BMW SA MOTORSPORT CONFIDENT OF A STONG SHOWING AT DURBAN SEASON OPENER

BMW SA Motorsport, the long-time dominant force in the series, ended the 2006 season as uncustomary runners-up after a dramatic season finale at Kyalami saw 2005 Production Car and Class A champion, Anthony Taylor, miss out on a fourth successive championship – despite having the fastest car on the day – due to a technical malady. However, the team – which now boasts a strong three-car line-up – is confident that its extensive development programme in the off-season can take the Class A BMW 330i back to winning ways in the first outing of 2007.

Returning to do battle against a host of Nissan 350Z, Audi A4 and Subaru competitors, Anthony Taylor and Etienne van der Linde will be joined in Class A by 2006 Class T champion, Clint Weston, who was promoted within the team after clinching last year’s title in the sister Class T Castrol MINI Cooper S. The team also has some new sponsors on board with Jonnesway Professional Tools and Sabelt by First Race joining long time BMW partners, Castrol and BMW Original Parts, in the breach.

“We have an incredibly strong driver line-up for 2007,” explains BMW SA Motorsport Manager, Danie Human. “And with the extensive development and testing we’ve completed in the off-season, we’re confident we’ve got the car to take BMW to the top step of the podium in front of a Durban crowd where we expect to have strong support.”

However, Human is quick to point out that there are many unknown factors for this race and for the season. Firstly, the Durban street circuit, which will play host to the A1 Grand Prix of South Africa, is an unknown quantity to all competitors in the series. “We’ve never raced here before and it will take some time for all of the teams to find the sweet spot. However, we’ve made a number of set-up and development changes to the car, all of which have shown positive results in testing, and we’re expecting good things in Durban.”

Significantly, the series has also adopted a performance equalization system similar to that used in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Basically, drivers will now incur weight penalties to a maximum of 40 kilograms with first, second, third and fourth place incurring 20, 15, 10 and 10 kilograms respectively. In addition, 5 kilograms of weight will be allocated to each driver for every 10 championship points scored to a maximum of 20 kilograms. “This means that it will be much more difficult for one team to win consistently from race event to race event and that will bring a significant strategy element into play. It will also ensure that the racing is even closer and more exciting than it was in 2006,” Human explains.

The drivers are also expecting the 2007 season to live up to even greater levels of excitement than last year’s championship delivered.

“Last year’s title race went right down to the wire and this season I’m expecting more of the same,” explains 2003, 2004 and 2005 Class A champion and 2006 runner-up, Anthony Taylor. “But we’ve really worked hard in the off-season and have made some good changes to the car. I’m 100% confident that I can go one better than I did in 2006. I’m also particularly excited about racing in Durban, firstly because we’ve never raced there and secondly, because a street circuit brings with it another set of challenges.”

His teammate, Etienne van der Linde, is also optimistic that the 2007 season, and the first race of the championship, will be successful ones for BMW but is also wary of the proximity of the concrete barriers on the road course. “One thing’s for sure, we’re definitely going to be fast in Durban following our very successful Kyalami test last week. But unfortunately, it’s going to be very difficult for us, and all the other teams, because the street circuit is lined with concrete and walls and Rounds 3 and 4 of the Championship take place at Kyalami the following weekend. Our pace is strong but I’m hoping for clean racing because if there are any major incidents we won’t have much time to affect repairs before the next race in the championship.”

Class A newcomer Clint Weston is also geared up for a big year. “I’m incredibly excited to be in the premier class this year and although it will take some time to get used to the new car, I’ve already run at a strong pace in pre-season testing. The team has done a great job at making me feel very comfortable in a car that’s new to me and I’m confident we’ll run right at the front of the field on Saturday and Sunday.”

Ends…

Issued by Quickpic on behalf of BMW Motorsport South Africa.

For more information contact:

Danie Human

Manager: Technical Communications and Motorsport

BMW South Africa

012 522 3913

Photographs available on the internet at www.quickpic.co.za