Auberlen wins San Juan Touring race; Plumb is Rookie of the Year

BMW of North America, LLC
Notes and Quotes
Speed Touring World Challenge Round 10
Race
Isla Grand Prix Circuit
San Juan, Puerto Rico
Sunday, Oct. 26 2003


BMW drivers ended a stellar 2003 SCCA Pro Racing Speed Touring Championship
Series that saw the Munich marque capture both the Manufacturer's and
Driver's Championships with an outstanding day at the Isla Grand Prix
Circuit in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in the series' 10th and final round.

Bill Auberlen, who clinched the 2003 Speed Touring Driver's Championship at
the Round 8 event at Laguna Seca (Calif.) Raceway, won the 31-lap race
around the 1.6-mile, 10-turn course from his third starting position in his
No. 93 Turner Motorsport 325i. He won by 21.084 seconds over the Acura of
Pierre Kleinubing. The BMW ace has totaled four wins, four seconds, one
third and one fourth this season. Including today's race, he recorded seven
fastest race laps.

Two BMW rookies had an outstanding day as well.

Matt Richmond had his best finish of the season, moving up 10 spots during
the race in his No. 37 Bimmerworld 328i to finish fifth, earning the Sunoco
Hard Charger Award for his efforts.

Matt Plumb scored his sixth top-10 finish of the year, placing seventh in
his No. 50 duPont Motorsport 325 and capturing the Rookie-of -the-Year
Award.

Rounding out the top 10 for BMW was Will Turner, who finished ninth in his
No. 92 Turner Motorsport 325i.

Today's Speed Touring race is scheduled for broadcast on Speed Channel on
Saturday, Nov. 15, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

BILL AUBERLEN, No. 93 TURNER MOTORSPORTS BMW 325i (first):
"We made the right choice in the beginning of the race by starting on dry
tires. I thought the track would dry out and it would be too tough on rains.
The funny thing is that even in the rain I could keep up. Turner Motorsport
has given me a great BMW all year. We finished each race no worse than
fourth all year and that is the way to win a championship."

MATT PLUMB, No. 50 DUPONT MOTORSPORT BMW 325C (seventh):
"We had problems all weekend long. We got it back together for qualifying,
but did not even have time to align it. In the race I think a sway bar may
have broken so I am very glad to finish where I did."

WILL TURNER, No. 92 TURNER MOTORSPORT BMW 325 (ninth):
"This was awesome. Bill won the race and I was able to secure third in the
Driver's Championship. Turner Motorsport will have a party tonight."


BMW finishing positions:

1     (93)  Bill Auberlen, Hermosa Beach, Calif., BMW 325i
5     (37), Matt Richmond(R), Mooresville, N.C., BMW 328i
7     (50)  Matt Plumb, Newport, RI, BMW 325
9     (92)  Will Turner, Newburyport, Mass., BMW 325i
15    (16)  Phil Parlato, Commack, NY, BMW 325i
16    (51)  Matthew Sklarz, Kent, CT, BMW 325i
19    (94), Frank Selldorff, Boston, Mass., BMW 325i
20    (98)  Rick Maki, Santa Monica, CA, BMW 325Ci
21    (79)  Nick Woodhouse, Vancouver, BC, BMW 325i
26    (99), Robert Stretch, Dallas, Texas, BMW 325Ci
30    (36)  James Clay(R), Blacksburg, Va., BMW 325i

In today's 22-lap CCCPR race that preceded the Speed World Challenge action
eight BMWs were entered in the 49-car field.

NOTE: Manuel Sotero and Rafael Betances Jr. finished first in the T1 class
of the CCPR support event held here and second overall in their No. 42 BMW.
San Juan BMW retailer Eduardo Pellerano and Gaston Rivera finished second in
T1 and third overall in their No.115 BMW.

###