BMW E90 330i Race Car Launch

Having dominated the formula with 4 championships in

succession with the E46,  the new E90's have large expectations to fulfil.

Recent tests have shown that the race cars will be competitive from day one. New base weight restrictions have been put in place and the E90 will have to carry an additional 40 kilograms in order to compensate for the additional

power that the new car has over its predecessor. The front wheel drive

Alfa weighs in 50kg lighter than the BMW, while the more powerful Nissan

comes in 30kg heavier. The four wheel drive Audi entrants, making their

debut at Kyalami, will weigh in 10 kilograms heavier than

the BMW.

The BMW Van Der Linde Racing teams proven expertise will be fully

utilised to develop the complex E90 into a fourth generation 3 Series

Race Car.

BMW Van Der Linde Racing has built three left hand drive cars

at the BMW SA Motorsport facility, adjacent to the Rosslyn Plant. The left

hand configuration allows for optimal weight distribution and exhaust development.

Piloting the new cars will be defending Class A champion

Anthony Taylor, supported by Hennie Groenewald and Etienne Van Der

Linde who returns to the racetrack after a year's absence.

Long time BMW racer Richard Sorenson and his team are currently

building an E90 for Jimmy Auby. Another big name in South African motor racing, DAW, are joining the BMW line-up with two E90's to be piloted by English driver  Steve Morris and Marco Da Cunha.

Class A Production Cars has become the crowd puller in the Vodacom Power Tour, 5 Manufacturers fighting it out at Kyalami on Saturday.

Anthony Taylor currently comfortably leads the championship in

his Van Der Linde Racing BMW followed by team-mate Hennie Groenewald,

Nissan 350Z pilot Gary Formato and Reghard Roets in his Alfa 147 GTA.

BMW SA Motorsport welcomes Audi to the class, joining the Nissan, Alfa and Ford competitors. Along with BMW Van Der Linde Racing lies a new challenge, in the development of the E90 330i, to continue the success of the legendary E46.

2005 Class A Championship

1. Anthony Taylor                  BMW         116

2. Hennie Groenewald                  BMW         78

3. Gary Formato                     Nissan      73

4. Regard Roets                    Alfa            73

5. Duncan Vos                      Nissan      48

6. Morne Jurgens                  Alfa            45

7. Marco Da Cunha              Alfa            17

8. Marc Auby                          Alfa            5

2005 Production Car Championship

1. Anthony Taylor                  BMW                 

2. Martin Steyn                      MINI

3. Shaun Van Der Linde     MINI

4. Hennie Groenewald                  BMW

5. Gary Formato                     Nissan

6. Regard Roets                    Alfa

Ends

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23/06/2005

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For Further information contact Rob Gearing 012 522 3277