BMW Team PTG qualifies 1,3,5,11 at Mosport

BMW Team PTG
Notes and Quotes
SPEED GT World Challenge Round 2
Qualifying
Mosport International Raceway
Saturday, May 17, 2003
Race Date: Sunday, May 18, 2003

Contact: Bill Cobb 215-295-3115

Auberlen Takes Speed GT pole at Mosport;
Team PTG BMW M3s to start 1, 3, 5 and 11

In a qualifying session that was red-flagged just minutes after it began
because of a massive oil spill and a resulting two-car accident, the four
BMW Team PTG M3s did very well to stay out of trouble to qualify first,
third, fifth and 11th for Round 2 of the SCCA Pro Racing Speed GT
Championship at Mosport International Raceway in Bowmanville, Ontario,
Canada.

With a lap of 1:24.928 minutes around the 2.459-mile Mosport International
Raceway Bill Auberlen put his No. 7 Team PTG M3 on the pole. In third, with
a lap of 1:25.417, was the No.6 Team PTG M3 of Boris Said. Starting his
first race for BMW Team PTG, Justin Marks put his No. 80 Team PTG M3 in
fifth with a time of 1:26.663. Only Hans Stuck was caught out by slowing
traffic after the oil-down to qualify the No. 8 M3 11th with a time of
1:29.859.

The 50-minute Speed GT race is scheduled to start at 10:45 a.m. tomorrow.

BILL AUBERLEN, NO. 7 BMW TEAM PTG M3 (pole position):
"I ran the Touring Car qualifying session (Auberlen is racing in the Touring
class as well) just before the GT session so had to start from the back of
the GT field as it took a bit of time to switch cars. Normally, being in the
rear is not a good place to be so I let just over a minute pass before I
went out. I passed two cars to get a clear track ahead of me and I wooded
it. The tires were cold and a bit darty, but I kept my foot in it because I
am so comfortable with these M3s and my first lap was good enough."

BORIS SAID, NO. 6 BMW TEAM PTG M3 (third):
"It was a unique session because our warm-up lap became our fast lap. We
have not had much time on the track this weekend so far, but hopefully
tomorrow we will have some fun. Hans started last at Sebring and finished
fourth, so I'm happy to be starting third."

JUSTIN MARKS, NO. 80 BMW TEAM PTG M3 (fifth):
"Because of the shortened session, the starting grid may not be indicative
of how fast everyone could have gone, but I am very happy to be starting
fifth. The first lap had to be a good one today and I am glad to be up
front."

HANS STUCK, NO. 8 BMW TEAM PTG M3 (11th):
"It was bad luck. We had a plan, but a competitor disturbed my first lap so
I gave it up and on my next lap the oil was down."

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