Racing News

    BMW Team RLL will be racing for an overall victory at this weekend’s Oak Tree Grand Prix as round eight of the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship is held at Virginia International Raceway, in Alton, VA, on August 23.
     
    BMW arrives at the 3.27-mile, 18-turn circuit three points behind Porsche in the GTLM class Manufacturer points standings after disappointing fifth and sixth place finishes at Road America on Aug. 9.  Bill Auberlen and Dirk Werner stand second in the driver points standings. John Edwards and Lucas Luhr stand fourth. The #25 Z4 and #24 Z4 are second and fourth in team points standings respectively.
     
    Bobby Rahal, Team Principal: “At VIR you have to have a good handling car, but I still think of it as a horsepower track because it has a very long straightaway. It is clear something should be done about the Balance of Performance because the BMWs and Corvettes didn’t even have a look in at Road America. It was pretty silly if you ask me.”
     
    Bill Auberlen, #25 BMW Z4 GTLM: “This year continues to be one of the most competitive I can remember. Early on, it seemed to be the Corvettes that posed our biggest challenge. Now Porsche has won the last three rounds. I think the championship will come down to the last race and this weekend’s GT only event will be a very good indicator of who will be the favorite for the title.”
     
    Dirk Werner, #25 BMW Z4 GTLM: “VIR is another track in our calendar with a wonderful layout that is quite unique. I have great memories of it because I won my first American sports car race there in 2007. As a team we have to work hard before and during the race to get back in shape for the championship fight. I am ready to push hard again."
     
    John Edwards, #24 BMW Z4 GTLM: “Last year’s race at VIR was an intense one. We were close to the fight for the win, but didn’t quite have the pace to force our way past anyone. However, our car has been faster this year than it was last year so I’m hopeful that we can move up the podium as we move into the most crucial part of the season. Although Lucas and I have dropped back a bit in the points, BMW is still in a tight battle for the manufacturer’s championship and we don’t plan on letting Porsche steal it away from us in the last part of the season.”
     
    Lucas Luhr, #24 BMW Z4 GTLM: “VIR is awesome, it is one of my favorite tracks in the USA. I miss seeing the Oak Tree. There was something quite special about that. The circuit is so fast but also surprisingly technical - a real challenge for a driver. John and I still have a chance for the drivers title and so do our teammates. More importantly, we are in a very big fight for the manufacturer championship. We have to get as many points as possible this weekend. With only two rounds after VIR, as usual every point is important and now this late in the season we cannot afford to lose any.” 
     
    The Oak Tree Grand Prix at VIR takes the green flag at 1:05 p.m. ET Sunday, August 23 and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET. Follow BMW Team RLL on Twitter at @BMWUSARacing for “from-the-pit-box” updates all weekend.
     
    If you are planning on attending the race, the Tarheel & National Capital Chapters are pleased to be hosting a hospitality tent August 22–23. There will be lunch on both days with special guests, as well as drawings for door prizes on Saturday and Sunday! You can find more information here >> https://www.bmwcca.org/event/54926.—Nate Risch