BMW Team RLL claims eighth and ninth GTLM starting positions for 65th 12 Hours of Sebring.

  • Nick Catsburg and Alexander Sims at the wheel in qualifying
    for the Twelve Hours of Sebring for BMW Team RLL.
  • Entire GTLM field separated by 1.5 seconds at the “Sebring
    International Raceway”.
  • 12h race to begin on Saturday at 10:40hrs local time.

 

Sebring. In qualifying for the second round of the 2017 IMSA
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) in Sebring (USA), BMW Team
RLL finished eighth and ninth in the GTLM class respectively. At the
wheel of the number 24 BMW M6 GTLM, Nick Catsburg (NED) clocked a
lap time of 1:56.617 minutes. His team-mate Alexander Sims (GBR) was
just 0.043 seconds slower than the Dutchman. Pole position for the
classic 12-hour race in Florida was secured by Ryan Briscoe (AUS),
driving the number 67 Ford, with a best time of 1:55.939 minutes.

 

BMW Team RLL continued to improve for Saturday’s race at the “Sebring
International Raceway” as the second day of practice concluded with
this afternoon’s qualifying session. When the chequered flag flew
after the 15-minute session, only 0.721 seconds separated the
pole-setter and Sims in P9. This close competition in the GTLM class
promises an exciting race that will go green on Saturday at 10:40hrs
local time.

 

Catsburg will then share driving duties in the number 24 car with
Martin Tomczyk (GER) and John Edwards (USA). Sims will make his first
appearance in the Twelve Hours of Sebring alongside Bill Auberlen
(USA) and Kuno Wittmer (CAN).

 

In the GTD class, the Turner Motorsport team enters the number 96 BMW
M6 GT3 in Sebring. Justin Marks (USA) claimed 16th on the
grid. He will alternate at the wheel of the Turner car with BMW works
driver Jens Klingmann (GER) and Jesse Krohn (FIN).

 

Nick Catsburg (No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM): “I think we can
be reasonably happy with this result. If you look at Daytona and the
practice sessions here, then this qualifying pace was quite okay. This
makes me be optimistic for the race. Overall we are heading into the
right direction.”

 

Alexander Sims (No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM): “Ninth on the
grid isn’t a dream result, but the lap times weren’t that bad really.
My first lap was okay, then I made a small mistake and aborted my run.
So we could also save our tyres a bit for the race. Compared to
yesterday we obviously took a small step forward.”