[Jason]

No. 79 BMW M3 GT2 retires early from 24-hour race in Le Mans.

June 12,2010

Press Release

Le Mans, 12th June 2010. The BMW M3 GT2 Art Car has retired early from the Le Mans 24 Hours (FR). Despite the fact Andy Priaulx (GB) should have been able to finish the lap without any problems, based on the amount of fuel calculated to have been put into the car at the previous pit stop, he ran out of fuel on the way into the Indianapolis curve. The exact cause is yet to be analysed. Car number 79 had already lost a lot of time due to unscheduled pit stops for repairs.

The second BMW M3 GT2 of Team BMW Motorsport is enjoying a better race. After stints from Augusto Farfus (BR) and Uwe Alzen (DE), the starting driver, Jörg Müller (DE), is now back behind the wheel and running in eighth in the LM GT2 class. In contrast, the race is over for Priaulx and team-mates Dirk Werner (DE) and Dirk Müller (DE).

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen:
“It’s a great pity to retire from the race in such a way. It’s an even bigger shame, as the 17th BMW Art Car had developed into one of the favourites with the fans here in Le Mans. During the race, however, car number 79 suffered a dose of bad luck. It was impeded by several incidents on the track and the subsequent unscheduled pit stops. This is a disappointing end for the whole team, but most importantly for Jeff Koons, who brought a lot of passion to this project and was really engrossed by being at the track. But in racing sometimes things just don’t go according to plan. With car number 79 we suffered more incidents today than with both cars in our victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.”

Andy Priaulx (Car Number 79):
“I am very disappointed the Le Mans 24 Hours ended in this way for us. It simply was not our race. We had several doses of bad luck and lost a lot of time in the pits for repairs. Despite this, as a driver, you always want to keep fighting and make up ground in the class. We were not given that opportunity today. We will now keep our fingers crossed for our team-mates in BMW M3 GT2 number 78.”

[jhv]

noooooooo

[Park2670]

Thats too bad. What a beauty out on that track!

[Box Collector]

such a pity

[M3_WC]

Vettes are owning the GT2 class.

[Evolution_GT]

Love it. A race car without sponsors.

[E90SLAM]

And it almost took out an Audi P1 car!!!

[NewYearsBoy]

Really Nice car would not want to wreck it... But HAHAHA... Typical BMW way toooooooooo many repairs....

[samuraisaiyo]

very cool

[M3_WC]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Vettes are owning the GT2 class.

So much for that, French POS Peugeot took out GT2 leading Vette.

[numba1guju]

Originally Posted by M3_WC

Vettes are owning the GT2 class.

wheres the vette? i see ferrari, peugot, car cant see, lambo, and gt2

or am i just mistakin the lambo for vette?

[E90SLAM]

Originally Posted by numba1guju

wheres the vette? i see ferrari, peugot, car cant see, lambo, and gt2

or am i just mistakin the lambo for vette?

There's plenty vettes participate in 24 hours Le Mans and ALMS and etc....and performing very well too!!!
Of course the pics in OP didn't capture them....but if you turn on SPEED TV now...you should be able to see them....

[bobbyd1961]

Mueller currently in 6th in e92 M3

[yooN]

Such a shame for BMW and their Motorsport team!

[NL-J]

They are still in the race with one car, No 78 in 6th position. Doesn't look too bad to me

[datbimmerdoe]

atleast it went out in style.

Originally Posted by Evolution_GT

Love it. A race car without sponsors.

+1

[Oulixes]

Oh, well - there is no shame in losing a fair race. Besides, BMW 79 surely won in beauty. Congratulations to Audi for their 1-2-3 finish.

[Tallest]

if you look at whom BMW was up against, it's pretty crazy. Porsche 911, Ferraris, a Spyker. Not bad for a maker of sedans. There aren't any Audi RS4s or Merc AMGs. So this is a cool testament of what BMW pushes its good old M3 bodyshell. Shame about the art car.

[ArabianSensation]

Hmmm probably HPFP....


jk haha

[bobbyd1961]

Originally Posted by Oulixes

Oh, well - there is no shame in losing a fair race. Besides, BMW 79 surely won in beauty. Congratulations to Audi for their 1-2-3 finish.

audi win was not gt2

[E90SLAM]

Audi won in P1 category, not GT2

[STEVO330I]

HPFP Bwaaaahaaa!!

+1