BMW M3 GTRs Will Start Petit Le Mans 1-2-3 and 5
BMW Team PTG/BMW of
North America
Notes and Quotes
Petit Le Mans
Road Atlanta - Braselton, Ga.
October 5, 2001
Qualifying: BMW M3 GTRs will start the Petit Le Mans 1,2,3
and 5
Braselton, Ga., -- JJ Lehto qualified the No. 42 BMW
Motorsport M3 GTR on the GT class pole for tomorrow's 1000-mile Petit Le
Mans with a new qualifying record of 1:22.604 around the 2.54-mile Road
Atlanta circuit. This marks the sixth race in a row that the new
V8-powered BMW M3 GTR has started at the front of the GT class as BMW
looks to close the 2001 American Le Mans Series season with a sixth
straight victory - the streak beginning at the third-round X-Factor Grand
Prix of Sonoma at Sears Point Raceway in Sonoma, Calif. in July. The
No. 43 BMW Motorsport M3 GTR of Dirk Müller posted the second fastest
time (1:22.681).
A light rain began to fall just after the thirty-minute session began and
Hans Stuck spun the No. 6 Team PTG M3 GTR causing a brief stop in the
action to clear the track of gravel. Pitting for new tires - allowed
because the session was declared "wet" and not requiring the
team to use their marked qualifying Yokohamas - Stuck recovered to post
the third quickest GT time (1:23.617). David Murry, driving his
first race for Team PTG, slotted the No. 10 M3 GTR into the fifth starting
spot (1:24.041).
Hans Stuck, driver No. 6 PTG M3 GTR
"The track was dry as we went out, but it started to rain so I
thought that this was my best chance if the rain was going to continue.
Unfortunately, I came in one percent too fast on the next lap and I spun
into the gravel. The car was undamaged and I continued after
pitting for new tires. I am happy with third."
David Murry,
driver No. 10 PTG M3 GTR
"As my tires were coming in I got behind some slower cars and by the
time I got around them and found some space I just missed the window.
I came in for another set of tires as the track dried, but only got one
flyer before the checker. When it rains on and off like this you
have to get lucky."
Tom Salkowsky,
motorsports manager, BMW of North America, LLC
"A sixth pole in a row for the M3 GTR in a session that required the
right strategy and another great effort by both BMW teams. We will
take the 1,2,3,5-start and look a 1,2,3,4-finish."
Tom Milner,
owner BMW Team PTG
"We are where we need to be. Hans has the No. 6 car in the
third spot. I would have liked to see David up higher with the No. 10, but
I think he came in one lap too late for his last set of tires and ran out
of time. Our job is to ensure victory for BMW because at the end of
the day this is about teamwork and the drivers championship is next on the
list."