Triumphant!
Fantastic success for BMW in Le Mans

BMW has won the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours! Yannick Dalmas, Pierluigi Martini and Joachim Winkelhock, under Team Manager Charly Lamm of BMW Team Schnitzer, steered the No. 15 BMW V12 LMR to victory ahead of a high-class field.

Pierluigi Martini was the first past the chequered flag after 24 often nerve-racking hours for drivers, engineers and team managers. The trio in the No. 15 BMW set a new record in the process, convering 366 rounds on the 13.6-kilometre track. It was a hard-fought victory, with more teams and cars than ever taking part in the world’s most popular race, being held this year for the 67th time. "The race demanded maximum performance at all times – from both drivers and engineers" commented BMW Motorsport Director Gerhard Berger.

For a long while, it even looked like a one-two for the team. By noon on Sunday June 13th, the BMW V12 LMR of Tom Kristensen, JJ Lehto and Jörg Müller had built up a comfortable cushion in first place. However, a jammed throttle cable then led to a spin which ended the car’s race. JJ Lehto suffered minor injuries which were treated immediately.

The Le Mans victory is first and foremost a victory for the car’s reliability. The BMWs ran like clockwork lap after lap, according to Jörg Müller. It was also a triumph for the BMW V12 engine over the powerful turbocharged V8s of the competition. The ongoing development of the technologically advanced V12 engine over the last five years has paid off. But also decisive was the discipline of the drivers, who constantly took great efforts not to subject the car to excessive strain and to find the right rhythm for the car at an early stage.

Another key factor in the team’s success was the extremely smooth pit stops – the BMWs consistently gained several seconds on the competition during refuelling and tyre changes. The car’s fuel efficiency also played an important role, with the two BMWs staying on the track one lap longer per tankful than their rivals.

"We’re very proud of our entire team" Berger stressed. "Project Director Dr. Ulrich Schiefer, Herbert Vögele, responsible for the engine, Team Manager Charly Lamm and Chief Engineer John Russell are a team that can win any contest."

Beside the two V12 LMRs, a third BMW finished among the top places. The team of BMW factory driver Bill Auberlen, Thomas Bscher and Stever Soper took a superb fifth in the BMW V12 LM raced by BMW Motorsport in 1998.

Final result:
1. Dalmas/Martini/Winkelhock
BMW V12 LMR
366 laps
2. Katayama/Tsuchiya/Suzuki
Toyota GT-One
365 laps
3. Biela/Pirro/Theys
Audi R8R
361 laps
4. Alboreto/Capello/Aiello
Audi R8R
347 laps
5. Auberlen/Bscher/Soper
BMW V12 LM98
346 laps