Audi BMW

In one of the most spectacular races of this ALMS season, BMW Rahal Letterman delivered an impressive performance on the home turf at Lime Rock Park.

Recovering from an unfortunate qualifying result which placed the team at the rear of the starting grid, drivers Tommy Milner and Bill Auberlen finished 2nd, while co-drivers Dirk Muller and Joey Hand scored 3rd place and set the fastest GT-class lap of the race (Hand) at 0:55.943 seconds.

The day before the race, the qualification session took place through heavy rain, and in the video below, we see Bill Auberlen shaking down the No. 92 M3 GT in a very wet first practice session.

Press Release: In the biggest story of accomplishment at Saturday’s American Le Mans Series Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team M3 GTs scored 2nd and 3rd place finishes in a triumph of race strategy at BMW’s home track. Recovering from an unfortunate qualifying result which placed the team at the rear of the starting grid, drivers Tommy Milner and Bill Auberlen finished 2nd,, while co-drivers Dirk Muller and Joey Hand scored 3rd place and set the fastest GT-class lap of the race (Hand) at 0:55.943 seconds.

With this result, the team continues the success streak of the BMW M3 at Lime Rock Park. BMW of North America has never raced an M3 at Lime Rock Park without scoring a podium finish, and today there were two. In five races elapsed this season, the two-car team has scored seven ALMS GT podium finishes.

“Today we showed the power of the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team, and to come back from such a frustrating qualifying session to battle for the lead all day is very satisfying,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal. “The entire team fought hard on a very tough and hot day on a race track where you are constantly in traffic. We extended our podium streak and are looking forward to picking back up at Mid-Ohio in two weeks.”

Tommy Milner (No. 92) started from the 9th spot on the grid and began the attack, quickly reaching 7th place by Lap 9. Also by lap 9, Dirk Mϋller (No. 90) had reached 9th place. Twelve minutes into the race saw the first full-course caution period, and both BMWs pitted for fuel. During the stop, the No. 90 was able to rejoin just ahead of the No. 92, putting Mϋller in 5th and Milner in 6th at the 34-minute mark. The race’s 3rd full course caution period fell at the 40-minute mark, with Mϋller 3rd and Milner 4th. During the caution, the BMWs stayed out on track, boosting them to the 1st and 2nd places at the restart.

The team finally chose to pit the M3 GTs on Lap 91 (Car 90) and Lap 93 (Car 92), about one hour and forty minutes into the race. During the stops, Joey Hand took over for Mϋller and Bill Auberlen took over for Milner. The drivers re-joined the race in 4th and 3rd places, respectively. After one of the lead competitors pitted, the BMW duo took over the 3rd and 2nd slots, and held them for the remaining 68 laps despite several attempts by Auberlen to challenge for the win, and several attempts by Hand to challenge for 2nd place. As if putting an exclamation point on the team’s accomplishment, Joey Hand was the only ALMS GT driver to set a lap time under 56 seconds Saturday.

“Today was full of good news,” said Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager. “We continued our streak of finishing on the podium this season, and we led a few laps which is something we’ve also done at all previous races this year. The bad news of course is that a win remains elusive. I keep promising the fans a win and as long as we continue to be in good shape I expect we will deliver. If you told me Friday night that today we would be able to pass so many competitors and challenge for the win, I wouldn’t have believed it. This is a good result and our team – especially our pit crew – is incredible.”

[Source: BMW ]

Racing is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s a dangerous, ultra-competitive environment where seconds are the difference between victory and defeat. On the other hand, it is a passion of many and a sport that, while competitive, also returns unrivaled enjoyment for those dedicated few who engage in it.

However, there is at least one racing team that manages to combine both their enthusiasm for cars and racing: BimmerWorld Racing. BimmerWorld is a Dublin, Va-based racing team currently competing in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series, Street Class – a subset of the Grand-AM Series. The BimmerWorld team is running CTSCC-spec BMW E90 328i’s for this year, the inaugural CTSCC season.

