Press Release: Perfect kickoff to the flavour for BMW Squad RLL in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS): The no. 56 BMW M3 GT, driven by Dirk Muller (DE), Joey Hand (The states) and Andy Priaulx (GB) claimed GT victory in the 12-hour race in Sebring (The states) subsequently 312 laps. Dirk Werner (DE), Bill Auberlen (US) and Augusto Farfus (BR) came 2nd with the no. 55 BMW M3 GT, making information technology a clean sweep for BMW Motorsport in this classic endurance race.

With this strong result, the BMW drivers scored valuable points for two championships. The race at the "Sebring International Raceway" not but counts towards the American Le Mans Series, only also the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

For BMW Squad RLL, last season's ALMS 2010 GT Squad and Manufacturer champions, this is their third ALMS win subsequently scoring back-to-dorsum victories in Road America (United states of america) in 2009 and 2010. Now the Bobby Rahal (US) led team celebrated its maiden triumph in Sebring. The latest class win for the BMW M3 at this issue dates dorsum to 1998, when Boris Said (U.s.) and Bill Auberlen won the GT-3 category. In the post-obit year, BMW Motorsport secured the overall win with the BMW V12 LMR.

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Over the unabridged 2011 race at the 3.7-mile circuit, the 2 BMW M3 GT cars were involved in thrilling fights with the opposition. The lead inverse countless times, and the field was brought together once more and once more during nine total-course yellows. Ultimately the BMW Squad RLL combination of a perfectly reliable car, stiff drivers, good strategy, excellent Dunlop tyres and flawless pit stops proved to be invincible.

The two newly constructed BMW M3 GT racing cars completed the marathon in Florida without technical problems, passing their get-go major test with flying colours. BMW Team RLL will endeavour to build on this success in the 2nd round of the American Le Mans Series which will be staged at Long Beach (United states of america) on 16th April 2011. In the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup BMW Team Schnitzer will be in activeness for
the first fourth dimension this year at the one,000-kilometre race in Spa-Francorchamps (Be) on seventh May 2011.

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Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director): "This was a perfect start for u.s.a. in the 2011 ALMS season. We won in a very hard-fought race against very strong competitors and celebrated a fantastic ane-2 with our BMW M3 GT cars. A large compliment not only goes to our drivers simply also to the development squad in Munich and BMW Team RLL. Everyone did a groovy job here in Sebring, from the beginning to the
last pit stop."

Bobby Rahal (Team Principal): "I accept won this race every bit a driver and now too as a team owner. This certainly is a corking honor. The drivers and the team worked exceptionally well, the Dunlop tyres were excellent and the cars really didn't miss a beat.. This is a cracking beginning to our season."

Dirk Muller (Auto number 56): "I'm incredibly happy now. It'south never easy to win a 12- hour race, just today it was extra tough. Over the entire race we were amid the front-runners and believed in our adventure. This victory is the perfect for reward for all the difficult piece of work which was put in by BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL over the winter."

Joey Paw (Car number 56): "I came to Sebring with a really good feeling that we could win this – and at present it really worked out. The victory belongs to everyone in BMW Squad RLL. In the off-season the guys built 2 brand-new BMW M3 GT cars that worked well from the give-and-take get. I besides want to say give thanks you to Dunlop. The tyres played an important office today and we had this advantage on our side."

Andy Priaulx (Machine number 56): "What a bully consequence. The squad did a flawless job and didn't make a single mistake over the 12 hours. Following our bad luck in the first stint, we managed to piece of work our way upward front. Our squad-mates would have likewise deserved victory. Only I remember that we can all be very happy with this one-two."

Dirk Werner (Car number 55): "This really was a peachy race. I'm satisfied with 2nd identify and this fantastic overall result. The points we were able to score today, volition be very valuable over the class of the ALMS flavour. Ahead of this race nosotros were actually confident to be competitive, simply this i-two comes equally a squeamish surprise to all of usa."

Bill Auberlen (Car number 55): "For the team and BMW Motorsport this certainly is a dream result. As a driver y'all always want to brand it to the top step of the podium, but overall I only take positive impressions away from this race. The adjacent ALMS outcome will in my lawn Long Beach. We at present know exactly how potent we are, and I volition again push button hard in that location."

Augusto Farfus (Car number 55): "Racing here in Sebring was a great experience. The BMW M3 GT showed a strong pace, which makes me very optimistic for the coming races in Europe. We suffered a dose of bad luck on several occasions during the race. All the same I really enjoyed every stint. I did one of my first tests with the BMW M3 here in Sebring. To come back and brand it on the podium is fantastic."

[Source: BMW]