BMW, Auberlen flag-to-flag in Speed Touring race at Road Atlanta

BMW of North America, LLC
Notes and Quotes
Speed Touring World Challenge Round 4
Race
Road Atlanta
Braselton, Ga
Sunday, June 29, 2003

Bill Auberlen, driving the No. 93 Turner Motorsport BMW 325i in Round 4 of
the SCCA Pro Racing Speed Touring series today, scored his third career and
second pole-to-checkered-flag Touring victory of the season on the 2.54-mile
Road Atlanta circuit in Braselton, Ga.

Auberlen's first win of 2003 came in March at the season opener at Sebring
(Fla.) International Raceway.

Benefiting from a second-place finish in Round 2 and a fourth in Round 3,
this second win moves Auberlen into the driver's championship lead and puts
BMW back at the top of the Touring Class manufacturer's championship
standings.

Auberlen won by 3.450 seconds over the Mazda of Jeff Altenburg in the 25-lap
contest and set the fastest lap of the race at 1:39.922.

Nic Jonsson's No. 27 Lectricair/Techmark 325Ci finished seventh after
running as high as second in the early laps of the race and Touring rookie
James Clay had the best day of his career, starting fourth and finishing
10th in his No. 36 Bimmerworld 325i.

The race is scheduled to be aired on pee Channel on July 19 at 5 p.m. ET.

BILL AUBERLEN, No. 93 TURNER MOTORSPORTS BMW 325i (first):
"I knew I had the rear-wheel-drive advantage of the BMW at the start, so I
was confident of leading into turn 1. The two other BMWs of James Clay and
Nic Jonsson jumped in behind me and held off the Mazdas. I was able to pull
out a 4.6-second lead, but I did not have a 10th of a second more. The
full-course caution about halfway through the race caused me some concern,
but I was able to hold the lead."

NIC JONSSON, No. 27 LECTRICAIR/TECHMARK BMW 325Ci (seventh):
"I got a great start and I think that goes back to my open-wheel driving
days where every race had a standing start. I got up right behind Bill
(Auberlen) early, but we just don't have the power on the long straights and
some of my competitors were able to draft by me. We have some things to work
on and we will come back stronger in round 5."

JAMES CLAY, No. 36 BIMMERWORLD 325i (10th):
"We had not been able to get the set-up quite right until just before
qualifying when everything clicked and I was able to find two seconds. I
have never been racing close to the front before and I was able to learn
some things. When Bill (Auberlen) started to pull away as soon as he had a
clear track I got caught out a bit, but 10th is a career best for me so I am
very happy."


BMW finishing positions:

1    (93)  Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, Calif., BMW 325i
7    (27) Nic Jonsson, Dankeryt, Sweden, BMW 325Ci
10  (36)  James Clay(R), Blacksburg, Va., BMW 325i
12  (7) Ken Dobson, Carmel Valley, Calif., BMW 325Ci
15  (92)  Will Turner, Newburyport, Mass., BMW 325i
16  (94), Frank Selldorff, Boston, Mass., BMW 325i
19  (35), James Sofronas, Newport Beach, Calif., BMW 325i
20  (37), Matt Richmond(R), Mooresville, N.C., BMW 328i
22  (16) Phil Parlato, Commack, NY, BMW 325i
27  (98), Neal Sapp, Ellicott City, MD, BMW 325Ci
29  (98), Robert Stretch, Dallas, Texas, BMW 325Ci
30  (24)  Jim Osborn, Olltewah, TX, BMW 325Ci
31  (50)  Matt Plumb(R), Newport, R.I., BMW 325
33  (63)  Mark O’Dell, Wake Forest, NC, BMW328i
38  (51)  Alfred duPont, Kennett Square, Pa., BMW 325