ALMS: BMW V12 LMR Mosport qualifying
6 August 2000
Final Qualifying Friday Round 5, American Le Mans Series 5 August 2000, Bowmanville, Ont. BMW prototypes qualify fifth and eighth Munich/Bowmanville. BMW works drivers JJ Lehto (FIN) and Jorg Muller (D) qualified fifth on the grid for the American Le Mans Series globemegawheels.com Grand Prix at Mosport. Muller qualified the No. 42 BMW V12 LMR on the 2.459-mile Mosport International Raceway road course in one minute, 10.036 seconds. Teammates Bill Auberlen (USA) and Jean-Marc Gounon (F) will start eighth in the No. 43 BMW after Auberlen qualified in 1:11.112. BMW Team PTG driver Boris Said (USA), co-driving with Hans-J. Stuck (D), qualified fourth in the GT class in 1:22.497. BMW Motorsport team manager Charly Lamm: "I have mixed emotions after qualifying. Both cars improved, according to the drivers, and the time improved on the 42 car. But obviously, the competition has even more improved the times. In that respect, there is still work to do and analysis that we'll do tonight. We're glad that we are starting the BMW V12 LMR for the first time in a Mosport race." JJ Lehto #42: "It's very disappointing. We can't really plan any strategies, just have our own race and keep it on the track. We've tried a lot of different solutions, but we are not where we want to be." Jorg Muller #42: "Both first qualifying and second qualifying, I was blocked from someone who shouldn't drive these quick cars. I was flashing my lights and everything and he just wouldn't get out of the way and messed up my lap. But we stayed in our position, we're still fifth. Every race we've finished on the podium, so that's what we've got to do on Sunday, as well. I just don't know if we'll be first, second or third." Bill Auberlen #43: "I cannot figure out why every weekend we lay a good time down, and then we go slower as the weekend goes on. It's very disappointing, our chassis is not responding to changes. I think the track is better because everyone else went faster." Jean-Marc Gounon #43: "We're a bit worried that we couldn't come forward in the second qualifying. The car was easy to drive, but not quick enough. We have to work again tonight to decide what to do for tomorrow." Hans-J. Stuck, #7, GT class: "60 percent of the track we like, 40 per cent we don't. There is a long straightaway where the Porsche can still use a little more horsepower, but I think the race is looking pretty good. I think we made the right choice on tires for tomorrow, and if the rain really comes, it should be a little bit easier. The race is not easy to win, but we have done everything that we could do to be right up with them."