American Le Mans Series

BMW Rahal Letterman Hoping To Start In Style

1 Mins read

BMW Rahal Letterman will return to Sebring this week, confident of avenging a difficult 2009 race with two cars GT2 cars and re-jigged driving line-ups for the 58th running of the Floridian road racing classic.

A debut year that ultimately saw the ultimately saw clinch two poles, five podiums and a maiden win (at Road America) got off a slow start, both cars suffering what Martin Birkmann of BMW North America's Motorsport division as “gremlins”.

Last year saw drivers Joey Hand and Bill Auberlan share the no.90 car, with Tommy Milner and Dirk Muller in the sister no.90 M3. However, this year's race, which starts at 2pm GMT Saturday will seen Auberlan and Muller swapping seats.

The team will also welcome back multiple Touring Car champion Andy Priaulx as third driver in the no.92 car. In the no.90 Dirk Werner moves across from the Farnbacher-Loles team for 2010.

And with new line-ups and twelve extra months of preparation the team believe they can challenge for honours in, arguably, the most competitive class in the ALMS.

“In our second year as a team, everything is moving faster,” explains Hand. I feel like I’m the best I’ve ever been and I’m excited because I know my teammate and I will be contenders from the start of the season.”

“We have worked on reliability and successfully completed a 12 hour test,” adds his former driving partner. “We have some staff with F1 background on our team and it is stellar to watch an idea form in their minds, and then see it almost immediately put into the race car.”

“Just when you think it can’t get any better, they do something completely different and revolutionary.”

The team have already completed a full 12 hour simulation and a relatively trouble-trouble free run at the two day winter test.

“Our preparation has been excellent,” concludes Bobby Rahal. “The cars are strong, the drivers are ready to go, and the entire organization is looking to start the season in style in one of the world’s great endurance races.”

Photo credit: James Boone

2902 posts

About author
James is our Diet-Coke fuelled writer and has been with TCF pretty much since day 1, he can be found frequenting twitter at @_JBroomhead
Articles
Related posts
American Le Mans SeriesBTCCDTMFIA GTFormula 1GT SeriesIndyCarMoto3MotoGPNASCAR

TCF Team Pick: Race Of The Year

7 Mins read
As we at theCheckeredFlag.co.uk continue to cast our collective minds back over the previous twelve months of racing the time has come…
24 Hours of Le MansAmerican Le Mans SeriesBritish GTFIA WECFIA World Rally ChampionshipFormula 1Ginetta GT4 SupercupGinetta JuniorGP2 SeriesGT World ChallengeMotorcyclesRenault UK Clio Cup

TCF Team Pick: Team Of The Year

7 Mins read
As the TCF team continue to look back on the highlights and talking points of the 2013 season they turn their eyes…
American Le Mans Series

ALMS: Last Ever Season In Review

6 Mins read
With the final season of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) drawing to a close for the final time, it was another…