BMW Motorsport Recognizes Turner Motorsport Winning Record

Zell am See, Austria - December 3, 2004 - BMW Motorsport held its annual gala event in northern Austria recognizing top BMW racing achievements from around the globe in 2004. More than 650 guests gathered representing championship teams and drivers including BMW WilliamsF1 driver Juan Pablo Montoya, European Touring Car Champion Andy Prialux, and both driver teams from the 1-2 BMW Team victory at the Nurbringing 24 hour race. North American racer Will Turner from Turner Motorsport was one of few American drivers attending the mainly European event.

Motorsport Director Mario Theissen was on hand to make special recognition to more than 30 BMW drivers and teams who were all nominees competing for the coveted BMW Sports Trophy. More than 241,000 Euros were handed out to the privateer teams to reinforce BMW’s appreciation for competing using the ultimate driving machine. Receiving special recognition and representing Turner Motorsport was President Will Turner. The Turner Motorsport team continued their winning ways in 2004, winning another SCCA SPEED Touring Car Driver's Championship as well as securing the Manufacturer's Crown for BMW. The team's continued dominance passed over to their debut season in the Grand Am Cup series with Will Turner and teammate Don Salama heading up the points for much of the season and earning second place in the overall Championship.

After returning from the “weekend” event, Turner Motorsport owner Will Turner was ecstatic; “BMW put on a first class event in the Austrian Alps and Turner Motorsport was honored to be one of the top 10 teams recognized world-wide. This is very special not only for our race team, but every employee at TMS who recognizes the significant role racing plays in our business; from tuning our customer’s BMWs to developing our own performance parts and sending them to customers world wide.” When asked about being recognized by BMWs Motorsport Director Will commented “this is fantastic exposure for us as we begin planning our 2005 attack on three racing titles here in the U.S. We hope to put the blue and yellow Turner cars on the minds of not only our fans and competitors here, but also get more attention from our friends and supporters at BMW AG in Munich. I could not be more pleased with our accomplishments in 2004, but you can bet we will be even more title-hungry in 2005!”

Turner Motorsport (www.turnermotorsport.com) will again be campaigning in SPEED World Challenge (www.world-challenge.com/) as well as broadening their Grand Am Cup (http://www.grand-am.com) effort by racing the BMW 330i in Sport Touring (ST), as well as a new 2005 E46 M3 to compete in Grand Sport (GS). The 2005 racing season all begins on February 3rd in Daytona, FL and will be covered by SPEED Channel (www.speedtv.com).


Will Turner and BMW Williams F1 Driver, Juan Pablo Montoya

Will Turner Receives a Trophy from BMW Motorsport Director, Mario Theissen

I see Juan dressed up for the event

Originally Posted by LmtdSlip

I see Juan dressed up for the event

Yay

From another post of mine a while back:
Bill told us a story about a BMW banquet one time. I guess it was black tie and for one reason or another JPM showed up in casual clothes. So everytime that JPM would walk by their table Boris would yell "Hey waiter...can I get a glass of water" or something to that effect. The story goes that JPM had no idea who Boris was and got thoroughly pissed off.

Originally Posted by dhabes

Yay

From another post of mine a while back:
Bill told us a story about a BMW banquet one time. I guess it was black tie and for one reason or another JPM showed up in casual clothes. So everytime that JPM would walk by their table Boris would yell "Hey waiter...can I get a glass of water" or something to that effect. The story goes that JPM had no idea who Boris was and got thoroughly pissed off.

Originally Posted by dhabes

Yay

From another post of mine a while back:
Bill told us a story about a BMW banquet one time. I guess it was black tie and for one reason or another JPM showed up in casual clothes. So everytime that JPM would walk by their table Boris would yell "Hey waiter...can I get a glass of water" or something to that effect. The story goes that JPM had no idea who Boris was and got thoroughly pissed off.

This must have been hilarious. I heard eventually JPM looked at Boris and said; "Do you know who I am?" Bill began rolling on the floor laughing.

This must have been a great event and experience for Turner Motorsports. Well deserved.

Congratulations!

Congratulations to the whole team!!

I'm a little surprised Montoya was even there, considering he drives for McLaren now. I wonder if Ralf was there.

Originally Posted by PhilH

I'm a little surprised Montoya was even there, considering he drives for McLaren now. I wonder if Ralf was there.

True, it's interesting that Juan was there. Apparently Ralf was sick and did not attend. The BMW Motorsport site only says that the 2004 Formula 1 drivers were there. If you look at F1Total.com for the German text it says that Ralf called in sick from all of his testing and wet weather at Jerez. "My voice is totally gone, I am completely hoarse. I must call off, because I am ill."

Originally Posted by SteveT

Ralf called in sick from all of his testing and wet weather at Jerez. "My voice is totally gone, I am completely hoarse. I must call off, because I am ill."

Sick...yeah, sure, a likely excuse...

Congradulations, thats a great achievment. I wish you luck in the coming year.

Originally Posted by LmtdSlip

I see Juan dressed up for the event

I bet that T-shirt costs a lot.
It flows very nicely. Guessing some kind of microfiber or silk blend.

Congratulations to the team on a well deserved accomplishment.

Originally Posted by SteveT

This must have been hilarious. I heard eventually JPM looked at Boris and said; "Do you know who I am?" Bill began rolling on the floor laughing.

I'll skip my response to that.

Congrats to the Turner Motorsport gang! Looking forward to watching next year!