BMW Team PTG in Pivotal Race
9 September 1999
BRASELTON, Ga. (Sept. 9, 1999) -- BMW Team PTG hopes
to take the lead in American Le Mans Series GT-class
manufacturer and team standings with a strong run in the Petit Le
Mans on Sept. 18. The 1000-mile, 10-hour race on the 2.54-mile
Road Atlanta road course is the sixth of eight in the series. Team
members believe it will be a pivotal race in the championship hunt.
BMW, looking for its fourth-consecutive GT manufacturer
championship, trails Porsche by just one point in manufacturer
standings. BMW Team PTG is one point behind Alex Job Racing
in team rankings after five races. And BMW Team PTG driver
Johannes van Overbeek of Danville, Calif., leads the series GT
driver championship by three points over Porsche driver Cort
Wagner.
"It gets harder and harder every year. Being the target
means everyone is shooting for us," said Scott Doniger,
motorsport manager for BMW of North America, Inc. "We've had
a tough year, but despite the rules changes from last year and the
fact that Porsche has a new car built to next year's standards, it's
still anyone's game. That's pretty impressive, and a credit to
everyone who has contributed to this effort. We're going to
continue to give it everything we've got to achieve what we set out
to do -- win a fourth-straight championship for BMW."
Van Overbeek will co-drive the No. 10 BMW M3 with Mark
Simo of Carlsbad, Calif., and Darren Law of Phoenix. Simo, who
won the Professional Sports Car Racing GT3 (now GT) driver
championship last year, will have the rare opportunity to race with
his twin Brian, also of Carlsbad, who is a leading SCCA Trans-Am
competitor.
"We've only had the opportunity to race together twice
before in the BMW M3s, at Road Atlanta and Minneapolis last
year. Brian ran GT2 and I ran GT3, and we shared victory at both
races. If history repeats itself, maybe we'll be able to win again
this year," Mark Simo said. "It's just going to be nice driving
together again. I think Brian will blend well with the team and the
other drivers. He's been around and he knows everybody, and
that helps to build the right synergy."
Brian Simo will drive the No. 7 BMW M3 with Brian
Cunningham of Danville, Ky., and Peter Cunningham of West
Bend, Wis. Their teammates Hans Stuck of Austria and Boris Said
of Carlsbad will be paired in the No. 6 M3. All three cars will carry
the colors of Yokohama, Flextronics International and Level One.
The BMW Team PTG drivers know how to win at Road
Atlanta. In 1998, Said and Brian Simo won the GT2 (now GTS)
class, and Peter Cunningham and Mark Simo won the GT3 (now
GT) class in the Sports Car Grand Prix at Road Atlanta. Law was
on the second-place GT3 team at the inaugural Petit Le Mans.
And van Overbeek and Brian Cunningham scored their first BMW
Team PTG win at Road Atlanta in April this year.
Stuck said the team completed a successful test at Road
Atlanta in August, despite high temperatures that taxed the
drivers' stamina. "I tested more or less all the different
specifications and then started a long run. We changed drivers
every half-hour or so," he reported. "We found something that
was for sure an improvement in tire durability and our time was not
bad, so we're moving forward. We were quite happy about this!"
The 10-hour Petit Le Mans race is scheduled to start at 11
a.m. ET on Saturday, Sept. 18. Race highlights will be telecast on
NBC on Sunday, Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. ET. Petit Le Mans Radio Web
will provide a live broadcast for all track sessions and the race.
Petit Le Mans Radio Web, video highlights, news and updates will
be available through the American Le Mans Series website
(www.americanlemans.com).
______________________________
BMW CCA CLUB RACING HIGHLIGHTS
contact Scott Hughes shughesbmw@aol.com
Allegheny Chapter, Pittsburgh (Pa.) Vintage Grand Prix,
Shenley Park, July 17
The 17th running of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, an event
that benefits the Allegheny Valley School and the Autism Society
of Pittsburgh, included sanction of a BMW CCA Club race for the
second year. 13 BMWs entered, including two BMW Chevrons, an
ex-IMSA 320i, nine 1600/2002s and one Bavaria. Gordon
Medenica set the pace in his concours 67 BMW Chevron, winning
overall and setting a new outright lap record for the event. Several
close battles within the 2002 ranks kept the huge spectator crowd
entertained and garnered BMW a return invitation for next year's
millennium race.
Hoosier Chapter, Oktoberfest '99, Putnam Park, Indianapolis,
Ind., July 21
The Tire Rack BMW CCA Club race was the highlight of the BMW
Car Club of America's 30th anniversary Oktoberfest driving
events. The 53 entries included two BMW Chevrons, Arthur
Porter's Rocky Mountain Motorworks 3.5 CSL, two new M
Coupes, 23 M3s and a mix of 325s, 318s, Z3s and 2002s. The
Group 1 overall winner was Chuck Stickley's B Modified M3 E36.
The Group 2 overall winner was Wayne Leuthold's H Stock M3
Ltw, closely pursued by Mike Lawrence's similar car. Spectators
were also treated to a "Baby Bimmers on Track" touring session of
20 BMW Isettas and a BMW 700 -- probably the largest group of
Isettas ever assembled in the United States.
Golden Gate Chapter club race, Thunderhill Park, Calif., Aug. 14
11 cars took to the course in a two sprint race schedule. E30
M3s dominated, but the tight competition saw different winners in
each race with Mike Plumleigh's JPrep car taking the win in race
one and Chuck Quarton taking the second race win.
Boston Chapter and BMW Club of Canada club race, Circuit
Mont Tremblant, St. Jovite, Que., July 31 and Aug. 1
23 cars took to the famous (and partly resurfaced) St. Jovite
course in a half-hour sprint race on Saturday and a one-hour
enduro on Sunday. Chuck Stickley's BMod E36M3 won both
segments of the program.
New Jersey Chapter club race, Summit Point, W. Va., Aug. 16 and 17
32 cars took the green flag for a half-hour sprint race on Monday
and a one-hour enduro race on Tuesday. Chuck Stickley won the
sprint race, but minor contact in the enduro race left him a
spectator as Steve Mina's DM 325is notched its first overall win.
Windy City Chapter club race, Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wis., Aug. 21 and 22
21 BMWs took part in a two-day program shared with the
Midwestern Council. This compulsory weekend gave competitors
the opportunity to participate in up to three races (BMW CCA,
Midwestern Council IT, GT and Vintage groups). David McNeil led
the BMW race in his AMod M3, followed closely by Larry Wright
and Ray Mason. The IT race saw a BMW podium sweep as
Patrick Dunbar, Dan Snyder and Scott Hughes took their ITS (K
Prep) 325is racers to a one-two-three finish in the 33-car field.
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