BMW Team RLL - Road America - Preview

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – Aug. 2nd, 2016… BMW Team RLL is looking to Road America, in Elkhart Lake, Wis., for a repeat of the magic the classic road racing circuit brought to the team when it raced to its first BMW victory in 2009 to see the BMW M6 GTLM reach the top of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship GTLM class podium.

From that first win in 2009, a BMW Team RLL BMW M3 GT2 won twice more at Road America in the remaining three years of that program, finishing second in 2011 - the only year it failed to win. The BMW Z4 program raced from 2013 through 2016 with the Road America highlight being a run to second from the pole in 2014.

This season’s two-hour-and-forty-minute Continental Tire Road Race Showcase will see BMW Team RLL arrive with two newly rebuilt racing cars after both were crashed out by a competitor during the July 23rd race at Lime Rock Park. Both Bill Auberlen and Lucas Luhr were unable to race.

After seven rounds completed and four remaining in the season, Auberlen and Dirk Werner, with two podium finishes to their credit, stand fourth in GTLM driver points. Luhr and John Edwards stand ninth. BMW stands fifth in Manufacturer points.

“BMW Team RLL has been very successful at Road America over the years,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal. “The fast, sweeping corners lend themselves to BMW’s handling strengths. I believe the M6 GTLM is equally well suited to the circuit, just as it was at Watkins Glen - a track with similar corners. And, of course, Road America is a track that is one of my favorites in the world.”

Bill Auberlen, driver No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM: “We are now headed to the best track in America and it is time to bring home a win for the BMW M6 GLTM. It's long overdue and our recent results haven't shown how amazing the car really is. Next week is time to win. Period.”

Dirk Werner, driver No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM: “Road America is one of the best tracks we go to during the season. And I will go there just after competing in the 24h of Spa on one of the best tracks in Europe. Good times for me! I think we will have a competitive car, just like we had in the last couple of races. The team is working without a break to improve our package. They want to get our first win with the M6 GTLM as much as Bill and I do."

John Edwards, driver No. 100 BMW M6 GTLM: “Elkhart Lake is always a fun place to go race. It's a very historic track so there is a great energy around the track and the town when we go there. Road America is also home to the Kink, the fastest corner on our calendar, which has some big consequences if you get it wrong! The track also has some long straight always which open up the opportunity for more passing than a typical circuit. It should be a great race.”

Lucas Luhr, driver No. 100 BMW M6 GTLM: “Road America is by far my favorite circuit in the US. It would be wonderful to turn the season around this weekend for the No. 100 car and show a result that better reflects the level of effort everyone has put in and the performance the M6 GTLM really has.”

The Continental Tire Road Race Showcase takes the green flag at 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday, Aug. 7 with the live broadcast beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1. Follow BMW Team RLL on Twitter at @BMWUSARacing for “from-the-pit-box” updates all weekend.

BMW Group In America

BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003.  The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand of motor vehicles, including motorcycles, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; Designworks, a strategic design consultancy in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group’s global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all X5 and X3 Sports Activity Vehicles and X6 and X4 Sports Activity Coupes.  The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 341 BMW passenger car and BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 153 BMW motorcycle retailers, 126 MINI passenger car dealers, and 36 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers.  BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group’s sales headquarters for North America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

The BMW Group

With its three brands BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce, the BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services. As a global company, the BMW Group operates 31 production and assembly facilities in 14 countries and has a global sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2015, the BMW Group sold approximately 2.247 million cars and nearly 137,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax for the financial year 2015 was approximately € 9.22 billion on revenues amounting to € 92.18 billion. As of 31 December 2015, the BMW Group had a workforce of 122,244 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

BMW’s partner, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan, has been competing for over two decades. Prior to the start of their 25th season of competition in 2016, the team has compiled 37 victories, 49 poles, 144 podium finishes, three series championships (1992, 2010, 2011) and claimed an Indianapolis 500 victory (Buddy Rice in 2004). In 2009 the team joined BMW of North America to campaign the new BMW M3 in the American Le Mans Series. The following year the team won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category and swept all three GT titles - Manufacturer, Team and Driver – in 2011. In 2012 the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. The 2014 season brought a new challenge with the creation of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the team finished on the podium six times including four second-place finishes. In 2015, the team earned three wins, two poles and a total of eight podium finishes to finish second in the Manufacturer, Team and Driver championships. Prior to the start of the 2016 season BMW Team RLL had won 13 races, 20 poles and 57 podium finishes.

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Journalist note: Information about BMW Group and its products in the USA is available to journalists on-line at www.bmwgroupusanews.com and www.press.bmwna.com.

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