BMW Team RLL celebrates its debut ALMS race in Austin.

Munich (DE), 17th September 2013. BMW Team RLL will face the 3.4-miles and 20 turns of the “Circuit of the Americas” (COTA) in Austin (US) for the first time this weekend in round eight of the 2013 American Le Mans Series. Completed in 2012, the track is notable for being the current home of the Formula 1 US Grand Prix.

Most recently, BMW Team RLL finished third and fourth at the Grand Prix of Baltimore (US) to keep BMW Motorsport driver Dirk Müller (DE) in the GT class title hunt. The podium finish by Müller and Joey Hand (US) sees Müller standing only eight points from the leaders.

This weekend’s race will run for 2.45-hours and, for the first time since the 2009 season, see Bill Auberlen (US) and Hand share a BMW Team RLL car. Hand will substitute for Maxime Martin (BE) in the number 55 BMW Z4 GTE as Martin races for the Blancpain Endurance Series Championship with the Marc VDS Racing team at the Nürburgring (DE). Müller will share the number 56 car with John Edwards (US).

Auberlen and Edwards have experience at COTA, having both competed in the GRAND-AM event there earlier this year. Auberlen drove to both the Rolex GT and Continental Grand Sport victories with Paul Dalla Lana (CA) in the Turner Motorsport BMW M3s.

Bobby Rahal (Team Principal of BMW Team RLL):

“We’re looking forward to racing at Circuit of the Americas. It’s a new circuit for us and it looks fantastic from what I have seen. I’m not quite sure what to expect; it’s a fast track. There are a lot of fast, sweeping corners, which is good for our BMW Z4 GTE, but there is also a long straightaway, which isn’t so good for us. It will be interesting having Joey join Bill. Obviously John and Dirk have shown that they are a good pairing, so it made the most sense to keep them together for this race.”

Bill Auberlen (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):

“I've already won twice in Austin and I’d love to make it three.  Earlier in the year I raced both the GRAND-AM GS and GT races on the same day and managed to win them both, so Austin has been great to me.  I am counting the days down until I get to race the BMW Z4 GTE with my old teammate and friend Joey Hand. I think the two of us together again should make for a winning combination.”

Joey Hand (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 55):

“This was a race I had planned to miss because it falls in between two DTM events, but Maxime has a chance at a championship with Marc VDS and I’m happy to support him and BMW Team RLL at COTA. John will substitute for me in the number 56 car and I’ll join Bill in the 55 machine. I’ve never driven there, but I’ll fly back from Europe on Monday and make the Tuesday test. I’m sure testing time and Bill’s experience will get me right up to speed.”

John Edwards (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):

“I’m excited to get back in the BMW Z4 GTE at Austin. COTA is a world class track and should provide great racing in the GTE class. There are some tight sections as well as lots of quick changes of direction through the esses, which should benefit the handling of our car. This will be a crucial round for the number 56 car as we've dropped behind a little bit in the points. Dirk and I will be pushing hard for the win, but it is most important for us to beat the Corvettes and get Dirk and the number 56 car solidly in the fight for the championship. I'm looking forward to working with BMW Team RLL again after watching the Baltimore round from the outside.”

Dirk Müller (BMW Z4 GTE – car number 56):

“I am really thrilled to race at COTA, as it will be a new race track for me and I love like this kind of challenge. I have heard a lot of good things about the circuit and I watched the F1 and GRAND-AM races to get to know the place. I can’t wait to get our BMW Z4 GTE out on the track. It’s going to be a great race week.”