BMW Team RLL Survives to Finish Third in Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen [2015]

[954Stealth]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

BMW Team RLL Survives to Finish Third in Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen; Rain Reigns at Watkins Glen, But BMW Leads GTLM Class

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – June 28, 2015… Bill Auberlen and Dirk Werner drove the No. 25 BMW Z4 GTLM to a third place finish in today's very wet Sahlen's Six Hours of the Glen. The duo completed 157 laps of the 3.4-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International circuit with the race slowed by eight caution periods and red flagged during the worst downpour for 14 minutes. The race ended behind the BMW M4 safety car during the last yellow flag with the victory going to the No. 17 Porsche.

The duo's third podium finish of the season, including a win at Long Beach, moves Auberlen and Werner to the top of the GTLM driver points standings and keeps BMW at the top of GTLM manufacturer points standings.

The day ended in disappointment for the No. 24 BMW Z4 of John Edwards and Lucas Luhr as Edwards was caught out by the slick conditions on lap 77, spinning into the tire wall entering the heading into the "boot" section and was retired from the race.

The race started with Auberlen in the No. 25 Z4 and Edwards in the No. 24 car from the second and third class grid positions. A light rain was falling causing Auberlen to spin on the opening lap and fall to the rear of the class. Edwards drove an excellent opening stint, moving into the lead on lap 36, as Auberlen recovered to P4 - 19 seconds back. Both pitted ten laps later, handing off to Luhr and Werner. Edwards was back in the No. 24 Z4 on lap 76 while Werner remained in the No. 25 car, taking over the lead when Edwards went off on the next lap.

By mid-race the rain in control of the race and with two hours to go the entire field was racing on wet tires. Auberlen got back behind the wheel of the No. 25 Z4 on lap 118. He was in P3 as the race was red flagged with one-hour-and-28-minutes remaining and the race remained stopped for 14 minutes. The yellow flag waved and the race continued behind the safety car with the team choosing to pit Auberlen for his last stop as soon as the car could make it to the checkered flag. With 30 minutes to go he had moved into second place. The experienced veteran survived the difficult final minutes as the rain poured down causing the track to be extremely slick and affecting the car's electronics causing the engine to shut off intermittently. He lost second on lap 151 and was unable to get the position back as the race ended under yellow.

Bobby Rahal (Team Principal, BMW Team RLL): "It was a tough day and tough conditions. We had a little electrical glitch with the No. 25 Z4 which caused us to lose second place right there at the end. The weather conditions made it difficult. It is a shame we lost the 24 car. All in all, another podium and the lead in both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championship."

Bill Auberlen (No. 25 BMW Z4 GTLM, third): "That was a tough one. From the get go we were on pretty hard compound dries, and it sort of sprinkled and it looked like our car hated that combination – sprinkling and a medium tire we were out to lunch. Then the track would dry, you would come to the front, sprinkle and we would go back. On rains it was just the opposite. When we put the Michelin rains on I went right to the front. We beat everyone we needed to beat in the points and we are moving forward and that is all we wanted to do. I had an ignition issue with so much rain and my motor shut off coming out of the carousel and that is how the Porsche got by me for second."

Dirk Werner (No. 25 BMW Z4 GTLM, third): "That was one of the most difficult races I have been in. It was a little bit like a Nurburgring feeling where the weather conditions really had a lot of surprises for us. We were out on a dry track and then out on slicks in the wet. Today everything was about staying in the race. Bill did a great job keeping the car on the road in the wet. I did my best and in the end I think we can all be happy with this podium. The car had a very good pace and it is very enjoyable to have a car like this Z4 which shows a good performance. So far we have had a very good season with quite a few podiums, and I have enjoyed it a lot so far."

John Edwards (No. 24 BMW Z4 GTLM, dnf): "It was a very disappointing end to a promising day. We were quick in the dry, and quick in the wet. I think the only conditions we struggled with were when we had some drizzle and were on slicks, but in most conditions we could go really fast . Regarding the incident, I don’t have much to say. The car snapped really quick and we checked the data quickly, but didn’t see anything obvious from the car side. I was facing the wall before I even knew anything was happening, so maybe there was the chance there were some weepers or something on the track, but whatever happened the end result was the same we are out of the race. We probably had the best car in the race and the best chance to win."

