BMW E90 330i Race Car Launch

BMW Van Der Linde racing bid a fond farewell to the competitive E46 BMW
330i after rounds 7 and 8 of the Vodacom Power Tour. A new challenge in
the form of the E90 BMW 330i will face the team as they head for rounds
9 and 10 of the Sahara Production Car Championship taking place at
Kyalami on Saturday 25 June. Having dominated the formula with 4
championships in succession with the E46, the new E90's have large
expectations to fulfil. Recent tests have shown that the race cars will
be competitive from day one. New base weight restrictions have been put
in place and the E90 will have to carry an additional 40 kilograms in
order to compensate for the additional power that the new car has over
its predecessor. The front wheel drive Alfa weighs in 50kg lighter than
the BMW, while the more powerful Nissan comes in 30kg heavier. The four
wheel drive Audi entrants, making their debut at Kyalami, will weigh in
10 kilograms heavier than the BMW. The BMW Van Der Linde Racing teams
proven expertise will be fully utilised to develop the complex E90 into
a fourth generation 3 Series Race Car. BMW Van Der Linde Racing has
built three left hand drive cars at the BMW SA Motorsport facility,
adjacent to the Rosslyn Plant. The left hand configuration allows for
optimal weight distribution and exhaust development. Piloting the new
cars will be defending Class A champion Anthony Taylor, supported by
Hennie Groenewald and Etienne Van Der Linde who returns to the
racetrack after a year's absence. Long time BMW racer Richard Sorenson
and his team are currently building an E90 for Jimmy Auby. Another big
name in South African motor racing, DAW, are joining the BMW line-up
with two E90's to be piloted by English driver Steve Morris and Marco
Da Cunha. Class A Production Cars has become the crowd puller in the
Vodacom Power Tour, 5 Manufacturers fighting it out at Kyalami on
Saturday. Anthony Taylor currently comfortably leads the championship
in his Van Der Linde Racing BMW followed by team-mate Hennie
Groenewald, Nissan 350Z pilot Gary Formato and Reghard Roets in his
Alfa 147 GTA. BMW SA Motorsport welcomes Audi to the class, joining the
Nissan, Alfa and Ford competitors. Along with BMW Van Der Linde Racing
lies a new challenge, in the development of the E90 330i, to continue
the success of the legendary E46. 2005 Class A Championship 1.
Anthony Taylor (BMW) - 116 2. Hennie Groenewald (BMW) - 78 3. Gary
Formato (Nissan) - 73 4. Regard Roets (Alfa) - 73 5. Duncan Vos (Nissan)
- 48 6. Morne Jurgens (Alfa) - 45 7. Marco Da Cunha (Alfa) - 17 8. Marc
Auby (Alfa) - 5 2005 Production Car Championship 1. Anthony Taylor
(BMW) 2. Martin Steyn (MINI) 3. Shaun Van Der Linde (MINI) 4. Hennie
Groenewald (BMW) 5. Gary Formato (Nissan) 6. Regard Roets (Alfa)