BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL have unveiled the new BMW Z4 GTE for the 2013 American Le Mans Series today at Daytona International Speedway.
Along with the new car driver pairings were also announced with Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin taking on driving duties in the #55 car. Dirk Müller takes lead role in the #56 car with Joey Hand and John Edwards sharing the second slot throughout the season. With Hand participating in a full DTM season, Edwards will step in for the races that clash.
Jörg Müller and Uwe Alzen will join the team for the endurance races at Sebring and Road Atlanta in the #55 and #56 respectively.
Team Principal Bobby Rahal explained his excitement for the new car and the season ahead: “There is a lot of enthusiasm in the team for the new car. Certainly there will be a development period involved but ultimately I see no reason why we can’t be competitive with the great competition that exists in the GT category in the ALMS.”
With Rahal admitting that there may be some teething problems in the initial races he is confident of his driver line-up for the year ahead.
“Although this might be a development year in many respects, with the level of driver talent we have on the team – including the two new exciting additions with Maxime Martin and John Edwards – I think that ultimately we can have success and do much as we did in 2009, the first year of the BMW M3 GT, and work hard toward achieving maximum results in its first year.” he added.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt added: “All of us at BMW Motorsport and BMW Team RLL are very curious to see how the first few races pan out with the new BMW Z4 GTE. We are setting out on a development year, but are very confident we have once again developed a car that has the potential to win races and titles in the form of the BMW Z4 GTE.”
