ÅðéóôñïöÞ óôï Forum : ALMS 2013
Joey Hand looks forward to the BMW Z4 GTE.
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Next Tuesday the BMW Z4 GTE will be launched officially in Daytona. One of the drivers will be Joey Hand. In addition to driving in the DTM for BMW Team RBM, the American will race for BMW Team RLL in the ALMS. On Sunday Hand was celebrating his 34th birthday.
Joey, what are you expecting from the new BMW Z4 GTE?
Joey Hand: “To be honest, I don¢t know what to exactly expect, because I¢ve never driven a BMW Z4 in any configuration before this season. But it definitely looks very fast. I¢ve found through experience cars that look fast usually are. I can¡t wait to drive it.”
In 2013 you¢re also racing in both the DTM and the ALMS. How will you manage this workload?
Hand: “Travelling has never yet been a problem for me. Furthermore, I¢ve got used to driving in many races in different cars in the space of a year. As always, I love driving in the ALMS to an unbelievable extent. I enjoy every minute on the racetrack and in the company of my colleagues from BMW Team RLL. We¢ve become a family over the years. I¢m still learning things in the ALMS that also help me in the DTM. I¢m looking forward to my second season there because I¢m able to take everything I learned in my debut season into my second year. That means I¢ll be much better at finding my feet right from the start this time around.”
How did you spend your birthday?
Hand: “Well, the new season is starting soon, so right now I enjoy my time at home with my family. I spent my birthday with my wife and my two kids. For me it is important to relax and gather new strength for the weeks and months to come. Already on Monday I am travelling to Daytona for the BMW Z4 GTE presentation. That will be the first highlight of the 2013 season.“
The start of a new era.
BMW is embarking on a new chapter of its motorsport commitment in North America: after four successful years with the BMW M3 GT, the new BMW Z4 GTE will take over at the head of the manufacturer¢s campaign in the 2013 American Le Mans Series (ALMS).
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On Tuesday, BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL presented the car and drivers for the new season at the “Daytona International Speedway”.
Supported by Premium Partner Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, guests from around the world were given the opportunity to inspect the BMW Z4 GTE at close hand, talk to those responsible for the team, and experience the iconic racetrack in Florida from the cockpit, courtesy of taxi rides with the BMW ALMS drivers.
“As we approach the start of the ALMS season in mid-March, so the anticipation is gradually rising,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “All of us at BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL are very curious to see how the first few races pan out with the new BMW Z4 GTE. We are setting out on a development year, but are very confident we have once again developed a car that has the potential to win races and titles in the form of the BMW Z4 GTE. Seeing our drivers at this event, you could tell how much they are looking forward to the first race in Sebring. I would also like to say a big thank you to our Premium Partner Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts for its fantastic support here in Daytona.”
Team Principal Bobby Rahal added: “Obviously I am very excited to enter this new year with the BMW Z4 GTE. There is a lot of enthusiasm in the team for the new car. Certainly there will be a development period involved but ultimately I see no reason why we can¢t be competitive with the great competition that exists in the GT category in the ALMS. Although this might be a development year in many respects, with the level of driver talent we have on the team – including the two new exciting additions with Maxime Martin and John Edwards – I think that ultimately we can have success and do much as we did in 2009, the first year of the BMW M3 GT, and work hard toward achieving maximum results in its first year. One aspect of the launch that is very exciting is not just the introduction of the BMW Z4 GTE and our drivers, but also the collection of historic cars that were the cars that began the success story of BMW in North American racing.”
The guests had travelled to Orlando on Monday, and were welcomed that evening at a dinner in the Crowne Plaza Universal Orlando by Jens Marquardt, Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO of BMW of North America, BMW Team RLL Team Principal Bobby Rahal and BMW NA Motorsport Manager Gordon McDonnell. On Tuesday, the ALMS drivers took them on a series of taxi rides in historic BMW racing cars. This was followed by the unveiling of the BMW Z4 GTE.
BMW Motorsport also announced the driving pairs for the coming season. Car number 55 will be driven by Bill Auberlen and ALMS rookie Maxime Martin. Dirk Müller will contest all the races in the number 56 car. Joey Hand and John Edwards will alternate as the two-time ALMS GT champion¢s driving partner. Edwards will stand in for Hand when he is unavailable due to his parallel commitment in the DTM. Jörg Müller (#55) and Uwe Alzen (#56) will bolster the squad at the endurance races at Sebring and Road Atlanta.
The BMW Z4 GTE will contest its first season in 2013. In July 2012, BMW Motorsport engineers in Munich began work on developing a GTE version of the BMW Z4 GT3, which would comply with ACO regulations. The BMW Z4 GT3 itself has enjoyed many years of success in high-class GT series around the world. The regulations stipulate that electronic aids that may be used on the BMW Z4 GT3, such as ABS and DSC, are not permitted on a GTE car.
The BMW Z4 GTE is considerably more compact than its successful predecessor, the BMW M3 GT. All the dimensions of the BMW Z4 GTE have been modified to comply with ACO regulations. The new car took to the racetrack for its maiden test outing in the second half of January. BMW Team RLL was integrated in the process throughout the entire development period. Engineers from the USA travelled to Munich in December to play their part in the assembly of the BMW Z4 GTE.
The car is not the only important new thing BMW Team RLL can look forward to in the coming season: Michelin is the new Tyre Partner of BMW Motorsport in the ALMS. In contrast, Premium Partner Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts is something of a constant. The successful cooperation will continue in 2013. Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts belongs to the InterContinental Hotels Group. IHG maintains, runs and owns over 4,400 hotels and more than 658,000 rooms in approaching 100 countries.
Tyre change.
The BMW Z4 GTEs in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the works-supported BMW Z4 GT3s at the Nürburgring 24 Hours will take to the track with Michelin as their tyre partner in the 2013 season.
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The collaboration began with joint testing in January, before the maiden race outing together on 16th March 2013 at the 12 Hours of Sebring, which traditionally kicks off the American Le Mans Series (ALMS).
“We are delighted to be working together with Michelin, and are confident our teams running the BMW Z4 GTE and BMW Z4 GT3 will benefit from this iconic company¢s motorsport experience and from the renowned quality of its tyres,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “The durability and performance of the tyres play a crucial role in motorsport. With Michelin at our side as tyre partner, we are excellently positioned in both these areas.”
Three different compounds for slicks (hard, intermediate and soft) will be available for the BMW Z4 GTE in the ALMS, as well as a compound for wets from Michelin¢s “Ultimate” wet tyre range.
“In January we began a series of tests that will involve working with BMW Motorsport to identify the operating windows and pressures of our different slicks and also work on the set-up of the new car,” said Serge Grisin, manager of Michelin¢s racing activities. “We are delighted with the confidence BMW Motorsport has placed in us. Making sure we live up to these expectations is an extra source of motivation for me and my team.”
Like BMW Motorsport, Michelin can also look back on a very successful history in motor racing. Michelin has won numerous titles in Formula One, at the le Mans 24 Hours, and in rallying.
Looks fast.
On Tuesday, BMW Motorsport presented the BMW Z4 GTE as the new car for the ALMS season 2013 at the “Daytona International Speedway”. Here are the pictures.
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Black & white debut.
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The 2013 season of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) is not the only thing kicking off at the 12 Hours of Sebring this weekend. The race also marks the start of a new era in BMW Motorsport¢s programme in North America: This is the first time BMW Team RLL will line up against opposition in the GT class with the newly developed BMW Z4 GTE.
The BMW Z4 GTE debuts in the wake of an extremely successful Sebring scorecard for its predecessor, the BMW M3 GT. BMW Team RLL won the GT class at the endurance classic in Florida in both 2011 and 2012. This year, the 61st staging of the race at the “Sebring International Raceway” will serve as a marker to determine the strength of the new car. At the wheel of a sinister No. 55 BMW Z4 GTE finished in BMW¢s Frozen Black will be Bill Auberlen (US), Maxime Martin (BE) and Jörg Müller (DE). The No. 56 car – in classic, Alpine White BMW Motorsport livery – will be driven by Dirk Müller (DE), Joey Hand (US) and John Edwards (US).
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“After all the months of development and preparation with the new BMW Z4 GTE, we are obviously now looking forward to testing ourselves against the opposition for the first time in Sebring. We have been very successful at this 12-hour race in recent years. I am excited to see whether the BMW Z4 GTE will cope as well with the specific demands of this race as its predecessor the BMW M3 GT did. We would like to start the season with a good result. However, the priority is to capitalise on the potential of the new car. This will obviously take a while.”
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal of BMW Team RLL):
“We had a reasonably good test at Sebring. The new BMW Z4 GTE ran relatively reliably, which is the first battle at a place like Sebring. I don't know how we stack up against the competition, because we didn't run with many of them and track conditions changed. The drivers seemed to be happy with the handling of the car. I guess I'm never confident going into any race – and particularly not going into Sebring. However, we can be quite happy with the way our preparation program went. Let¢s wait and see what the season opener has in store for us.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“This year will be my 20th time at the 12 Hours of Sebring and, after driving the new BMW Z4 GTE at our tests, I¢m looking forward to my anniversary even more. I think we¢re looking quite good, considering the early phase in our development program. It¢s a lot of fun to drive the car and my new teammate, Maxime Martin, is fantastic. There are not many things someone can do for 20 years without it ever getting a little boring. Racing is one of those things. I am more passionate about it every year.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I¢ve heard many great things about Sebring. The track is completely ¡American Style¢. By that I mean it is very bumpy with walls everywhere. It is quite different to the European circuits I¢m used to. The BMW Z4 GTE made a good impression on me in our two-day test at Sebring. I¢m really looking forward to the race.”
Jörg Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I really enjoyed my return to Sebring in 2012. The atmosphere in Florida is simply sensational. You can sense just how pleased the ALMS fans are that the winter break is finally over. The new season is welcomed with a big party. BMW Team RLL has prepared intensely for this weekend. We will do our best.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“I¢m always excited to start the season, especially at Sebring. This year almost everything is new, from the car and tyres to my two new team-mates. We are obviously well aware it will be very difficult to win the GT class three years in a row, especially with a new car. However, I know everyone in the team is extremely motivated to do well.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“Sebring has become a very special place for me with two consecutive wins. In fact, I still hear from people about how exciting last year¢s finish was. GT racing in the ALMS – especially at Sebring - is outstanding. It is a race and a place that makes me drive every lap as hard as I can.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“I¢ve raced in support races to the 12 Hours in previous seasons, but have not been here for four years. Because of this, it was very nice to be able to test here and familiarise myself with the Sebring circuit. I¢ve kept my eye on ALMS competition in past years and I¢m delighted to make my debut at Sebring with BMW and BMW Team RLL.”
