Twelve years after the BMW V12 LMR accomplished its triumphant overall victory, BMW Motorsport is back on the podium at the Le Mans (FR) 24 Hours: In the hard-fought LM GTE class, Andy Priaulx (GB), Dirk Müller (DE) and Joey Paw (US) finished third in the no. 56 BMW M3 GT. Final-stint driver Hand crossed the finish line at the "Circuit de la Sarthe" afterward 313 thrilling laps and having covered a altitude of over four,200 kilometres.

In contrast, the drivers of the second BMW M3 GT, number 55 – Augusto Farfus (BR), Jörg Müller (DE) and Dirk Werner (DE) – left the endurance archetype empty-handed. The trio had battled for 276 laps, repeatedly fighting their way dorsum afterward being hampered by incidents. But two and a half hours before the end of the race, even so, the fifth-placed BMW M3 GT came to a stop in the "Mulsanne" corner. Jörg Müller had previously reported to the team feeling vibrations in the motorcar. Victory in the LM GTE class went to Corvette's Olivier Beretta (MC), Tommy Milner (US) and Antonio Garcia (ES).

le mans 2011 bmw gte 06 655x435 The 79th staging of the Le Mans 24 Hours, which was at times dramatic and overshadowed by several spectacular and alarming crashes, proved to be a roller-coaster ride for Squad BMW Motorsport. Both cars had to make several unscheduled pit stops for repairs and to alter tyres, while rain showers added another gene to the final stages of the race. The two BMW M3 GT cars that had started the race from pole position and third on the filigree, demonstrated their performance over the unabridged race distance, consistently clocking competitive times. Dirk Müller clocked the fastest GTE race lap with a time of 3:58.876 minutes. Bearing in mind the diverse incidents, third place for Priaulx, Dirk Müller and Paw was probably the all-time possible result.

The Le Mans 24 Hours also counts towards this season's Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC). Third place in France ways BMW has finished on the GTE podium at every race so far in this competition. BMW celebrated a i-two in the GT course at Sebring (US), while BMW drivers also finished 3rd in the GTE class at the 1,000-kilometre race at Spa-Francorchamps (Be).

BMW Motorsport congratulates Audi Sport and Corvette Racing on their victories in the very competitive LM P1 and LM GTE Pro classes.
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Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):"That was a positive finish to a turbulent 24-hour race for u.s.a.. Third place with our BMW M3 GT in the GTE class at this archetype here in Le Mans, twelve years later our outright victory – that is a big success for BMW Motorsport. I would similar to congratulate and give thanks all those involved in this project, who gave everything during the development phase prior to the race and here on-site over the race weekend."

Charly Lamm (Squad Manager): "We showed in this race we tin can play a major office in Le Mans. We did that from the discussion go. So we were striking past a sequence of unfortunate incidents, ranking from tyre damage to a stone dissentious the radiator. This meant nosotros lost contact with the leaders. It was and then a matter of getting as much as possible out of this race. We managed that with BMW M3 GT number 56. The podium terminate is a fine reward for the team's struggles. Unfortunately it did not work out for car number 55, which suffered driveshaft related damage, which we volition have to take a more detailed look at. Despite this, the car was in the leading group for long periods of the race. In general I think we can exist proud of our performance."

Andy Priaulx (auto number 56):"I am obviously delighted to be on the podium at simply my second visit to this race. Our aim was to terminate and we did simply that. We carried a misfire for well-nigh of the second half of the race, and then it was dandy to stop on the podium. The squad did a brilliant task, nosotros all carried the car habitation. Joey and Dirk also did an awesome chore, information technology was a really overnice race."

Dirk Müller (motorcar number 56):"It wasn't an easy third place I take to say that. I am extremely pleased considering a podium in Le Mans means a lot. Andy and Joey did a fantastic job, BMW gave the states a groovy car. We had a little bit of tough luck with the electronics and so nosotros weren't able to really fight for the victory, merely all the same congratulations to our contest. We can really celebrate this first identify and are really happy."

Joey Hand (car number 56):"I came hither to win. I always come up to win and I thought we actually had a expert shot to win this thing. A footling fleck of bad luck struck usa in the night and a few other times. When I stood on the podium it all became existent for me equally this is a big deal. This is my first fourth dimension here and to be on the podium I am actually excited. I enjoyed every bit of my time hither with BMW Motorsport and everyone from Schnitzer. They have got a lot of really smashing people on this programme and I am very thankful to BMW to let me come over and practise this."

Augusto Farfus (car number 55): "So near, yet then far. Le Mans is a very special race in every way. It can be the happiest feel or the biggest disappointment. Today for me it was the latter. However, nosotros had over 21 hours of fantastic racing and enormous fun. The squad did a vivid task all week and then I desire to say a big thank y'all for flawless pit stops and a corking auto. Information technology's a pity we didn't get the reward for all this."

Jörg Müller (motorcar number 55):"That was definitely one of the toughest, if not the toughest, race I take ever driven. The conditions were not easy during the nighttime, and I spent most 4 hours in the car. When the car and then gives upwardly on you lot merely before the end of the race, it is difficult to take. Merely I always look ahead."

Dirk Werner (machine number 55):"That was a very difficult race for u.s.. Our automobile was quick and e'er in a position to clock top times. Withal, we were repeatedly hampered by incidents and unexpected situations. We fought like lions. That makes information technology all the more disappointing that we did not make information technology to the finish."

[Source: BMW ]