bmw pulls out of btcc

[Dave Eaton <dave.eaton@minedu.govt.nz>]

	    From the Electronic Telegraph

	    "BMW to concentrate on Le Mans"
                  By Michael Cotton 

                  BMW will switch their sporting activities from touring cars to GT racing
                  next year, concentrating on Le Mans and the BPR Global Endurance GT
                  Cup series.

                  Steve Soper and J J Lehto will lead the Schnitzer BMW McLaren team in
                  1997, it was announced in Munich yesterday, with the second F1 GTR to
                  be driven by Peter Kox and Roberto Ravaglia.

                  BMW will withdraw from the British Touring Car Championship to
                  concentrate on the German Super Touring Championship, with cars for
                  Joachim Winkelhock, the British champion in 1993, and Johnny Cecotto.
                  The Munich concern have had a strong presence in the British
                  championship since 1991, when the two-litre formula began, and this year
                  finished second to Audi in the manufacturers' championship.

                  The combination of Soper and Lehto in a Schnitzer-prepared McLaren F1
                  GTR will be a real threat to the anticipated supremacy of the latest Porsche
                  GT1 model.

                  Meanwhile, Ray Bellm, the new BPR Global Endurance champion, will
                  again lead the GTC Motorsport McLaren team with 1995 BPR champion
                  Thomas Bscher expected to switch camps to drive for GTC Motorsport.