Lucas Luhr (No. 24 BMW Z4 GTLM, dnf): "To be honest it was a very disappointing day, just because I think we had a very strong car in both wet and dry conditions and normally I think with a car like this you could win, but we didn’t even finish the race. This is very, very disappointing, not only for me personally as a driver, but I think also for the whole team and for BMW. If you get a chance like this in a championship that is so close you have got to take it, and unfortunately John had an off and we didn’t take this opportunity. From experience I know on these days when you are by far the quickest car on the track don’t come that often in this tight and competitive year. On the bright side, we know we have a very strong package, our BMW Z4 is mega, and really I have so much fun driving it. If you ask me now what I would do to make it better I cannot tell you, so that is a good thing. Our sister car at least got on the podium, but for the next race we need to get our heads together and take the opportunity which has been given to us."

Round Six and the start of the second half of the 2015 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship will be held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, on July 12th. The two-hour-and-forty-minute Mobil 1 SportsCar Grand Prix will be broadcast live from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET on Fox Sports One.






































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Sahlen's 6 Hour race at Watkin's Glen International is coming up this weekend.

Qualifying will be broadcast on the IMSA website
The Race(s) will be on Fox Sports 1 and FS2

The are five series competing this weekend:

• TUDOR United SportsCar Championship
• Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge
• Cooper Tires Prototype Lites
• Lamborghini Super Trofeo
• Porsche GT3 Cup USA.

Green Flag for the premier race will be 10:10 am on Sunday.

ENTRY LIST: http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/fi...tEntryList.pdf

[954Stealth]

PATRÓN ENDURANCE CUP GTLM LEADERS BORROW CORVETTE FOR SAHLEN’S SIX HOURS



Bouncing back from an accident in qualifying for last weekend’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, Corvette Racing reached out to Larbre Competition to borrow one of its 2014 cars to use for the upcoming Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen.


Corvette Racing’s No. 3 Corvette C7.R enters the event at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, June 28, with a six-point lead in the Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup. Drivers Jan Magnussen and Antonio Garcia will be looking to continue to momentum that saw them win the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/patron-...%99s-six-hours

[954Stealth]

BimmerWorld on the Hunt for Victory at New York’s Watkins Glen Circuit

June 24th, 2015



Keeping busy during the most recent hiatus between Continental Tire Series events hasn’t been a problem for the BMW tuning and aftermarket specialists at BimmerWorld. With two months to fill between the race in Monterey, CA. and this weekend’s contest at Watkins Glen in New York, team owner/driver James Clay says his veteran crew of technicians and engineers has focused on improved durability for the turbocharged engine found in their BMW F30 chassis.

“We are always testing and improving cars, and the F30 platform, being such a departure from the traditional BMW Inline-6 that we have raced for years, demands a lot of development,” he noted. “We have taken the time to develop and implement some subtle changes that will increase the overall reliability of the package as we settle into the hot summer months. This is a fantastic engine, but heat is our enemy, and it certainly won’t be as cool as the Monterey race this summer.”

BimmerWorld newcomer Andrie Hartanto has impressed at every round he’s contested in the No. 81 BMW he shared with Tyler Cooke, and like all of the earlier events on the calendar, he’ll race at Watkins Glen in the F30 chassis for the first time.

“There have been a lot of firsts for me this season!” he said with his trademark smile. “Fortunately for me, the entire BimmerWorld team—and especially my co-driver Tyler—have been a tremendous help in getting me up to speed quickly, which I’m grateful for. That said, Watkins Glen happens to be a track that I’ve driven before, albeit 12 years ago. I recently attended a Chin Motorsports event at The Glen to get reacquainted and I’m anxious to drive the No. 81 there as it’s a great track. We had a strong finish at Laguna and I think we’re poised to improve upon that at Watkins.”

Now in his second year on the pro racing trail with BimmerWorld, Jason Briedis, who shares the No. 84 OPTIMA Batteries-sponsored BMW 328i with Clay, reflected on how far he’s come since joining the Continental Tire Series in 2014.

