Schubert Z4 GT3 Wins Dubai 24 at Hands of Tommy Milner

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Dubai race have a look ..... UPDATE ... Sorry you peeked in here too late it's all over and the Z4 won ... no more life feed Attachment 475248

For Cameras click here

For a Birdseye view of the track click here

American Le Mans Series star Tommy Milner scores victory in 24 Hours of Dubai debut...

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...wins-dubai-24/

While the sportscar racing season in North America doesn’t kick off for another two weeks, over 80 teams representing 40 countries rang in the New Year in the Middle East with the sixth annual 24 Hours of Dubai.

This weekend’s twice-around-the-clock desert marathon featured a heavy presence of American drivers, including NASCAR owner/driver Michael Waltrip and BMW veterans Bill Auberlen and Boris Said.

But it was American Le Mans Series star Tommy Milner who stole the headlines, helping take the Need For Speed by Schubert Motorsport team to a dominant overall victory.

Milner, who piloted the No. 76 BMW Z4 GT3 with BMW factory driver Augusto Farfus and team regulars Claudia Hurtgen and Edward Sandstrom, drove to a four-lap win in what was a trouble-free race for the quartet.

“The 24-hour race in Dubai is the first tough test of the year for all the teams, and we mastered this challenge in style,” Milner said. “This was my first race at this circuit. Winning this kind of marathon at the first attempt is something I will certainly never forget. We had absolutely no problems and the team spirit was great. This was exactly what you wish for from a 24-hour race.”

The German squad held control nearly from the onset. The pole-sitting Reiter Lamborghini Gallardo retired early with engine failure, while the equally strong Gulf Team First Lambo later hit gearbox trouble.

Schubert’s smooth approach paid off by the third hour, when the No. 76 machine took over the lead. With no less than a two-lap cushion at all times, the team cruised to its first major endurance race victory after years of VLN competition.

“Our tactics worked perfectly,” said team manager Stefan Wendl. “At the start of the race we were able to develop a two-lap lead with the No. 76 car, which we then had to maintain without putting too much strain on the [car] or taking any risks. Some fortunate circumstances meant we were able to pull even further ahead and ultimately wrap up the victory. This is our first big victory at a 24-hour race and a great reward for everyone in the team.”

The No. 4 AF Corse Ferrari F430 GT of Eppe Perazzini, Michal Broniszewski, Lorenzo Case and Marco Cioci finished second, one lap ahead of the Black Falcon-entered Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3, which was third in the car’s 24-hour debut. In fact, all three of the gull-winged machines completed the grueling endurance test.

Another pre-race favorite, the No. 18 Tolimit Arabia Porsche 911 GT3 R of ALMS GTC co-champion Jeroen Bleekemolen, Sascha Maassen and Sean Edwards, ran as high as second but lost over 10 laps replacing a driveshaft in the eighth hour. The trio, joined by Khaled Al Qubaisi, rebounded to finish fourth.

Schubert’s sister BMW Z4 of Auberlen, Said, Matt Plumb and Paul Dalla Lana, came home fifth after an incident-filled weekend. Recovering from a qualifying accident that nearly destroyed the GT3-spec machine, the car, run in conjunction with Turner Motorsport, enjoyed a solid race until suffering a cracked header and exhaust issues late in the running.

Yet it was still good experience for all four veterans, who will be fighting for GT honors in Turner’s BMW M3 at the Rolex 24 at Daytona later this month.

“We achieved what we set out to this weekend,” said Turner Motorsport Team Principal Will Turner, who also took part in the race in a Marcos Racing-entered BMW 120d. “We wanted to get the four drivers together and prepare together for the big race in America. I think our drivers are now better attuned to each other. My thanks go to the Schubert team. They accommodated us very well, and we worked as a team.”

The BMW 120d which Turner drove with fellow Americans Don Salama, Toto Lassally and Hal Prewitt, retired with a broken crankshaft.

Another American favorite almost didn’t take the race start. The No. 5 AF Corse Ferrari of NASCAR star Waltrip and MWR co-owner Rob Kauffman suffered an engine failure in warm-up, but moved over to the Italian squad’s No. 6 entry for the race, finishing 20th overall.

Another notable finisher was the UAE-entered Lotus Evora of Johnny Mowlem, Stefano D’Aste, Gianni Giudica and second-generation drivers Leo and Greg Mansell, which came home in 22nd overall, third in the SP3 class.

