BMW pull our ALMS

[rdjones]

This just in from Autosport.com

BMW pulls out after rule change

German manufacturer to concentrate on ETCC programme

BMW's sensational M3 GTR will be consigned to the museum

BMW has announced that it is pulling out of the American Le Mans Series this year after rule changes that would have seriously hampered its GT class dominating M3 GTR.

Neither the official BMW team, run by preparation experts Schnitzer, nor the BMW North America-backed Team PTG squad will continue in the ALMS with the car.

"Unfortunately, in December, the M3 GTR was affected by a change in the regulations which would have a radical impact on the car's competitiveness," said BMW Motorsport director Mario Theissen. "We would have had to invest major staff and technical resources to try to compensate for the ensuing disadvantage.

"Our main focus on our Formula 1 involvement means we can't spare the capacity," he added.

BMW will instead focus on the revamped FIA European Touring Car Championship. Schnitzer will run the BMW Team Germany squad in the series, and other BMW importers from around the continent are also expected to join the programme.

"As before, we do not regard our participation in the European Championship as a classic factory involvement," said BMW's Gerhard Berger. "Though the targets have been raised by the entry of other manufacturers."

For full details on BMW's ETCC plans, see this week's AUTOSPORT magazine - on sale Thursday January 24.

[rlinter]

Yep Expect Teams from:

BMW Spain (With Jorg Gene & Norman Simon)
BMW Benlux (Cox & Huisman)
Schnitzer (the two Mullers)

Also expect an annoucement about the Volvo ETCC line up by the end of the week.

[Craig]

January 22, 2002


STATEMENT FROM AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES REGARDING BMW

"BMW has been a participant in the American Le Mans Series since its
inception in 1999 and has brought a great deal to the series, not only in
terms of star drivers and cars but also strong marketing support. We worked
closely with BMW AG and BMW North America in an effort to resolve the
situation and while we are deeply disappointed, we are confident of BMW's
return to American Le Mans Series racing in 2003."

--- Scott Atherton, President and COO, Panoz Motor Sports Group

Back to touring car where they belong, eh ? Bet they're not brave enough to do the BTCC and risk being shown up by MG...!

[touringlegend]

Can't blame them for pulling out but they did ask for it.
With Schnitzer running Team Germany's ETCC team you now know who will dominate the series' this year.

[H16]

When you don't produce what you sell in what is tradtionally a production style class, it is hard to have compassion on BMW. I will miss the V8 roar, but they should have continued to develop the inline 6 M3 or ran a V8 M5.

[Speedworx]

AMLS drove them out and I can't BMW ever going back.

[FastJoel31]

Its bad news, but its also good news. Maybe this will encourage some privateer Porsche teams to step up and enter a few races. Heck, even Ferrari 360's and Callaway's!

[AllonFS]

Interestingly in one of the Daily Sportscar articles, it suggested that with the power restrictions and weight increase penalties they faced, it would have put them on a par with the Porsches. The only conclusion therefore is that BMW dropped out when they no longer had an unfair advantage and that they didn't want to face a fair fight.

Pity to lose such a great car, but a team with an attitude like that won't be missed.

[Liz]

The thing that concerns me is the intimation that Alex Job Racing may lose their works support and all their drivers under the same rubric. Anybody heard this?

[Aysedasi]

IMO, good news. The car was never a "proper" sports car.

[Osella]

BMW did this to themselves, a fact that they acknowledge with the intention to return in 2003. It's simple, mass producers have to mass produce cars in order to run them in that class. I feel sorry for the fans and the eight drivers whose careers now go off somewhere else for a bit... Lehto may go to Cadillac which should be fun. You can't question BMWs commitment to motorsport in general though. Unfortunately they're not fans like us, we don't have a choice in wether or not we follow sportscars, we just DO! Maybe they anticapted having the rules changed to suit them at the last moment...
Really though Porsche/BMW/Merc seem to take turns with taking the mickey with GT rules in the recent past. Maybe there should be a sperate class for vehicles whose manufacturers logo features a metal circle.............
They could always hack the cars apart a bit and turn them into GTPs

[racer69]

How many M3 GTR's do BMW need to produce to make the cars eligible in the trim they had in 2001.

[Aysedasi]

Originally posted by Osella
Maybe there should be a seperate class for vehicles whose manufacturers logo features a metal circle.............

Nice one!