ALMS: BMW V12 Wins Laguna Seca
11 October 1999
MONTEREY, Calif. (Oct. 11, 1999) -- The BMW V12 LMR
collected first and third place in the prototype class of the
American Le Mans Series race at Laguna Seca Raceway. But
BMW Team PTG encountered a series of mechanical problems
that precluded a fourth GT manufacturer championship for BMW.
With a GT win at Laguna Seca, Porsche now has an unbeatable
points lead.
The No. 42 BMW of JJ Lehto and Steve Soper scored a
13.889-second win over the No. 2 Panoz, despite a late-race spin
by Soper. Their team-mates Bill Auberlen and Joachim
Winkelhock finished third in the No. 43 BMW.
"Three consecutive championship runs is almost
unachievable for most teams. The fact that we couldn't pull out a
fourth one and will finish a close second to a brand-new car is
testament to the dedication and professionalism of Prototype
Technology Group. They should be commended for their run,"
said Scott Doniger, motorsport manager for BMW of North
America, Inc.
"We congratulate the Porsche factory group for coming out
with a brand-new car that's very good. We look forward to
competing under an equal set of rules next year. We will
undoubtedly give the Porsche teams around the world a run for
their money."
Peter Cunningham of West Bend, Wis., co-driving the No. 10
BMW M3 with Johannes van Overbeek, qualified quickest of the
team in one minute 29.371 seconds at a speed of 90.150 miles
per hour on the 2.238-mile road course. He started fourth on the
15-car GT grid, just ahead of Hans Stuck of Austria, who started
fifth in the No. 6 M3. Mark Simo of Carlsbad, Calif. qualified the
No. 7 M3 ninth in class.
Stuck was racing in third place when a throttle-cable bracket
broke about 45 minutes into the two-hour 45-minute race. He
repaired the car trackside, using a stone to hold the throttle open
so he could return to pit lane. His co-driver Boris Said of
Carlsbad took the wheel after a 15-minute pitstop for repairs.
The No. 7 car retired a few minutes later with a broken
control arm after Simo had contact with a GTS car, and finished
12th in class. Simo's co-driver, Brian Cunningham of Danville,
Ky., moved to the No. 6 car at the 90-minute mark, in an attempt
to gain more driver championship points. He finished 10th in
class.
"Brian's higher in the points than me, so they made the
decision to get him points instead of me. That's fine, I'm a team
player. It's a team effort and I'm a small part of the whole
equation," Said said. "I'm disappointed I didn't get to drive more
because it's a great track and the car was great. It was an
unfortunate day, but that's racing. You've got to take the ups and
the downs and you can't let it get to you. You just come back and
fight hard, and that's what I'm going to do at the next race."
Cunningham said the difference in height between Said and
Stuck and himself was a challenge. "Everything felt good in the
pits, but when I got out [on track], I realized I wasn't close enough
to the throttle. I had to stretch my foot and I just fatigued my
back. I wasn't made to fit in that car: I'm not six-two, I'm five-
two," he said.
The No. 10 M3 also had difficulty, stopping for a half-hour
repair of a broken driveshaft joint. The car returned to the race
with 30 minutes to go, allowing van Overbeek to log the required
minutes to gain points. He finished seventh in the GT class.
BMW Team PTG is now preparing for the final race of the
1999 American Le Mans Series, the Grand Prix of Las Vegas
(Nev.) at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Nov. 7.
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Round 7, American Le Mans Series, 10 October 1999, Laguna
Seca, California
BMW Le Mans Roadster is back in victory lane
Lehto/Soper won in Laguna Seca, Auberlen/Winkelhock came
third
Munich/Monterey. BMW returns to the victory lane of the American
Le Mans Series (ALMS): JJ Lehto and Steve Soper won the 2
hours and 45 minute race, the seventh ALMS round, at Laguna
Seca Raceway in Monterey, California. The Finn and the
Englishman celebrated their second win under the sun of
California in 1999, after having won in Sears Point. Their team
mates Bill Auberlen (USA) and Joachim Winkelhock (D) joined
them on the podium after finishing in third place on the 2.24 mile
(3,6 kilometre) circuit.
After an impressive performance of two Panoz cars in qualifying,
Lehto/Soper started from third place, Auberlen/Winkelhock from
fourth position. In the heat of the race day- 33 degree Celsius air
temperature, 44 degree on the track - the race strategy was about
tire life. Lehto started on a softer compound which quickly lost
grip and forced him to stop early, after 36 laps (of 121), in order to
take harder rubber. Lehto then improved from fourth to second
place before handing the car over to Soper. During this second
and last pit stop (after 81 laps) Soper took the lead when the
Panoz had to change tires after its double stint. Soper brought
home the victory although he had a breathtaking spin some laps
before the finish.
Auberlen pitted after 44 laps and handed the car, in leading
position at this time, over to Winkelhock, who suffered a stop and
go penalty during his stint. After 81 laps Auberlen climbed in the
car again and brought home the prototype.
BMW Motorsport Team Manager Charly Lamm: "This was the third
ALMS race in sequence which was a real thriller. After we lost the
last two races I am really happy to win again. First and third place
are a very good team achievement."
JJ Lehto #42: "This is a really great victory, it means a lot to me,
especially because the set up work was very hard this time. I am
proud of Steve, even though he brought me close to a heart
attack when he spun a couple of laps before the finish. I know he
did not have an easy job driving on the used tires."
Steve Soper #42: "Driving on the old tires was like walking on a
tightrope. But without saving time in the pits we would not have
won."
Bill Auberlen #43: "We had an ultimate driving machine and
benefitted from the excellent tire choice right from the beginning.
Thanks to BMW and thanks to Michelin. It was a great race in a
strong team. I am happy that I could be part of the game, and I
very much want to congratulate JJ and Steve."
Joachim Winkelhock #43: "It is a pity. Without the stop and go
penalty Bill and I would have came second and I still think it was
not correct giving me a penalty for overtaking under a yellow flag."
In the GT class BMW works driver Hans-Joachim Stuck had bad
luck: After he had improved from fifth to third position with his
BMW M3, the throttle linkage broke. Stuck repaired on the track
and brought the car to the pits, but the fight for a good position
was over by then. Stuck and Boris Said finished seventh.
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