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1999 BMW V12 LMR news, pictures, and information

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Jointly developed with Formula 1 partner WilliamsF1, the BMW V12 LMR was built to challenge the 1999 24 Hours of LeMans.

The V12 LMR you see here debuted at the 12 Hours at Sebring in Marcho of 1999. Driven by Tom Kristensen (DK), JJ Lehto (F) and Jorg Muller (D), the car won the race in the closest finish up to that time, a mere 9.2 seconds separating first and second place.

Carrying inspiration from that victory to LeMans, the LMR of Yannick Delams (F), Pierluigi Martini (I) and Joachim Winkelhock (D) drove to the front of the field and gave BMW its first ever overall victory at leMans. This is the first racing car since 1987 to win both the Sebring and LeMans classics in the same year.

A sister car at that race had the distinction o f becoming the 15th member of the BMW Art Car collection as American concept artist Jenny Holzer wrote her stylized messages on the LMR's slippery bodywork. The car drove around the circuit in a special lap of honor and into BMW history. The Art Car tradition began at LeMans in 1975 when Alexander Calder painted a 3.0 CSL.

The LMR continued to compete in the American LeMans Series, winning races in 1999 at Sears Point, Laguna Seca and Las Vegas - finishing second at Portland and Road Atlanta. In its second year of ALMS competition, the car won twice at Charlotte and Silverstone.

Retiring only twice for mechanical fault in eighteen races entered, this V12 LMR is a testament to BMWs commitment to advanced automotive design and technology.

This car is owned by BMW of North America LLC and is not for sale.

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