BMW Team RLL ready for the Sebring 12 Hours

Sebring (US), 13th March 2014. In the inaugural 2014 season of the new United SportsCar Championship (USCC), the next classic race awaits BMW Team RLL. After the season opened with the Daytona 24 Hours (US), the second round of the year is contested at the Sebring 12 Hours (US) this weekend. BMW Team RLL returns to Florida with a lot of momentum from the curtain raiser in January, where the squad finished second with the number 55 BMW Z4 GTLM and fourth with the number 56 car – the only team in the GTLM class to finish with both team cars in the top-five.

Now standing second in Manufacturer, Team and Driver points the team recently finished a successful two-day test at the Sebring International Raceway with the number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM and BMW works drivers Andy Priaulx (GB) and Dirk Werner (DE). In the race, the number 55 car will be driven by Priaulx, Bill Auberlen (US) and BMW DTM driver Joey Hand (US). Duties in the number 56 car will be shared by Werner, Dirk Müller (DE) and John Edwards (GB).

The 62nd running of this endurance classic takes the green flag on Saturday, 15th March, at 10:15hrs (local time). BMW Team RLL has five podium finishes at the Sebring 12 Hours, including back-to-back victories in 2011 and 2012.

Bobby Rahal (Team Principal, BMW Team RLL):

“Last year, even though we didn’t finish well we were relatively competitive. Obviously we know a lot more about the BMW Z4 one year later, so my hope is that we will be back on the podium. We have great drivers and, as was seen last year, we were right there from the start, but it’s always a tough race. From a reliability stand point, we learned some things at Daytona that will help us at Sebring. Sebring is all about reliability.” 

Bill Auberlen (Number 55 BMW Z4 GTLM):

“The Sebring 12 Hours is always one of the most amazing weekends of any racing season. You can literally feel the history as the years have changed the circuit very little. It is the history that makes a win here so important. I was only 16 when my dad won the GT class in 1985. Ten years later I was on the top of the GT podium and have been fortunate enough to win again back-to-back driving a BMW M3 GT in 1997 and 1998. BMW Team RLL is coming off a strong finish at Daytona and we’re looking to make another strong run at Sebring.”

Andy Priaulx (Number 55 BMW Z4 GTLM):

“Sebring will be a different challenge for us compared to Daytona.  I imagine the race to be more intense, with at least 60 cars on track. I am very happy with our testing preparations and the car set-up is in the ball park. We just need to see how competitive we are compared to the others. I hope we can have a faultless race and be in with a chance.”

Joey Hand (Number 55 BMW Z4 GTLM):

“It will be great to be back in the BMW Z4 GTLM. We had a strong run at Daytona and, I believe, we will be even stronger at Sebring. The race is certainly the longest 12 hours in motorsport, but I’ve had great success there in recent years. I hope I can share the top of the Sebring podium with Bill for the first time and Andy for a second time.”

Dirk Müller (Number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM):

“Normally at this point in the year we are talking about the start of the season and now we already have a very good Daytona 24 in the books. I am really looking forward to Sebring as I like this event very much. As a team we know how to win this race and, with all the great and positive motivation we have, I can’t wait to get there.”

Dirk Werner (Number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM):

“Three years ago was the last time I was part of the BMW driver line-up in the legendary 12h Sebring race. This year I come back to try and win for BMW after two podiums in 2010 and 2011. I want to help my teammates Dirk (Müller) and John (Edwards) collect points. I love racing at Sebring because it is so challenging.”

John Edwards (Number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM):

“This year’s 12 Hour marks one year with BMW Team RLL for me. Last year we were still developing the BMW Z4, and at the most recent test in February we were fine-tuning. I was not scheduled to drive the car, but got in for a few laps in the last session. I was very satisfied and am confident we’ll be able to continue our strong start to the 2014 season.”