Whatsmore – the BimmerWorld team is doing quite well in there near-road spec E90’s up against steep competition. In their first season of the CTSSC, the twin bimmers have racked up a number of top 10 finishes with the #81 Heumann/Thomas E90 landing a top-of-the-podium finish at the famed Mid-Ohio racetrack. Very impressive results considering this is a new series for the team transitioning from sprint races to endurance-style competition.

However, the success of the pair of electric blue and sun yellow BMW sedans stems from a team that has grown from a group of enthusiasts into professionals striving to extract every ounce of performance from their German chariots.

BimmerWorld was founded by James Clay, an electrical engineering major from Virginia Tech and part-time car enthusiast. Clay, along with his friends enjoyed tracking their cars both during and after college – and to demonstrate his dedication to his driving during college James drove a fully caged E30 M3 which was serving full-time track duty on the weekends. In assembling track-ready cars, Clay and his associates began to buy and sell various E30 parts to outfit their cars. Ultimately, these ventures led the group to start the business that would become BimmerWorld, an online parts and equipment store for BMW enthusiasts to buy any and everything needed to upgrade the performance of their cars whether it be for the track or the street.

Clay, being a young entrepreneur, turned the online store into a means of funding a professional race team and thus BimmerWorld Racing was born. The team has since progressed from their initial E36 325is onto a E46 325i and in 2007, into their current chassis – the E90 328i platform for the SPEED Touring Car Series. In 2009, the SPEED Series was concluded and transformed into the Continential Series for the 2010 season and along with it brought a number regulation changes and new challenges to the young team.

I was lucky enough to meet with James Clay at the start of the season for a few moments on the rainy eve of the 2010 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. The affable Clay took time out of a celebration after the first race of the season to speak with me about the team, being a BMW enthusiast and life on the racing circuit as one of the few teams that field a Bavarian Motor Works car in a U.S.-based touring car series. During our conversation it was obvious that Mr. Clay has found his ideal job and struck the balance between having a job that pays the bills and having a job you love – a rare, if not nearly impossible feat for car enthusiasts to successfully pull off as Clay has. He is a man that looks quite a home at the track and quite at home with a BMW as he owns a handful of bimmers and, when time permits, enjoys tracking them.

James was kind enough to take time out of running his team, online store and setting up his own car to discuss with BMWBlog how he got into racing and what his progression was from a weekend track enthusiast to professional driver and manager of his own racing team – while maintaining his loyalty and love for the Bavarian brand – both on and off track!

[AM] What got you into racing?

[James Clay] I wanted to learn how to drive a car after demonstrating my lack of skill on the street in a few dumb wrecks. This meant trading a big HP turbo car for a little E30 M3 and doing some driving schools. I did one and I was hooked.

[AM] When do you make the decision to turn professional?

[James Clay] That is a natural progression. At that point, BimmerWorld had started and we were growing as a business and club racing wasn’t as much of a challenge as it was in the past. The next step is a pro series and we dove in on the deep end in World Challenge

[AM] Is it true that in college you drove a fully caged E30 M3 as your daily driver?

[James Clay] LOL. My first BMW! I have a hard time leaving things alone. I was a broke college kid then and the easy way to make the car fast was to make it light, so I stripped it out. I also sold the parts I pulled and that started the business end of things. And yes, the cage went in with the help of a couple of friends and it was my one and only car…

[AM] What is your daily driver of choice?

[James Clay] I have an E92 M3 that I drive most of the time. It is nicely modified and is a lot of fun to drive. I have an E36 and E46 also, but they are a little more over the top and not the thing to climb into on a regular basis. And if it ever stops snowing up here, I picked up a Mercedes Diesel Wagon last fall that will probably be the daily driver – green, good fuel economy and all that…

[AM] Are you able to track any of your own cars personally?

[James Clay] I do bring a street car to the track on occasion. The E92 M3 is great for that because it still has street manners, but I can dial up the Motons and put on tires for track use – and haul the tires in the trunk and back seat. I take the other ones to the track rarely – the E36 Touring (Uberwagen) is a 170MPH car on the track and that just isn’t safe.

