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PSCR: Entry Tickets for Le Mans Are Secured for BMW Team

11 May 1999

Munich/Le Mans-- BMW got through the prequalification for the 24-Hours of Le Mans (12/13 June). The Finn, JJ Lehto was the quickest BMW driver on Sunday. His fastest lap in 3:32.867 minutes put him in third place in the afternoon qualifying group

"Our new car handles excellently here," said Lehto. "I really had a go at the end in an attempt to put in a faster lap. Unfortunately I spun off in the process, damaging the bodywork."

Tom Kristensen, driving in the same qualifying group, placed the BMW V12 LMR, which ran as an Art Car designed by Jenny Holzer, in sixth place, after lapping in 3:34,493 minutes.

Yannick Dalmas had to settle for 11th place in the morning session. The Frenchman spun, grazing the crash barrier, causing a hood mounting latch to come loose, which adversely affected the aerodynamic functions of the bodywork.

BMW Motorsport Director Gerhard Berger stated, "We lost practice time because of the problem with the hood latch, but the team calmly looked for a solution and demonstrated in the remaining qualifying time, that we are to be reckoned with in Le Mans."

The two modified '98 BMW V12 Le Mans will also be able to start in June. The cars have been entered by the Japanese Goh team as well as Price+Bscher, where the BMW works driver Bill Auberlen took over the task of qualifying the car.

Prototypes a.m.:
1. Toyota GT-One (Katayama) 3.32,426 min
2. Panoz LMP (O'Connell/Magnussen/Angelelli) 3.36,577
3. Audi R8R (Alboreto/Capello) 3.37,509
4. Lola T98/10 (Tinseau/Montagny/Terrien) 3.37,600
5. Nissan R391 (v.d. Poele/Motayama/Krumm) 3.38,000
6. Mercedes CLR (Bouchut/Dumbreck/Heidfeld) 3.39,730
11. BMW V12 LMR (Yannick Dalmas) 3.44,982

Prototypes p.m.:
1. Toyota GT-One (Brundle/Collard/Sospiri) 3.31,857 min
2. Panoz LMP (Brabham/Bernard) 3.31,941 min
3. BMW V12 LMR (Jorg Muller/JJ Lehto) 3.32,867 min
4. Toyota GT-One (Boutsen/McNish) 3.33,174 min
5. Mercedes CLR (Schneider/Lamy/Lagorce) 3.33,864 min
6. BMW V12 LMR (Tom Kristensen/Joachim Winkelhock) 3.34,493 min 

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