BMW Press Club
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Bill Cobb
Press Officer at the track
215-295-3115 / 215 431-7223 cellular / wrcobb@attglobal.net

BMW Takes GT Class Manufacturers Championship Lead With Sixth Win In A Row At Mid-Ohio;
Auberlen Sets Series Win Record

Lexington, Ohio (Aug. 7, 2004) – BMW took the lead in the GT Manufacturer Points for the first time this season as Bill Auberlen and Justin Marks drove the No. 21 BMW Team PTG M3 to the team’s sixth consecutive Rolex Sports Car Series GT class victory at the Mid-Ohio Road Racing Classic. The win made Auberlen the first driver in series history to win six races in a row and gave him sole possession of the lead in the GT Driver Points. The win was the second in a row for Marks. The duo started from the pole and completed 95 laps in the 250-mile race, finishing one lap ahead of the second place No. 77 Porsche.

The No. 22 M3 of Boris Said and Joey Hand completed 93 laps, finishing fourth after battling mechanical problems. The duo also lost a lap under a caution period compounding their disappointment. Hand set the fastest GT lap of the race (1:26.519) on lap 91 while trying to climb back to a podium position.

BMW Team PTG now leads all GT categories, but will have little time to celebrate as they must make a fast turnaround and travel to Watkins Glen International for Glen 200 on Aug. 13th, the second Rolex Series race in less than seven days.

BILL AUBERLEN, DRIVER NO. 21 BMW TEAM PTG M3 (first):
“ This was one of those weekends where everything went according to plan for the No. 21 M3. There was no drama in the race. The pitstops were flawless. Justin and I were able to focus only on the win.”

JOEY HAND, DRIVER NO. 22 BMW TEAM PTG M3: (fourth):
“ The team worked very hard to see that the M3 was right for the race. It was very good in the warm-up, but we ran into problems in the race. If it had not been for our bad luck I think we could have delivered another BMW M3 1-2 finish.”

TOM MILNER, OWNER, BMW TEAM PTG:
“ The GT competition was even closer at Mid-Ohio so to have won another race is a testament to Team PTG and the BMW M3. The Porsches certainly have an advantage in a straight line and now that they have lost weight can accelerate faster. That allows them to take better advantage of their higher top speed. I think we will still be considered the favorites at Watkins Glen, but I am not sure the facts support it.”

HERNANDO CARVAJAL, MOTORSPORT MANAGER, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC:
“ Six in a row is an outstanding accomplishment. Congratulations to BMW Team PTG. Once again the team and drivers executed a near-perfect race to win.”

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