Monday 17th May 2010

BMW M3 GT2 Takes Top Spot At Nurburgring

Works Nurburgring comeback ends in 19th victory for the blue and white roundel

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BMW claimed overall victory at this weekend's Nurburgring 24hr race, with one of its two works M3 GT2s beating a Ferrari 430 GTC and the third-placed Audi R8 LMS.

It wasn't an easy victory for the returning BMW squad, however - the 911 GT3 R hybrid of Jorg Bergmeister, Richard Lietz, Marco Holzer and Martin Ragginger was holding onto a comfortable lead until a technical problem forced it to retire a few hours from the end.

M3 drivers Jorg Muller, Augusto Farfus, Uwe Alzen and Pedro Lamy didn't escape technical problems either, and nursed their car home to take the chequered flag with fourth gear missing.

Audi's seven-car R8 challenge faded, with only two R8s making it to the end, albeit finishing in a strong third (an SP9 class win) and fifth places.

BMW's second M3 GT2 - part-driven by Brit touring car hero Andy Priaulx - battled from the back of the field after a first-lap crash to take seventh overall by the chequered flag, while the Z4 GT3s took ninth and fourth.

After the disappointment of losing the flagship hybrid racer, the highest-ranked Porsche was the sixth-placed number 20 GT3 Cup S.

Further down the rankings, Lexus took an SP8 class win with the Gazoo Racing LFA. Second was the Aston Martin Rapide part-driven by company CEO Dr Ulrich Bez, while the V12 Vantage - Aston's other works entry - took the third spot on the SP8 podium.

BMW's win - its 19th at the 'Ring - puts the squad on form for its next big test: the attack on the 24 hours of Le Mans on 11-12 June.

 

[HowardB]

I guess if you are the CEO, then having a thrash at the 24hrs has to be one of the best perks on the circuit!

[Pigfarmer3]

Epic race.

Really gutted for Porsche regarding the Hybrid. Was in the lead when we went back to the tents at 0600 Sunday morning and was out by 1100 when we woke up.

Watch out for any videos of the BMW Z4M's; the most extraordinary exhaust note I have ever heard.

[Great Pretender]

Pigfarmer3 said:

Watch out for any videos of the BMW Z4M's; the most extraordinary exhaust note I have ever heard.

E89?

[Pigfarmer3]

E85.

Not an 'M' either; Z4GT3. No E89's out there.

[Cheburator mk2]

Pigfarmer3 said:

E85.

Not an 'M' either; Z4GT3. No E89's out there.

The Z4GT3 is based on the E89 You are right though - it was the best sounding car I have heard since the Zak Speed Vipers back in 2008. At some point we decided that only Satan can drive such a gloriously sounding machine

Overall, I am well pleased that BMW won and that Audi was unsuccessful in buying a race win... Great to see a Ferrari make it to the end and finish 2nd too.

[soad]

Pigfarmer3 said:

Watch out for any videos of the BMW Z4M's; the most extraordinary exhaust note I have ever heard.

Cheers for the heads up

[1000TCR]

One of the most astonishing results is the Porsche GT3 RS placed 13 in the overall ranking. Despite the tyres, an additional 20l tank and an extended rollcage it's a car that you can buy from the factory and drive it to the 'Ring (which they actually did...).
There was no wheight saving, engine, suspension or aerodynamic improvement over the standard "end of the production line" car.

[Dagnut]

Any laptimes?

[DiscoColin]

Cheburator mk2 said:

Overall, I am well pleased that BMW won and that Audi was unsuccessful in buying a race win... Great to see a Ferrari make it to the end and finish 2nd too.

Agree completely with this. I think that we can expect more Ferraris next year somehow. I also wouldn't be surprised if Porsche might get a bit more serious than just supporting Manthey for next years event - a bit embarrassing for them given that the only decent PR for them from the event is probably the almost standard (according to Mr Harris only the mandatory racing fuel cell and ancillaries plus some software revisions to deal with the slicks on the ABS and stability systems were changed) GT3RS road car finishing 13th overall...

Love that M3 GT2 though.

[freedman]

Dagnut said:

Any laptimes?

Lead cars were running 8.35-8.50 most of the time

Lead manthey GT3R lapped sub 8.30 I think before it was punted out of the lead by a backmarker

Edit, 8'28.5 Looks like fastest lap, set by the Manthey car

Edited by freedman on Monday 17th May 12:34

[Pigfarmer3]

Cheburator mk2 said:

The Z4GT3 is based on the E89

Yeah your right; too many Bitburgers I think.

Haris' results was indeed amazing, glad Porsche got that result.

The Scirocco sounded pretty damn aggressive with its compressed Liquid Hydrogen (I think) system.

Anyone know where the RCZ placed in the end? Was good to see it finish. Think that car is going to be a big boost for Pug's sales.

[freedman]

Pigfarmer3 said:

Cheburator mk2 said:

The Z4GT3 is based on the E89

Anyone know where the RCZ placed in the end? Was good to see it finish. Think that car is going to be a big boost for Pug's sales.

51st and 82nd

[Dagnut]

freedman said:

Dagnut said:

Any laptimes?

Lead cars were running 8.35-8.50 most of the time

Lead manthey GT3R lapped sub 8.30 I think before it was punted out of the lead by a backmarker

Edit, 8'28.5 Looks like fastest lap, set by the Manthey car

Edited by freedman on Monday 17th May 12:34

Is this a longer circuit than the one used for testing? I know the speeds quoted are for flying laps and endurance racing wouldn't get close but I would be expecting some sub 8's.

Thanks for the info

[TheRoadWarrior]

Would have loved to have been there, watched a lot of the race on the Sport Auto feed with Radio Le Mans playing for english coverage.

Did anyone else watch the live stream? Seemed very biased to showing the Porche and Audi cars.. I hardly ever saw the Astons or the RCZ despite it being a long endurance race.

Congrats to Harris for placing so highly and Roger Green for a successful bail-out! He must be gutted.

Part of me is glad the hybrid porche didnt win, we would never have heard the end of it from them...

[freedman]

I watched the live stream, well about 16 hours wort I think

Of course there was bias to Porsche, Audi and BMW

They were the lead cars and its not like they were'nt racing each other the majority of the way

So much happened to the front running 20 cars that you could have filled the whole coverage with just that

[steve_n]

That GT2 M3 is how the road car should look more like. The E92 is missing the flared arches of the E46 and just doesn't look special enough.

Here's the GT4 M3 and it looks no better than a 320...

Edited by steve_n on Monday 17th May 12:53

Edited by steve_n on Monday 17th May 12:54

[rallycross]

the lap time is for the old circuit AND the new circuit!

[Debaser]

Well done BMW!

[toovo1985]

Just to be a little patriot and from Portugal congratulate Pedro Lamy

[vintageracer01]

Well done BMW !!!
And the first entered Ferrari ever in 38 years made it a proper 2nd.

What a fantastic race! (I followed it on the live-stream)