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Racing - April 6 / March 20 2009

MILNER AND MÜLLER RACE NO. 92 BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM M3 TO SECOND IN GT2
St. Petersburg, Fla. April 4, 09

Team achieves podium in only the second race of new BMW of North America M3 racing program. Tommy Milner and Dirk Müller raced the No. 92 BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team M3 to a second place GT2 class finish today at the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg. The duo completed 86 laps in the one-hour- and-fifty-five minute race. The podium finish was the first for the Milner/Müller duo and for the new BMW of North America M3 racing program.

The race began under bright Florida sunshine with Bill Auberlen starting the No. 90 M3 from third and Tommy Milner behind the wheel of the No. 92 M3, fourth on the grid. Both M3s settled into the fourth and fifth spots as the race passed the 30-minute mark. Auberlen was the first to pit on lap 28. After a quick pit stop for tires and fuel, Joey Hand attempted to pull away, but the car would not fire. The crew performed some quick diagnostics, but unfortunately the No. 90 M3 was retired.

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team Milner had moved the No. 92 M3 into third before pitting on lap 35. Müller returned to the race in fourth, but was soon back in a podium position as the race slowed for the only caution period of the day just before the one hour mark. One lap before the restart, Müller ducked into the pits to tighten a loosening suspension bolt. The stop dropped No. 92 back to fourth, 10 seconds behind third. With 20 minutes remaining Müller charged up to the rear bumper of the car in third. Two minutes later he took over third and set his sights on the car in second place, only one second ahead. On lap 70, Müller raced into second place, holding the position for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team's first podium finish.

Tommy Milner, driver No. 92 BMW M3 (second): "It is wonderful to show what the M3 is capable of. Our car was almost perfect the entire race. Only one little hiccup with something loose in the front. The tires were awesome. Dunlop is really behind us. This podium feels great after our rough start at Sebring." Dirk Mueller, driver No. 92 BMW M3 (second): "What a thrilling day to realize the first podium for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team! Tommy did a great first stint. He was driving like a machine, with a great machine below him. We had to make a safety check and dropped to P4 or 5. It was a great fight back to second. I enjoyed racing my last year's teammate. It was as if I could read his mind at every moment and that was an advantage. Dunlop gave me a perfect tire. It was a different compound than Tommy was using because of the heat we had on the track. It was absolutely awesome, so the corners were really so much fun. Congratulations to the team for a well-deserved second place." Bobby Rahal, team principal:"I am very pleased for BMW and the team. All the hard work from BMW Motorsport, BMW of North America, and Dunlop really paid off today. While we are disappointed that the No. 90 didn't finish, we look forward to Long Beach and our continuing improvement."Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America, LLC Motorsports Manager: "Expectations are very high for this program and it's a great morale boost to see we have the car, the team and the tires. I want to thank our partners in Dunlop. They completed very strategic testing and a development plan that has born fruit today. BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team first podium. We know we have the ingredients and in two weeks at Long Beach we will fight for the podium again. Unfortunately the No. 90 car did not finish today. I am disappointed for Bill and Joey, but we still are facing teething problems."


Bernhard and Dumas reinforce Audi at Le Mans
2009/04/01 - Porsche endurance specialists to compete in new R15 TDI Audi driver lineup for 24 Hours of Le Mans now complete

