2010 Nürburgring 24hr - BMW WINNERS again

• 13.05.2010
• Press Release

Nürburgring, 13th May 2010. The stage is set for a thrilling 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE): Team BMW Motorsport kicks off the weekend on Thursday. After an intensive phase of preparations, the two BMW M3 GT2 cars – one driven by Jörg Müller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR), Uwe Alzen (DE) and Pedro Lamy (PT), and the other by Dirk Werner (DE), Dirk Müller (DE), Andy Priaulx (GB) and Dirk Adorf (DE) – face the challenge of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

“We know that we are competitive. I can hardly wait for the race, and am very confident. Of course, it depends on the stability of the car. However, we looked good in that sense during the preparations. Our performance has also been god, so there is no reason why we should not have a successful weekend here. Having said that, we also know that anything can happen in a 24-hour race.”

Augusto Farfus (Car Number 25):

“It is hard to find the right words to describe how a driver feels about the Nordschleife. The special allure of this circuit goes beyond anything else. You have to drive there yourself to fully understand the myth of the Nordschleife. I am a huge fan of this circuit. Real motorsport fans feel at home here. We will do everything in our power to get a good result here.”

Uwe Alzen (Car Number 25):
“The great thing about the Nürburgring is that the fans get so close to the drivers, and there is a real relationship between those involved in the race and the spectators. I remember well the last BMW outings on the Nordschleife with the predecessor to our BMW M3 GT2. In 2004 and 2005 the team produced a perfect performance. I hope we can achieve that this year too.”

Pedro Lamy (Car Number 25):

“The race is finally just around the corner. The 24-hour races at the Nürburgring are always magnificent events, and it is always great fun being here. It goes without saying that I want to win again, but we are up against some tough competition. However, we are well prepared for this race. If we do not experience any reliability problems, we should be able to challenge for one of the top positions.”

Dirk Werner (Car Number 26):

“We have a chance of battling it out on the front end of the grid. That is an exciting starting point for a driver at a race like this. I am delighted to be able to race at this classic for a brand with as much tradition as BMW. I am sure we can count on huge support from the spectators.”

Dirk Müller (Car Number 26):

“It is simply great fun lining up in the BMW M3 GT2. To drive at a legendary race like this on the Nordschleife makes a driver’s heart beat faster. The circuit is a big challenge for the entire team. Everything must fit together perfectly. We are rising to this challenge – hopefully we’ll be rewarded for our efforts.”

Andy Priaulx (Car Number 26):

“It is incredibly difficult to adjust to the Nordschleife. There are so many variables. One thing is clear though: mistakes are punished much more severely there than on any other circuit. For that reason you must keep your concentration at all times in the cockpit. I have already won with the BMW M3 GTR at the Nürburgring, and am now extremely motivated to be up there at the front of the field with the BMW M3 GT2. The car has what it takes to follow on from the great BMW successes of the past at 24-hour races.”

Dirk Adorf (Car Number 26):

“I am really looking forward to this race. For me, it is the absolute highlight of the season. It is a shame that the weather has not played ball yet. I can put myself in the shoes of the fans, some of whom have been at the circuit for days already. For that reason, I hope the conditions improve. We have completed an extensive preparation phase and are well prepared for the race.”

Schedule for the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

 13th May 2010           13:00-14:30hrs         Free practice

13th May 2010           19:30-23:30hrs         Qualifying 1

14th May 2010           12:45-14:45hrs         Qualifying 2

15thMay 2010            15:00hrs                     Start 24-hour race

16thMay 2010            15:00hrs                     Finish 24-hour race

• 14.05.2010
• Press Release

Nürburgring, 14thMay 2010. Team BMW Motorsport finished eighth and 11th in the second qualifying session for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE). Shortly before the end of the two-hour session, Uwe Alzen (DE) clocked a time of 8:32.861 minutes in the no. 25 BMW M3 GT2. This means the old hand and his driving colleagues Jörg Müller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Pedro Lamy (PT) will start the endurance classic from eighth on Saturday.

After difficult conditions on Thursday, the second qualifying session on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife remained dry. On his first lap, Adorf clipped the crash barrier with the rear of his car, resulting in a short stop for repairs. Apart from this, the session was problem-free for Team BMW Motorsport.

Charly Lamm (Team Manager):

“After yesterday’s weather dramas, it was important that our cars completed the session without any major incidents. I would have liked to start from a bit higher up the field, but tomorrow we should be able to launch an attack from eighth and 11th on the grid. At the start of the session it was still damp in some sections, then we were able to drive continuously on dry tyres. The drivers all did a good job, and we should be well prepared for the race.”