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Promising race debut.
For more than eight hours a top result was in reach for BMW Team RLL at the American Le Mans Series season opener at the “Sebring International Raceway”. While in the end technical problems in the final third of the race denied Bobby Rahal¢s squad a shot at a possible podium finish, BMW Motorsport was able to draw a positive conclusion after the race debut of the newly developed BMW Z4 GTE.
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The two cars showed a promising pace, finishing fourth and seventh in the GT category after 12 hours.
Bill Auberlen, Maxime Martin and Jörg Müller were able to battle it out at the front of the field with the Frozen Black No. 55 BMW Z4 GTE for most of the endurance classic, before the trio lost time and positions due to an issue with the power steering. After 330 laps, final-stint driver Müller crossed the line in fourth. The No. 56 BMW Z4 GTE, driven by Dirk Müller, Joey Hand and John Edwards, delivered an equally strong race, even leading for several kilometres in the BMW Z4 GTE¢s maiden ALMS race. However, a problem with the front left strut with three and a half hours to go made repair work necessary. Dirk Müller lost many positions, dropping down from second. Hand ultimately took the chequered flag in seventh.
BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL, nevertheless, had every reason to be satisfied with the first outing of the BMW Z4 GTE in race conditions – on one of North America¢s most challenging circuits. All six drivers, including the series newcomers Martin and Edwards, were able to record competitive lap times with the new car and challenge the strong competition at the front of the GT pack. In addition, the engineers collected valuable insights over the course of the weekend, which will now be used for further development the car and getting it prepared for the second ALMS race at Long Beach on 20th April.
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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“We didn¢t necessarily expect to be able to set our sights on top positions with the new BMW Z4 GTE in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series from the word go. The lap times and the consistency of our drivers was promising, both cars were able to fight among the front-runners in the first two thirds of the race. Unfortunately they lost ground due to technical gremlins. However, it hardly comes as a surprise that such problems can occur on a car that hasn¢t completed too many kilometres of testing. In any case, BMW Team RLL and the BMW Motorsport crew proved their fighting spirit until the very end and delivered a good performance. The BMW Z4 GTE proved its potential, and that¢s what we had all hoped for. In addition we saw just how strong our driver line-up is. All six of them were running really well. Now we will draw the right conclusions from this race and are looking forward to our second ALMS outing in Long Beach. It¢s all about getting closer to the limit of the BMW Z4 GTE on a race by race basis, and today we have taken the first step.”
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL):
“Sebring usually puts the biggest demands on the cars, and that¢s what we also saw today. This race was a true test for our new car. Obviously there are still some issues that we need to sort out. But when the car was out on the track, it ran competitively. So that gives us a lot of optimism for the future. We were in a good position to do well in this race, but a better result just couldn¢t be. We will be ready for the next race.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I think everyone is surprised about how good it went for us overall here in Sebring. BMW Motorsport once more came up with a competitive car from the word go. Of course we need to improve in certain areas, but anything else would come as a big surprise. The whole team did a great job, never gave up and really deserved this fourth place finish.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“This has been a very exciting weekend for me. I really enjoyed my first ALMS appearance and instantly felt at home at BMW Team RLL. Fourth is a good result to start with. Maybe we could have scored an even better result under normal circumstances.”
Jörg Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“During my first stint I hit another car with the front of our BMW Z4 GTE, which had a negative effect on the balance. With every pit stop we managed to improve the situation more. For many hours the car went like clockwork and we were able to push really hard. Finishing fourth is quite okay considering the problems we had.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“Obviously it¢s a bit of a pity we dropped back in the final stages of the race. However, things like that just happen at the debut of a brand new car. However, I walk away from Sebring with many positive thoughts in my mind. I¢m really happy that the new season is finally underway, and the BMW Z4 GTE makes me really look forward to the next races. Of course there¢s still a lot of work to do, but the basis is definitely good.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“This has been a decent debut for our BMW Z4 GTE. We could really feel in the cockpit how ¡racy¢ this car is. We gained a lot of experience, not just regarding the car, but also regarding our new Michelin tyres. After our victories in the past finishing seventh feels a bit unfamiliar. But I¢m sure the BMW Z4 GTE has got everything that is needed to be back at the front really soon.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“It¢s been just a great feeling to race this unbelievable car here in Sebring. I managed to find a nice rhythm, and the BMW Z4 GTE really made life easy for me. I¢m happy that I slotted in well in this new environment. The engineers and my team-mates helped me in a sensational way. Experience is just such an important factor at this track. Normally we could have challenged for a better result. Still we should be happy with this promising debut.”
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61st Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring
presented by Fresh from Florida
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In the streets of Long Beach.
BMW Team RLL travels to Long Beach, California on April 20th for the second round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season and the next act in the debut season of the BMW Z4 GTE.
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The new cars had an excellent first race at the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring in March. Running competitive lap times at the sharp end of the GT field for the first two-thirds of the race, the team ultimately finished fourth and seventh after mechanical problems hindered any chance of challenging for the podium.
With some five weeks to integrate the findings from Sebring, the team led by Bobby Rahal is confident the new cars are ready for Long Beach – a race the team has always finished with at least one car on the podium.
In 2009, the debut year of the BMW M3 GT, Dirk Müller and Tommy Milner finished third in the No. 92 car. In 2010, Bill Auberlen and Milner drove the No. 92 BMW M3 GT to third. Two thousand and eleven saw Joey Hand and Dirk Müller win the race from pole on the way to the drivers¢ title. Last year Hand and Müller finished second in the No. 56 car.
Long Beach next for BMW Z4 GTE debut season.
17.04.2013
Munich (DE), 17th April 2013. BMW Team RLL travels to Long Beach, California (US) on April 20th for the second round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series season and the next act in the debut season of the BMW Z4 GTE.
The new cars had an excellent first race at the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring (US) in March. Running competitive lap times at the sharp end of the GT field for the first two-thirds of the race, the team ultimately finished fourth and seventh after mechanical problems hindered any chance of challenging for the podium.
With some five weeks to integrate the findings from Sebring, the team led by Bobby Rahal (US) is confident the new cars are ready for Long Beach – a race the team has always finished with at least one car on the podium.
In 2009, the debut year of the BMW M3 GT, Dirk Müller (DE) and Tommy Milner (US) finished third in the No. 92 car. In 2010, Bill Auberlen (US) and Milner drove the No. 92 BMW M3 GT to third. 2011 saw Joey Hand (US) and Dirk Müller win the race from pole on the way to the drivers¢ title. Last year Hand and Müller finished second in the No. 56 car.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal of BMW Team RLL):
“We have had very competitive cars here over the last four years; we have been on the podium every year and won in 2011. While I think we are at a top-speed disadvantage currently with the BMW Z4 GTE, the car has very good handling and on a street circuit that¢s probably the most critical part. I suspect we can be competitive again this year even though the car is new. Certainly we are optimistic, although, as we saw at Sebring, the competition is extremely tight and there are more players now that actually have a chance of winning the race.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“Long Beach is an amazing jewel on the ALMS calendar. I have never won my home race and enough is enough. I have been all over the podium, but a victory has been very hard to come by. I¢ve driven more than a few BMWs in my career and I know the new BMW Z4 GTE has all the right moves to reach that top step.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I'm really excited about discovering the Long Beach track. A street circuit is always difficult to learn, but I'm looking forward to it! Bill is the perfect team mate for this race because of his experience at his home race. I'm sure I will be up to speed quickly.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“After a really successful debut with our new BMW Z4 GTE I am looking forward for the next highlight at Long Beach. The track suits my driving style and I love the street circuits. The team has been working hard following Sebring and I am excited to bring momentum from the VLN win at the Nürburgring this past weekend.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“A key to success at Long Beach is to unload fast. We¢ve been able to do that most every year and I don¢t see any reason that we won¢t do it again this year. With a lower centre of gravity and a wider stance than our previous BMW M3 GTs, the new BMW Z4 GTE should be more agile and easier to place in the confines of the Long Beach circuit.”
qualifying
GT
Dominik Farnbacher gave Viper its first ALMS pole in 13 seasons as SRT Motorsports garnered its first fast qualifier honor. The young German set a record lap of 1:18.845 (89.857 mph) in the No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R that he will drive with Marc Goossens.
The factory SRT Vipers made their ALMS debut in July of 2012, a dozen years since the Viper¢s last pole position at Adelaide to close the 2000 season as a factory Dodge effort.
“One year ago the car didn¢t exist. So it was still in the minds of the CEOs,” Farnbacher said. “Last year we tried to get the baseline set, and be reliable. In Sebring it was the first time we drove really hard. It showed the car was there.
“The car will be really strong tomorrow. The fans can count on a strong viper. It will come down to strategy at half time with the pit stop. Then we¢ll see how we can get a good run out of the pit.”
Farnbacher was the fastest driver for most of the qualifying session. He finished 0.122 seconds ahead of Bryan Sellers in the No. 17 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR from Team Falken Tire. Jonathan Bomarito was third quickest in the No. 93 SRT Viper at 1:18.984 (89.699 mph).
“It means a lot to get this pole for Viper and SRT,” Farnbacher said. “I¢m trying to sort it in my head still. It means a lot to all of us. It¢s great getting out of the car and seeing everyone in the pits smiling at you. It¢s one of the things you dream about when you¢re a little kid.”
Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach
Long Beach street circuit, Long Beach, Calif.