BMW Sauber F1 Team,
Malaysian GP - 04/05/2009

PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix - Race, Sunday - 05.04.09 Weather: dry at the start, heavy rain, 24-30°air, 24-40°C track, humidity 75-97 percent
Sepang (MAL). In a dramatic PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix, BMW Sauber F1 Team driver, Nick Heidfeld, finished second. After the race was started in dry conditions, heavy rain forced the race director to red flag it early. Robert Kubica, was unlucky and had to stop on lap two due to an engine problem. Because, as required by the regulations, the drivers were not able to complete 75 percent of the race distance they will only receive half the points. Nick Heidfeld: 2nd BMW Sauber F1.09-04 / BMW P86/9 (KERS) Fastest lap: 1:39.084 min on lap 17 (10th fastest overall) "I'm obviously very happy to be second after starting from tenth. It was a really extreme and challenging race today. I had a good start but also quite a heavy car, which meant racing was not easy for me. When it was obvious it would rain soon I pitted seven laps earlier than planned, and we decided to go on full rain tyres. They wore down quickly because the heavy rain didn't come. The team kept telling me "stay out, heavy rain expected", but the tyres felt almost like slicks. For those laps intermediates would have been much quicker, but who could know that. When it finally poured down it was the right decision to stop the race. It was absolutely impossible to drive. I spun behind the safety car, not only because of aquaplaning with the tyres but also with the underfloor. I'm happy for our team that we can now bring home at least one proper result from the first two races of the season." Robert Kubica: DNF BMW Sauber F1.09-035/ BMW P86/9 "When I started on the formation lap, my engine produced strange noises and there was very little power. I started the race, which under the circumstances was not easy, and continued to drive. I asked my team what I should do, but before I got an answer the car caught fire and I stopped."  Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "The race was as chaotic as we expected based on the weather forecast. For Robert, the race was already over at the start because his engine didn't respond to the throttle. According to an early analysis the reason was a leakage in the pneumatic system. Because of the weather forecast we put Nick on a heave fuel load. This enabled him to stay out until the rain started. He switched to rain tyres at the right moment and was able to finish the race. In extremely difficult conditions he managed to achieve the best possible result. Compliments go to Nick and the whole crew, who worked without any mistakes." Willy Rampf (Head of Engineering): "This was not a race for poor nerves! For Robert, the GP was over at the start. That's a shame, because he was in a strong position. Nick started on a heavy fuel load. The strategy to leave him out for a long time paid off. This was brave, but in the end it worked out. In very difficult conditions he managed to keep the car on the track and to capture a podium finish. Compliments are due to the whole team who worked perfectly in chaotic conditions."

Ingolstadt/Stuttgart – The Audi driver lineup for the 24 Hours of Le Mans is complete: by signing Timo Bernhard (28/Germany) and Romain Dumas (31/France) Audi managed to engage two absolute endurance specialists for the most important sports car race of the year.

Driving a Porsche RS Spyder Bernhard and Dumas were the most successful driver pairing in the LMP2 class of the American Le Mans Series in the past three years. They clinched a total of nine overall victories for Porsche and, ultimately, won the LMP2 title twice in a row.

"Without a doubt, Timo and Romain rank among the world's best sports car drivers," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "We've come to know them in the American Le Mans Series as tough but fair rivals and are pleased that within the Group the opportunity now presents itself to have them race for us at Le Mans. We're convinced that Timo and Romain will definitely strengthen our driver squad. With victories at the 12-hour race at Sebring, the 24-hour race at Daytona and at the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring under their belts they've already proven their skills as real endurance specialists."

Le Mans is not unknown territory for the two Porsche "factory" drivers either: Bernhard has so far contested the French endurance classic three times and in 2002, at his Le Mans debut, celebrated victory in the GT class straight away. Dumas has started from the Le Mans grid as many as eight times – most recently twice in an LMP1 car entered by the Pescarolo team in which he finished third overall in 2007.

"Winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans is any sports car driver's dream, that's why we are extremely happy about the opportunity to contest Le Mans for Audi," unanimously say both Porsche "factory" drivers. "Both of us are really excited and looking forward to the Audi R15 TDI."

The two will test AUDI AG's new diesel racing sports car that won at its debut event, the 12-hour Race at Sebring (USA), right away as early as in April. The combinations of the total of nine Audi drivers starting from the grid at Le Mans on June 13/14 will be decided in the next few weeks.

With Timo Bernhard (Germany), Dindo Capello (Italy), Romain Dumas (France), Tom Kristensen (Denmark), Lucas Luhr (Germany), Allan McNish (Scotland), Alexandre Prémat (France), Mike Rockenfeller (Germany) and Marco Werner (Germany) Audi Sport Team Joest's driver lineup is arguably as powerful as it can be.


