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PressClub USA · Article.
GEARBOX FAILURES BRING AN EARLY END TO BMW TEAM PTG'S AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES RETURN
Mon Mar 20 08:00:00 CET 2006 Press Release
Sebring, Fla. - March 18, 2006... A day of problems ultimately combined with gearbox failures to cause the retirement of both BMW Team PTG M3s from the 54th annual 12 Hours of Sebring before the 10-hour mark. The No. 21 BMW Team PTG M3 of Bill Auberlen, Joey Hand and Ian James completed 197 laps, retiring from the race after 9 hours and 45 minutes. The No. 22 BMW Team PTG M3 of Justin Marks, Bryan Sellers and Martin Jensen retired after 124 laps, just past the four hour mark.
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Author.
Roy Oliemuller
BMW Group
Sebring, Fla. - March 18, 2006... A day of problems ultimately combined with
gearbox failures to cause the retirement of both BMW Team PTG M3s from the 54th
annual 12 Hours of Sebring before the 10-hour mark. The No. 21 BMW Team PTG M3
of Bill Auberlen, Joey Hand and Ian James completed 197 laps, retiring from the
race after 9 hours and 45 minutes. The No. 22 BMW Team PTG M3 of Justin Marks,
Bryan Sellers and Martin Jensen retired after 124 laps, just past the four hour
mark.
"Of course BMW races to win, but we also race because it is part of everything
BMW does - win or not," said Larry Koch, BMW of North America's Motorsport
Manager "The brand was founded on competition. BMW Team PTG has won just less
than half of the races they have entered for us and, while we did not win
today, the team is an integral part of our successful motorsports history. We
have no doubt that success is in our near future".
The first hour of the race went well with starting drivers Bill Auberlen (No.
21) and Justin Marks (No. 22) running in solid top-10 positions after electing
to give up their 7th and 14th qualifying positions to change tire compounds and
start at the rear of the 16-car GT2 field. The second hour of the race proved
costly, especially for the No. 21 M3. Second-stint driver Joey Hand lost the
right front wheel some 20 laps after he entered the car. The resulting damage
to the brakes and suspension ultimately cost the team 13 laps during two long
pit stops for repairs.
Bryan Sellers drove the second stint in the No. 22 M3. Running in the 6th
position, he pitted on lap 72 for fuel and tires - unfortunately, just as the
caution flag waved. Caught in the pits while closed, the crew was able to
service the car, but lost almost two laps while the field circulated behind the
safety car.
With the first quarter of the race complete the No. 21 M3 had rejoined the race
last in class. The No. 22 M3 continued the chase from the sixth position.
Martin Jensen drove the third stint, losing three more laps during a long pit
stop to change brake pads. Marks took over, but on lap 124 gearbox failure
ended the day for the No. 22 M3.
Ian James drove the No. 21 M3 for the third stint, handing the controls back to
Auberlen at the four hour mark. Auberlen pitted for Hand on lap 116, but,
within minutes of the retirement of the No. 22 M3, the No. 21 M3 was in the
paddock with an identical transmission failure. With a replacement fitted Hand
rejoined the race. Auberlen took over for the next stint, but was forced to
retire on lap 197 when the same transmission problem occurred.
Background: 2006 marks the 11th season of BMW of North America's sponsorship of
BMW Team PTG. In 10 seasons of competition BMW Team PTG has won a total of 53
races in both sprint and endurance racing series and 14 sports car racing
championships. In 2005, BMW Team PTG won 7 of 13 Rolex Sports Car Series races
entered.