Friday¢s qualifying
1. (12-P1) Nick Heidfeld/Neel Jani, Lola B12/60 Toyota, 1:12.600, 97.587 mph
2. (16-P1) Chris Dyson/Guy Smith, Lola B12/60 Mazda, 1:13.282, 96.679
3. (6-P1) Klaus Graf/Lucas Luhr, HPD ARX-03c, 1:14.004, 95.735
4. (551-P2) Scott Tucker/Ryan Briscoe, HPD ARX-03b, 1:16.014, 93.204
5. (9-PC) Bruno Junqueira/Duncan Ende, ORECA FLM09, 1:16.167, 93.017
6. (05-PC) Jonathan Bennett/Colin Braun, ORECA FLM09, 1:16.222, 92.950
7. (52-PC) Mike Guasch/Luis Diaz, ORECA FLM09, 1:16.630, 92.455
8. (8-PC) Kyle Marcelli/Chris Cumming, ORECA FLM09, 1:16.654, 92.426
9. (18-PC) Tristan Nunez/Charlie Shears, ORECA FLM09, 1:16.834, 92.209
10. (7-PC) Tomy Drissi/Rusty Mitchell, ORECA FLM09, 1:17.176, 91.801
11. (01-P2) Scott Sharp/Guy Cosmo, HPD ARX-03b, 1:17.390, 91.547
12. (02-P2) Ed Brown/Johannes van Overbeek, HPD ARX-03b, 1:17.432, 91.497
13. (91-GT) Marc Goossens/Dominik Farnbacher, SRT Viper GTS-R Viper V-10, 1:18.845, 89.857
14. (17-GT) Wolf Henzler/Bryan Sellers, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:18.967, 89.718
15. (93-GT) Jonathan Bomarito/Kuno Wittmer, SRT Viper GTS-R Viper V-10, 1:18.984, 89.699
16. (3-GT) Jan Magnussen/Antonio Garcia, Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1, 1:19.047, 89.628
17. (55-GT) Bill Auberlen/Maxime Martin, BMW Z4 GTE, 1:19.063, 89.610
18. (4-GT) Oliver Gavin/Tommy Milner, Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1, 1:19.083, 89.587
19. (62-GT) Olivier Beretta/Matteo Malucelli, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:19.184, 89.473
20. (56-GT) Dirk Mueller/Joey Hand, BMW Z4 GTE, 1:19.258, 89.389
21. (23-GT) Bill Sweedler/Townsend Bell, Ferrari F458 Italia, 1:19.533, 89.080
22. (552-P2) Scott Tucker/Marino Franchitti, HPD ARX-03b, 1:19.711, 88.881
23. (22-GTC) Cooper MacNeil/Jeroen Bleekemolen, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:22.850, 85.514
24. (30-GTC) Henrique Cisneros/Sean Edwards, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:22.971, 85.389
25. (45-GTC) Nelson Canache Jr./Spencer Pumpelly, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:23.014, 85.345
26. (66-GTC) Ben Keating/Damien Faulkner, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:23.355, 84.996
27. (11-GTC) Mike Hedlund/Jan Heylen, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:23.701, 84.644
28. (68-GTC) Craig Stanton/Brett Curtis, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:23.745, 84.600
29. (44-GTC) Brian Wong/Dion von Moltke/Spencer Pumpelly, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:24.239, 84.104
30. (10-GTC) Michael Avenatti/Bob Faieta, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:24.583, 83.762
31. (27-GTC) Patrick Dempsey/Joe Foster, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:25.091, 83.261
32. (48-GT) Bryce Miller/Marco Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 1:27.491, 80.977
33. (99-GTC) David Calvert-Jones/Ted Ballou, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 1:57.823, 60.131
Race
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GT
BMW Team RLL – co-owned by IndyCar champion Bobby Rahal, late-night television star David Letterman and Chicago businessman Mike Lanigan – won in GT in just its second race with its new BMW Z4 GTE as No. 55 co-drivers Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin led a 1-2 finish in class ahead of Joey Hand and Dirk Muller in the No. 56. Auberlen got around Dominik Farnbacher in the No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R when Farnbacher went wide into Turn 1.
“Unbelievable. This thing was a rocket all day,” said Auberlen, who scored his first Long Beach win after a number of close calls in a variety of series. “We had some bad luck; that bad luck turned to good luck. Our pit strategy worked out perfect. Everybody here in Long Beach, I¢m from Redondo Beach. I¢m your neighbor and I love you guys. I¢ve wanted to win this thing forever and never have. What a great day for BMW.”
It didn¢t look too promising early. Martin lost time on the track early when he went into the Turn 1 run-off after going into the corner carrying too much speed. He regained a couple of positions before handing off to Auberlen, who pitted twice to top off the BMW¢s fuel tank during the race¢s final caution period with 73 minutes left.
Farnbacher and Marc Goossens placed third for SRT Motorsports and the No. 91 SRT Viper GTS-R.
Corvette Racing¢s pairing of Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia won the GT portion of the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge. It emitted the least amount of emissions of the class and combined that with optimum speed and fuel consumption.
Tequila Patrón American Le Mans Series at Long Beach
Long Beach street circuit, Long Beach, Calif.
Saturday¢s results
1. (3) Lucas Luhr/Klaus Graf, HPD ARX-03c, 80 laps
2. (1) Neel Jani/Nick Heidfeld, Lola B12/60 Toyota, 80
3. (6) Jonathan Bennett/Colin Braun, ORECA FLM09, 79
4. (7) Mike Guasch/Luis Diaz, ORECA FLM09, 79
5. (5) Duncan Ende/Bruno Junqueira, ORECA FLM09, 79
6. (11) Guy Cosmo/Scott Sharp, HPD ARX-03b, 79
7. (17) Maxime Martin/Bill Auberlen, BMW Z4 GTE, 78
8. (12) Ed Brown/Johannes van Overbeek, HPD ARX-03b, 78
9. (20) Joey Hand/Dirk Mueller, BMW Z4 GTE, 78
10. (13) Marc Goossens/Dominik Farnbacher, SRT Viper GTS-R Viper V-10, 78
11. (18) Tommy Milner/Oliver Gavin, Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1, 78
12. (16) Antonio Garcia/Jan Magnussen, Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1, 78
13. (32) Bryce Miller/Marco Holzer, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 78
14. (21) Bill Sweedler/Townsend Bell, Ferrari F458 Italia, 77
15. (15) Kuno Wittmer/Jonathan Bomarito, SRT Viper GTS-R Viper V-10, 77
16. (19) Olivier Beretta/Matteo Malucelli, Ferrari F458 Italia, 77
17. (10) Tomy Drissi/Rusty Mitchell, ORECA FLM09, 77
18. (9) Charlie Shears/Tristan Nunez, ORECA FLM09, 76
19. (14) Bryan Sellers/Wolf Henzler, Porsche 911 GT3 RSR, 76
20. (24) Henrique Cisneros/Sean Edwards, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 75
21. (25) Nelson Canache Jr./Spencer Pumpelly, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 75
22. (29) Brian Wong/Dion von Moltke/Spencer Pumpelly, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 75
23. (23) Cooper MacNeil/Jeroen Bleekemolen, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 75
24. (28) Brett Curtis/Craig Stanton, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 75
25. (27) Chris Cumming/Kyle Marcelli, ORECA FLM09, 75
26. (31) Patrick Dempsey/Joe Foster, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 73
27. (26) Ben Keating/Damien Faulkner, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 73
28. (4) Scott Tucker/Ryan Briscoe, HPD ARX-03b, 66
29. (27) Mike Hedlund/Jan Heylen, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, 62
30. (22) Marino Franchitti/Scott Tucker, HPD ARX-03b, 57
BMW Team RLL triumphs in Long Beach.
The streets of Long Beach, California continue to be the favourite stomping ground of BMW Team RLL as its cars finished one-two in Saturday¢s American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race.
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Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin, driving the Frozen Black No. 55 BMW Z4 GTE, won the GT category, finishing 6.578 seconds ahead of the No. 56 car of Joey Hand and Dirk Müller.
In only the second race for the new BMW Z4 GTE, the team beat a very competitive GT class field with excellent strategy set in place during the first hour of the two-hour contest around the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit. BMW Team RLL has finished with at least one car on the Long Beach podium, including a win from pole in 2011, for five consecutive years. This victory puts BMW in a tie with Chevrolet at the top of the GT Class Manufacturer points. The win was also the first for the new partnership between BMW and Michelin.
Martin started in the No. 55 car from fourth. A spin on lap two dropped him to the rear of the field, but the first of three long caution periods in the first hour of the race gave the 55 crew the chance to reverse its fortunes. Pitting Martin after 25 minutes, on lap 16, Auberlen got behind the wheel with a full tank of fuel and new Michelins. During the second caution period Auberlen pitted twice more for fuel only.
When the race went green with 44 minutes to run, the die was cast for the veteran to not return to the pits for the remainder of the race. A third caution, during which the rest of field pitted, allowed for a bit more breathing room for fuel conservation and Auberlen to move up to second as the race went green just past the first hour. On lap 66 with 15 minutes left in the race, Auberlen took the lead and drove to his first win at the Long Beach.
The No. 56 BMW Z4 GTE had an equally exciting race. Hand started the car from seventh on the grid. He pitted during the third caution period and handed the car to Müller, who began his stint from third spot as the race went green. Charging for the entire second hour he took over second place with two laps remaining to give BMW Team RLL its first one-two finish since the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2011.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“Congratulations to BMW Team RLL for this sensational result. We have always been convinced the BMW Z4 GTE would be successful in the ALMS. However, not even the biggest optimists would have predicted a one-two in only the car's second race appearance. The outcome of the Long Beach race just shows how well our development team in Munich and BMW Team RLL have worked. Our race strategy in Long Beach was just perfect, and the four drivers turned it into a great result.”
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL):
“This is a really good one. The 55 car called excellent strategy. We followed a different tact and at the end we put both cars at the front of the field and the BMW Z4 GTE into the history books with a one-two finish in only our second race. We were able to run more than one stint on the Michelins, and that was crucial to make our strategies work. There is nothing like winning at Long Beach. Sebring is the big one, but Long Beach is not far behind in my book.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“Today the BMW Z4 GTE took me to the top of the Long Beach podium and that is something I have tried to do for a very long time. Great strategy by the team and the Michelins were an absolute pleasure to drive on all day.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I made a little mistake in the beginning, but who was to know that it would set the stage for a great strategy call by Jay (O¢Connell) and Bruno (Couprie). Today is a fantastic day for Bill and BMW.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“Congratulations to Bill for his first win at Long Beach. At the end Bobby was on the radio telling me to push, but to make sure I brought it home. It was not easy to get by Dominik (Farnbacher), but being old team-mates I knew he would be fair. I am delighted for the entire BMW Team RLL family.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“After qualifying seventh I was not pleased, but I told the crew I thought we could win. It wasn¢t our win today, but I could not be happier for Bill to get his first win at his home track. Dirk did a great job to bring the car home second.”
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BMW Team RLL finishes one-two at Long Beach – BMW Z4 GTE wins in only second race of debut season.
