BMW Motorsport News – Issue 14/13.
Whether in the DTM, the American Le Mans Series, or countless other championships: week after week BMW teams and drivers around the world do battle for points, victories and titles. Away from the track too, members of the large BMW Motorsport family around the world are also creating headlines. The “BMW Motorsport News” allows us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed.
ALMS: BMW Z4 GTE clinches maiden victory in second race.
The opening race of the American Le Mans Series – the 12 Hours of Sebring (US) – showed BMW Team RLL’s high potential with the new BMW Z4 GTE. Bobby Rahal’s (US) team confirmed this impression at the second race of the year in Long Beach (US), claiming an impressive one-two in the GT class. For Bill Auberlen (US), who raced to victory with ALMS rookie Maxime Martin (BE), 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 (US).
Three questions for… Bill Auberlen.
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.”
GRAND-AM: Victory number two for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Having opened the season with victory at the 24 Hours of Daytona (US), the No. 1 BMW Riley and drivers Scott Pruett (US) and Memo Rojas (MX) were once again the team to beat as the GRAND-AM Series made its first trip to Road Atlanta (US). The duo led the field for 94 of the 120 laps to claim its second win of the year and extend its lead at the top of the overall standings. Pruett celebrated his 40th success in the Daytona Prototypes category. In the GT class, meanwhile, Paul Dalla Lana (CA) and Billy Johnson (US) were the best-placed BMW drivers, finishing seventh in the Turner Motorsport BMW M3. In the Continental Tire Sport Car Challenge race, Al Carter (US) and Hugh Plumb (US) of Fall-Line Motorsports crossed the finish line eighth in the GS class with their BMW M3 Coupé. Victory in the ST category went to the Burton Racing Team (BMW 128i), followed by the BimmerWorld Racing BMW 328i in second.
BTCC: Turkington back on top.
A first in Donington (GB): Colin Turkington (GB) won the sixth round of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). It was the maiden win of the season for the 2009 champion, driving his new eBay Motors BMW 125i M Sport. Dick Bennetts' (GB) team this year fields two cars in the popular touring car series.
FIA GT Series: Tough weekend in Zolder.
The second weekend of the FIA GT Series in Zolder (BE) did not go to plan for the BMW drivers. Ricardo Zonta (BR) and Sergio Jimenez (BR) of BMW Sports Trophy Team Brazil retired from Saturday’s qualifying race. BMW Sports Trophy Team India was unable to start after a crash in free practice. Allam Khodair (BR) and Cacá Bueno (BR) of BMW Sports Trophy Team Brazil, in 11th, were the best-placed drivers in the BMW Z4 GT3. The duo climbed three places in the championship race on Sunday, coming home eighth to claim a top-ten finish. This time it was the turn of Zonta and Jimenez to finish 11th. The next round of the FIA GT Series is on 6th and 7th July in Zandvoort (NL).