Munich. Lime Rock Park (USA) has long been considered BMW of
North America’s home track. Only 90 miles from the Woodcliff Lake
(USA) headquarters, the short, fast circuit has been the site of
numerous BMW victories since 1975 and possibly a third consecutive
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) win this weekend at
the Northeast Grand Prix.
BMW Team RLL has amassed five podium finishes with the BMW M6 GTLM,
including two wins by Bill Auberlen (USA) and Alexander Sims (GBR), in
the last three races moving BMW to third in GTLM class manufacturer
points standings, Auberlen and Sims and the number 25 BMW M6 GTLM to
second in driver and team points respectively. Team-mates John Edwards
(USA) and Martin Tomczyk (GER) have moved up to seventh in driver
points after two podium finishes in the last three races in the number
24 BMW M6 GTLM.
The Northeast Grand Prix will see a confident BMW Team RLL arrive
with adjustments to the cars as mandated by the series Balance of
Performance rules. BMW Team RLL has made significant progress in the
handling performance of the BMW M6 GTLM in recent tests, which have
contributed greatly to the results of the past few race weekends.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal, BMW Team RLL):
“Obviously we are pleased with the level of success that we have had
so far this year. The cars are now competitive compared to where we
were last year and the early part of this year. I’m really pleased and
very appreciative of all the work that BMW Motorsport and our team has
done in improving the handling of the car. We have found some real
gains recently that have really made the car quite good in these long,
fast corners. Lime Rock is not Watkins Glen or Mosport in terms of
length and overall speed perhaps but it does have a fair number of
reasonably quick corners and, once again, that tends to play to our
strength. BMW has had a long relationship with Lime Rock and it’s our
home track so, needless to say, doing well there is very important to
us and would be a great place to continue our success. Our drivers are
doing a really good job in terms of getting the most out of the car
and our pit stops have been good. With all of that in mind, you have
to go into the race weekend feeling optimistic.”
Bill Auberlen (No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM): “Wow, what a run
we have going in our number BMW M6 GTLM. In the last three races we’ve
finished second, first and first. That has put us second in the
championship, just three points behind. The only thing on my mind is
podium after podium that will lead to the championship at the end of
the year.”
Alexander Sims (No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM): “I am looking
forward to getting to another new track and learning all I can before
the race. Mosport went well under similar conditions so I can only
hope we can recreate that sort of pace and fight for the podium
positions again.”
John Edwards (No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM): “It’s been a great
few races for us and I’m excited to carry the momentum into Lime Rock.
This is the track where I had my first win as a BMW driver back in
2013 so I have some great memories here. The race is as close as we’ll
get to a home race for BMW so it would be special to win here again.
Although we don’t have the prototypes with us this race, Lime Rock is
still one of the most challenging tracks to get through traffic so it
is definitely going to be a frantic race!”
Martin Tomczyk (No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM): “It will be a
great feeling coming to Lime Rock after the one-two at Mosport. The
team is highly motivated and we will try to use this momentum for Lime
Rock. For me the track is again a new one. So far it has never been a
problem to adapt quickly to any new tracks in the US.”