21.04.2013
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19.04.2013 to 20.04.2013, Long Beach (USA), American Le Mans Series. Podium Celebrations. 1st in GT Class: Bill Auberlen (USA),
Munich (DE), 21st April 2013. The streets of Long Beach, California (US) continue to be the favourite stomping ground of BMW Team RLL as its cars finished one-two in Saturday¢s American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race. Bill Auberlen (US) and Maxime Martin (BE), driving the Frozen Black No. 55 BMW Z4 GTE, won the GT category, finishing 6.578 seconds ahead of the No. 56 car of Joey Hand (US) and Dirk Müller (DE).
In only the second race for the new BMW Z4 GTE, the team beat a very competitive GT class field with excellent strategy set in place during the first hour of the two-hour contest around the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit. BMW Team RLL has finished with at least one car on the Long Beach podium, including a win from pole in 2011, for five consecutive years. This victory puts BMW in a tie with Chevrolet at the top of the GT Class Manufacturer points. The win was also the first for the new partnership between BMW and Michelin.
Martin started in the No. 55 car from fourth. A spin on lap two dropped him to the rear of the field, but the first of three long caution periods in the first hour of the race gave the 55 crew the chance to reverse its fortunes. Pitting Martin after 25 minutes, on lap 16, Auberlen got behind the wheel with a full tank of fuel and new Michelins. During the second caution period Auberlen pitted twice more for fuel only.
When the race went green with 44 minutes to run, the die was cast for the veteran to not return to the pits for the remainder of the race. A third caution, during which the rest of field pitted, allowed for a bit more breathing room for fuel conservation and Auberlen to move up to second as the race went green just past the first hour. On lap 66 with 15 minutes left in the race, Auberlen took the lead and drove to his first win at the Long Beach.
The No. 56 BMW Z4 GTE had an equally exciting race. Hand started the car from seventh on the grid. He pitted during the third caution period and handed the car to Müller, who began his stint from third spot as the race went green. Charging for the entire second hour he took over second place with two laps remaining to give BMW Team RLL its first one-two finish since the 12 Hours of Sebring (US) in 2011.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“Congratulations to BMW Team RLL for this sensational result. We have always been convinced the BMW Z4 GTE would be successful in the ALMS. However, not even the biggest optimists would have predicted a one-two in only the car's second race appearance. The outcome of the Long Beach race just shows how well our development team in Munich and BMW Team RLL have worked. Our race strategy in Long Beach was just perfect, and the four drivers turned it into a great result.”
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL):
“This is a really good one. The 55 car called excellent strategy. We followed a different tact and at the end we put both cars at the front of the field and the BMW Z4 GTE into the history books with a one-two finish in only our second race. We were able to run more than one stint on the Michelins, and that was crucial to make our strategies work. There is nothing like winning at Long Beach. Sebring is the big one, but Long Beach is not far behind in my book.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“Today the BMW Z4 GTE took me to the top of the Long Beach podium and that is something I have tried to do for a very long time. Great strategy by the team and the Michelins were an absolute pleasure to drive on all day.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I made a little mistake in the beginning, but who was to know that it would set the stage for a great strategy call by Jay (O¢Connell) and Bruno (Couprie). Today is a fantastic day for Bill and BMW.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“Congratulations to Bill for his first win at Long Beach. At the end Bobby was on the radio telling me to push, but to make sure I brought it home. It was not easy to get by Dominik (Farnbacher), but being old team-mates I knew he would be fair. I am delighted for the entire BMW Team RLL family.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“After qualifying seventh I was not pleased, but I told the crew I thought we could win. It wasn¢t our win today, but I could not be happier for Bill to get his first win at his home track. Dirk did a great job to bring the car home second.”
Round three of the 2013 American Le Mans Series will be held at “Laguna Seca Raceway” in Monterey (US) on 11th May with the running of the six-hour American Le Mans Monterey race.
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Three questions for… Bill Auberlen.
At the second ALMS race of the year in Long Beach, for Bill Auberlen, who raced to victory with ALMS rookie Maxime Martin, the win was a dream come true: it was the first appearance on the top step of the podium at his home race for the experienced man from Redondo Beach.
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Bill, what does it mean to you to win at Long Beach?
Bill Auberlen: “I have raced and won almost everywhere, but the top step of the Long Beach podium had eluded me until yesterday. I live only a few miles from the circuit and went to my first Long Beach Grand Prix when I was eight years old. I guess it would be like growing up next to Yankee Stadium and finally hitting a home run in the World Series. We celebrated locally in Redondo Beach last night and the trophy sat right in the centre of the table. Everyone there was as happy as I was for the win.”
How have you continued to stay so fast?
Auberlen: “I have not lost one ounce of drive and my passion for this sport and BMW has actually increased over the years. I keep in very good shape because I don¢t plan to ever slow down. I live to race.”
You are not only a great driver, but have also become a great mentor to other drivers. How has that evolved?
Auberlen: “To be great at endurance racing a driver cannot be selfish. You have to learn how to become a team-mate and always drive the car towards one goal. I have driven with some of the best and have learned how to guide new drivers. Experience gives me the ability to see what they are missing, from track knowledge to confidence. In recent years I¢ve co-driven and mentored Paul Dalla Lana in the GRAND-AM Series. In only his second season he won the 2011 Continental Series Grand Sport drivers¢ title and the BMW Sports Trophy as the most successful privateer BMW driver in the world.”
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Qualifying (http://www.alms.com/sites/default/files/race_result_files/Mazda%20Raceway%20Official%20Grid.pdf)
Race (http://www.alms.com/sites/default/files/race_result_files/Mazda%20Raceway%20Provisional%20Results.pdf)
On the podium - again.
Dirk Müller and John Edwards, driving the No. 56 BMW Z4 GTE, scored a third place finish in Saturday¢s four-hour American Le Mans Monterey race.
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A second consecutive podium finish for the No. 56 machine in only the third race of the new programme and a win for the No. 55 car at Long Beach keeps BMW in second place in the manufacturer point standings in the GT class and moves Müller to the top of the GT class driver points.
Müller started the car from eighth on the grid and by lap 27 had moved up to fourth. Just past the first hour, on lap 45, he moved to third and stayed there until handing over to Edwards on lap 57 during the races third caution period. Edwards remained in third until what could only be considered as the move-of-the-race gave him second with an in-an-out dodge through slower traffic. A mistake on a restart cost him one spot, but he held onto third for his first ALMS podium finish.
Unfortunately, the No. 55 BMW Z4 GTE of Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin suffered a broken differential shortly after the mid-point of the race and had to retire on lap 85. Auberlen started the car from fifth and ran strongly in third for most of his first stint. A pit stop to replace damaged rear bodywork dropped him back one lap, but he was back on the lead lap before handing over to Martin on lap 83. Only two laps later Martin was back in the pits in a cloud of oil smoke and, ultimately, out of the race.
Following the traditional eight week break in the season for teams participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, round four of the 2013 American Le Mans Series will be held at Lime Rock Park on 6th July.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL): “Certainly today was a bitter sweet one. I¢m sorry to see Bill and Maxime have to retire after fighting back from a lap down. Dirk is on top now and John had a very strong race. It is very hard to combat an obvious speed differential to many of our competitors, but we will keep fighting every day.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56): “We certainly were able to carry the momentum from Long Beach to another podium here at Laguna Seca. It is great to take the driver points lead, but it is so close, only single digits separate all of us now. I¢m sorry Bill and Maxime could not finish the race.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56): “The move was very intense. I¢ve raced with Bryan (Sellers) a great deal in the GRAND-AM Continental Series and when we came up on traffic I got alongside him. When the traffic moved we had a little contact, but Bryan always races clean. I was able to take second from him, but unfortunately, I made a mistake on a restart getting a little greedy and he got the spot back. All-in-all, I am delighted to get my first ALMS podium.”
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BMW Team RLL ready to get back on track at Lime Rock Park.
02.07.2013
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09.05.2013 to 11.05.2013, American Le Mans Series 2013, Round 3, Laguna Seca, Monterey, CA (USA). American Le Mans Monterey.
Munich (DE), 2nd July 2013. The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) re-starts its 2013 season at Lime Rock Park (US) on 6th July after an eight week hiatus for teams competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours (FR).
The Western Connecticut circuit BMW of North America calls home has been the site of many important races and wins for the brand, and the two BMW Z4 GTE racing cars will roll out of the BMW Team RLL transporters for this weekend¢s race ready to address some unfinished business from one year ago.
Last season, the Lime Rock Park event marked Bill Auberlen¢s (US) 100th ALMS start and the BMW ace put the no. 55 BMW M3 GT on the class pole ready to continue the team¢s unbroken record of podium finishes at Lime Rock Park. Unfortunately, a mechanical problem forced Auberlen to start from the pit lane, and further bad luck for both cars ended the team¢s podium streak.
The team recently completed two days of testing at Road Atlanta (US), site of the season-ending Petit Le Mans, to test the latest updates and add more data on the Michelin tyres that are new to the team this season. BMW currently stands second in the manufacturer rankings, seven points behind Chevrolet.
Currently, Dirk Müller (DE) leads the driver points by a narrow three-point margin following a seventh at Sebring (US) co-driving with Joey Hand (US) and John Edwards (US), a second with Hand at Long Beach (US) and a third with Edwards at Laguna Seca (US). Edwards will co-drive with Dirk Müller in the no. 56 car for a second consecutive race as Hand prepares for the DTM event at the Norisring (DE) on 14th July.
