidifying
its domination of prototype racing that year.

The BMW M3 brought home the brand's two other victories at Sebring, in the
GT class.  In 1997 Prototype Technology Group, headed by Tom Milner, and
drivers Bill Auberlen, Tom Hessert, Javier Quiros and Derek Hill were first
to the checkered flag.  In 1998, Auberlen won again, teaming up with Boris
Said.

"BMW of North America is extremely proud to be participating in Sebring's
50th Anniversary," said Larry Koch, BMW Shows and Exhibits Manager.  "The
CSL and the LMR are important symbols of this company's successful racing
heritage in the U.S. and our Sebring victories are significant milestones in
that heritage.  These cars are a part of a standing collection of important
BMWs that the company displays and demonstrates around the country."



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Contacts:

Roy Oliemuller
BMW of North America, LLC
201-307-4082
fax 201-307-3607

JVS Enterprises
Public Relations
203-438-0501
fax 203-431-4139

BMW Press Club -
www.press.bmwgroup.com
BMW website - www.bmwusa.com