Bill Auberlen piloted the #96 Turner Motorsport M3 to the fastest time in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series Grand Sport class at the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test days at Daytona, and Eric Foss in Murillo Racing’s 328i was fastest in the Street Tuner Class.
BMW Team RLL’s Z4s were eighth and ninth in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship GT Le Mans class, while Turner’s GTD class Z4 was 26th in the GT Daytona Class. It was anticipated that the Z4s would lag the higher-horsepower competitors on the quick Daytona circuit. Still, BMW fans may take some comfort in the knowledge that the Roar was a test; the teams were learning about the cars, so comparative test times may or may not have been conclusive. Also, the GTD rules for individual cars are not yet set, so adjustments may be forthcoming before the Rolex 24.
In any case, a Porsche, the two Corvettes, and an SRT Viper were quickest in the GTLM class. The Porsche North America 911 RSR’s quickest time was a 1:45.564; the eighth place #56 Z4’s quickest was a 1:46.877. The fastest time in the 28-car GTD class was the Flying Lizard Audi R8’s 1:47.981; the Turner Z4’s best was a 1:49.249.
BMWs were fastest in most CTSCC practice sessions, with Fall-Line and Turner M3s leading the Grand Sport pack and with Foss in the Murillo 328i leading three sessions and Tyler Cooke in a BimmerWorld 328i leading one.
No doubt there will be changes that affect performance before the CTSCC and TUSC season openers in Daytona later this month. Remember; the Roar was only a test.—Brian S. Morgan
