With wins in Long Beach and Laguna Seca, plus two runner-up finishes in the first four races of the season, BMW Team RLL sits at the top of the GTLM class Manufacturer points standings. In the Team points standings, BMW Team RLL stands second (#25) and third (#24) with co-drivers Bill Auberlen and Dirk Werner (#25) and John Edwards and Lucas Luhr (#24) second and third in Driver points respectively.
The team shoehorned in a productive two-day test on May 20-21 at Watkins Glen with Auberlen, Edwards and Luhr attending. More than 200 laps were run on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn circuit.
Last year, Andy Priaulx qualified the #55 Z4 GTLM on the class pole for the six-hour contest, but the team struggled with pace over the longer stints in the race. With this year's Balance of Performance (BOP) adjustments, the team should be more competitive.
Bobby Rahal, Team Principal: “Interestingly enough, I wasn’t confident about our abilities at Laguna Seca and yet obviously we had a pretty good result. Watkins Glen is a faster circuit than Laguna but it’s still all about handling so I actually feel somewhat better about our chances. Last year we qualified on pole at Watkins Glen but it was a difficult race for us, we had all kinds of issues with one car and we didn’t finish very well. I think it will be a tough, competitive race but I’m optimistic that if we minimize mistakes we can capture another podium.”
Bill Auberlen, driver, #25 BMW Z4 GTLM: “Testing at the Glen is a very important component to success in the Six Hour. The circuit is so long and challenging, with complicated corners like turn five and the Carousel that lead you onto the long straights, you need to understand exactly how to be your best. We have received some balance of performance upgrades this season that have benefited us and we must ensure we make proper use of them at the Glen.”
Dirk Werner, driver, #25 BMW Z4 GTLM: “I am very excited to drive at Watkins Glen in our next USCC race. I have some experience there with a win the GT class in the 2009 Grand Am race. I think I will need to get back in the rhythm a bit after not being in the car since Laguna Seca. But then I will, for sure, enjoy this great track. It has a good flow and some nice quick corners. But most important: We will keep pushing for good results!”
John Edwards, driver, #24 BMW Z4 GTLM: “Certainly the 1-2 finish at Laguna Seca was an important one for the team, possibly even more so than the win at Long Beach because it showed the performance of the Z4 is now more of a complete package. Watkins Glen is the acid test because we struggled there last season. We have to be solid in every stint and continue to post strong results.”
Lucas Luhr, driver, #24 BMW Z4 GTLM: “The Six Hour is always an excellent event - lots of fans and people camping along the circuit. I enjoy racing at the Glen. The team has continued to improve with every race. John and I got our first victory of the season at Laguna Seca and we are working hard for another.”
The green flag will drop for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen at 10:00 a.m. ET Sunday, June 28 and will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 1 from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. ET and FOX Sports 2 from 2:00–4:30 p.m. Follow BMW Team RLL on Twitter at @BMWUSARacing for “from-the-pit-box” updates all weekend.—Nate Risch
