BMW V12 LMR wins in Le Mans

BMW V12 LMR wins in Le Mans Dalmas, Martini, Winkelhock
Gerhard Berger: "We are proud of our team"

Munich/Le Mans. 13 June 1999 Pierluigi Martini, at the wheel of the BMW V12
LMR, car number 15, took the checkered flag and the victory after 24 hours and
365, 13.6 kilometre long, laps. Yannick Dalmas and Joachim Winkelhock, who
shared the car with him, were as overjoyed as they were exhausted.

The second BMW V12 LMR, driven by Tom Kristensen/JJ Lehto/Jörg Müller had lead
the race for more than two thirds of the distance, before being forced to
retire shortly before noon.

Motorsport Director Gerhard Berger: "We are very proud of our entire team. Dr
Ulrich Schiefer, Head of the Project, Herbert Vögele, who is responsible for
the engine, the Team Manager Charly Lamm and the Chief Engineer, John Russell,
are a team with which one can win every match. We did not only achieve our
motorsports aim for this year by winning this race, but also managed to bring
together a team in the last few months, which is very promising for sportscar
engagements in America. Our six drivers, who made no mistakes throughout the
race, were also
admired by the competition. The cause of Lehto's accident was a roll-bar link
which had come loose and had pressed against the throttle linkage. JJ didnt
have a chance of avoiding the accident. He luckily only suffered minor cuts
which were able to be taken care of there and then.

BMW Team Manager Charly Lamm: "Dalmas, Martini and Winkelhock had to fight
right to the very last lap, due to the Toyota number 3, which was breathing
down their necks - the three proved that they have strong nerves. We basically
refueled consistently every 13 laps and changed drivers and tires every 26 laps.

At one o'clock in the morning, we decided in short notice to change the
strategy for car no. 17: we started lapping somewhat faster in order to shake
off the number 2 Toyota. We took into account that we would have to refuel
twice after 12 laps. The Toyota then crashed, however, which stipulated a new
driving tactic for car number 17 with Kristensen, Lehto and Müller at the
wheel: we had to manage our lead sensibly. Our drivers did exactly that, right
up until the
technical hitch."

Pierluigi Martini #15: "It is my first victory in Le Mans and I really had to
fight for it. I drove absolutely at the limit in order to stay ahead of the
Toyota. The last stint was very tough but it was worth every effort."

Yannick Dalmas #15: "Le Mans is the greatest race one can win and I have now
managed that for the fourth time. We again witnessed the fact that in Le Mans,
anything can happen right up to the checkered flag. Reliability, ambition and
very good team-work gave us the victory."

Joachim Winkelhock #15: "I never dared dream of this - the atmosphere is simply
gigantic. I'm here for the second time, I've won touring car races in Spa and
on Nürburgring, but I've never seen anything like this. It gives me goose-skin
just thinking about it."

Jörg Müller #17: "Its such a shame. Our BMW was going so well that I didn't
want to get out of it. I felt great within this team and with my driving
partners. The race will remain a great memory despite our retirement."

JJ Lehto #17: "I was suddenly a passenger. This defect was nasty - everything
had been so well prepared. The engagement and the win at the 12-Hours of
Sebring in March welded us together as a team and we had become used to working
together. The atmosphere in our pits was always calm and contained."

Tom Kristensen #17: "It was great race. We really attacked at times and at
others, we held back a little and played tactics - we avoided every curb and
changed gears as early as possible, whilst keeping out of all the skirmishes.
We also always agreed on decisions amongst each other - we were really a good
team.

The 1998 BMW V12 Le Mans, entered by Price+Bscher with Bill Auberlen/Thomas
Bscher/Steve Soper at the wheel was 5th at the end of the race.

Result:
1. Winkelhock/Martini/Dalmas BMW V12 LMR 366 laps (new record)
2. Katayama/Tsuchiya/Suzuki Toyota GT-One 1 lap behind
3. Pirro/Biela/Theys Audi R8R 5 laps behind
4. Alboreto/Capello/Aiello Audi R8R 19 laps behind
5. Bscher/Auberlen/Soper BMW V12 LM 98 20 laps behind
6. Caffi/Montermini/Schiattarella Courage C52 23 laps behind

Journalist Note - Accompanying photos can be obtained from our BMW website:
http://www.bmw.ca/navbar/index1-4-1.html

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Julie Wells
Corporate Communications Specialist
905.428.5076
julie.wells@bmw.ca