Marsal Looking To Move Up in BMW Performance 200

January 27, 2012 Leave a comment

Marsal Looking To Move Up in BMW Performance 200

Daytona Beach, FL (26 January 2012) – Michael Marsal will start the BMW Performance 200 from the 13th row at Daytona International Speedway following a shortened qualifying session that saw two lengthy caution periods. The abbreviated session left Marsal time for only one flying lap in the No. 97 Turner Motorsport BMW M3.

Marsal immediately set a quick pace behind the wheel of the BMW, but the effort was thwarted when a competitor forced Marsal offline and ruined the chance of a solid starting position. Marsal and co-driver Boris Said will look to make a charge forward among the 81-car combined class field as the duo kick off the 2012 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge championship at the famous World Center of Racing.

“We had a really, really good car,”said Marsal. “We had a front row car and it’s just really unfortunate that we don’t have the result to show for it. The yellows caught us out and unfortunately another car misjudged the bus stop on my only hot lap and ruined my lap as well his, so it’s just very frustrating.

“But the Turner guys have worked really hard to give us a great car so I’m confident we can move the BMW forward and make up ground tomorrow. I’m really looking forward to the race. It’s such a huge weekend – we have so many fans out at the track to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Rolex 24 and I just can’t wait to get going. This wasn’t how I wanted to start the weekend but we have a lot of racing yet to do tomorrow.”

In addition to the BMW Performance 200, Marsal will drive in the historic 50th Anniversary Rolex 24 At Daytona endurance classic. Co-driver Bill Auberlen qualified the No. 93 Turner Motorsport BMW 20th on the 44 car GT grid.

The 2.5-hour BMW Performance 200 is set to start at 1:30 PM (ET) on Friday and can be followed with live timing and scoring at www.grand-am.com. The Rolex 24 At Daytona starts at 3:30 PM (ET) on Saturday and will broadcast live on SPEED for the opening and closing seven hours with www.speedtv.com streaming live coverage during the overnight hours.

SPEED will televise the BMW Performance 200 on February 4 at 12:00 PM (ET).

Additionally Turner Motorsport will be live and on line here: Live Stream (live video from our pits) Twitter (trackside updates) Live timing and scoring for both events can be found at www.grand-am.com.