“BimmerWorld does a great job making me feel comfortable within the team,” he said. “Now that I am familiar with the tracks and the other competitors, I can focus purely on extracting the best out of both my driving, and the car. So far this year, we have qualified in the top 10 at every track, and run in the top 5 at every race. For the next few events, personally I will be looking to continue starting at or near the front, and handing the car over to James in a spot where we can challenge for podiums and the first BMW F30 win in North America.”

[hellrotm]

GT350R-C making its series debut in Continental Tire series in GS class. A two car effort from Multimatic Motorsports will attack the Continental Tire 150.

[954Stealth]

I hope they do well in their debut!

[954Stealth]

BMW Team RLL restarts USCC season.
Following an eight week break in the United SportsCar Championship (USCC) action for teams participating in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, BMW Team RLL will restart its season at Watkins Glen International, in Watkins Glen, NY, on 28th June with the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen.
BMW Motorsport Jun 25, 2015



Watkins Glen International this weekend will also be the site of the North American public reveal of the new BMW M6 GT3 and BMW M235i Racing cars. The BMW M6 GT3 is BMW Motorsport's replacement for the BMW Z4 GT3 that has seen so much professional and privateer success worldwide in recent years. The BMW M6 GT3 is currently in the testing phase and is expected to make its racing debut in 2016. The BMW M235i Racing is planned to be made available to North American enthusiasts next year. Both cars will be on display at the BMWUSA Classic display along with the number 25 BMW 3.0 CSL that gave BMW its first motorsport victory at Sebring in 1975 and the BMW of North America sponsored McLaren F1 GTR that raced at Le Mans in 1996.

With two wins (Long Beach-No. 25; Laguna Seca-No. 24) and an additional two runner-up finishes (Daytona-No. 25, Laguna Seca-No.25) in the first four races of the ten-event season, BMW Team RLL sits at the top of the GTLM class Manufacturer points standings, with two more points than Chevrolet. The team stands second (No. 25) and third (No. 24) in Team points with the pairings of Bill Auberlen/Dirk Werner and John Edwards/Lucas Luhr second and third in the Driver points respectively.

The team shoehorned in a productive two-day test on 20th and 21st May at Watkins Glen just days before many of the crew joined the RLL IndyCar team for the Indianapolis 500. Auberlen, Edwards and Luhr attended the test. More than 200 laps were run on the 3.4-mile, 11-turn circuit that hosted the United States Grand Prix from 1961 to 1980.

Last year, Andy Priaulx qualified the number 55 car on the class pole for the six-hour contest, but the team struggled with pace over the longer stints in the race – finishing sixth and tenth.

[954Stealth]

WATKINS GLEN SIX HOUR RACE PREVIEW; TURNER BMW OF MARSAL AND PALTTALA READY FOR ROUND 5


Detroit, MI. – May 28th, 2015 –Turner Motorsport resumes race action at Watkins Glen International this weekend for the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen for round five of the Tudor United SportsCar Championship and the third round of the Patron North American Endurance Series.

The team returns to racing action after almost one month since the Chevrolet Sports Car Classic on the streets of Detroit with the No. 97 GTD class BMW of Michael Marsal and Markus Palttala. The driver duo, who sits eighth in the current GTD season standings, will return to the Glen with sights set on a repeat of last year’s win.

In last year’s six-hour competition on the 3.40-mile 11-turn American road racing mecca, the No. 94 of Dane Cameron and Markus Palttala captured a dominant victory over the GTD class leading 169 of the 178 laps. Strong pace combined with pit strategy and lightning fast pit stops allowed Palttala and Cameron to cross the line to victory.

Blue and yellow BMWs leading the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen have been a familiar site in recent years, as the team has lead laps in each of their previous three appearances also capturing a second place podium in 2012.

This year the driver duo of Michael Marsal and Markus Palttala will look to continue the streak of success for the blue and yellow BMWs in the six-hour test of endurance. After facing strong adversity in the first four rounds of competition, Marsal and Palttala are poised for a strong result.