Audi "legends" to compete at the Nürburgring
2009/04/01 - First test race of new Audi R8 LMS Biela, Pirro and Stuck at VLN opener Kick-off for Audi customer sport program

Ingolstadt/Nürburg – Three drivers, who have made a major contribution to AUDI AG's successful motorsport history, will be honored in a special way next weekend: in the new Audi R8 LMS's first test race, the former Audi "factory" drivers Frank Biela (Germany), Emanuele Pirro (Italy) and Hans-Joachim Stuck (Austria) will take the wheel of the GT3 sports car powered by more than 500 hp.

Biela, Pirro and Stuck will contest the "ADAC Westfalenfahrt," the season opener of the BFGoodrich Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring (VLN) on the legendary Nürburgring-Nordschleife on Saturday, April 4, for Team Phoenix Racing.

Frank Biela (44) was an Audi factory driver from 1991 to 2008. In his first year with Audi, the German clinched the title in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in the Audi V8 quattro straight away and celebrated numerous other successes with Audi over the past 18 years, including five victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Emanuele Pirro (47) drove for Audi from 1994 to 2008. The Italian won several touring car titles and, together with Frank Biela, also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times. Pirro clinched a total of nine podium positions at Le Mans.

Hans-Joachim Stuck (58) competed for Audi from 1988 to 1995. His biggest exploit in the service of the brand with the four rings was winning the 1990 German Touring Car Championship in the Audi V8 quattro. Since January 2008, Stuck has been the Volkswagen Group's Representative for Motorsport.

The first test run in racing conditions marks the beginning of the next stage of the new Audi R8 LMS's development. "Our three legends have a lot of experience and will provide us with important feedback for the continuing development of our new GT3 vehicle for the customer sport program," says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. "We want to learn as much as possible. Therefore, the outcome of the race tends to be of lesser importance."

 

Porsche 911 GT3 RSR Teams Turn Fastest Race Laps, but Podium Drive Falls Short in Last Hours at Sebring; Lizards, Farnbacher Loles Stage Big Comeback SEBRING, FL – March 21
The two Porsche 911 GT3 RSR race teams started the 57th running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring in the top two positions on the GT2 grid, but, by the ten minute mark, two cars of the three cars were already in the pits with unscheduled stops, and the pole-sitter and lead car spent one hour, 45-miuntes in the pits in the second hour, effectively ruining Porsche's chance for a victory.
Both Flying Lizard Porsches in the pits at Sebring

But both the #45 Flying Lizard Motorsport Porsche 911 GT3 RSR and the #87 Farnbacher Loles Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – after falling many laps behind – clawed their way back from last in the field to score valuable points at the American Le Mans Series season opener.

"For sure, I would have been happy if our teams repeated our victory from last year, but luck was definitely not on our side today," said Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport.

"I am very satisfied with the new Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, which performed well under all conditions. We had the top qualifying position and the fastest race lap. This puts our Porsche teams in a good position for what I think will be a very competitive season," said Kristen.

The No. 87 Farnbacher Loles Porsche of Dirk Werner/Wolf Henzler/Richard Lietz started on the GT2 pole and led the class for the first hour, but – in hour two – the car lost its differential, and was wheeled back to the garage area for more than one and a half hours worth of work. By the time the diagnosis and repair work was completed, the team had lost more than 45 laps to the leaders. Later in the race, the car was back in the pits, this time with a broken upright and tie-rod. The drivers pushed hard and made up dozens of laps over the length of the race, so the team can score valuable points by making sure it completed at least 70 percent of the number of laps of the overall leader – the International Motor Sports Association rule on such things. Finishing ninth, with the bonus points for the Sebring long-distance race, gave the drivers and team eight points – eight more points than the zero points for which they were headed.

The No. 45 Flying Lizard Porsche of Joerg Bergmeister/Patrick Long/Marc Lieb also fell to the back of the pack early after Joerg Bergmesiter was hit by the No. 40 Robertson Racing Ford as the No. 40 attempted to pass on lap two. The impact damaged the left rear suspension of the No. 45, sending Joerg back to the pits. The crew replaced the left rear toe link in the pits but the 12-minute unplanned pit stop also sent Joerg to the back of the GT2 pack. The No. 44 Flying Lizard Porsche of Darren Law/Johannes van Overbeek/Seth Neiman, which spun on track early in the race, narrowly avoiding contact with the tire wall, also came in for an unplanned pit stop for tires.

