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2010 LeMans- BMW Motorsport reports |
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Melvyn Pettit 
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Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Location: Isle of Wight Status: Offline Points: 1502 |
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 Topic: 2010 LeMans- BMW Motorsport reportsPosted: 05 Jun 2010 at 10:07am |
BMW M3 GT2 ready for the challenge of Le Mans.
Munich, 4th June 2010. Following the triumph at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE) in May, Team BMW Motorsport is looking forward to the next highlight of the season on 12th and 13th June 2010: the Le Mans 24 Hours. BMW will line up at the endurance classic on the “Circuit de la Sarthe” with two BMW M3 GT2 racing cars specially adapted to comply with the GT2 regulations of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). One of these is the 17th BMW Art Car, which was designed by Jeff Koons (US) and unveiled in Paris (FR) on Tuesday. We would like to give you a detailed look at the car that claimed BMW’s 19th victory at the Nürburgring and now looks set to cause a sensation in the LM GT2 class in Le Mans. Already in its fourth generation, the BMW M3, the high-performance sports car developed by BMW M GmbH on the basis of the BMW 3 Series Coupé, demonstrates impressive sportiness – regardless of whether the BMW M3 Coupé for road traffic, the BMW M3 GTS for club racing events, or the BMW M3 GT2 at endurance races and GT classics. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen says: “The series model of the BMW M3 has sportiness in its genes. For this reason it was a natural progression for us to develop a racing version of this car. The fact that the BMW M3 production model is driven by a powerful V8 engine gave us the ideal starting basis.” When starting the development of the BMW M3 GT2 in the middle of 2007, the BMW Motorsport engineers were faced with the ambitious task of making a car that had already been designed for sportiness even more sporty. They could hardly have dreamt of a better basis for this mission than the BMW M3. The production model itself boasts powerful dynamics. The series version’s eight-cylinder engine with 4.0-litre capacity already produces 420 bhp. The BMW P65 engine, which was derived from this unit and powers the BMW M3 GT2, has been further improved within the GT2 regulations. The eight individual throttle valves receive their intake air via a system made of carbon fibre with load-charge optimised ram tubes. The mechanics have been adjusted to meet the extreme demands of GT and endurance racing: as a result, the BMW P65 has a steel crankshaft, forged skirt pistons, high-performance steel conrods and a dry sump lubrication system. This allows the engine to achieve 500 bhp. Due to this the BMW M3 GT2 is able to perform the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.42 seconds. With 500 ccm per cylinder and the stroke to bore ratio of 72.5 x 92 millimetres, the engine fulfils the ideal conception of demanding engine designers. The cylinder block is designed with a bed plate lower section and made of a special aluminium alloy. The unit’s dimensions, capacities, number of components and extremely light weight make it the perfect engine to use on the race track. Intelligent control systems are at work in the BMW M3 GT2. Via two bus systems, the POWER400 control unit actuates all the accessories fitted to the car, such as lights, wipers, etc. Traditional relays and fuses are thus eliminated, ensuring considerable weight saving, improved reliability and ease of application. The functions of the BMW P65 engine are managed by an ECU408 electronic control unit, developed in-house by BMW Motorsport. This unit uses two high-performance micro-processors to control the individual cylinder injection and ignition, as well as the engine data memory system, among other things. The ECU408 monitors the “Quick Shift” function of the six-speed sequential gearbox on the BMW M3 GT2, which suppresses the ignition when changing gear, thus allowing even faster gear changes. The compact transmission unit is positioned on the rear axle to allow optimal weight distribution. The engineers have not only modified the power train for use in races, but also the chassis. The front and rear axles on the BMW M3 GT2 have an increased wheel castor angle, enlarged track width and greater wheel camber than the series version. The shock absorbers can be adjusted five ways and tubular stabiliser bars can be used to set up the car for a specific track. Weight optimisation plays an important role for the development of a racing car. What has started with an intelligent lightweight construction and the use of a carbon fibre roof in the road model, the BMW Motorsport engineers consequently continued in the BMW M3 GT2. The use of high-tech carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) played a crucial role in the car achieving a weight of 1,245 kilograms (in ACO specification). As well as the roof of the BMW M3 GT2, the front and rear aprons, bonnet, boot lid, rocker panel, doors, front wing, and flared rear wheel arches are also made of carbon fibre. The aerodynamics of the BMW M3 GT2 were fine-tuned using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). It