[AM] Have you made any modifications to your daily drivers or are they mostly stock?

[James Clay]Even the Mercedes diesel has AMG 18” wheels and cut springs. They stay stock for about a week max around here.

[AM] If it is your personal car – 6 Speed Manual or 7 Speed Dual Clutch Transmission?

[James Clay]The E92 M3 is a 6-speed. The DCT feature is technically cool, but not what I am looking for on the track and not something we intend to develop to race. Most cars I have serve the dual purpose of parts development and for a track vehicle, the 6-speed is the way to go.

[AM] Do you have time for other hobbies outside of being a business owner and professional race car driver?

[James Clay] Hobbies yes – time to enjoy them no. For now I cook/grill and mix in some fun travel with my road schedule. I cycle when I can and other than that, its mostly playing with cars.

[AM] What forms of motorsports inspired you to become involved in racing? Formula One? DTM? ETCC/WTCC? …NASCAR?!

[James Clay] I am not a race fan honestly. I am a little more now, but I like to participate, not watch and that goes to all sports. I did however catch the 2AM rebroadcast of World Challenge back in the 90s on occasion and that was an inspiration.

[AM] How difficult is it for you to wear the hat of team owner and driver? Do you ever see yourself stepping from behind the wheel to strictly focus on team management?

[James Clay] It is a tough job. I approach it by being a team owner up until the event, then passing off most of those responsibilities during a race weekend. I have a lot of really good people around me making all of this happen and I rely on them. If I couldn’t do that, then I wouldn’t be able to pull it off.

[AM] With your ownership of BimmerWorld (the online store) how has this helped develop the team?

[James Clay] Well BimmerWorld parts sales have certainly been a source of funding for the race team, but it is a reciprocal relationship. We couldn’t sell what we do, or at least do a proper job of it, without the experience we get from racing. It is one thing so sell a bushing or a water pump, but our customers rely on us for larger systems purchases and we better know how it all works together and see the big picture to give good guidance

[AM] Is it true that you wouldn’t sell any parts that you wouldn’t trust on your own race cars?

[James Clay] For the most part. We sell some parts that maybe I wouldn’t choose to put on my car, but that are popular – but I have to at least feel there is quality and value added for the customer. I want people to be able to go through our catalog and know that we have access to anything on the market and we choose the parts that we know from experience work or have value.

[AM] A lot of the BMW community enjoyed seeing you and your crew running in the 2008 One Lap of America as a side project in a BimmerWorld-customized 135i. Is there a chance we will get another showing of the BimmerWorld team for One Lap or another similar rally?

[James Clay] I had hoped so and I am sure it will happen again. We had considered taking the E36 wagon and I feel it is up to the task. I had also looked at stripping out the E92 M3 and again, I think it would be awesome. As soon as we find the time…

[AM] With your preparations in place during the off-season and an incredible second place during the first race of the season at Daytona, how do you anticipate your first season in the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series will be?

[James Clay] I felt coming into this that we had the experience with the E90 platform and the right people on our team to be successful. I think Daytona proved that and now we just have 9 more races in front of us!

[AM] Are the drivers and crew ready to move from sprint car-style races to endurance races?

[James Clay] Absolutely. We have done longer enduros on the club side for a bunch of years as an end-of-year fun activity and everyone enjoys it. Now we are just putting the extra effort toward it to run that program on the pro level.

[AM]What challenges do you foresee facing you and the team as you transition to a new style of racing? Who do you anticipate being your strongest competition within your class?

[James Clay] I don’t think there will be a transition period. I think we prepared well and came out of the gates at Daytona at 100%. Based on the cars and the results, it looks like the Compass cars will be there in both performance and numbers if I had to choose one team. But certainly APR, Irish Mike’s, and Freedom Autosport are right up in the mix and it is way too early to predict the events of the season.

[AM]During the off-season – what has provided the biggest challenge in terms of dialing in the car for a new series?

[James Clay] This time around, it was just constraining ourselves. Coming our of World Challenge we had a lot of technical freedom and learned a lot. Translating that knowledge with the limitations of the CTSCC rules was a different type of challenge, but definitely not just easier because there is less we can do.

[AM] In European series, BMW E90’s and E92’s are used in many of the endurance races – do you think that the BimmerWorld #80 and #81 will share the same successes as reliable, fast racers on U.S. tracks against front-wheel-drive competition?

[James Clay] I feel like the E90 chassis is solid. We always have to worry about the ability of a front wheel car to recover from contact more quickly, but hopefully that will be an uncommon occurrence going forward. Certainly the cars are well-build and reliable, so I have high expectations

[AM] What are some of the key differences of the E90 328i’s you’re running this year in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series compared to the E90 325i’s BimmerWorld ran previously in the World Challenge series?

[James Clay] Wow. They are really very different. In general, we made about 80% of the parts by number on the World Challenge cars and we are required to use a lot more of the street parts. The Conti cars will be a lot more relevant to a customer’s street car so there is good synergy there. The World Challenge cars got to be an engineering exercise and they taught us a lot, but they were a bit exotic under the stock body lines.

[AM] When we last spoke, we discussed that as production cars are increasingly refined for road-going comfort and consumption. How has this affected BimmerWorld’s ability to successfully setup cars for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge?

[James Clay] Cars are getting heavier with less engineering tolerance built in to give us power capacity and durability for race use. Systems are more complicated and it is often easier to make something rather than integrate stock parts. But this has been a trend and really something we are progressing in all the time. If we had been preparing E30 or E36 cars and suddenly had to build an E90, we would have a little more of a jump, but BimmerWorld has grown along the way, so it is routine at this point.

[AM] As technology becomes a dominant force in the development and performance of cars as well as their onboard management systems, how will these technologies affect BimmerWorld’s car development? Do you find that it causes more compromises in how you can effectively prepare a car for a race series?

[James Clay] For us, technology is an advantage, not a limitation. We partner with companies that are on the cutting edge of their field – brakes, engines, etc. Electronics are by definition one of the most difficult parts, but by integrating the newest components, we run some pretty advanced systems in the cars and I feel it helps the program.

[AM] While BimmerWorld is a non-Works team – What are your thoughts on the BMW North America’s recent announcement of an offer of increased rewards for wins and high-placing finishes? Obviously, first place and podium finishes are the first goal of the team but do these incentives give you something extra to strive for throughout the season? How has being a non-Works team been a benefit or curse?

[James Clay] Not really. We want to win and we are there for that. We don’t budget the prize money and it would be silly to do so in the environment we are in. Certainly though we are appreciative when we receive it and I am really happy BMW is supportive of the teams’ efforts.

[AM] With Virginia International Raceway as the adopted home track for the BimmerWorld team, what other tracks are the drivers most looking forward to this season?

[James Clay] That is kind of hard to say. Mosport, Road America, and Road Atlanta are a few of my favorites from years past and we don’t visit them unfortunately. I think this year is a matter of going out, getting some strong finishes, and making some of the new tracks favorites along the way.

[AM] Will we see any epic rivalries pan out with a BMW vs. Audi season? We have to ask!

[James Clay] No Audis in ST, so chances are slim!

Also, be sure to check out there blog chronicling the season so far on their race team’s site.

(Photos Courtesy of BimmerWorld’s Press Room Photographer Curtis Creager)

Press Release: In weather best suited for webbed feet, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team M3 GTs qualified a wet 9th and 13th on the grid for tomorrow’s ALMS Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park. Starting five minutes into the 20-minute qualifying session, the No. 92 M3 GT of Bill Auberlen, followed by Joey Hand in the No. 90 M3 GT, could not duck a red flag that brought all cars back to the pits at the eight-minute mark. The session was restarted with less than six minutes remaining, but both BMW-RLR drivers had to stand on their one timed lap.

With five podium finishes in the first four races of the season, BMW now leads the GT Manufacturer points race. BMW M3 GT co-drivers Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner, along with Joey Hand and Dirk Müller, stand third and fourth in GT Driver points, respectively.

The ALMS Northeast Grand Prix is scheduled to start Saturday at 2:05 p.m Eastern Time. The two-hour-and-forty-five-minute contest will be broadcast live on SPEED Television beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. Follow the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for real-time updates.

[Source: BMW ]

The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team has arrived in Lakeville, CT, for the July 24th Round 5 of the 2010 American Le Mans Series. The Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park will begin this Saturday at 2:05pm Eastern Time and will be broadcast live on SPEED Television.

With five podium finishes in the first four races of the season, BMW now leads the GT Manufacturer points race. BMW M3 GT co-drivers Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner, along with Joey Hand and Dirk Müller, stand third and fourth in GT Driver points, respectively.

A proper integration of aerodynamics, suspension, powertrain, and tires is credited for the M3 GT’s tremendously high cornering speeds and stable, balanced handling behavior. Below are some details of the incremental improvements made by the team to some of the most highly-technical areas of development since the summer of 2009.

Aerodynamics.

At this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, BMW Motorsport introduced a new “aero kit” for the M3 GT as the result of a wind tunnel program conducted this past winter in Munich. The kit consists of a new front valence, side skirts, and rear diffuser section. Following a successful test of the kit at Road Atlanta in late June, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team chose to adopt the new aero kit for Stateside competition at Lime Rock Park. The primary benefits of the new aero kit are increased front downforce and slightly reduced weight. According to Jay O’Connell, RLR’s Vice President of Technology, these benefits give the engineers more flexibility when it comes to overall vehicle setup, including management of aerodynamic center of pressure. At shorter courses like Lime Rock Park where top speeds are less crucial, the new aero kit will fortify the performance of the M3 GT.

Fans will also notice that the M3 GT sports a set of new, improved side mirrors for 2010. The new mirrors, made entirely of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), feature improved positioning, lighter weight, better mirror surfaces, and more favorable aerodynamics. The drivers report that after a short acclimatization, the new mirrors have made it easier to notice overtaking prototype traffic. On-board videos from Laguna Seca and Miller Motorsports Park demonstrate the usefulness of the new mirrors.

Suspension.

The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team engineers have made sure suspension development has continued since before the first M3 GT’s first race in March 2009. The adjustment of dampers represents the most common opportunity to find speed, according to BMW-RLR suspension engineer Uwe Wolf. “We start with damper data collected during previous events at each track and create an overlay with the newest data coming from the car,” said Wolf. “Track surfaces and ambient conditions will be at least slightly different each time we visit a venue, so often even the smallest change to damper settings can make the handling of the car more favorable.”

In addition to damper adjustments, the rules allow the team to try different spring rates, ride heights, and to a lesser extent, attachment points. Each of these variables is constantly researched by the engineers to facilitate integrated improvements to the suspension system. The goal, in its simplest expression, is to keep each Dunlop tire firmly in contact with the track surface for as much of a lap as possible while the physical forces inherent to racing attempt to lift each tire from the surface.

Powertrain and Electronics.

Each BMW-RLR driver agrees that the biggest improvement to the M3 GT’s powertrain since 2009 is the development of the driver-adjustable traction control system. With separate settings for wet and dry operation, the BMW-developed traction control has a dual-mission: extend the life of the M3’s Dunlop tires and shorten lap times by helping the driver to perfectly modulate the throttle when exiting each corner.

“During the winter our engineers made significant strides in the usefulness of our TC system,” said Bill Auberlen, driver of the No. 92 M3 GT. “I first realized at the 2010 Sebring winter test that I can now choose the proper TC setting and go ‘flat’ on the accelerator as soon as I get near the apex of almost any turn. [Then] the car just tracks out perfectly, which allows me more ‘bandwidth’ to concentrate on setting up the next series of turns or any competitive moves I’m trying to make. It’s amazing technology and having it really differentiates ALMS from other series.”

For 2010, ALMS rules were updated to allow real-time data transmission, also known as “telemetry,” in GT cars in addition to the traditional on-board data collection. This means the M3 GT can now send packages of information about several vehicle parameters back to the engineers on pit wall during each race. While the benefits of telemetry are numerous, the immediately significant advantage is, as with traction control, reduction of the driver’s workload in the heat of battle. Procedural checks which previously were the responsibility of the driver may now be done in real-time by the engineers. Good examples of this would be reading the fuel consumption display or perhaps checking tire pressures via remote sensors mounted in each wheel.

Tires.

Dunlop has been BMW-RLR’s tire partner since the launch of the M3 GT program, and as a result the Dunlop racing tires have matured and developed in parallel with the M3 GT itself. Driver Tommy Milner (No. 92) recently remarked, “I can instantly tell when the Dunlops are at the proper temperature and pressure. If I need to take some more time to warm them up, the tires will let me know through feel and feedback.”

As the only regular points of contact between the M3 GT and the track surface, the tires bear the results of technical developments made in the car during the past year. Achievements in suspension, powertrain, and aerodynamics are all reflected in the performance of the tires. Conversely, the constant research by Dunlop in the areas of tire case construction and rubber compounds enables each change in other areas to have a more pronounced effect.

Driver Fitness.

The M3 GT is a system of components working together, and BMW-RLR considers the drivers and crew members to be integral parts of the system alongside the mechanical components. Therefore, paralleling the development of the car, the BMW-RLR drivers constantly train to make themselves stronger and more resilient to stress and heat. This year, driver Joey Hand (No. 90) is the team’s stand-out for “Most Improved Driver Fitness” among close competition. Already in good shape as an endurance racer, Hand took on a challenging new fitness program for 2010, intended to fortify his endurance and accelerate his metabolism.

“I’ve lost about 17 pounds since this point last season,” says Hand. “I gave my body a little shock by starting a new routine including fresh diet and exercise components, and the results have been great when it comes to those long stints at hot-weather races. I decided to eliminate myself from the list of potential failure points in the race car.”

Official practice and qualifying both take place on Friday with two one-hour practice sessions before a 20-minute qualifying session at 4:10 p.m. Qualifying coverage will be webcast live by SPEED and ALMS. The ALMS Northeast Grand Prix is scheduled to start Saturday at 2:05 p.m Eastern Time. The two-hour-and-forty-five-minute contest will be broadcast live on SPEED Television beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET. Follow the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube for real-time updates.

[Source: BMW ]

Andy Priaulx (GB) and Colin Turkington (GB) scored BMW’s second one-two in the 2010 FIA World Touring Car Championship in Brands Hatch (GB). In the 12th round of the season, Priaulx crossed the line after 16 laps 0.399 seconds ahead of BMW privateer Turkington of Team ebay Motors, claiming his fourth victory of the season. It was the triple world champion’s 16th career win in WTCC. No other driver has scored more wins than Priaulx. His fellow BMW Team RBM driver, Augusto Farfus (BR), dropped back to 13th following a collision with Chevrolet’s Alain Menu (CH), but managed to improve back to eighth over the course of the race.

Priaulx secured eighth in race one – and pole-position for the second race – following a stunning fight back from 16th on the grid. Farfus collected eight points by finishing sixth. With Chevrolet’s Yvan Muller (FR) taking victory, Turkington came third in his BMW 320si WTCC, making it to the podium and being the best-placed BMW driver in the 11th round of the year.

In the Drivers’ Championship, Priaulx remains in touch with the front-runners. Following his victory on home turf, he is third with 146 points. His gap to championship leader Muller is 53 points. Farfus is eighth, now with 87 points.

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal):
“Considering the grid positions, our race one result was excellent. It put us in a promising position for the second round. However, the race then took an unlucky turn for Augusto. He managed to take the lead after making a better start than Andy. When Andy passed his team-mate, Alain Menu also tried to push his way past, and he collided with Augusto. This was massively unfortunate. Afterwards Andy was in full control of the race at the front, celebrated his fourth victory of the season and collected a lot of valuable points.”

Andy Priaulx (Car Number 11):
Race 1: 8th, 1:34.078 min – Race 2: 1st, 1:34.791 min – Car weight: 1,198 kg
“It was a tough weekend. Going back ten places on the grid was not ideal. I am really chuffed to have this result now. It’s my fourth win of the year – and I am pleased I could score it at home. We are going into several races now that are going to be more favourable for us. I think it is going to be tough to beat these guys this year. We are challengers, but we are ambitious challengers and hopefully we can take the fight to Macau.”

Augusto Farfus (Car Number 10):
Race 1: 6th, 1:34.273 min – Race 2: 8th, 1:35.361 min – Car weight: 1,198 kg
“In the first race everything went perfectly well. My start was good, the performance was there and without the safety-car phase I could have even made it further up the field. I was also able to push hard in race two, and the start was great again. When Andy tried to pass me, I didn’t want to risk too much. Unfortunately Alain Menu also tried to squeeze through and our cars collided. Even after this incident my car was running well. But eighth place was all I could achieve after dropping back.”

Colin Turkington (Car Number 29):
Race 1: 3rd, 1:34.108 min – Race 2: 2nd, 1:34.903 min – Car weight: 1,123 kg
“These two races were just fantastic for me – and the result is just perfect for our team. When we last competed in the WTCC rounds in Brands Hatch, we were also on the podium twice. Today we were quick from the very first lap. I managed to keep my concentration high and made no mistakes. We were rewarded with two podium finishes.”

[Source: BMW ]

Press Release: BMW Motorsport and Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts today announced a global partnership, building on their original UK sponsorship agreement.

As ‘Official Partner of BMW Motorsport’ the Crowne Plaza logo is visible on the BMW 320si WTCC cars in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, and on the BMW M3 GT2s that compete in the American Le Mans Series, in the Le Mans Series and in the 24-hour classics.

BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen says: “Crowne Plaza has supported our BMW Team UK in the World Touring Car Championship over the past years. We are very happy that this partnership is now extended to our GT programme as well. As a successful international company, the Crowne Plaza brand perfectly fits with BMW Motorsport.”

IHG Chief Marketing Officer Tom Seddon adds: “This is a fantastic opportunity for two like-minded brands to prove just how powerful partnerships can be. In addition to sharing the same markets and relentless commitment to great service, Crowne Plaza and BMW also share many of the same customers – together offering them a great lifestyle choice.”

Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts is a dynamic hotel brand currently located in nearly 60 countries around the world. Truly international, Crowne Plaza offers premium accommodation, designed for the discerning business and leisure traveller who appreciates simplified elegance combined with the practicality of the latest features, as well as value for money. At Crowne Plaza, guests can enjoy a 24-hour business service, wireless high speed internet access in the lobby plus fitness and leisure facilities.

[Source: BMW ]

Press Release: With second- and fourth-place GT class finishes in yesterday’s Utah Grand Prix, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team has raced BMW to the top of the GT Manufacturer point standings after four rounds of competition in the 2010 American Le Mans Series.

Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner, co-driving the No. 92 M3 GT, finished 14 seconds behind the winner in the two-hour-and-forty-five-minute contest, continuing this season’s BMW-RLR podium streak. Joey Hand and Dirk Müller finished fourth in the No. 90 M3 GT, losing a third-place finish in the closing minutes of the race as a damaged exhaust reduced the BMW’s power.

Auberlen and Milner’s third podium finish of the year leapfrogs them ahead of teammates Hand and Müller to third in GT driver points. Hand and Müller stand fourth.

The race was slowed by two caution periods within the first 15 minutes of competition and the team chose to split strategies for a second consecutive race. While pitting Hand in the No. 90 M3 GT from fifth for fuel during the second yellow, the team elected to keep Milner and the No. 92 M3 GT on track. As the balance of the GT field pitted, the Virginian inherited the lead and held it until he handed off to Auberlen just before the one hour mark in the race’s third caution period.

Hand drove the No. 90 M3 GT to fourth place before handing off to Müller on his 46th lap. Auberlen continued in second after losing the lead just after the restart. With 45 minutes remaining Auberlen held on to second place with the third-place competitor glued to his rear bumper. Muller, approximately one minute behind Auberlen, maintained fifth position until a competitor’s flat tire helped him move up briefly to third place. He was unable to hold the final podium spot as his engine continued to lose power due to a damaged exhaust pipe.

BMW-RLR on YouTube: Tommy Milner and Bill Auberlen reflect on 2nd-place at Salt Lake City.

“Consistency has been the calling card of our season so far this year and it paid off this weekend not only with another podium finish for the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team, but now it has moved us into the top spot in the GT Manufacturer Standings,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal. “I am very proud of the efforts everyone at BMW and RLR has made so far this year and our drivers continue to do a great job in what is a very competitive class.”

BMW-RLR on YouTube: Program Manager Martin Birkmann on team performance at Salt Lake City.

Next, the ALMS moves back to BMW’s home track, Lime Rock Park, in Lakeville, Conn., for the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix on July 24. The race will be televised live on SPEED.

[Source: BMW ]

The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team M3 GTs will start fifth and sixth in the ultra-competitive GT class for Sunday’s American Le Mans Series Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix.

Tommy Milner, in his first qualifying run of the season, placed the No. 92 M3 GT fifth on the GT grid with a time of 1:47.966 minutes around the 3.048-mile, 15-turn circuit, only .299 seconds off the pole. A scant .004 seconds back, Dirk Müller drove the No. 90 M3 GT to the sixth starting position. Today’s qualifying session saw the top-nine GT cars qualify within one second of the pole.

With four podium finishes in the first three races of the season, BMW stands second in GT manufacturer points. BMW M3 GT co-drivers Joey Hand and Dirk Müller, along with Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner, stand third and fourth in Driver points, respectively.

The Larry H. Miller Dealerships Utah Grand Prix is scheduled to start at 2:35 p.m. on Sunday. The two-hour-and-forty-five-minute contest will be broadcast same-day on
SPEED television beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.

Tommy Milner takes you for a lap in the M3 GT at Miller Motorsports Park

[Source: BMW ]

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team is testing a Le Mans-spec bodywork and they aim to have it ready for Lime Rock race. BMW’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans delivered mixed results, but BMW Motorsport has taken some of the lessons learned from the development of its European-spec M3 GT2s to strengthen its American Le Mans Series program.

BMW RLR is currently evaluation the use of the M3’s new bodywork package that was seen on the Schnitzer-run cars in the early season Le Mans Series races and at Le Mans.

According to SpeedTV, since the car’s ALMS debut last year in GT2, BMW has struggled to find the perfect aero balance with its V8-powered machines. A late change from IMSA’s outgoing GT2S regulations to GT2 resulted in the loss of front and rear downforce as BMW of North America’s motorsports manager Martin Birkmann explains:

“One of the car’s weaknesses we had last year was the removal of the dive planes. It was OK on the GT2S, but not on the GT2 and the waiver was not granted to keep those,” said Birkmann. “So we struggled a little bit on getting the car aero balanced. We hope that the Le Mans aero package will improve that.”

The Euro-spec aero package features brand-new front, rear and side sections as well as redesigned wheel arches, all aimed at increasing downforce and reducing drag. BMW RLR tested the the aero package for the first time last week at Road Atlanta. Based on the initial positive results, BMW hopes to introduce the aero package at the Lime Rock race in August.

In a short interview for the same SpeedTV, Martin Birkman, head of Motorsport in the US said: “We needed to have [ACO] approval before we tested it. Initially, the sanctioning for 2010 was that no changes were permitted as a means to control costs. It was aimed to help teams not develop themselves out of budget and out of reason. But since this aero kit was in development within the confines of the ACO requirements, I think it eventually swayed the approval process.”

With no win this year, BMW hopes to go back to the winners lane in this year’s championship.

“There’s five or six cars in contention each race,” Birkmann said of the ultra-competitive GT division. “It’s top driving talent, extremely professionally run teams and it’s a pretty darn good show. Globally, I don’t think you’ll find that anywhere else but in the GT class in the American Le Mans Series. That’s my firm belief.”

[Source: SpeedTV ]

Thanks for the tip Misha!