Auberlen and Maxime Martin (BE) scored the first victory for the BMW Z4 GTE at Long Beach in the no. 55 car, but a broken differential at the next round at Laguna Seca saw them finish out of the points. They finished fourth along with Jörg Müller (DE) at Sebring and are fourth in the driver points, eight points behind Müller. Martin travels to Lime Rock Park with a victory in the Blancpain Endurance Series at Le Castellet (FR) from last weekend under his belt, driving a Marc VDS Racing BMW Z4 GT3.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal of BMW Team RLL):
“We¢re looking forward to Lime Rock, because I think of all the circuits we will race on this year in our current spec this track probably suits us best because it¢s really a handling circuit. We continue to operate at a real top-speed deficit to Porsche, Corvette, Ferrari and the Aston, but Lime Rock is mostly corners. Yes it has a fairly long straight, but it¢s got a very fast corner at the bottom that leads onto it that¢s not easy, so I think a good handling car can have a stronger performance relative to other circuits. Having won there before in 2011 and having qualified well there over the years, I think Lime Rock can be a good circuit for us. Of course, the other manufacturers have been working hard; the Viper has really shown a lot of speed lately. I think the race is going to be a real challenge. I think what makes us competitive frankly is the braking and handling of the car, and at Lime Rock that is pretty much what it is all about.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I have some unfinished business at Lime Rock Park. I qualified on the pole, but a problem with the fuel cell had me start from the pit lane. We should have been on the podium last year, and I¢m aiming to be back on it this year.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I¢m looking forward to racing in the US again after this long break. Lime Rock Park is a new track for me, but I'm sure Bill will show me all the tricks to be quick. I think the race strategy will be critical due to the short length of the track.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“After the long Le Mans break I am really thrilled to get back to the ALMS season. Leading the championship is nice, but there is still a long way to go and the competition is really strong. We were able to recharge our batteries as we were able to analyse a lot of data from our new BMW Z4 GTE to improve the whole package. Lime Rock Park is our BMW home track and I am expecting another great race there.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“It's been a long break since the last ALMS race at Laguna, so I'm getting antsy to get back in the BMW Z4 GTE. Dirk is now leading the driver¢s championship, and I stood on an ALMS podium for the first time at Laguna Seca, so I hope we can keep the momentum headed into Lime Rock. Since Lime Rock is a flowing track with short straights, I think it should suit our car well. I expect us to be faster this weekend than we will be at some other events, so it will be important to capitalise on that and hopefully move BMW to the top of the manufacturer¢s championship standings.”
Back on track.
The American Le Mans Series (ALMS) re-starts its 2013 season at Lime Rock Park on 6th July after an eight week hiatus for teams competing in the Le Mans 24 Hours.
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The Western Connecticut circuit BMW of North America calls home has been the site of many important races and wins for the brand, and the two BMW Z4 GTE racing cars will roll out of the BMW Team RLL transporters for this weekend¢s race ready to address some unfinished business from one year ago.
Last season, the Lime Rock Park event marked Bill Auberlen¢s 100th ALMS start and the BMW ace put the no. 55 BMW M3 GT on the class pole ready to continue the team¢s unbroken record of podium finishes at Lime Rock Park. Unfortunately, a mechanical problem forced Auberlen to start from the pit lane, and further bad luck for both cars ended the team¢s podium streak.
The team recently completed two days of testing at Road Atlanta, site of the season-ending Petit Le Mans, to test the latest updates and add more data on the Michelin tyres that are new to the team this season. BMW currently stands second in the manufacturer rankings, seven points behind Chevrolet.
Currently, Dirk Müller leads the driver points by a narrow three-point margin following a seventh at Sebring co-driving with Joey Hand and John Edwards, a second with Hand at Long Beach and a third with Edwards at Laguna Seca. Edwards will co-drive with Dirk Müller in the no. 56 car for a second consecutive race as Hand prepares for the DTM event at the Norisring on 14th July.
Auberlen and Maxime Martin scored the first victory for the BMW Z4 GTE at Long Beach in the no. 55 car, but a broken differential at the next round at Laguna Seca saw them finish out of the points. They finished fourth along with Jörg Müller at Sebring and are fourth in the driver points, eight points behind Müller. Martin travels to Lime Rock Park with a victory in the Blancpain Endurance Series at Le Castellet from last weekend under his belt, driving a Marc VDS Racing BMW Z4 GT3.
The BMW Z4 GTE wins again.
Dirk Müller and John Edwards, driving the no. 56 BMW Z4 GTE, claimed GT victory in the fourth round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season at Lime Rock Park from pole position.
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The win increases Müller¢s lead in the GT driver points standings. Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin, in the no. 55 car, finished fourth. The victory also resulted in the no. 56 machine being awarded the Michelin Green X Challenge Award adding an exclamation point on the story of the day.
On paper, the second victory in the debut season of the BMW Z4 GTE may look to have been an easy one as the no. 56 car was almost always at the front of the GT field, but the 2.45-hour race at the Lime Rock Park circuit was never truly decided until the chequered flag waved. The late afternoon race start meant extreme summer heat for both the team and drivers. Seemingly as hot as the day, Edwards started the race from his first ALMS pole and ran a trouble free first stint, pitting on lap 76 for Müller to take over. The final 1.45 hours of the race was not an easy one for the GT points leader, as the race was slowed by multiple caution periods erasing every lead Müller amassed. A late caution closed up the field with some 14 minutes remaining, but when the green flag waved with four minutes to go Müller would not be denied, winning by 0.905 seconds.
Martin started the no. 55 BMW Z4 GTE from second on the grid. Early on he was hit, but was able to stay on the lead lap in tenth place. He drove a fine stint to move up to fifth before pitting under green on lap 77 to hand over to Auberlen. A change in strategy was made during the race¢s first caution period and Auberlen was pitted a few laps later to top up the fuel and change left side Michelins with the aim to run the remainder of the race. As others pitted, Auberlen moved to the front of the field and increased his lead to almost a full lap. Unfortunately, the plan went out of the window when Auberlen was called into the pits for a questionable call by the officials for avoidable contact. He dropped back to ninth, ultimately finishing fourth to add a second top-five finish of the season.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL): “This was a hard race but a great race. The Corvette guys gave us a good run, but we were able stay ahead by cleanly working through the traffic. We had a pit stop that we weren¢t planning on but fortunately it didn¢t penalise us because we had a lap on most of the field. I¢m really pleased for BMW, pleased for the team, very pleased for John and Dirk …especially Dirk for moving further ahead in the driver championship. We needed a win here because the next tracks may not be so friendly to our car.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56): “It is one of those days! Unbelievable. John had a phenomenal first stint that put pressure on me to bring home the victory. I have to give a very big thank you to the BMW Team RLL guys. We kept improving the car through each session and by the race it was perfect. Michelin gave us great tyres, BMW gave us a great car and it all came together.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56): “We were first in every session except warm-up. First ALMS win from my first ALMS pole. It was a hard race though. It was so humid. This track never gives you a rest. I was really feeling it after the stint. On a hot day like this, victory is that much sweeter. A huge thanks to the team this weekend.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55): “Very early into the race we were hit by the Ferrari which took us from the lead to the back. We managed to work our way back up to the front. Then I had the incident with the GTC car that caused the penalty. I was three quarters of the way up beside him, I thought he saw me, but obviously he didn¢t and we got a penalty that took us back to ninth. In the end, we fought back up to fourth, moved up in the championship and gained valuable points. I feel sorry for the team. They all worked very hard in very hot and humid conditions and we couldn¢t give them a podium...but we¢ll get it next time.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55): “We scored some good points with our fourth place finish. It¢s a long championship and I think we have the car to be in front and challenge for a win. This was my first time at Lime Rock. It¢s a tricky, short and fun track.”
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"This has been a really tough race."
Pole position and the second victory for the new BMW Z4 GTE in the ALMS: Dirk Müller and John Edwards celebrated their maiden victory of this year at Lime Rock Park. Three questions for Dirk Müller.
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Dirk, how does this victory feel?
Dirk Müller: “This has been a really tough race. Our whole package was working perfectly well, starting with John and myself. But our entire team has done a tremendous job. To cross the line as a race winner is a really special moment.”
Was it a surprise for you how strong John Edwards performed this weekend?
Müller: “No, not at all. It might be his first ALMS season, but John is simply a really quick guy. It was impressive how he claimed his maiden pole position and went on to put in a strong first stint in the race. This laid the foundation for our success.
You have consolidated your championship lead. Have you set your sights on the GT title already?
Müller: “Every racing driver wants to win titles. However, it¢s still a long way to go this season. In ALMS you need a strong car, a great team, good tyres and a fast team-mate. Up to now, it has all worked very well in 2013.”
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John Edwards and Dirk Muller teamed to win in BMW Team RLL¢s No. 56 Crowne Plaza BMW Z4 GTE. Muller held off a late charge by Antonio Garcia to secure the victory by .905 seconds. It was his 18th career triumph and extended his point lead in a bid for a third championship.
It was the first ALMS victory for Edwards, who captured his first pole in the series on Friday. Edwards and Muller also won the MICHELIN® GREEN X® Challenge for the GT class.
“Wins like today are the ones that really mean something, when you have to work so hard,” Edwards said. “Winning here was pretty incredible, especially on a day like today.”
“Racing the Z4 this season came very late,” Muller said. “It was a short winter, but to be this good so soon is not surprising racing with BMW. Leading the championship is great, but it¢s still a long way. I know we have a lot left.”
Garcia and Jan Magnussen finished second in the No. 4 Corvette Racing Compuware Corvette C6 ZR1, .905 seconds behind. Patrick Long and Tom Kimber-Smith – racing for the second time in the No. 06 CORE autosport Composite Resources Porsche 911 GT3 RSR – finished third.
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Helping Hand for Dirk Müller in Mosport.
The opening four rounds of the 2013 ALMS have seen the new BMW Z4 GTE race to GT class victory at both Long Beach and Lime Rock Park. Round five will be held at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville on 21st July.
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BMW Team RLL will focus on increasing Dirk Müller¢s lead in the Driver points and moving to the top of the Manufacturer and Team points.
BMW is three points behind Chevrolet in the Manufacturer points and is tied with Corvette Racing in the Team points. Müller now leads the Driver standings by a 16-point margin. To date, he has scored a seventh at Sebring driving with Joey Hand and John Edwards, a second with Hand at Long Beach, a third with Edwards at Laguna Seca, and the most recent win with Edwards at Lime Rock Park. Hand, returning to the ALMS from his DTM duties, will share the no. 56 car at Mosport.
Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin scored the first victory for the BMW Z4 GTE at Long Beach in the no. 55 car, but a broken differential at the next round at Laguna Seca saw them finish out of the points. They began the season with fourth (along with Jörg Müller) at Sebring and scored another fourth place finish most recently at Lime Rock Park. Without the disappointment of Laguna Seca the duo would certainly be standing higher than fifth in the Driver points, 18 in arrears of Müller.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal of BMW Team RLL):
“Historically, Mosport was our most challenging race with the BMW M3 GT. I think the demands of the circuit made it very tough on the tyres that we had and, as a result, while we could qualify well we were hampered by those demands in the race, so we really couldn¢t maintain the pace. We showed well in terms of pure pace but we didn¢t have the longevity. This year on the Michelin tyres that won¢t be as much of an issue. Mosport will be the first circuit of the season with a very long straightaway and, knowing our deficit in straight line speed against the Corvette, Porsches and others, it¢s going to be very interesting to see whether we can make up for that through the fast corners where the BMW Z4 GTE excels. Points and performance-wise we are doing much better than I thought we would be so far this season. Dirk is leading the Driver championship and we are close to the lead in both the Manufacturer and Team standings, but now the real tests come starting with Mosport.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“The new BMW Z4 GTE has been as amazing as we had hoped and we have had a few very good performances. Now Max and I need a bit more luck. We had a long, hard day at Lime Rock and managed a good finish. Now we are going to an incredible track: Mosport. I can't wait to put the throttle down and put a giant smile on my face.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I'm really looking forward to racing in Mosport. I have heard a lot about the track. It looks like it is a really impressive one. Bill knows it well and will help me to get up to speed quickly.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“I'm excited to get back in the BMW Z4 GTE with my BMW Team RLL boys. It feels like forever since the Long Beach race. I really want to do my part to keep my buddy Dirk Müller in the lead of the championship along with the team. Mosport is a fun track and it has definitely had its ups and downs for us as a team. We've led there many times but I've never won there. I'd love to change that statistic.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“l am really looking forward to one of my favourite race tracks. This one is a big driver¢s track and we definitely would like to keep the momentum going. Our win at Lime Rock was a big push. John will be there to observe and help Joey and me. No doubt that will be a big help.”
BMW Team RLL finishes fifth and sixth at Mosport.
BMW Team RLL did all it could in the fifth round of the ALMS, held at Bowmanville, but ultimately ended the 2.45-hour race fifth and sixth in the GT class.
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Both BMW Z4 GTE cars held the lead during the mistake-free race. Maxime Martin set the fastest lap (1:15.907 minutes, on lap 102) in the closing minutes of the race. Unfortunately, the top speed deficit of the BMWs to the opponents was evident on Mosport¢s long straights and, while able to run a single quick lap, they were unable to stay in front of the larger displacement cars.
Dirk Müller and Joey Hand, driving the no. 56 BMW Z4 GTE, finished fifth, completing 123 laps of the 2.46-mile, ten-turn circuit during the race to retain Müller¢s lead in the GT driver standings by five points. Müller started the race from third on the grid, after qualifying fourth and moving up at the green flag after the second place qualifier moved to the rear of the grid. Hand took over just past the one-hour mark and ran a strong third before being demoted to fifth in the closing stages of the race.
Bill Auberlen started in the no. 55 BMW Z4 GTE, moving up to start the race in fourth after qualifying fifth. The Californian ran a strong stint to hand over to Martin from fourth on lap 46, one hour into the race. Martin raced into the lead, but dropped back to sixth after his pit stop on lap 90 for fuel and new Michelin tyres. He was unable to improve his position in the final 45 minutes of the race.
Gordon McDonnell (BMWNA Motorsport Manager):
“Despite an excellent, mistake-free effort by BMW Team RLL we were denied a chance at the Mosport podium. The next circuits we face will not be any easier, so we will have to redouble our efforts to keep us in the hunt for the championship.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“I was hoping for more for sure. It was a tough day. We did everything right. Joey did a great job. The team did a great job, but we couldn¢t defend. P5, P6 was the best we could do. I was hoping for a podium, but we collected the points and stayed clean. Not one touch to the cars. No penalties. We still have a long season ahead and we¢ll fight every lap.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“I was very happy to come back to this programme. It was good to see all the boys, all my team-mates. The car this weekend was the best I¢ve had here, but it picked up a lot of understeer towards the end of the race. I think the track rubbered up and as the rear got better it created a ton of understeer. I definitely earned those points. I will miss Road America, my favourite track, and come back for Baltimore.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“This is what we suspected would happen. We could race – and win – at the slower speed tracks. Mosport indeed showed we don¢t have the straightline speed.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“Without doubt it was not an easy race for us. With the lack of speed to our competitors it is really difficult to defend during the race. So we have a good car during one lap, but that does not win a race.”
BMW Team RLL looks to repeat past success.
Following fifth and sixth place GT finishes at Mosport three weeks ago, BMW Team RLL heads to Road America, in Elkhart Lake, the site of three BMW Team RLL victories in the past four American Le Mans Series seasons.
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The 4.048-mile, 14-turn circuit is Team Principal Bobby Rahal¢s favourite track in North America, and BMW Team RLL raced the BMW M3 GT to the top step of the podium in 2009, 2010 and 2012. In 2009, Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand drove to the programme¢s first victory at Road America from the team¢s maiden pole. The next year, Hand and Dirk Müller repeated as winners. In 2011, the second and third steps of the podium were reached. Last year, Auberlen and Jörg Müller roared back with the victory.
The first five rounds of the 2013 American Le Mans Series have seen the new BMW Z4 GTE race to GT class victory at both Long Beach and Lime Rock Park. BMW stands second in the GT Class Manufacturer points and Dirk Müller has a five point lead in the GT Driver standings. John Edwards will substitute for Hand in the no. 56 BMW Z4 GTE this weekend, as Hand enjoys a week off following an excellent seventh at the inaugural DTM race in Moscow on 4th August.
Auberlen, sharing the no. 55 BMW Z4 GTE with Maxime Martin, will celebrate his 500th professional start at Road America as the BMW ace continues to add to one of the most impressive racing resumes in the world.
Auberlen, Edwards and Martin will also compete in the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series that will share the bill with the ALMS at Road America. Auberlen and Edwards will also race in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series. The two series will merge to become United Sports Car Racing in 2014.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal of BMW Team RLL):
“We have obviously had good success in the four years at Elkhart Lake. I think the fast sweeping corners have always played to one of the strengths of a BMW. Getting through all the circuit¢s fast corners – Turns 1, 3, 7, the Carousel, Turns 12, 13 and 14 – has been a major reason for our success. This year the BMW Z4 GTE has shown it is also a very good handling car. We have been at a deficit on top speed but have been in the same situation years before with the BMW M3 GT, especially 2009 and 2010, and yet we still won there, so it will be interesting to see how we fare.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“Road America is one of my favourite tracks in the world and I will get to race it three times this weekend – ALMS GT, Rolex GT and CTSCC GS. That will be a unique experience for me and I hope for three first place finishes. Five hundred professional race starts is a record I will be extremely proud of.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I¢m really excited to discover this classic track. I think it is one of the longest of the year, so it will not be easy to learn. As always, I will have the experience of Bill to help me.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“We are now starting the second half of the season and I am still leading the championship, which feels great. Road America is one of my favourite race tracks in the world and I am thrilled to come back with our new BMW Z4 GTE. The track should suit us a bit better than Mosport. John is back to help us out and it¢s going to be a big weekend full of great racing.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“The last race I ran with BMW Team RLL was at Lime Rock a month ago, but it feels like six months. We knew Lime Rock would suit us, and we capitalised on that with a win. Unfortunately we¢ve been expecting both Mosport and Road America to be tougher tracks for us, so, although we¢re always competing for a win, we know the competition will be as tough at Road America as it was at Mosport. My biggest goal is doing what I can to help Dirk maintain the lead in the championship. We will be racing hard to win, but I know we will all have our eyes on the bigger picture with the championship as we enter the second half of the season.”
Debut in Texas.
BMW Team RLL will face the 3.4-miles and 20 turns of the Circuit of the Americas in Austin for the first time this weekend in round eight of the 2013 American Le Mans Series.
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Completed in 2012, the track is notable for being the current home of the Formula 1 US Grand Prix.
Most recently, BMW Team RLL finished third and fourth at the Grand Prix of Baltimore to keep BMW Motorsport driver Dirk Müller in the GT class title hunt. The podium finish by Müller and Joey Hand sees Müller standing only eight points from the leaders.
This weekend¢s race will run for 2.45-hours and, for the first time since the 2009 season, see Bill Auberlen and Hand share a BMW Team RLL car. Hand will substitute for Maxime Martin in the number 55 BMW Z4 GTE as Martin races for the Blancpain Endurance Series Championship with the Marc VDS Racing team at the Nürburgring. Müller will share the number 56 car with John Edwards.
Auberlen and Edwards have experience at COTA, having both competed in the GRAND-AM event there earlier this year. Auberlen drove to both the Rolex GT and Continental Grand Sport victories with Paul Dalla Lana in the Turner Motorsport BMW M3s.
BMW comes third and fourth at COTA.
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BMW Team RLL finished third and fourth in the inaugural American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin. Both BMW Z4 GTEs ran strongly for the majority of the race, only to fall victim to the top speed advantage of the Corvettes and Vipers in the closing stages.
John Edwards and Dirk Müller claimed third in the number 56 BMW Z4 GTE for Müller¢s second consecutive podium appearance. The result, combined with the withdrawal of the number 4 Corvette during the race, moves Müller to second in the GT driver standings, 13 points behind the leaders.
Despite qualifying fourth, Edwards had to start the number 56 car from the back of the entire field of 33 cars due to a miscue of the team with the qualifying tyres. He charged back to fifth in class before pitting on lap 24, some 50 minutes into the race. Müller re-joined the race in ninth and drove an equally strong first stint to be in third before making his final pit stop on lap 48. Müller then moved into second and hounded the leading Corvette for the remainder of the race. On the last lap, he was unable to defend from the Viper on the long, uphill front straight and was forced to settle for the last step of the podium.