was also possible to optimise the geometry and kinematics of the chassis and determine the most efficient locations for attachment points on the axles. At the same time, elaborate calculation programmes also made it possible to simulate distortion of the chassis under extreme strain. Using extensive investigations in the wind tunnel, the engineers were able to verify the results of the CFD calculations before starting to build particular components. A hint of comfort is offered to the drivers by the air conditioning system, when they are at the wheel of the BMW M3 GT2. At the Le Mans 24-hour race regulations stipulate that temperatures in the cockpit must not exceed 32 degrees Celsius. Following a pit stop this figure needs to be reached again within eight minutes. In order to design the cooling as effectively as possible, the passenger compartment was limited by inserting a plastic screen behind the driver’s seat. This helps to minimise the cooling requirements. Only one aspect has had a higher priority for the BMW Motorsport engineers when developing the car than performance: driver safety. A safety cell made from extremely rigid, precision steel tubing is used in the BMW M3 GT2. This is welded into the unitary construction steel body and effectively protects the driver in the case of a collision. The development and design of the safety cell, which is produced by experts at the BMW Plant Regensburg, takes place using CAD constructions and computer-aided simulations. BMW Motorsport is certified by the FIA as a CAD institute for safety cells. On the track, the drivers are strapped into a new safety seat, developed by BMW Motorsport, using a six-point belt. In the case of an accident, seat and driver can be lifted out of the car through the roof. In addition, the drivers are protected by HANS (Head-and-Neck Support), energy-absorbing foam in hollow sections, and crash pads in the doors. While high-performance compound brakes ensure excellent deceleration in the BMW M3 Coupé, the brakes in the BMW M3 GT2 have a fixed-calliper design. The aluminium brake callipers consist of six pistons on the front wheels and four pistons on the rear wheels. The inner-vented grey-cast iron brake discs on the BMW M3 GT2 have a diameter of 378 mm at the front and 355 mm at the rear. As a development partner of BMW Motorsport, Dunlop equips the BMW M3 GT2 with high-performance racing tyres, which optimally transfer the acceleration and braking torque to the track and are able to withstand extreme lateral forces. The tyre manufacturer has been involved in the development of the GT sports car right from the word go. The BMW M3 GT2 takes to the track on 18-inch wheels with aluminium rims.
Schedule Le Mans 24 Hours. 9th June 2010 16:00-20:00hrs Free Practice 9th June 2010 22:00-00:00hrs Qualifying 1 10th June 2010 19:00-21:00hrs Qualifying 2 10th June 2010 22:00-00:00hrs Qualifying 3 12th June 2010 9:00-9:45hrs Warm-up 12th June 2010 15:00hrs Start 24h race 13th June 2010 15:00hrs Finish 24h race Edited by Melvyn Pettit - 14 Jun 2010 at 3:34pm |
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safe1
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BMWCC Club President Joined: 09 Aug 2006 Status: Offline Points: 1426 |
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Posted: 07 Jun 2010 at 5:25pm |
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Good Luck to ALL BMW Pilots and others.
Any TV channel showing it?.
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Gofastsafe
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Melvyn Pettit
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Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Location: Isle of Wight Status: Offline Points: 1502 |
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Posted: 07 Jun 2010 at 5:38pm |
Eurosport and Eurosport 2 TV showing lemans live, plus have a show each night this week called Lemans 24 minutes (updates from Lemans)
Come, BMW motorsport, you can do it
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 08 Jun 2010 at 6:45pm |
The 17th BMW Art Car will race at 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Le Mans. On June 12 at three in the afternoon the legendary the 24 Hours of Le Mans will officially begin. A highlight will surely be the participation of the Jeff Koons’ 17th BMW Art Car which has been presented in Paris just a week before. In April 2010, BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen announced the driver line-up for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Andy Priaulx (GB), Dirk Müller (DE) and Dirk Werner (DE) will race the BMW Art Car #79. Jörg Müller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR), Uwe Alzen (DE) will drive the BMW Le Mans car #78.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the world’s oldest endurance race in all of sports car racing, held annually since 1923 near the town of Le Mans, Sarthe, France. Commonly known as the Grand Prix of Endurance, it is organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO) and runs on a circuit containing closed public roads. The race is designed not only to test a car and driver’s ability to be quick, but also to last over a 24-hour period. See post in BMW News section for details and photographs of the new Art Car.
