From their first and fourth starting spots, Said and Marks quickly settled into the second and third positions as the 250-mile Grand Prix of Miami began. It only took seven laps for both BMW Team PTG M3s to move back to the front of the GT field, with Said taking the point. Said was the first to pit for fuel on lap 31with Marks in at lap 34. A full-course caution on lap 40 brought the field together and bad luck for the No. 21 M3. Said was just behind the overall leading Daytona Prototype as the yellow flag waved and lost a lap after the wave-by. Ready to make a charge back, Team PTG elected to immediately pit on lap 43 for fuel, tires and install  Bill  Auberlen  behind  the  wheel.  Auberlen  rejoined  the  field  in  fifth  while  Marks continued in second. By lap 54 Auberlen and Marks were in second and third, 40 seconds behind  the  leader  and  gaining  approximately  five  seconds  per  lap.  On  lap  64  both  BMW Team PTG M3s were back at the front of the field. Marks pitted on lap 70 for tires and fuel and Joey Hand took over the No. 22 M3 for the run to the finish. During two late-race caution periods Auberlen gained a lap on Hand, but the two crossed the finish line side-by-side for a thrilling BMW Team PTG victory.

The race is scheduled to be televised on Speed Channel at 4 p.m. ET on March 7.

BMW Team PTG will next travel to Phoenix International Raceway for Round Three on April 8-10.

BORIS SAID, DRIVER NO. 21 BMW TEAM PTG M3:
“I had a nice lead and had only pitted 10 laps before the yellow waved. I was right behind the leader so bad luck put us a lap down after the wave-by. The team made a good call to pit immediately to get Bill in and take on fuel. That meant he would only have to make one more fuel spot and could focus on regaining the lead and keeping it.”

BILL AUBERLEN, DRIVER NO. 21 BMW TEAM PTG M3: “This is the way it should be -the PTG M3s back in the winner’s circle. The competition is tough, but if we continue to dig when we get down like we did today I think we will be making a few more podium visits.”

JUSTIN MARKS, DRIVER NO. 22 BMW TEAM PTG M3:
“The  track  was  very  slick  during  my  two  stints,  but  the  M3  handled  it  well.  We  found something in the car this morning that fixed a lot of the understeer we had been experiencing in the last two days. I had all the confidence that Joey would bring us home a great finish.”

JOEY HAND, DRIVER NO. 22 BMW TEAM PTG M3:
“Justin did a great job getting the car through all the mayhem at the start. He ran hard and kept the No. 22 M3 clean. I just cruised to the finish saving fuel and the tires to ensure a good finish. To get second to Boris and Bill is great. We’ll see if we can’t give them a run as the season progresses.”

TOM MILNER, OWNER BMW TEAM PTG:
“It is a great feeling to win and 1-2 is even better. We love this endurance racing. Each race swings like a pendulum. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.  We dropped a  lap  early  because  of  the  yellow,  but  the  team  fought  back  and  won.  Everyone  can  be extremely proud.”

HERNANDO CARVAJAL, MOTORSPORT MANAGER, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC:
“Congratulations  to  the  entire  BMW  Team  PTG.  Great  driving,  perfect  pit  stops  and  great strategy contributed to this wonderful result.”

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