Palttala arrives at Watkins Glen after competing in the Paul Ricard 1000km last weekend as well as testing for the 24 hours of Spa earlier in the week.

“I’m really looking forward to the race because it’s the track that suited our car best last season and we had our best performance there so I’m hoping we’ll have a chance to fight for a podium this weekend,” said Markus Palttala. “It looks like we received a break in the BoP with -20kg so I think with strong strategy and pit stops we should be in the fight.”

“I absolutely love the Glen, it is one of the best circuits we visit all season. BMW always has a good presence and representation here as well so I am really looking forward to putting on a strong performance for everyone,” said Michael Marsal. “I can’t wait to get our IHG Rewards Club BMW out there on the high speed sweeping corners. Go BMW!”

Tudor Championship on-track action begins on Friday at 11:00am ET for Practice 1. The GTD class qualifying will take place at 3:40pm ET on Saturday, June 27th and be available to watch LIVE on IMSA.com. The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen goes green at 10:10am ET on Sunday June 28th. The race will be broadcast LIVE from 10:00am – 2:00pm on Fox Sports 1, with continuing LIVE coverage from 2:00pm-4:30pm on Fox Sports 2.

[954Stealth]

[954Stealth]

Lamborghini ST TV Schedule on CBS Sports Network Revealed
June 22, 2015 by SportsCar365 staff




he growing popularity of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America championship is reflected in the series’ first United States television package, with CBS Sports Network providing coverage of all six event weekends and the World Final.

Broadcasts on CBS Sports Network start Wednesday, June 24 with a one-hour show featuring Rounds 1 and 2 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.

The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America started its third season in May at Laguna Seca with record numbers of cars and drivers, featuring the all-new Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo car.

The race purpose-built, 620-horsepower machine includes technology and performance and design lines taken directly from the exciting new Lamborghini Huracán LP 610-4 street car, which made its global debut in 2014.

“This exciting television partnership with CBS Sports Network is a significant milestone in the growth of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America, providing even more evidence of its increasing popularity with fans and competitors,” Lamborghini Head of Motorsport Giorgio Sanna said.

“The comprehensive coverage in consistent time slots will bring home in compelling fashion the thrilling action, talented drivers and incredible Lamborghini race cars of this championship.”

Competition in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America is among the most thrilling of any single-make series in the world. The 620-horsepower, rear-wheel drive Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo car is joined by the previous flagship car of the series, the 570-horsepower, four-wheel drive Gallardo LP 570-4 Super Trofeo.

Another important step for the championship in 2015 is the arrival of the World Final in North America for the first time.

Drivers from all three global Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo championships – Europe, Asia and North America – will contest their respective final rounds Nov. 19-20 at Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, Florida, followed by the best drivers in each series competing for world championships in the World Final Nov. 21-22 at Sebring.

Each of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America television programs will be one hour long in Wednesday evening prime-time slots, featuring extensive racing action from both rounds of the event weekend, driver interviews and feature stories.

The World Final will take center stage with extended coverage, as a two-hour show will air at 3 p.m. (ET) Sunday, Dec. 13.

2015 Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America Television Schedule

(all broadcasts on CBS Sports Network; all times Eastern)

Date Time Event
Wednesday, June 24 9-10 p.m. Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Wednesday, July 8 10-11 p.m. Watkins Glen
Wednesday, Sept. 2 8-9 p.m. VIRginia International Raceway
Wednesday, Sept. 30 9-10 p.m. Circuit of the Americas
Wednesday, Oct. 14 8-9 p.m. Road Atlanta
Wednesday, Dec. 2 8-9 p.m. Sebring International Raceway
Sunday, Dec. 13 3-5 p.m. World Final (Sebring)

Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America – 2015 Calendar
1-3 May Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
26-28 June Watkins Glen International
21-23 August Virginia International Raceway
17-19 September Circuit of the Americas
1-3 October Road Atlanta
19-20 November Sebring International Raceway

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborg...work-revealed/

[954Stealth]

Argetsinger Returns to Lamborghini ST at Home Track of Watkins Glen



Rounds 3 and 4 of the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America at Watkins Glen International will be a homecoming of sorts for Peter Argetsinger.