But, like the Farnbacher Loles car, the Lizards cars made a furious run towards the top of the class, with the Bergmeister/Long/Lieb car making up five laps to close in on the No. 21 Panoz Esperante, nosing past their rival with a little more than an hour to go and seemingly headed for third place and a podium. But Lieb, who had made up 20 seconds in 12 laps, thought he was clear on the Panoz as he made the pass only to discover the Panoz hadn't given him enough room, and the cars touched. The Lizard Porsche went into the wall, and had to limp into the pits, losing its chance for a podium.

"I thought I had cleared him, and thought he had given me the proper amount of room, but he didn't, so we touched. The Lizard crew put in such a good effort that we deserved a better result," said Lieb, a Porsche factory driver who had won Sebring with the Lizards in 2008. The No. 45 car ended up fourth in class – still an accomplishment from the back of the pack early in the race, and Lieb turned the fastest race lap.

The Melo/Kaffer/Salo Ferrari won the GT2 class, and the Companc/Russo/Bruni Ferrari was second. The Panoz of James/Farnbacher finished third.

The No. 44 Lizard Porsche, with Seth Neiman/Darren Law/Johannes van Overbeek, finishing fifth after their auspicious start. They also finished third in the GT division (including GT1 and GT2) of the Michelin Green X Challenge, which uses a system ranking all the cars in the race according to average speed and distance covered, along with the amount of energy used, greenhouse gases emitted and petroleum displaced.

Results from the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring:
Pos Cl Drivers ar Time
1. LMP1 Capello/Kristensen/McNish Audi R15 TDI 12h00m38.638s
2. LMP1 Montagny/Sarrazin/Bourdais Peugeot 908 HDi FAP + 22.279s
3. LMP1 Luhr/Rockenfeller/Werner Audi R15 TDI + 2 laps
4. LMP2 Fernandez/Diaz Acura ARX-01B + 23 laps
5. LMP1 Minassian/Lamy/Klien Peugeot 908 HDi FAP + 27 laps
6. GT1 O'Connell/Magnussen/Garcia Corvette C6.R + 34 laps
7. GT1 Gavin/Beretta/Fassler Corvette C6.R + 35 laps
8. GT2 Melo/Kaffer/Salo Ferrari 430 GT + 51 laps
9. GT2 Companc/Russo/Bruni Ferrari 430 GT + 53 laps
10. GT2 Farnbacher/James Panoz Esperante + 54 laps
11. GT2 Bergmeister/Long/Lieb Porsche 911 GT3 + 57 laps
12. GT2 Law/Neiman/van Overbeek Porsche 911 GT3 + 57 laps
13. GT2 Krohn/Jonsson/van de Poele Ferrari 430 GT + 58 laps
14. GT2 Robertson/Robertson/Murry Doran Ford GT MK 7 + 80 laps
15. LMP1 Brabham/Sharp/Franchitti Acura ARX-02a + 81 laps
16. GT2 Henzler/Werner/Lietz Porsche 911 GT3 + 109 laps
17. GT2 Feinberg/Hall/Holt Dodge Viper + 132 laps
18. LMP1 De Ferran/Pagenaud/Dixon Acura ARX-02a + 137 laps
19. GT2 Drayson/Cocker/Bell Aston Martin + 179 laps
20. LMP1 McMurry/Willman/Burgess Lola B06/10 AER + 232 laps
21. LMP2 Leitzinger/Franchitti/Devlin Lola B09 86 Mazda + 234 laps
22. GT2 Muller/Milner BMW E92 M3 + 243 laps
23. LMP2 Dyson/Smith/Lally Lola B09 86 Mazda + 256 laps
24. GT2 Gigliotti/Curran/Molo Chevrolet Riley + 294 laps
25. LMP1 Field/Field/Ducote Lola B06/10 AER + 306 laps
26. GT2 Hand/Auberlen BMW E92 M3 + 356 laps

 

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