Summerton will share a car with Joey Hand and Dirk Müller
BMW Motorsport announced today that Jonathan Summerton will share the BMW Team RLL #56 M3 at Sebring with Joey Hand and Dirk Müller, the series’ defending GT class drivers’ champions.
Summerton began racing in karts and in the Skip Barber Series at age 14. In 2004, when he was 16, he moved to Formula BMW USA. After racing in Formula BMW in the US and Europe, he raced in the Formula 3 Euroseries, A1GP, Formula Atlantic, and Indy Lights.
Summerton will also substitute for Hand in the ALMS M3 later in the season when Hand is away racing in the DTM series in Europe.
Bill Auberlen, Jörg Müller, and Uwe Alzen will pilot Team RLL’s other M3 at Sebring.
Team principal Bobby Rahal said “We’ve made a number of changes this season. Although not as outwardly obvious as in previous years, we have continued to develop the BMW M3 GT for this season. For 2012, most of the improvements are under the skin to take advantage of some of the new tires that Dunlop has developed. As we’ve done in every season, the driver line-up has been modified with Jörg Müller replacing Dirk Werner for the season. We’ve also added Uwe Alzen as a third driver at both Sebring and Petit. I’m also excited to add Jonathan Summerton for four races to substitute for Joey. Along with my son Graham, Jonathan was one of the first six Formula BMW USA scholarship winners in 2004. I believe Jonathan will do a good job for us. Anchoring the line-up will, of course, be Bill Auberlen and Dirk Müller.”
The 60th running of the 12 Hours of Sebring will start at 10:30 AM eastern time on Saturday, March 17.—Brian S. Morgan, motorsports editor, bmwcca.org