Uwe Alzen (Car Number 25):

“The car was good again today, and the balance was spot on. Starting from eighth we can aim for the leading group right from the beginning of the race. That is important at an endurance race. If you start any further back, you have to cope with slower cars and end up losing time in the early stages. There are a lot of cars here this year, so we want to establish ourselves at the front of the field straight away.”

Dirk Adorf (Car Number 26):

“That was a turbulent session for me. On my first lap I skidded on a patch of oil, and the collision with the crash barriers bent the tie rod. I stayed in the car once it had been repaired and was able to set a good lap time. I was able to improve again in my last spell shortly before the end of the session. A yellow flag phase on the Grand Prix circuit cost a bit of time, and you always have to deal with traffic on the Nordschleife. Tomorrow we will be going all out to move up through the field.” 

• 15.05.2010
• Press Release

Nürburgring, 15th May 2010. The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE) is up and running. After two-and-a-half hours and two scheduled pit stops, the no. 25 BMW M3 GT2 is in seventh. The start driver, Jörg Müller (DE), made up two places before handing over to Uwe Alzen (DE) after eight laps. Pedro Lamy (PT) took to the track in the GT sports car after the second pit stop on lap 16.

Jörg Müller (Car Number 25):
“I managed to make up two places on the first lap. After that I tried to stick with the pace of the leading group and keep in their slipstream. Later on, however, I had to let them pull away. The stint passed without incident for me. Now we will have to wait to see how the race develops.”

Dirk Werner (Car Number 26):
“At Schwedenkreuz I was behind a slower competitor and wanted to lap him on the right hand side. However, the other car also moved right. I tried to avoid the collision, but ended up going off the track. I went over the grass, then across the track and collided heavily with the crash barriers at Aremberg.”

• 16.05.2010
• Press Release

Nürburgring, 16th May 2010. Late on Saturday evening, several cars from the leading group were involved in incidents at roughly the same time in the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE). Team BMW Motorsport also ran into difficulties.

Lying in third place at the time, Uwe Alzen (DE) in the no. 25 BMW M3 GT2 had to pull into the pits on lap 46 after suffering a puncture. Just six laps later he was back in the pit lane when a stone damaged the car’s radiator. The pit crew managed to repair the damage in ten minutes and Pedro Lamy (PT) rejoined the race in fifth. Augusto Farfus (BR), who replaced the Portuguese driver on lap 61, is currently still in this position. At the next stop Farfus will hand the BMW M3 GT2 over to Jörg Müller (DE).

In car number 26, Dirk Werner (DE), Dirk Müller (DE), Andy Priaulx (GB) and Dirk Adorf (DE) have continued their fight back. Triple world touring car champion Priaulx is currently at the wheel in 33rd place. He will be followed in the cockpit by Adorf. The Porsche GT3 R Hybrid with car number 9 leads after 63 laps.

Uwe Alzen (Car Number 25):
“I really didn’t have a very happy stint. First, the puncture lost me time, and then a stone damaged my radiator on the straight. I had to come into the pits twice. The team worked superbly and completed the repairs extremely quickly. Despite those two incidents, I am really enjoying this race. I am sure a lot more will happen here.”

Dirk Adorf (Car Number 26):
“I have to say we are enjoying this race again after our misfortune at the start. The car is running really well in these conditions, and the Dunlop tyres are excellent. An awful lot has happened in the last few hours, and we are not even half way through the race. It is a good idea to take a little more care during the night. Our goal is to get back in the top 20 as quickly as possible.”

• 16.05.2010
• Press Release

Nürburgring, 16th May 2010. With five hours to go before the end of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE), the no. 25 BMW M3 GT2 lies in a promising third. After sunrise, Jörg Müller (DE) and Uwe Alzen (DE) tightened Team BMW Motorsport’s grip on third place. Pedro Lamy (PT) has been at the wheel since lap 119, and later Augusto Farfus (BR) will take over.

The drivers in the BMW M3 GT2 number 26 have tirelessly worked their way up the field: since crashing early on in the race while trying to avoid a collision, Dirk Werner (DE), Dirk Müller (DE), Andy Priaulx (GB) and Dirk Adorf (DE) have made up an impressive 170 positions and are currently in 12th with Dirk Müller at the wheel. The Porsche GT3 R Hybrid with start number nine continues to lead the race.