BMW Searches for America's Ultimate Drivers

- Drivers to Audition for Spot on Nurburgring Racetrack -

WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., July 1 -- BMW of North America has found three of America's "Ultimate Drivers" to star in a new, reality-based television show to air on the cable network The Speed Channel this Fall. Selected from a pool of more than 6,000 contestants in the search for "The Ultimate Driver," the stars of the program competed to win a trip to Germany's legendary Nurburgring racetrack and be among the first in the world to drive the new BMW 5 Series sports sedan.

Cameras followed Ferman Wardell of Catonsville, MD; Michael Auriemma of New York and Margaret Hartka of Charlotte, NC as they pushed their driving skills to the limit during tryouts at BMW's Performance Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The three finalists will spend a week next month in Germany where they will have the opportunity to drive the all-new 2004 5 Series on the 14.2-mile Nurburgring racetrack, one of the most challenging race courses in the world, incorporating 172 corners as it winds it way around the countryside. Each of the "Ultimate Drivers" will receive personal instruction from BMW race driver and former LeMans winner Hans Stuck.

"BMW owners tend to be driving enthusiasts of the highest order," said Jim McDowell, Vice President of Marketing for BMW of North America, LLC. "They are so passionate about driving that we feel it's only fitting that we unveil the new 5 series for them first. BMW prides itself in listening to our customers and designing vehicles to meet their needs."

The winners were chosen from twenty-five semi-finalists, each of whom conveyed their passion for driving in a personal essay, which earned them a spot in the semi-finals in Spartanburg. There they auditioned for the ultimate prize -- the trip to Germany and the chance to drive the new 5 Series at the Nurburgring three months before its US debut.

During a rigorous two-day course, the twenty-five semi-finalists were whittled down to the three finalists following a series of driving tests and casting sessions which determined what it takes to be "The Ultimate Driver."

Driving enthusiasts and web savvy consumers entered "The Ultimate Driver" contest on the BMW website and submitted innovative essays on why they are the "Ultimate Driver."

The contest is part of the US launch for the new BMW 5 series and was located within the web page dedicated to the new vehicle.

The BMW Performance Center is a unique facility where beginners and advanced drivers alike can sharpen their performance driving skills through a variety of instructor-led courses.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America has been present in the United States since 1975. Since then, the BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales and financial service organizations for the BMW and MINI brands and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Corp. in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 roadster and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 340 BMW car, 327 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle, 148 BMW Motorcycle retailers, and 70 MINI dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

Information about BMW Group products is available to consumers via the Internet at http://www.bmwusa.com/ http://www.bmwmotorradusa.com/ and http://www.miniusa.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Information about the BMW Group and its products is available to journalists on-line at the BMW Group PressClub at the following address - www.press.bmwgroup.com.