BMW Team RLL celebrates another podium in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The team finished third and fourth in the GT class at the “Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge” (US). A torrential downpour stopped the two hour 45 minute contest with just 13 minutes remaining with Dirk Werner (DE) and Bill Auberlen (US) finishing third in the No. 55 M3 GT. Teammates, Dirk Müller (DE) and Joey Hand (US), came home fourth in the No. 56 M3 GT for a second consecutive race. The result keeps BMW on top in the GT manufacturer points standings, BMW Team RLL in the lead in the team battle and Mϋller and Hand at the top of the drivers’ standings.
The team elected to start Mϋller in the No. 56 M3 GT after Hand qualified the car on the pole, and he led the GT field across the line on the opening lap. Werner started the No. 55 M3 GT from the second spot, but was slowed by an LMPC car in the first turn and dropped to fifth. Mϋller dropped to third on lap two, but the two BMW works drivers quickly recovered to hold third and fifth as the race began to develop. Mϋller moved up to second before both drivers pitted under green on lap 40.
Auberlen replaced Werner in the No. 55 M3 GT and was able to jump Mϋller, who remained in the No. 56 car, in the pits. Unfortunately the two tangled a few turns later and Auberlen was spun around. Mϋller continued in third with Auberlen dropping back to fourth. As a few rain drops began to fall Mϋller pitted under green just past the one and a half hour mark (lap 64) for Hand to take over. With Dunlop rain tyres ready if the rain intensified, the team elected to send Hand out on slicks.
The rain only began 22 minutes later with Hand pitting for rain tyres on lap 76, and Auberlen following his teammate in on lap 77. Yellow flags waved for a second time in the race just before the two-hour mark, slowing the field with Auberlen circulating in sixth and Hand in eighth. When the green flag waved Hand had contact with a Ferrari to bring out the race’s third caution period. Hand was able to continue, but the rain intensified, making the track treacherous.
Auberlen and Hand charged forward as competitor after competitor slid off the track, making it up to third and fourth before the fourth yellow flag came out. A red flag brought all the cars to the pits and ultimately an end to the race. Round six of the American Le Mans Series will be held at “Road America”, in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin (US), on Saturday, August 20.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal): “It was a tough day for us. We had a bad first pit stop with the No. 56 M3 GT, and that ultimately forced our hand with a strategy call which may have worked if it had not rained. Third and fourth is not a bad way to end, but we always come to finish one-two.”
Bill Auberlen (car number 55): “This place is as difficult from the racing environment as anywhere in the world. We come here and struggle. And this is about the team. We are never quitting, as the team always has a positive attitude. They know how to lift you up. And they are doing this by making the car better from session to session. So you are one and two on the grid. Then you have those crazy races and they bring you right back up again. The guys of BMW Team RLL are so inspirational, that is the reason why the team is so good, combined with BMW and Dunlop. It can be the worst racing environment in the world, but the whole team does a great job and brings you up to pick up a podium. Now we take third place as we head to our lucky place, Elkart Lake, and get some real points.”
