51st Macau Grand Prix - Guia Race - Races

51st Macau Grand Prix - Guia Race
18/19/21 November, 2004

BMW Take a One-Two in Macau

Macau, 21 November. Jörg Müller (GER) made history in Macau when he won the
Guia Race at the Macau Grand Prix, becoming the only driver to have won both
the Formula 3 and Touring Car races at this famous street circuit. He was
closely followed home in both races by his BMW Team Germany team-mate, Andy
Priaulx (GBR), but sadly for his other team-mate, Dirk Müller (GER), his first
visit to the Chinese track ended with his BMW 320i in the barrier. It was also
a great weekend for Schnitzer Motorsport, who run BMW Team Germany, as it was
their tenth win in this race - twice having a one-two-three and now three times
a one-two.

BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen, sent his congratulations to the team
after hearing the result from Macau. "After our Manufacturers', Drivers' and
Independent Trophy title wins in the European touring car championship, this
one-two here in Macau is a fantastic result. Add this to our one-two in the
Nürburgring 24 Hour race and the class win in the Spa 24 Hours, and it is
obvious BMW have achieved a great result in the 2004 touring car season.
Congratulations to the combined team from BMW Motorsport and Schnitzer
Motorsport and especially to Jörg Müller, who is the first driver to win both
the Macau Grand Prix for F3 and the Guia Race."

Jörg was delighted with his win and afterwards said: "I love this track and
winning here in both the F3 and touring car races is fantastic, but I
definitely don't aim to be the first driver to win it on a bike as well! I
always have luck coming to Macau, it is one of these events that is not in a
championship so I am really relaxed. Everything ran perfectly, I had a good car
from the start so I am a happy man." Andy, who was having his first drive for
BMW Team Germany, said: "Jörg deserves to win as he was very fast all weekend,
but I am delighted to have been a close second. I was pushing so hard I took
one of my wing mirrors off! I am very happy with my result, I have had a
fantastic weekend and it has been a great experience driving here for
Schnitzer."

Dirk was sad not to have been able to drive in the second race, but enjoyed
himself. "Up to the accident it had been a perfect weekend. The experiences I
have had here are tremendous and I suppose I was just unlucky in the end. I
can't wait to get back here next year."

Team Manager, Charly Lamm, felt all his drivers had done him proud: "This is a
track all the team loves and it is a good way to end the 2004 season. To give
Jörg the Guia win to make history was special. Having the double win with Andy
was good and we are very happy with the way he worked with the team. Dirk was a
rookie on this Guia circuit and settled in very well and was competitive. Just
when he found the rhythm the track caught him out, but I am sure he will learn
from that. It has given him great experience for when we come back next year
with the World Touring Car Championship."

The event was run as two legs of eight laps each. The grid for the second leg
was the finishing order for leg one and the result was the positions after the
16 laps.

Leg 1
Weather: Warm - Ambient temperature 25ºC, Track 33ºC
The Macau track took its first victims as the cars left the grid with the BMW
320i of Rob Collard (GBR) being the first to be pushed into the unforgiving
barriers as the cars went down the main straight towards Lisboa. Sadly his
wasn't the only BMW to suffer as his car bounced back onto the track and hit
the Carly Motors car of three times winner, Duncan Huisman (NLD), so ending his
chances of making it four in a row. As if this was not bad enough for the BMW
privateers, as the cars went into Lisboa for the first time the BMW 320i of
Marc Hennerici (GER) hit the barrier, he was then hit by the BMW of Franz
Engstler (GER), who in turn was hit by a third BMW driven by Angelo Barretto
(PHI). Luckily all the BMW Team Germany cars had gone through with Jörg Müller
leading Andy Priaulx. Dirk Müller made a good start and managed to pass the
SEAT of Jordi Gené (ESP) before the first corner. The Safety Car was deployed
and stayed out until the end of the third lap, and once it pulled off Jörg and
Andy sped away with the SEAT of Rickard Rydell (SWE) close behind. This was the
way the race ended at the front, but unfortunately on lap 6 Dirk Müller was
caught out on some dirt, could not scrub off his speed and hit the barrier at
Moorish Hill. His car was damaged but it was the broken throttle linkage that
prevented him getting back to the pits for repairs to allow him to start race
two.

Leg 2
Weather: Warm - Ambient temperature 25ºC, Track 33ºC
In many ways the second leg was a repeat of the first. However, this time it
was the Carly Motors BMW 320i of Tom Coronel that passed the Jordi Gené SEAT on
the run down to Lisboa to claim fourth. In front of them it was Jörg Müller
leading from Andy Priaulx and Rickard Rydell and these positions remained the
same until the end of the race. Again the Safety Car was called out, but this
time it was further round the track at Police where one of the Hondas lost a
wheel and was parked in a dangerous place. The top six remained the same down
to the chequered flag although that was not the end of cars hitting the
barriers. Included in these was Angleo Barretto, who had been in the middle of
the BMW parking lot at Lisboa in race one, but luckily this time he was able to
continue and finish the race.

Results and Positions

BMW Team Germany
No 15 - Jörg Müller (GER) - Qual 1st - Race 1st
No 16 - Dirk Müller (GER) - Qual 5th - Race Not classified
No 17 - Andy Priaulx (GBR)- Qual 2nd - Race 2nd

BMW Privateer Teams
Carly Motors
No 1 - Duncan Huisman (NLD) - Qual10th - Race Not Classified
No 2 - Tom Coronel (NLD) - Qual 6th - Race 4th
Edenbridge Racing
No 5 - Rob Collard (GBR) - Qual 13th - Race Not Classified
Team Schubert Motors
No 18 - Claudia Hurtgen (GER) - Qual 9th - Race 18 th
No 19 - Angelo Barretto (PHI) - Qual18th - Race Not classified
Team Wiechers
No 21 - Marc Hennerici (GER) - Qual 7th - Race Not classified
Team Engstler Racing
No 10 - Franz Engstler (GER) - Qual 8th - Race Not classified
No 11 - R S Prutirat (THA) - Qual 15th - Race Not classified
Team San Miguel
No 12 - Jody Coseteng (PHI) - Qual 26th - Race 10 th

Race - 16 laps in total Leg 1 Leg 2
1. Jörg Müller (GER/BMW 320i) 25:52.749 27:06.319
2. Andy Priaulx (GBR/BMW 320i) 25:53.237 27:06.606
3. Rickard Rydell (SWE/SEAT) 26:04.367 27:08.596
4.Tom Coronel (NLD/BMW 320i) 26:25.212 27:18.512
5. Jordi Gené (ESP/SEAT) 26:12.409 27:21.634
6. Simon Harrison (GBR/Honda Civic) 26:39.414 27:45.789

Contacts: Heike Bartsch, BMW Press, mobile +49 172 8485998,
heike.bartsch@bmw.de
Ann Bradshaw, race press officer, mobile +44 (0) 7713 317006,
annbradshaw@tiscali.co.uk.

Pressinformation an pictures for media use available under: www.press.bmw.com