Edited by Melvyn Pettit - 08 Jun 2010 at 6:50pm |
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 12:38pm |
Team BMW Motorsport kicks off 2010 Le Mans weekend.
Le Mans, 9th June 2010. Team BMW Motorsport completed its first laps of the “Circuit de la Sarthe” on Wednesday. After the afternoon's free practice for the 24-hour race in Le Mans (FR), the two BMW M3 GT2 racing cars took to the track for the first qualifying session, which got underway at 22:00hrs. At the end of the two-hour session, Jörg Müller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Uwe Alzen (DE) in car number 78 were 10th in the LM GT2 class with a time of 4:04.986 minutes. The no.79 BMW M3 GT2 with drivers Dirk Werner (DE), Dirk Müller (DE) and Andy Priaulx (GB) at the wheel was 0.865 seconds slower, ending the session in 11th.  The fastest time was recorded by Pierre Kaffer (DE), Jaime Melo (BR) and Gianmaria Bruni (IT), who completed their fastest lap of the 13.629-kilometre circuit in 3:59.233 minutes in their Ferrari F430 GT. Qualifying was red-flagged twice due to accidents, but the BMW drivers were able to complete their scheduled preparation programme for the 78th staging of the endurance classic. Thursday features two further qualifying sessions, in which the final starting positions for the race will be determined.
Charly Lamm (Team Manager): “We experienced a difficult start to the afternoon practice session. Gearbox problems and a puncture cost us some time with car number 78. Apart from that we didn’t face any technical problems. Today it was important to give our drivers as much track time as possible in order to get used to the peculiarities of Le Mans. We managed to achieve this. However, we must also acknowledge the fact that our opposition set some very competitive lap times. We will work hard in order to reduce the gap to the front-runners in our class before the race.” Jörg Müller (Car Number 78): “In practice the circuit was naturally still green and offered very little grip. That improved over the course of qualifying. For us drivers, it is crucial to have maximum trust in the car as quickly as possible. Only then can we really attack and clock fast times. This trust grows with every lap. For that reason, I am certain we will be able to improve further in the two sessions tomorrow.”  Andy Priaulx (Car Number 79):
“It was really great to experience this famous circuit. The car was okay, but, of course, we want to improve over the course of the weekend. We still have a lot of work to do. The hype around our BMW M3 GT2 Art Car has been immense over the past few days. However, none of that comes into play when you are sitting in the car – it is all about performance then.” Edited by Melvyn Pettit - 10 Jun 2010 at 12:50pm |
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 12:53pm |
Charly Lamm: “A challenging task lies ahead of us.”
Le Mans, 8th June 2010. In 1999 Charly Lamm sat on the pit wall as team manager when the BMW V12 LMR, entered by Team BMW Motorsport, scored overall victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours. Eleven years later the experienced strategist returns to the “Circuit de la Sarthe” to do battle for LM GT2 class honours with two BMW M3 GT2 cars. In this interview Lamm speaks about the preparations for this endurance classic, victory in 1999, and the latest triumph on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife (DE). Mr Lamm, the 2010 Le Mans weekend is imminent. Do you enjoy all the hype surrounding the race despite it only starting in a few days’ time? Charly Lamm: “It is really obvious to what degree the town and the entire region are all part of the event, and how they get into the spirit of the race. The ACO organises an enormous show – and the fans get involved body and soul. The technical inspection in the town has a long tradition, and resembles a folk festival. Yesterday it was clear just how much everybody is looking forward to the 78th running of this event. That applies equally to the team.” The team has some long weeks behind it... Lamm: “That is true. Every single member of the team has devoted a lot of hours to preparations for this race. From the start we knew the planning would be demanding. Because of this we had to take the right steps as and when they were needed. We were forced to juggle a lot, but are well prepared for the weekend. Here the practice sessions are more important than at any other circuit. We aim to use our time as efficiently as possible to enable us to attack from the start on Saturday. In addition, our drivers need to spend as much time as possible becoming familiar with the circuit to enable them to get used to its demanding layout. A challenging task lies ahead of us.” Is the BMW M3 GT2 the favourite for GT2 class honours here after its victory on the Nürburgring? Lamm: “The car is racing to ACO specifications, and so differs in various areas from the BMW M3 GT2 which won on the Nürburgring. The version we have entered here was only finally completed six weeks ago. We still need to devote a large amount of time to getting to know in detail the revised aerodynamics and the modified rear suspension layout. Therefore we cannot afford to miss out on any laps in the next few days. We