Munich
.
BMW Team RLL is ready for the eighth round of the 2019 IMSA
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at Road America (USA). The
circuit in Elkhart Lake is always something special for the squad
around Team Principal Bobby Rahal (USA). It was the site of the
team’s very first victory with BMW – a win for Bill Auberlen and
Joey Hand (both USA) from the pole in 2009.
Over the last years, the team has scored two more poles, two more
victories and five additional podium finishes at Road America. With
the recent success at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CAN), a similar
high-speed, flowing, old school circuit, where the team qualified
one-two and finished second and fourth the team is ready for a good
weekend at Road America.
Tom Blomqvist (GBR), competing in his first race at Road America, and
Connor De Phillippi (USA) will drive the #25 BMW M8 GTE and John
Edwards (USA) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) will pilot the #24 BMW M8 GTE. The
green flag for the two-hour-and-forty-minute race falls at 1:35 p.m.
local time on Sunday, August 4th.
Quotes ahead of the race at Road America.
Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW Team RLL): “I think
most folks know that Road America is my favourite circuit in North
America. Over the years the track has been very good to us as it has
seemingly been designed for a BMW with the track’s long straights and
flowing corners – regardless if it is a BMW M3, BMW Z4, BMW M6 or BMW
M8. We were very competitive at Canadian Motorsport Park so I believe
we have to be optimistic about our chances at Road America.”
Tom Blomqvist (#25 BMW M8 GTE): “I’ve been lucky
enough to have tested already at Road America earlier in the year and
I can tell you it’s one of my favourites. It’s an epic track and one
that should suit our package. We’ve been making steady progress in the
right direction and we will be aiming for nothing less than a top
three finish.”
Connor De Phillippi (#25 BMW M8 GTE): “Road America
is one of the ultimate tracks in North America and it fits the
strengths of our BMW M8 GTE perfectly. We came so close to pulling off
the victory last year and this coming weekend we have the chance to
redeem ourselves. The combination of high and low speed flow is second
to none.”
John Edwards (#24 BMW M8 GTE): “We had a good test at
Road America and we had good pace there last year. The track at Road
America should suit our BMW M8 GTE well and I think we have a good
shot at winning. The atmosphere in Elkhart Lake is always awesome as
it feels like the town is centred around racing. I’m looking forward
to being back and hopefully standing on the podium again.”
Jesse Krohn (#24 BMW M8 GTE): “Road America is my
favourite track in the US. Fast, long, technical and flowing corners
is everything that a driver wants from a race track. Road America also
suits our BMW M8 GTE very well.”