1999 BMW V12 LMR

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Mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive Le Mans prototype
1 - passenger carbon fiber body
price as tested (estimated) $2.8 million
ENGINE: 48-valve DOCH V-12 Aluminum block and heads
Bore x stroke 3.39 x 3.38 in (86.0 x 85.9 mm)
Displacement 366 cu in (5991 cc)
Compression ratio 13.0:1
Two 1.3-inch-diameter air restrictors
Power DIN 585 bhp @ 6200 rpm
Torque DIN 516 lb-ft @5000 rpm
Redline 7700 rpm
DRIVETRAIN: 6-speed sequential manual transmission, Straight-cut gears, Four-plate carbon fiber clutch
MEASUREMENTS:Wheelbase 109.8 in
Track front/rear 64.6/62.8 in
Length x width x height 183.1 x 78.7 x 40.2 in
Curb weight 1985 lb
Fuel capacity 23.8 gal
SUSPENSION: Independent double-wishbone front, with pushrods, coil springs, dampers, anti-roll bar, Independent double-wishbone rear, with transverse top links, pushrods, coil springs, dampers, anti-roll bar
Steering: Power assisted rack-and-pinion
BRAKES: Vented carbon-carbon discs front and rear
WHEELS: 18.0 x 13.0-in front, 18.0 x 14.5-in rear
cast magnesium wheels
32/65- 18 front, 38/71- 18 rear Michelin pilot sx Slick racing tires
PERFORMANCE: Top speed 211 mph
Pounds per bhp 3.4

BMW V12 Le Mans roadster 1999

(attempted translation from German!) 

Munich. A difficult venture was recompenced with two victories and eight further podium places: The two 99er BMW V12 LMR began 2000 in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) against strong new vehicle competition. The team with Charly lamb at the point and the drivers JJ Lehto (FIN)/Joerg Mueller (D) and Bill Auberlen (the USA)/Jean Marc Gounon (F) showed, what was to be still reached with the previous year cars and rode along to short before season end around the title. "that was a strong crew achievement", stresses BMW engine haven director Gerhard Berger, "particularly in punkto strategy, discipline and motivation. With the youngest and best car running to win, is heavily enough. That we created 1999 with almost any employment. But the challenge to place itself to begin and then ride along in front with a previous year car, is a special art. But is entitled to the team and the drivers of special thanks." Usually two hours and 45 minutes lasted the aluminium ms running. Exceptions formed the prelude in Sebring (twelve hours) and the runs on the Nuerburgring (1000 kilometers) and in Road Atlanta (1000 miles). To the final at the Silvesterabend in Adelaide the BMWS V12 LMR do not begin.

Modifications for 2000

The technical facilities for successes of the 99er Le of Mans winner were not 2000 any more the same, particularly by changes of regulation, which had to be caught only by the building of a new sports car. While the reduction of the air supply limiters reduced the achievement of all engines in the field, the BMW particularly suffered from the new aerodynamics regulations. In addition exhausts of the front wheel housings, an additional outline edge at the tail wing and smaller side plates belonged as well as the expansion of the tail diffuser on the maximum vehicle length. "there we built no new sports cars", explain BMW engine haven director Dr. Mario Theissen, "had we our car to evenly later adapt. In its original 99er version the aerodynamics package from a casting was better and." The tuning of the modified BMWS V12 LMR was difficult despite intensive test travels and the own Bestzeiten from the previous year remained usually unequalled. "on the engine side", so Theissen further, "took place the most important change for 2000 within the range electronics." As in the formula 1 BMW inserted an internal engine management now also with the V12-Triebwerk of the sports car. Beyond that the reduction of the amount of air required adjustments of tax times and gas exchanges by the smaller air Restriktoren. "in addition", Theissen supplements, "could we for the season 2000 the weight of the engine clearly again lower." This succeeded again and again in the long running career of the engine. With the first running version of this serienmotors as source of strength of the GT sports car McLaren F1 GTR Yannick Dalmas (F) had already won, JJ Lehto and the Japanese Masanori Sekiya 1995 in Le Mans. Both the engine and the vehicle were masters of the reliability. Only a BMW V12 LMR failed two times because of a technical defect - being appropriate for 1999 Lehto in Le Mans, at that time before its later victorious team colleagues in guidance, 2000 Jean Marc Gounon (F) in Silverstone.

The first appearance of the BMW V12 LMR 1999

With its first appearance in the footlights the BMW V12 LMR was the star guest of a hochkaraetigen BMW party. With the Dane Tom Kristensen to tax it fulfilled on 21 January 1999 the snow-covered Kitzbuehler old part of town with markigem sound of twelve-cylinder. Prominenz and specialists welcomed him with Ovationen. The new Le Mans roadster of BMW was from the outset what one calls a good throw. It set new yardsticks, it justified a new, more elegant generation of open rennsportwagen. 1999 were its year: BMW won a first running with the roadster at first attempt, the twelve hours of Sebring in the US Federal State Florida. The winners were called Kristensen, Lehto and Mueller. In June the largest triumph followed: Dalmas, Pierluigi Martini (I) and Joachim anglesquat (D) won the 24-Stunden-Rennen in Le Mans against the probably strongest competition in the history of this running. Together with Steve Soper (GB) obtained Lehto of afterwards still three victories in the ALMS. Neither with the V12-Zylinder in its different versions still with the BMW V12 LMR someone achieved more success than Lehto. After the Le Mans victory 1995 belonged the Finn also 1997 to the team around Charly lamb in the FIA GT championship. In that year it obtained three pole position and, together with Soper, four victories; it became second of the championats delivered in Europe, Japan and the USA. With the open BMW V12 LMR Lehto conquered 1999 in the ALMS three pole position and four victories. The fact that he became nevertheless not master was because of an amazing hardness in handling writing formalities: Because the Finn on the form for denomination for the season prelude Kreuzchen had not made during the registration for the entire season, it did not receive points for its Sebring victory. Without this cancellation the title would have gone at Lehto.

ALMS 2000: Mueller up to the ninth run at the table point

In the ALMS 2000 Lehto and Mueller formed the fastest duo with the 99er car. After place three in Sebring and two victories in Charlotte and Silverstone Mueller stated the Fahrerklassement. On the Nuerburgring, with the fourth run, Lehto/Mueller became second, in Sears POINT third before their team colleagues Auberlen/Gounon. Into MOS haven the two BMWS ran again directly one behind the other, this time as second and third. With the sieved run in Fort Worth for the first time none reached the BMW V12 LMR a podium place. Lehto/Mueller became fourth, Auberlen/Gounon fifth. With place three in haven country the picture changed defended Mueller and Lehto the table point a last mark with the ninth run, for the Petit Le Mans running over 1000 miles on the fastidious course Road Atlanta: For Auberlen/Gounon running had already early run, after the American with the car had estimated himself.

Running debut of the BMW Art Car of Jenny Holzer

Lehto/Mueller steered a completely special car in Road Atlanta: For the first time the 1999 came body arranged by the American artist Jenny Holzer to the running employment. The two were appropriate for 15 with that. Copy of the BMWS ArtCar Collection at second position, when it back-threw a turner of Mueller on rank five and so that also the table guidance cost.

Parting conception in read Vegas

On 29 October the two BMWS V12 LMR gave their parting conception to 2000 in read Vegas. In the Qualifying in this season the own Bestmarken was undercut for the first time from the previous year. In running Mueller had fought for the guidance, when it was entangled into an accident. While it could save itself after long repair break only as the 26. in the goal, Bill Auberlen ensured and Jean Marc Gounon as Drittplatzierte with a further podium place for a worthy outlet one of the most successful open sports cars of the last decades.