are certainly not the favourites, but are rather rookies with ambitious targets.” For the first time since 2000 Schnitzer Motorsport is responsible for the entry of a BMW Art Car. How do you like the work of Jeff Koons? Lamm: “I believe he has made a very good job of the BMW M3 GT2. I well remember when we had the BMW V12 LMR liveried by Jenny Holzer at Le Mans in 1999, then raced with it at Road Atlanta a year later. To compete with an Art Car is just something special. We were very involved with the implementation of Jeff Koons’ concept. To be able to observe how the car progressed step-by-step towards its final livery was certainly fascinating.” In 1999 you were successful in the LM P1 class; now BMW is contesting the GT2 category. Does that make a difference to your approach? Lamm: “I am pleased we were so successful here with the BMW V12 LMR. To me that victory will always be special. Now, though, I am happy to be back. The LM GT2 class is very well supported. A lot of manufacturers are represented, and some have considerably more experience than we do. On Wednesday we will have the first opportunity of seeing precisely where we stand. In endurance racing it is vital to maintain a good rhythm and to complete the full distance – regardless of the category contested. We will see what we can do.” How much motivation did victory in the Nürburgring 24-hour race give the team? Lamm: “The time leading up to the race on the Nürburgring was an extremely intense and challenging period for the entire team. Therefore it was doubly satisfying to bring home the spoils of victory. We had a bit of good fortune, but were able to go into the race with exactly the sort of spirit required by endurance racing – and that after an absence of a few years. That motivated everybody in the team, and we were able to continue with our preparations for Le Mans with fresh momentum.” |
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safe1
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Posted: 10 Jun 2010 at 6:57pm |
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Now THATS what I call an ART car
 ---unlike the No 16 Monstrous ( I like that word which describes the utter Lost the plot AG Motorsport joke--
Number 17 can have a reserved place in my collection when ready
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Gofastsafe
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 11 Jun 2010 at 7:04pm |
Grid positions seven and eleven for Team BMW Motorsport in Le Mans.
Le Mans, 11th June 2010. The second and third qualifying sessions for the Le Mans 24 Hours saw the Team BMW Motorsport drivers improve on their times set on Wednesday: Twenty minutes before the end of the second qualifying, Augusto Farfus (BR) in the no. 78 BMW M3 GT2 recorded a personal best time of 4:01.893 minutes. This put the car in seventh in the LM GT2 class. Farfus will alternate behind the wheel with Jörg Müller (DE) and Uwe Alzen (DE) during the race. The BMW M3 GT2 Art Car with the car number 79 will start the endurance classic on the “Circuit de la Sarthe” from 11th on Saturday. Dirk Werner's (DE) fastest lap, which was clocked at 4:03.215 minutes, also came in the closing stages of the second session. Werner teams up with Dirk Müller (DE) and Andy Priaulx (GB) on Saturday. Pierre Kaffer (DE), Jaime Melo (BR) and Gianmaria Bruni (IT) have claimed the LM GT2 pole position in their Ferrari F430 GT after setting the fastest time of 3:59.233 minutes. The track was still wet for the early stages of the second qualifying session following heavy rainfall during the afternoon, but dried out over the course of the session. This allowed Team BMW Motorsport to switch to dry tyres at the end of qualifying. More showers in session three created difficult driving conditions. The engines will be given a rest on Friday in Le Mans. The highlight of the day is the traditional driver parade in the town centre, which begins at 18:00hrs. Charly Lamm (Team Manager): “Yesterday we had quite a big gap to the front-runners. Thanks to intense set-up work we were able to reduce it today. In addition, the drivers found their rhythm more and more at this track. This is crucial here in Le Mans, and that’s why we are happy with the day. We are gaining more experience with every lap, and getting closer to our competitors. I hope we can continue this upward trend during the race.” Augusto Farfus (Car Number 78): “The progress we have made is encouraging. We simply need a bit of time here to move forward step by step. That applies to both the car and us drivers. I found a good rhythm at the end of the second session, and was able to put in some good laps. We are definitely moving in the right direction.” Dirk Werner (Car Number 79): “Compared to yesterday, we have improved our car considerably. The conditions were still difficult at the start of second qualifying. By the time I got into the car, however, the track was in a good state and I was able to improve our time. Above all, it was important to continue our race preparations as planned. The grid position is not crucial at endurance races.” |
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 14 Jun 2010 at 3:26pm |
Jörg Müller and Dirk Müller are first up for BMW in Le Mans.