After all, his father helped create the scenic, 11-turn, 3.4-mile circuit that has become known around the motorsports world.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/lamborg...-watkins-glen/

[954Stealth]

2015 BMW M4 to pace Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen

June 22 2015 by someone who works at Watkin's Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 22, 2015) – The 2015 BMW M4 will serve as the official safety car of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, leading the field to green at Watkins Glen International on Sunday, June 28, 2015.

The M4 is the newest addition to BMW’s line of M performance coupes, and it lives up to the legends that preceded it. Power comes from a 425-hp twin-turbo inline six-cylinder, mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed dual clutch transmission with paddle shifters and rear-wheel drive. In a mission to shave weight, many of the M4’s components are made of carbon fiber – including the driveshaft.

“BMW of North America is delighted to share our 40th anniversary celebration with friends and fans at Watkins Glen International,” said Victor Leleu, BMWNA Motorsport Marketing Manager. “For four decades, The Glen has set the stage for many of our professional and privateer racing successes and we are pleased to continue our association with the track this year by presenting the 2016 BMW M4 as Pace Car for the Sahlen’s Six Hours weekend.”

The Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, set to go green at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday, is one of four stops on the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup circuit, a championship within the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season.

The M4 will also pace Saturday’s Continental Tire 150, featuring the Street Tuner and Grand Sport classes of the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.

“We’re thrilled to have BMW supplying the official pace car of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen,” said Michael Printup, WGI President. “The M4 is a beautiful vehicle, and it’s going to lead a diverse and talented field to the green at Watkins Glen International.”

[954Stealth]

FP1 in United SportsCar of Watkins Glen sees BMW Z4 GTLM #25 in 3rd driven by dirkwerner Bill Auberlen

and the #24 5th driven by John Edwards and Lucas Luhr


Get it, boys!

[RSBro]

Those Z4s never get old, do they? In the odd chance I become a gazillionaire, they're making me a road-legal copy!

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by RSBro

Those Z4s never get old, do they? In the odd chance I become a gazillionaire, they're making me a road-legal copy!

I do love the Z4s, I think a lot of the customer teams will still use them like BimmerWorld and Fall-Line. RLL and Turner will most likely switch to this machine though

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

I hope they do well in their debut!

They just got Pole for the Continental Tire 150.

[Chief F1 Fan]

Originally Posted by 954Stealth

2015 BMW M4 to pace Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen

June 22 2015 by someone who works at Watkin's Glen

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 22, 2015) –





“We’re thrilled to have BMW supplying the official pace car of the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen,” said Michael Printup, WGI President. “The M4 is a beautiful vehicle, and it’s going to lead a diverse and talented field to the green at Watkins Glen International.”

Lots of great pictures here folks, very nicely done. Can't wait to see this race, definitely one of my favorites of the year. Michael is my brother and does a fantastic job as Glen Prez. If you're not at WGI, you should be!

[954Stealth]

Originally Posted by Chief F1 Fan

Lots of great pictures here folks, very nicely done. Can't wait to see this race, definitely one of my favorites of the year. Michael is my brother and does a fantastic job as Glen Prez. If you're not at WGI, you should be!

Thanks! I'd love to be at the race this year. It's always a fantastic weekend and the track and venue itself holds much pedigree and history

[3798j]

You're right on with your comment 954Stealth, "the track and venue itself holds much pedigree and history". Although I can't be there this year either, I'm happy to say I've seen my share including the first iteration of the 6 hour race in '68 (it was also the last year of the SCCA's USRRC).
Ickx & Bianchi surprised the Porsches in the (Gulf) Blue John Wyer GT40 (Mark Donohue dominated Saturday's USRRC race in the Sunoco (Blue) McLaren M6A).

[954Stealth]

Wow 3798j Jay! You should have that in a frame in your office

[slalomfever]

very cool photos! Thanks for sharing!

[raysspl]

The Z4s are looking very beastly!

[Chief F1 Fan]

[IMG][/IMG]


Scott's a great guy and a personal friend of my brother's. Always good to see him up there on the podium (55 y.o.!)