[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Team RLL Places 3rd and 4th at Baltimore ALMS

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BMW Team RLL Finishes 3rd and 4th at Baltimore

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – Aug. 31, 2013 . . . BMW Team RLL finished third and fourth in today’s American Le Mans Series Grand Prix of Baltimore that will go into the record books as the shortest race in ALMS history due to a crash on the first lap that cost the event half of its duration.

The checkered flag flew only one-hour-and-fourteen-minutes after the green flag waved with Dirk Müller and Joey Hand finishing third in the No. 56 BMW Z4 GTE and the No. 55 machine of Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin coming home fourth.

The crash occurred just after the green flag waved, blocking the circuit and involving eight cars. Polesitter Bill Auberlen, in the No. 55 Z4 GTE, just skirted by and Joey Hand, starting the No. 56 Z4 GTE from the 11th position, was able to stop the car untouched. The restart began with two laps behind the pace car and the always quick thinking Bobby Rahal called Hand into the pits immediately – sacrificing the Californian’s minimum drive time and points – to get Müller in the No. 56 right away. Hand may have set a record for the shortest drive in ALMS history, but the move put Müller in the lead and gave him the best chance to stay in the race for the driver’s title. Unfortunately, following the race’s last restart Müller was slowed by a prototype car that missed the line through the chicane and was passed by both Corvettes.

Bill Auberlen had a wild start in the No. 55 Z4 GTE and had a second near miss laps later, but kept the car clean before handing off to Martin after five laps. The Belgian raced as high as second before losing the rear bumper of the car and bringing out a yellow flag. He slipped to fourth in the closing stages of the race.

Unofficially, BMW still stands second in the GT class Manufacturer’s championship and Müller now is fifth is the driver’s title chase, behind both pairs of Corvette drivers, but all are only separated by a scant eight points.

“It seemed like amateur night,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal. “I’m very frustrated. We had a perfect plan and were leading the race. On the last restart a prototype car totally cocked up the chicane and Dirk nearly hit it. He was held up enough for the Corvettes to get by and that was that.”

“We knew this weekend would be rough and tough,” said Gordon McDonnell, BMWNA Motorsport Manager. “We thought the Z4 GTE would be extremely well-suited to this course and we saw that in qualifying. The race seemed to have a mind of its own and we were along for the ride. I’m really proud of the guys for keeping their heads down. They fought really hard and 3rd and 4th is a great result to leave this race with.”

Joey Hand, driver No. 56 Z4 GTE – (3rd) – “We’ll take a third-place but we’re not as excited as we would have been. Dirk did a good job but got unlucky during that restart with the traffic. But that’s what endurance racing is all about. I love racing and came here to race, but today I had to be a team player and get out of the car early. It was just a unique race, to say the least.”

Dirk Müller, driver No. 56 Z4 GTE – (3rd) – “What a race. What a strategy! We pitted early went from dead last, after yesterday’s penalty, all the way up to the front. I had the pace, and the car was strong. On the last restart I was fully prepared but everybody ahead checked up and I had to apply emergency braking into the chicane. Basically the two Corvettes just took advantage of it. Once behind them I was quicker, and was able to close the gap somewhat, but P3 is more than I was hoping for overnight. I’m really happy. There is still a ways to go in the championship; we are getting stronger and stronger. This result was a team effort.”

Bill Auberlen, driver No. 55 Z4 GTE – (4th) – “The team was poised for a 1-2 finish today, but it seemed most of the field came to crash instead of race. I’ve already had a double victory at the Circuit of the Americas this season in the GRAND-AM series driving BMWs so I’ll put today behind us and focus forward to Round Eight.”

Maxime Martin, driver No. 55 Z4 GTE – (4th) – “This certainly was a strange race; very short with no pit stops. We started quite okay but in a little crash I lost two places and the rear bumper, so in the end we weren’t quick enough to stay with the front pack. We are scoring points, but we could have had a much better day.”

Round Eight of the 2013 ALMS season will be held at the Circuit of the Americas, in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 21st. The 2.45-hour race will be broadcast Sunday, Sept. 22nd on ESPN2 television at 1:00 p.m. ET.

[Dackelone]

the other driver needs to read the rule book... lol

[Kief]

It was great being there yesterday!

[Mark M]

It was great to be there buy definitely a very odd and incident riddled race. Seems like anywhere there was an incident the tequila patron car was there causing the carnage.

[PhillyNate]

I'm here and loving it!!!!!!

[tpipta]

Originally Posted by Mark M

It was great to be there buy definitely a very odd and incident riddled race. Seems like anywhere there was an incident the tequila patron car was there causing the carnage.

That's the truth.

[Mrgunfun]

So sad, BMW could have won this race

[zamboni]

Why they would have the tire barriers in the middle on the course?

[positiveions]

Originally Posted by zamboni

Why they would have the tire barriers in the middle on the course?

Beat the heck out of me; that's just plain stupid.
I hope they'll rethink that next year after this incident.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

Originally Posted by zamboni

Why they would have the tire barriers in the middle on the course?

Originally Posted by positiveions

Beat the heck out of me; that's just plain stupid.
I hope they'll rethink that next year after this incident.

They created a chicane to slow the drivers down. There are railroad tracks right in front of that and the drivers were jumping it. Bill lost his bumper after he jumped the tracks and landed.

[SilentAttack]

So jealous. I wish I could be there. Ive never been to one but im sure I will in the near future.

[zamboni]

Originally Posted by PoweredBy///M

They created a chicane to slow the drivers down. There are railroad tracks right in front of that and the drivers were jumping it. Bill lost his bumper after he jumped the tracks and landed.

In this case the starting line should move well beyond the railroad to avoid this kind of incident on next race. Not sure if drivers were able to see the chicane.

[monkawekrue]

ugh i need more cars like this in my life. congrats gentlemen.

OP thanks for sharing.

[shivaswrath]

Great ace, but horrible revisions to the course.

I hope IMSA reconsiders in 2014...

[THE JEDI]

Man I have got to go back to Baltimore to visit I was born and raised there..another reason to go back and visit..LOL

[DVC]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Great ace, but horrible revisions to the course.

I hope IMSA reconsiders in 2014...

Agreed. And if they don't learn from today, they never will.

[Diver]

Sounds like one messy race.

[shivaswrath]

Originally Posted by Diver

Sounds like one messy race.

Literally, between all of the crashes, you can estimate at least 7-8 figures worth repairs/damage for all the teams combined.

That's absolutely not racing, that's just Nascar or some freaking rally race. It might have been "interesting" in person, with car parts flying everywhere, but before the green flag even dropped, the first wreck was grotesquely costly.

[usmc340]

Bhggvhvxtx

[Eagle1oh7]

Very interesting race for sure. Watching Bill Auberlein keep going with a deteriorating rear bumper and then Magnussen wreck his fender on the chicane was entertaining. Corvette won 1-2, the last street race saw our side taking 1-2, I liked that.

[PhillyNate]

Originally Posted by SilentAttack

So jealous. I wish I could be there. Ive never been to one but im sure I will in the near future.

IT WAS A GREAT TIME! Other than the incident riddled race. Still fun though. I'm going back next year because it was fun and I feel I got cheated outta some racing as well. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.

[PhillyNate]

Originally Posted by shivaswrath

Great ace, but horrible revisions to the course.

I hope IMSA reconsiders in 2014...

If they get rid of those DAMN TRAIN TRACKS and loose that chicane, I WILL NEVER MISS THIS RACE! Doubt if I'll miss it anyway.