The number 55 car of Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand finished fourth. Auberlen started the race from pole position earned by Hand in Friday¢s qualifying session. When the green flag waved, the car experienced a mechanical issue that, despite clearing up within minutes, cost Auberlen six positions. He kept his head down and moved back near the front before pitting on lap 19. Hand re-joined the field in ninth and at the one-hour mark was fifth. One half-hour later he was in second, only five seconds from the lead. He made his final stop on lap 49, at the 1.45 hour mark. He ran strongly behind Müller for the remainder of the race before being relegated to fourth only four laps from the chequered flag. Round nine of the 2013 ALMS season will be held at Virginia International Raceway in Danville on 5th October.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL):
“I¢m disappointed for the team. There¢s such a deficit in straight-line speed, it just hurts our ability to race those other guys. But the BMW Z4 GTE ran beautifully and handled well. The pit strategy was solid; we passed the Ferrari and both Vipers in the pits, so we made up a lot of places. We did our best; third and fourth are not so bad, and we¢ll try again at VIR. The Circuit of the Americas is fabulous… world class. I haven¢t been to anything else built like this in this country, perhaps ever.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“What a race. It was like a roller coaster. Just shortly before the race I got the message that we were starting from the back of the grid, and at that point I was really down and wanted to go home. But when I saw John challenging through traffic to the front, and absolutely on top of it, he really showed me that his mind was switched on, and I was fully motivated by that. When I got in the car after he had done 55 minutes, I knew it had to be maximum attack. I did what felt like one hour, fifty-five minutes of qualifying. I had that yellow machine in front of me, but first I had Joey in front of me. It was a lot of fun to race him and I really enjoyed it. Then I was just trying to chase the Corvette down and I wanted to catch him, like a terrier - and I did it, tenth by tenth. I got caught in traffic a bit and used all my experience, but in the end the Viper passed me on the straight like it was a GT1-class car. I wanted to win, but I¢m happy with P3 because I gave it my all.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“It was a pretty intense day at the office today. We had a little mix up with the tyres and so we had to start last in the GT field. I could tell our car was really quick and I started moving up through the field. The team called a great race and put us in a position to challenge for the win at the end, but at the end of the day there¢s no replacement for pure horsepower and we saw what happened. The BMW Z4 GTE is unbelievable in the corners and through the Esses. It¢s a dream to drive and I could see myself gaining on any car around that wasn¢t a prototype, but those corners are the toughest places to pass people.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“It¢s kind of unusual, but I had a crazy start in the first few laps and I dropped back quite a bit. But then it straightened out and we were quick enough to stay with the others. Then Joey did the two next stints and earned P2, but eventually we just got run down by these competitors that are so fast.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I¢ve had a good time all week. I¢m glad I had the chance to be here with BMW Team RLL. I got comfortable really early at this new race track, including the laps in the rain. Bill had a tough go of it in the race with some tyre pressure issues at the start. I got in the car and got a good roll going in the first stint, and the strategy was good too. On the second stint, the heavy fuel load started putting a lot of heat into the brakes and we basically ran out of front brake pads at the end. All I could do was try to save it to come home. It¢s a shame because the race was really good at the end and my car was improving overall. I had tried to save my car for the end but that¢s the way it goes. I appreciate the effort everybody gave here and that¢s all we had.”
Circuit of the Americas / 3.4 miles
September 18 - 21, 2013 / Austin, Texas
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ÐñùôÜèëçìá (http://www.alms.com/sites/default/files/race_result_files/Provisional%20Points_3.pdf)
Looking forward to VIR race.
Team RLL will continue the battle for the 2013 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) GT championship at Virginia International Raceway, in Alton this weekend in the Oak Tree Grand Prix of VIR.
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In the two latest ALMS rounds at the Baltimore GP and the Circuit of the Americas, the team started from the class pole with the no. 55 BMW Z4 GTE, and came away with two third-place finishes for the no. 56 BMW Z4 GTE. This has moved Dirk Müller to second place in drivers¢ points, and, with two superior finishes at VIR and the Petit Le Mans finale, may put the team within striking distance of Manufacturer and Team titles.
Last year was the inaugural ALMS race at the venerable VIR circuit, and BMW Team RLL finished fourth and ninth in the four-hour race with the now-retired BMW M3 GT race cars. This year, the race will be 2.75-hours around the 3.27-mile, 17-turn circuit that has become a favourite of Müller because VIR has many of the same challenges as the world-famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal of BMW Team RLL):
“Despite the fact that there is a pretty long straightaway at VIR, there are a lot of fast corners which plays to the strengths of the BMW Z4 GTE. Last year we were leading, got hit by a P2 car and taken out of winning the race. It¢s a pretty narrow race track; there is not a lot of room and it¢s very quick in places. It¢s one of those tracks that you really have to qualify well and be able to maintain that position because passing can be difficult.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I absolutely love VIR. It's fast and furious and great fun to drive. Our no. 55 machine is coming off two poles in a row and it's time to convert that into a victory.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I¢m really looking forward to learn another circuit and helping BMW Team RLL chase another victory.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“Back to the States for VIR. Four weekends – four races – DTM, ALMS, DTM, and ALMS. I¢m looking forward to the challenge of VIR and keeping Dirk and the team in the hunt for the championship.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“What a great racetrack. I love to race at VIR and after my pole there last year I am really looking forward to the second last event of the ALMS. The championship is still wide open and with Joey back in the 56 car we are well prepared.”
Dirk Müller takes ALMS GT title fight to the wire.
BMW Team RLL finished fourth and fifth in the penultimate round of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at Virginia International Raceway.
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A spirited drive and great battle by Dirk Müller in the number 56 BMW Z4 GTE during the final minutes of the race secured the fourth-place finish to keep the BMW Motorsport driver second in GT driver championship points standings, and he is now 16 points behind the leaders. The number 55 BMW Z4 GTE of Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin finished fifth.
Competing in his last ALMS race of the season before returning to Germany to finish his second year of the DTM series, Joey Hand started the number 56 BMW Z4 GTE from the third position Müller earned in Friday¢s qualifying session. Hand pitted on lap 36 to turn the car over to Müller. Racing in fifth for the next 27 laps, Müller made a strong pass for fourth on lap 63. He lost the position 13 laps later, but regained it to post a hard-earned fourth-place finish.
The team decided pole winner Martin would finish the race, so Auberlen started the number 55 machine from the front of the 11-car GT field. He pitted during the race¢s first caution period and ran as high as fourth in the opening minutes of the race. The fortunes of the number 55 car turned worse as Auberlen¢s left-side door hinge failed and forced a second stop just past the one-hour mark. Martin swapped into the seat and rejoined the race tenth, practically two laps behind the leaders. While the race¢s pace was slowed by two more caution periods, Martin kept his head down and in the final 45 minutes of the race regained the lost laps and charged up five positions to finish fifth.
The season-ending Petit Le Mans will be held at Road Atlanta on Saturday, 19th October.
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“First of all, we¢re still in the championship hunt, so a big thanks to my buddy Joey Hand. We knew it would be tough from the very beginning, but then with all that yellow [flags], it came down to a sprint race at the end. So that¢s how I drove; it was hard, tough racing and I made my move on the next-to-last lap in the hairpin. That was the only chance I had, so I took it. Actually it feels like a victory because it kept the number 3 car from running away in the championship. I¢m very happy with this result.”
Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“For me, the role was that of a part-time guy all weekend, which feels a little unusual, but I wanted to drive clean with Dirk¢s championship in mind. Starting the race, that was difficult because I couldn¢t quite be myself with a lot of guys chasing me. I would have liked to fight harder, but I was proud to keep the car in the hunt and turn it over to Dirk so he could race to the end.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“The starts are always tough, but BMW takes care of us in the handling department, and we¢re just too slow in the straights. So I got ambushed, and after the door hinge broke the team battled beautifully back up to fifth from two laps down, and I think that¢s a darn good day from where we might have been.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“The best thing to say is that we knew we had to take every chance to get back on the lead lap. Thanks to the two safety car periods we were able to make it happen. Then we passed a number of cars and our car was getting faster so we put up a great fight. At the end it was a great fight in traffic and I was able to take advantage of several moments in the traffic. We pushed until the end and ended up fifth. I think we had the car that could finish even better.”
Malucelli, Beretta Return Risi Ferrari To Victory Lane At VIR
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Faulkner, Keating Score Second Consecutive GT Challenge Win For TRG
With a tooth-and-nail fight for the 2013 American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón GT championship happening behind him, Matteo Malucelli pulled away over the closing laps of Saturday¢s Oak Tree Grand Prix at Virginia International Raceway to give Risi Competizione its first ALMS victory since Road America in 2011.
It was Malucelli¢s first career victory in ALMS competition, while co-driver Olivier Beretta picked up his 43rd career victory in the series. The moment of truth came with just under 30 minutes remaining in the two-hour and 45-minute race when Malucelli powered the No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari F458 Italia past Patrick Long in the No. 06 CORE autosport Porsche 911 GT3 RSR heading down the long back straightaway of VIR¢s 3.27-mile layout.
From that point on, Malucelli set sail to score an easy victory in what has been a tough season for the Risi team, which returned to full-time ALMS competition this season after a one-year absence.
“It is always nice to be back and we had a really good race today,” Beretta said. “We have been unlucky since Sebring, and at Long Beach, and Laguna we had pole. The luck has not been on our side. I¢m really happy for Risi and Matteo, it is his first win. I hope to go to Petit (Le Mans, Oct. 19) and get another win for this team. The 458 is a great car, but coming out this season we struggled a bit. To get the win now is great for the team, and to get a win for Ferrari. Now we¢ll go to Petit and do our best.”
Long and co-driver Colin Braun finished second ahead of GT points co-leaders Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia in the No. 3 Compuware Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1 for Corvette Racing. Magnussen and Garcia extended their lead in the championship to 16 points, 125-109, over Dirk Muller, who finished fourth at VIR in the No. 56 BMW North America/Crowne Plaza BMW Z4 GTE alongside co-driver Joey Hand.
While the driver championship is still up for grabs with 24 points available to the race winner in the season-ending Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda, the third-place run by Magnussen and Garcia was enough to clinch the ALMS GT team championship for Corvette Racing and the manufacturer¢s championship for Chevrolet.
In the GT Challenge (GTC) category, No. 66 Port Lavaca Group/Viper Exchange/Adobe Road Winery Porsche 911 GT3 Cup co-drivers Damien Faulkner and Ben Keating parlayed their second consecutive class pole position into their second consecutive victory.
As he also did two weeks ago at Circuit of The Americas, Keating started the No. 66 machine from the GTC pole courtesy of Damien Faulkner¢s qualifying efforts on Friday. Keating kept the TRG Porsche well in contention throughout his opening stint before giving way to Faulkner to close out the race and secure the victory.
“It was just a dream weekend, to be honest, from start to finish,” Faulkner said. “We could be a lot more aggressive since we¢re not in the championship hunt but Ben did a great job at the start. He felt bad giving me the car in second, but imagine being disappointed to be in second. The team did a great job, we didn¢t make any mistakes, and they made the car perfect. It ran flawlessly all day. Thanks to the TRG team for doing a great job and hitting our strides today. I said over the radio, knowing everyone could hear it, “I¢ll fight to the death today.”
Jeroen Bleekemolen and Cooper MacNeil extended their lead in the GTC driver championship with a second-place run at VIR in the No. 22 WeatherTech Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for Alex Job Racing. Heading into the season finale, the duo leads Henrique Cisneros by 13 points, 131-118, with 24 points still available.