Le Mans, 12th June 2010. The countdown to the Le Mans 24 Hours (FR) is on. At 15:00hrs, Team BMW Motorsport's two BMW M3 GT2 cars will launch their campaign in the endurance classic at the “Circuit de la Sarthe”. Car number 78, with Jörg Müller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Uwe Alzen (DE) alternating at the wheel, will start the race from sixth in the LM GT2 class. The BMW M3 GT2 Art Car with number 79, driven by Dirk Werner (DE), Dirk Müller (DE) and Andy Priaulx (GB), will begin from tenth. Jörg Müller and Dirk Müller are the respective first-stint drivers. At a press conference this morning, BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen presented Jeff Koons, who designed the 17th BMW Art Car, with a set of racing overalls in the same design as car number 79 and bearing the name of the American artist. “I am absolutely thrilled to be here,” said Koons. “Working together with BMW has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. To feel the aesthetic of racing at this track is great.” Jörg Müller (Car Number 78): “It is a great honour to start in a race as big as this – but also a particular pressure. As the start driver, you have to take a cautious approach without losing any ground. Everyone is very excited and tense at the start. A good first stint can help give the team the necessary composure. That is exactly what I will be trying to do.” Dirk Müller (Car Number 79): “The Le Mans 24 Hours is finally here. We always knew that we would be the rookies here, and would have to catch-up the competition. We have managed that very well so far. We are within reach of the leaders and have a good strategy. It is an honour for me to start in the BMW M3 GT2 Art Car.” |
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 14 Jun 2010 at 3:27pm |
Mixed feelings after first stage of Le Mans 24 Hours.
Le Mans, 12th June 2010. The Le Mans 24 Hours is underway. BMW M3 GT2 number 78 is in the top ten of the LM GT2 category. Jörg Müller (DE) got the team off to a good start, driving two stints before handing the car over to Augusto Farfus (BR) on lap 28. After a further pit stop, the Brazilian is currently in ninth. In dry conditions and with temperatures over 20 degrees Celsius, Dirk Müller (DE) made a promising start in the BMW M3 GT2 Art Car: The German found his rhythm quickly and was able to work his way through the field to sixth in class over the first few laps. Shortly before the second scheduled pit stop, however, the BMW works driver lost control of the car after a puncture to his rear left tyre. The no. 79 BMW M3 GT2 went wide, hit the kerbs and suffered severe damage. Among other things, the gearbox mounting had to be repaired and the undertray replaced. A good 50 minutes later Andy Priaulx (GB) was able to rejoin the action in 16th. Jörg Müller (Car Number 78): Dirk Müller (Car Number 79): |
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 14 Jun 2010 at 3:28pm |
No. 79 BMW M3 GT2 retires early from 24-hour race in Le Mans.
Le Mans, 12th June 2010. The BMW M3 GT2 Art Car has retired early from the Le Mans 24 Hours (FR). Despite the fact Andy Priaulx (GB) should have been able to finish the lap without any problems, based on the amount of fuel calculated to have been put into the car at the previous pit stop, he ran out of fuel on the way into the Indianapolis curve. The exact cause is yet to be analysed. Car number 79 had already lost a lot of time due to unscheduled pit stops for repairs. The second BMW M3 GT2 of Team BMW Motorsport is enjoying a better race. After stints from Augusto Farfus (BR) and Uwe Alzen (DE), the starting driver, Jörg Müller (DE), is now back behind the wheel and running in eighth in the LM GT2 class. In contrast, the race is over for Priaulx and team-mates Dirk Werner (DE) and Dirk Müller (DE). BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen: Andy Priaulx (Car Number 79): |
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 14 Jun 2010 at 3:29pm |
Team BMW Motorsport makes dawn repair stop.
