ALMS season gets into full swing: BMW Team RLL wants to extend its string of successes in Lime Rock.

Munich, 6th July 2011. The traditional hiatus of the American Le Mans Series around the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FR) comes to an end for BMW Team RLL this Saturday in Lime Rock (US). Following the GT one-two finish in Sebring (US) and victory in Long Beach (US), the squad is determined to consolidate its lead in all the overall GT standings of the series at the home event for BMW of North America.

The race at this naturally contoured circuit, situated in the northwest of the US state of Connecticut, regularly attracts sell-out crowds despite having no grandstands, therefore giving the venue a picnic-like atmosphere. The first race was contested at Lime Rock in 1957. Despite being upgraded in 2008, its 1.53-mile layout effectively makes it a sprint circuit. In 2010 BMW Team RLL proved its potential here with second and third.

In the GT drivers’ standings, Dirk Müller (DE) and Joey Hand (US), who will alternate at the wheel of the no. 56 BMW M3 GT, hold the lead with 50 points each. Dirk Werner (DE) and Bill Auberlen (US), driving the no. 55 car again in Lime Rock, have 30 points to their names, which puts them in fourth. Also in the manufacturer and team championships BMW and BMW Team RLL lead the field with 50 points scored so far.

Bobby Rahal (Team Principal):“The BMW Team RLL guys have been champing at the bit to get back to the track after such a long hiatus. We are the hunted instead of the hunter at the moment and we’ll have to be ready to take everyone’s best shots. We have had some good tests, gotten great support from BMW as well as good tyre input from Dunlop, so the team and the drivers are confident that we will go to Lime Rock Park and have another chance to do well.”

Bill Auberlen (Car number 55):“After Long Beach I haven’t been sitting around waiting for Lime Rock. Most of my time has been spent in an BMW M3 getting podiums and winning races in GRAND AM competition. Let’s get back to dominating the ALMS. Lime Rock Park is a BMW track, we have been all over the podium there.”

Dirk Werner (Car number 55):“It’s great that the ALMS finally goes into its next round. Our BMW M3 GT has been really strong in the first two races, so I have high hopes for the remainder of the season. Lime Rock is a short and tight track. There’s no time to take a breath in the cockpit. It will be a tough race, for sure. I last raced there in 2008 and was on pole. This proves that I get along well with this track.”

Joey Hand (Car number 56):“I feel awesome coming off Le Mans. We went to win, but a third place finish is just great. Racing and then standing on the Le Mans podium made me gain a huge respect for the event. Following Le Mans it was right back to testing at Road Atlanta with BMW Team RLL. Heading to Lime Rock we can put into play all we learned at Atlanta with the tyres and new set-ups. Lime Rock Park is BMW NA’s home track and we really get a good feeling from the crowds. There are seven more races this season, and I know we can keep our great momentum going.”

Dirk Müller (Car number 56): “A packed programme lies behind me. Third place at the Le Mans 24 Hours was a nice success, while we suffered a dose of bad luck in the Nürburgring 24-hour race. Following a stop at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, I’m now fired up for ALMS. All I can say is the whole team is extremely motivated. We are leading the championship and will try to continue what we started with our victories in Sebring and Long Beach. We are well prepared.”