Cisneros and co-driver Sean Edwards took third in the No. 30 MOMO Porsche 911 GT3 Cup for NGT Motorsport. Also still alive in the GTC championship chase are No. 45 Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 Cup co-drivers Spencer Pumpelly and Nelson Canache Jr., with 115 points. Pumpelly and Canache finished seventh on Saturday.
The Oak Tree Grand Prix will be televised on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, Oct. 6. The 2013 American Le Mans Series season closes with the Petit Le Mans powered by Mazda at Road Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 19.
Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR
ÄïêéìáóôéêÜ (http://www.alms.com/sites/default/files/race_result_files/ALMS%20VIR%20Grid%20Provisional.pdf)
Áãþíáò (http://www.alms.com/sites/default/files/race_result_files/ALMS%20VIR%20Race%20Provisional.pdf)
ALMS finale: Dirk Müller races for GT Driver title.
BMW Team RLL will race for two important championships at the American Le Mans Series season-ending and series-finale 16th annual Petit Le Mans.
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Dirk Müller will fight for the driver¢s championship in the no. 56 BMW Z4 GTE with John Edwards and Uwe Alzen this weekend. He enters the race second in the GT driver battle, 16 points behind the leaders Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen. The trio Müller, Edwards and Alzen will also be racing the no. 56 machine for the Michelin Green X Challenge trophy, awarded by the tyre manufacturer to the most clean, fast and efficient car in the class. The no. 55 BMW Z4 GTE will be shared by Bill Auberlen, Maxime Martin and Jörg Müller at Petit.
The debut season for the BMW Z4 GTE has been very successful. The no. 55 machine won at Long Beach and the no. 56 car won at Lime Rock Park. The team has also scored four additional podiums, four pole positions, and eight top-5 finishes.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL):
“I think the first season with the BMW Z4 GTE has been fantastic. We didn¢t quite know what to expect with the new car and a new tire partner in Michelin. There were a lot of new elements to the year for us but I think anybody can be happy with winning two races and four pole positions. Obviously I would love to see Dirk win the Drivers¢ Championship. He has done a great job this year.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – No. 55):
“Petit Le Mans is one of my favorite races in the world. This year I have an amazing crew, an amazing team and the incredible BMW Z4 GTE. Max, Jörg and I will fight like crazy to get to victory lane.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – No. 55):
“I'm really excited to race at Petit Le Mans. I have watched this race many years on TV and now it is my turn to race it! I'm sure we have a good chance, with my team-mates Bill and Jörg, to finish the season strongly.”
Jörg Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – No. 55):
“I'm very happy to come back to Petit this year, especially because it will be such a historical event as the last ALMS Race. After my big accident at Spa this year it's very important for me to be back racing. I'm really looking forward to supporting BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – No. 56):
“This is going to be a very special race. The last race of the season and the final one for the ALMS is around the corner and we are still fighting for the championship. The 1000 miles of Petit Le Mans are very demanding and as a team, we are really focused and willing to fight for a win.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – No. 56):
“I've been to the race multiple times as a fan and in support series, so I've had my eye on competing in the main show for many years. Road Atlanta is an intense track, so I'm excited for the challenge in Turn 1. This season has been a good one so far with BMW Team RLL, as Dirk and I have one win together and multiple podiums. Dirk can still win the Drivers¢ Championship, so we're focused on a strong close of the year. I'm confident that we'll have a great car and a chance at the win in the final endurance race of the season."
Auberlen to assist Müller.
Dirk Müller can call upon a wealth of ALMS experience as he prepares to do battle for the GT Drivers¢ Championship at the final race of the ALMS season at Road Atlanta.
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A change in the driving line-ups sees Bill Auberlen and John Edwards join Müller behind the wheel of the number 56 BMW Z4 GTE at Road Atlanta.
BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL are putting their faith in those drivers who have not only guided the BMW Z4 GTE to success in their many outings over the course of the current season, but also have race experience at Road Atlanta. While Müller and Auberlen have proven their class in the Petit Le Mans for many years, Edwards has also seen his fair share of race action at the circuit in Braselton.
Road Atlanta debutant Maxime Martin will share the driving duties with Jörg Müller and Uwe Alzen in the number 55 BMW Z4 GTE.
BMW Z4 GTE ends successful debut season.
BMW Team RLL finished second and fourth in the final round of the 2013 American Le Mans Series at Road Atlanta, the “Petit Le Mans”.
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The 16th annual 1000-mile race, held in Braselton, concluded the debut season for the new BMW Z4 GTE with BMW finishing second in the GT class Manufacturer standings and BMW Team RLL second in the Team standings. Dirk Müller finished second in the Driver points for the 2013 season.
Dirk Müller, Bill Auberlen and John Edwards alternated at the wheel of the number 56 car at Road Atlanta. The second BMW Z4 GTE was driven by Maxime Martin, Jörg Müller and Uwe Alzen.
Both BMW cars reached the top step of the podium once during the ten-race 2013 season. The number 55 BMW Z4 GTE won at Long Beach and the number 56 at Lime Rock Park. The team has also scored five additional podiums, four pole positions, and eight top-five finishes.
The first half of the race was slowed by four caution periods and intermittent rain that put a premium on smart strategy and pit work. The rain abated as the race entered its sixth hour and the track remained dry for the remainder of the race.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“I think we can really be happy with the outcome of the 2013 American Le Mans Series. It was the debut year of our new BMW Z4 GTE – and BMW Team RLL managed to fight for victories from the word go. We were able to keep the title fight open until the very last race. In the end, it was very close and Dirk Müller missed out on his third ALMS GT title by just a few points. We had hoped to be competitive with the new car straight away, and that¢s what happened. The race at Road Atlanta also marked the final chapter of the ALMS era. We are now looking forward to a new challenge and the season opener of the United SportsCar Championship at Daytona in January 2014.”
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL):
“This was a tough, hard race. But I have to say I¢m pretty happy with second and fourth. We¢ve really got a deficit on the straights and that¢s a killer at Road Atlanta, so to have second is really darn good. It¢s a shame we couldn¢t win the championship for Dirk, but P2 for him is a good consolation. The first year with the BMW Z4 GTE was far better than the first year with the BMW M3 GT, that¢s for sure, and I think if we will be allowed to use a little more power we can make it a truly great and competitive year in 2014.”
Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“Hell of a race. I really, truly wanted to win this one. I spent the last two hours trying to catch the Falken car. They were very fast so congrats to them. I really opened everything up and drove at maximum attack. We had a very good second place and everybody knew we couldn¢t do more. I¢m happy for the team and for BMW; we¢re all P2 now in the championships. Not a bad way to end the last year of the ALMS. Thank you to the organisers of the ALMS for an amazing run and for making it possible to see such great racing, and now we look forward to a bright future.”
John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“It was really close. I was nervous at the end watching Dirk - I¢m always more nervous when I¢m out of the car. Of course we¢re happy with second place; it was a good race and anything could happen. You try to stay out of trouble, but I was hit twice by the number 4 Corvette and it felt like we were qualifying for the entire two-plus hours of my stint. I¢m a lot more confident now at the end of the year than I was going into Sebring. I¢ve gelled with the team and I feel like we can really push together.”
Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):
“That is as perfect of a race as I¢ve ever seen at Petit Le Mans. Everything came together and we squeezed out a P2 finish. I¢m a little sad about the end of the ALMS; I¢ve done these races from the series¢ start to its finish. I¢ve won and been beaten here, but the future brings new hope and, as long as I¢m sitting in a car with a Roundel on the hood with my guys behind me, that¢s all I care about.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“I¢m a bit disappointed for the team. Thanks to lots of hard work by the crew, we had a good enough race to be there at the end, and I feel we earned a podium finish, so I¢m sorry I cannot hand that trophy over to the guys.”
Jörg Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“At the end, I¢m half crying and half laughing. We were so close to holding onto the podium. The car handled fantastically, we always came back from bad spots, and we led the race at least once. On one hand I¢m happy we earned points for BMW, but I really wanted us to be on the podium.”
Uwe Alzen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):
“Well I¢m a little bit disappointed we couldn¢t push harder. We had a small problem with the brake balance, with a little bit too much brake to the rear, so we couldn¢t attack like we wanted to, but Maxime and Jörg did a great job and we stayed in the fight as much as possible.”
2013 AMERICAN LE MANS SERIES
PRESENTED BY TEQUILA PATRÓN
CHAMPIONSHIP POINT STANDINGS (http://www.alms.com/sites/default/files/race_result_files/Official%20Standings_4.pdf)
Highlights 2013: Farewell to the ALMS.
The BMW Z4 GTE made an impressive debut in North America – and fans bid farewell to the American Le Mans Series. More in the 2013 review.
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The “Petit Le Mans” in Road Atlanta not only brought down the curtain on the 2013 season in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). At the same time, American motorsport fans also witnessed the final race in the history of the ALMS before the series merges with the GRAND-AM championship next year to form the United SportsCar Championship. BMW Team RLL has represented BMW in the ALMS for the past five years, winning the GT title in 2010 and 2011. This season, the BMW Z4 GTE made its debut in North America – and exceeded all expectations.
2013 was primarily earmarked as a year of learning with the new car. However, BMW Team RLL was not only able to catch the eye in individual races, as hoped, but was also in contention for the title in the GT Driver Championship with Dirk Müller right down to the final race of the season. In the end, Müller finished runner-up in the Driver Championship, a feat also achieved by BMW Team RLL in the Team competition and BMW in the GT Manufacturers¢ Championship. The BMW Z4 GTE won two races. Auberlen and Martin climbed onto the top step of the podium in Long Beach, while Müller and Edwards triumphed at Lime Rock Park. In total, BMW Team RLL drivers claimed seven podiums.
BMW Motorsport tasted success on numerous occasions in the American Le Mans Series. The BMW M3 GTR was first to line up with its V8 engine in 2001. The coupé won seven out of ten races, claiming six pole positions on the way. BMW completed a clean sweep of the titles. The champion driver was Jörg Müller, BMW Team Schnitzer won the Team title, and BMW was victorious among the manufacturers. BMW sent the BMW M3 GT into action between 2009 and 2012, winning both the GT Manufacturers¢ Championship and the Team title with BMW Team RLL in 2010. The second hat-trick of titles followed in the 2011 season: Dirk Müller and Joey Hand finished on top of the Driver standings after the finale in Road Atlanta. And, last but not least, the BMW Z4 GTE made its debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring in 2013. The very same car will also be in action in the United SportsCar Championship in 2014.
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