BMW M3 GTRs Top GT Class Qualifying at Sears Point

BMW Team PTG/BMW of North America
Notes and Quotes
X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma
July 21, 2001

Qualifying

The two new BMW Team PTG M3 GTRs will start second and third in the GT class for Sunday's two-hour-and-forty-five-minute X-Factor Grand Prix of Sonoma at Sears Point Raceway.  Bill Auberlen (USA) qualified the No. 10 BMW M3 GTR he will share with Niclas Jönsson (S) second (1:33.910) with the No. 6 of Boris Said (USA) and Hans Stuck (D) just behind (1:34.149).  BMW Motorsport driver Dirk Müller (D) broke his own track record around the 2.52-mile circuit to put the No. 43 M3 GTR he shares with Fredrik Ekblom (S) on the GT pole (1:33.763).  The No. 42 BMW Motorsport M3 GTR of JJ Lehto (FIN) and Jörg Müller (D) will start fourth (1:34.448).

Tom Milner, owner Prototype Technology Group

"All of the BMW M3 GTRs are within one second of each other so it looks to be a BMW race.  I hope Team PTG will be up front, but I am relatively certain that a BMW will be up front and that is the most important thing."

Darren Tannehill, Motorsport Manager, Yokohama Tire

" Yokohama continues to be amazed by the performance of the new M3 GTR.  We feel confident that our new tires will get to the checkered flag first."

Boris Said, driver No. 6 PTG M3 GTR

"I got two good laps, but was too hot into the last turn on the second one and it cost me a few tenths.  We saved the tires because ultimately we are here to win the race."

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