Race Results:

1 76 Need for Speed Schubert 1 BMW Z4 GT3 A6 1 -- 594 laps --

2 4 AF Corse SRL 1 Ferrari F430 GT2 A6 2 -- 591 laps --

3 7 Black Falcon #7 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3 A6 3 -- 590 laps --
4 18 tolimit arabia Porsche 911 GT3 R (997) A6 4 -- 583 laps --
5 77 Need for Speed Schubert 2 BMW Z4 GT3 A6 5 -- 579 laps --

6 26 Saudi Falcons by Lechner Racing Porsche 997 Cup A6 6 -- 576 laps --
7 9 Heico Motorsport Mercedes Benz SLS AMG GT3 A6 7 -- 576 laps --
8 21 Förch Racing Team 1 Porsche 997 Cup (2010) A6 8 -- 572 laps --
9 20 Car Collection 2 Autohandels Porsche GT3 CupS A6 9 -- 566 laps --
10 23 Bovi Motorsport Brokernet Silversting SP2 1 -- 564 laps --

11 33 De Lorenzi Racing 2 Porsche 997 997 1 -- 560 laps --
12 38 Autoweiland.de/MW Sportive Porsche 997 Cup 997 2 -- 554 laps --
13 123 Valspar Donkervoort Donkervoort D8 GT SP3 1 -- 551 laps --

14 16 MRS Team PZ Aschaffenburg Porsche GT3 997 R A6 10 -- 550 laps --
15 116 HMR Aston Martin V8 Vantage SP3 2 -- 544 laps --

16 71 JR Motorsport BMW E46 GTR A3T 1 -- 543 laps --
17 11 Gomez Competition 2 Gomez Competition GC10.2 SP2 2 -- 535 laps --

18 60 SUNRED 1 Seat Leon Super Copa A3T 2 -- 534 laps --
19 44 MSW Racing Seat Leon Super Copa A3T 3 -- 533 laps --
20 6 AF Corse SRL 3 Ferrari F430 GT2 A6 11 -- 531 laps --

[BMW [///M]otorsport-Power]

congrats Schubert Motorsport! I love the BMW Z4 GT3!

[HerrK]

Congrats to the Need for Speed/Schubert team for the Sweet win in the Z4! Let's hope this continues across the season and in the ALMS.

[vladberca]

Impressive result! Congrats!

[VinnieAces]

damnit i wish i knew when this race happened to possibly stream it... woulda been sick watching the z4 GT3 zipping around

[marcel b]

so the race (at least parts of it) on internet. So cool the won! Big fan of Claudia
Congratulations the whole the team and hope you will have a successful year in the VLN!

[Land_Shark]

Great Car, The Z4 GT3.. Great Race results. Congrats!!

[bavarian19]

nice!

[BMW [///M]otorsport-Power]

...more pics from the BMW Z4 GT3! What a racecar! AWESOME





















greets from Germany!

[Advevo]

We have finished first in class with the black widebody E46 M3 and 16 overal.

It s increadable hard to manage 24 hours for drivers mechanics and car.

Andre car nr 71.

[cmk227]

This is awesome guys. I enjoying BMW leading these 24 hours race. Really show that they built cars that can last 24 hours extreme test.

Good job Turner.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by cmk227

This is awesome guys. I enjoying BMW leading these 24 hours race. Really show that they built cars that can last 24 hours extreme test.

Good job Turner.

You got that right .... means they last for ever and ever as a street car in North America I know I still have my e28 (535is build in June 1987).

[cmk227]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

You got that right .... means they last for ever and ever as a street car in North America I know I still have my e28 (535is build in June 1987).

Agree. I plan to keep my M

[rmorin49]

Is there any video available of this race?

[BMW [///M]otorsport-Power]

Originally Posted by rmorin49

Is there any video available of this race?

start
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY8xc...yer_detailpage
BMW Z4 GT3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4SkbcCTuco
BMW Z4 GT3 onboard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9VZspR9fa0
podium
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAjVDCqfBlI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUKs7MYbSLQ

[richard in NC]

That onboard video is great. He's really pushing it and passes a ton of cars.

[esqu1re]

This is awesome.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

That onboard video is great. He's really pushing it and passes a ton of cars.

+1 pretty crazy to think how precise they have to be!

[BMW [///M]otorsport-Power]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

That onboard video is great. He's really pushing it and passes a ton of cars.

BEST ONBOARD VIDEO EVER FROM THE BMW Z4 GT3! MUST WATCH!
(VLN-Nürburgring Nordschleife)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLJYE5JPuW4

[rmorin49]

Originally Posted by BMW [///M]otorsport-Power

BEST ONBOARD VIDEO EVER FROM THE BMW Z4 GT3! MUST WATCH!
(VLN-Nürburgring Nordschleife)

Thanks for posting. Great video. Passing the black 'Vette and the blue Porsche was awesome!

Maybe the Z isn't such a "girlie car" after all.

[Vintage]

killer - I want to be really wealthy and by a Z4 GT3

[richard in NC]

Originally Posted by rmorin49

Thanks for posting. Great video. Passing the black 'Vette and the blue Porsche was awesome!

Maybe the Z isn't such a "girlie car" after all.

Great car and the driver has got skillz for sure.