Le Mans, 13th June 2010. The no. 78 BMW M3 GT2 is currently seventh in the LM GT2 class at the Le Mans 24 Hours (FR). With seven hours to go, Augusto Farfus (BR) is at the wheel of the 500 bhp GT sports car, following on after stints from Uwe Alzen (DE) and Jörg Müller (DE) at the “Circuit de la Sarthe”. The BMW M3 GT2 Art Car retired from the race on Saturday evening. Charly Lamm (Team Manager): Uwe Alzen (Car Number 78): |
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 14 Jun 2010 at 3:30pm |
Final stage in Le Mans: Müller and Farfus hope to make up ground.
Le Mans, 13th June 2010. The Le Mans 24 Hours is entering the crucial final phase. Team BMW Motorsport suffered another set-back with four hours to go when Jörg Müller (DE), at that point in fourth place in his BMW M3 GT2, came into the pits with a faulty drive shaft. The team worked feverishly to get the car back onto the track as quickly as possible. Müller rejoined the race 35 minutes later. The no. 78 BMW M3 GT2 is now in sixth place in the LM GT2 class. Augusto Farfus (BR) will guide the car home at the 78th staging of the 24-hour race at the “Circuit de la Sarthe”, after Uwe Alzen (DE) had previously completed his final double stint. Augusto Farfus (Car Number 78): |
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Melvyn Pettit
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Posted: 14 Jun 2010 at 3:33pm |
Sixth for Team BMW Motorsport in Le Mans 24 Hours.
Le Mans, 13th June 2010. Team BMW Motorsport experienced a turbulent return to the Le Mans 24 Hours. Lady luck did not necessarily smile on the two BMW M3 GT2s. Car number 78, with Jörg Müller (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Uwe Alzen (DE) alternating at the wheel, completed 320 laps to finish sixth in the LM GT2 class in front of 240,000 spectators. The BMW M3 GT2 Art Car, designed by American artist Jeff Koons, turned out to be a true fan favourite over the course of the Le Mans week. Dirk Müller (DE) made a good start in car number 79 and was in a promising sixth when he had an accident following a puncture and lost a lot of time in the pits. Andy Priaulx (GB) then also struggled with technical problems. He eventually had to retire at the entrance to the Indianapolis curve shortly after 20:00hrs on Saturday. As a result, Dirk Werner (DE) is still yet to make his racing debut at the “Circuit de la Sarthe”. Victory in the LM GT2 class went to Marc Lieb (DE), Richard Lietz (AT) and Wolf Henzler (DE) in their Porsche 997 GT3 RSR. While BMW triumphed with the open-top BMW V12 LMR prototype at its last outing in Le Mans in 1999, Team Manager Charly Lamm's team lined up in the GT2 category for the first time at this year's race. The opposition, which included Porsche, Ferrari and Chevrolet, arrived at the 78th running of the event with the advantage of a wealth of experience. In contrast, Team BMW Motorsport had to work hard on the two BMW M3 GT2s in ACO specification, to make progress during the short preparation time. BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen said: “The 17th BMW Art Car caused a real stir among fans and media. Everyone in the team enjoyed working with Jeff Koons and it was fascinating to see how his work of art was received in Le Mans. It goes without saying, we hoped this car would see the chequered flag. We were well aware this weekend would represent a major challenge, due to the short preparation period. The BMW M3 GT2 seen in action here differs in many areas from the car that won at the Nürburgring. During qualifying we were still busy working on the car's basic set-up. In addition, it is very difficult to get involved in the fight for the top positions in the strong GT2 category when you then have to cope with incidents in the race, which result in unscheduled pit stops. Despite this, car number 78 had the podium in its sights until four hours from the end of the race. The return of BMW to Le Mans, eleven years after our 1999 overall victory, attracted massive attention.” The 17th BMW Art Car was one of the highlights of this year's sports car classic. Jeff Koons had travelled to Le Mans with his family to follow the first start by a BMW Art Car at the “Circuit de la Sarthe” since 1979. “This race has been a very invigorating experience for me,” he said. “It’s amazing to see the commitment of all the people involved. This has me really going, as I understand it is something truly special for all the people to be here. It’s unfortunate the BMW M3 GT2 Art Car had to retire early, but it’s part of racing.” The BMW M3 GT2 is the fifth BMW Art Car to line up at the Le Mans 24 Hours. Works of art created by American artists Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol had already cast their spell on fans in Le Mans in the 1970s. The BMW M1 designed by Warhol finished sixth overall in 1979. Reactions. Jörg Müller (Car Number 78): Augusto Farfus (Car Number 78): Uwe Alzen (Car Number 78): |
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safe1 wrote: