Sebring – March nineteen, 2011… BMW Team RLL successfully made information technology through the showtime half of the 12-60 minutes race in Sebring (U.s.): Both its BMW M3 GT cars ran within the height-three of the GT category at the flavour opener of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) afterwards six hours. Andy Priaulx (GB) was at the cycle of the 2nd-placed no. 56 BMW M3 GT, when halftime was reached at the "Sebring International Raceway". The 2d BMW M3 GT, driven past Dirk Werner (DE), followed closely behind in third.

The opening phase of the race did not run as planned for car number 56. Over the course of the first stint, Dirk Müller (DE) was involved in ii incidents, which saw him dropping back to the dorsum of the field. Notwithstanding, Müller clawed his way back, which was continued past Joey Hand (US) from lap 45. Following a pit terminate on lap fourscore, the American took over the lead for the first time, after his team-mates in the no. 55 BMW M3 GT had already led the race before in the race. On lap 95, Mitt handed over the car to triple world touring automobile champion Priaulx, who was running in second after 6 hours. The gap to the leading Ferrari was just fractions of a second.

BMW RLR Sebring 2011 655x435

In the no. 55 car, first-stint driver Werner managed to consolidate third place over the first laps. The BMW Squad RLL pit crew proved its quality during a pit end under yellow, giving Pecker Auberlen (US) the necessary advantage to rejoin the race as leader. While he had to give up the lead a little later on once again, he regained starting time place on lap 58. On lap eighty, Augusto Farfus (BR) was on duty for the outset time in his maiden race on US soil and besides led after another full-course yellow. Following another commuter changeover to Werner, the no. 55 automobile holds third in the GT category.

Bobby Rahal (Squad Principal): "The race is unfolding quite positively for us. However, information technology's still a very long manner to go. The longer the race goes, the more difficult it will get. Simply the pace of our BMW M3 GT cars is practiced. If we don't suffer any issues, we should be very competitive until the end."

Augusto Farfus (Machine number 55): "It'southward a dandy feeling to lead this race. However, it's just halftime and a long way down the road. The lead is changing nearly at every pit stop, so you just cannot make any predictions for the result of this race. Our car is dandy, and I really enjoy racing here. With every extra hour, the reliability becomes more of import. Only I'yard very positive that we are very potent in this respect, as well."

Joey Hand (Car number 56): "I take never felt so good in a GT car than during this race. The balance of the BMW M3 GT is just fantastic. The guys from BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL did a great job. Our Dunlop tyres piece of work very well, too, so nosotros can push all the time. The traffic is unbelievable, it's very, very tough out there. You have to be careful and keep abroad from any problem. I worked my fashion back up from outside the top-ten to the very peak. This was skilful fun."

[Source: BMW]