BMW Team RLL spent three days testing at Sebring International Raceway, preparing their new BMW M6 GTLM race cars for the second race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the iconic 12 Hours of Sebring. BMW drivers Bill Auberlen, John Edwards, Lucas Luhr, Dirk Werner, and Kuno Wittmer shared testing duties at the 3.7-mile circuit.
Turner Motorsport was also in action, testing their BMW M6 GT3s, with which the team competes in the GTD class of the IWSC. Roundel Weekly correspondent, Ashley Freiberg, was got some valuable time behind the wheel and recorded one of the fastest laps for the team.
Three questions for Bill Auberlen:
Bill, what areas of the new car have you worked on during testing?
“We worked on several areas. We fine-tuned the overall package in order to further improve the BMW M6 GTLM and to make it as reliable as possible. In addition, the test served us drivers to further get acquainted with the size of the car and the central seat position. You try to understand how many millimetres are left before you hit the curb or leave the track. As a driver, you are always fine-tuning on that.”
What do you specifically like about Sebring?
“Sebring is my most favourite circuit next to Long Beach. For me, the 12-hour race is the best endurance event in the world and it is the most historical sports car race in the United States. The best of the best from the world come here to compete. Our class is so competitive, so if you are within the top three you are doing great.”
What do you expect from the 12-hour race?
“We have won this race quite a few times and have often been on the podium. If we take what we learned from Daytona and improve on it, then we can aim for a top result in Sebring.”
The 12 Hours of Sebring will take place March 18-19 and can be watched on television via a combination of Fox Sports 1 and 2. You can watch the race in its entirety online at IMSA.com and you can follow the team on twitter at www.twitter.com/BMWUSARacing.
