ALMS M3 Racecar Being Tested at Road Atlanta, Sebring

[Jason]

Autoblog: Motorsports fans are eagerly anticipating the 2009 ALMS season where Ferrari, Porsche, Panoz, Ford, Dodge, Chevrolet and now BMW will be competing for the GT2 title. BMW Motorsport unveiled the new M3 racing program back in February of this year and have been developing the car in Europe since then. They recently handed off the car to Rahal Letterman Racing who tested the car this past week at Road Atlanta and are currently running laps at Sebring International Raceway. BMW also announced the first two drivers for the program, Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand, both of whom have extensive experience driving previous versions of the M3. Auberlen first drove for BMW in 1996 and won titles in 1997 and 2004. The M3 will make its 2009 racing debut at the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 21.


PRESS RELEASE:

BMW of North America, LLC and Rahal Letterman Racing have named Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand as the first two drivers of the new M3s for BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team in the 2009 American Le Mans Series. In choosing Auberlen and Hand, BMW of North America has picked two of the most successful BMW drivers in the world and two of the most familiar names to M3 racing fans here in North America.

Auberlen, 40, of Redondo Beach, CA first drove for BMW of North America in 1996 when he joined the previous M3 racing program, then in its second year of competition. Auberlen would go on to become the team’s most successful driver, winning driver titles in both 1997 and 2004. When he takes the green flag at Sebring International Raceway for the 12 Hours of Sebring on March 21, Auberlen will have the distinction of having raced every generation of BMW M3 campaigned by BMW of North America.

Hand, 29, of Sacramento, CA joined the previous M3 racing program in 2004 and raced through the 2006 season. Coming from a background in open wheel racing, Hand quickly adapted to the M3 and endurance racing. He drove to five wins and 17 podium finishes for BMW of North America in three seasons, many of those races partnered with Auberlen.

“BMW of North America is very pleased to have Bill and Joey on the team,” said Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager. “Their experience with setup, GT racing and their raw speed will support the competitiveness of BMW’s GT2 campaign in the ALMS. I have known both of them for many years, and besides being fast, they’re both a lot of fun to work with. I am looking forward to seeing them pedal our newest BMW M3 racer.”

“My emotions are really high. I feel like I am going back home to my family. To be a part of racing at the level that BMW brings is a dream for any driver,” said Bill Auberlen. “I am really looking forward to being teamed up again with Joey. It’ll be exciting to be on a team headed by a legend and racing icon like Bobby Rahal. I am really looking forward to 2009.”

“I’m very excited to be back in the BMW family and to be driving a BMW M3 again. I built quite a fan base within the BMW community and I can’t wait to put on a show for them again,” added Joey Hand. “I am looking forward to working with a top-notch team such as Rahal Letterman Racing. Bobby helped me earlier in my career so we have a good relationship. I can’t wait to get started!”

Since the program’s announcement in February 2008, the ALMS BMW M3 has been developed and tested by BMW Motorsport in Europe. This month begins the official handoff to BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team with two more tests in the United States.

“If you are going to start a new BMW team in the United States, it is nearly impossible to find a pair of drivers with more success or more experience with BMWs than Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand,” said Rahal Letterman Racing’s Bobby Rahal. “Bill is one of the most successful American sedan drivers of the decade and Joey has more than displayed his ability to run right with him, so we expect this driver pairing to be a strong one for the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team.”

Four test days are scheduled for November 19-20 at Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA, and Sebring International Raceway in Sebring, FL on Nov. 24-25. The tests will see BMW Motorsport drivers Jorg Muller, Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus behind the wheel of the test car.


Birkmann continues, “Key BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team personnel have been involved in the European testing, but now the two November tests will see them take a larger role. BMW of North America is confident that when our complete team and new M3s arrive at the track early next year we will have built a solid foundation for success.”

[Cloud9blue]

wish they will make a road going version of this

[Ironring Racing]

The bodywork has changed a fair bit. It really doesn't look a whole lot like an M3 anymore. In other words, it doesn't share many more styling traits with the M3 than the 325.

Based on looks alone (although I can understand why the made a lot of the changes), the original pics were much more "poster car" than the revised one.

But I'll be glued to the set come raceday!

[josephr25]

They managed to put the front bumper in the back; sweet. They should have blacked it out though.

Are they the only customers in the US, or in the world? That paint job is pretty boring... hopefully it won't be the final one.

[rzm3]

Originally Posted by Kampfer

They managed to put the front bumper in the back; sweet. They should have blacked it out though.

lol you're right.

[ChrisFastM3]

Still F-ing SICK! No more CF roof....... wonder why?

[masmole]

nice volks!

[Deda]

wow,what a car!

[mkoesel]

Nice, can't wait to see it in action. I love the ESCORT sponsorship on the front bumper (and elsewhere). Also the course outline taped to the dash - now that's a nav system.

[F32Fleet]

Originally Posted by ChrisFastM3

Still F-ing SICK! No more CF roof....... wonder why?

Rules?? I dunno. It's only 11 lbs regardless (BMW says 22lbs but all M3's are sold with sunroof which is 11 lbs in itself).

[urbo73]

What no DCT??? OMG!

I do want that shiftknob and seq tranny for my car though!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by urbo73

What do DCT??? OMG!

do = no, I assume.

No M-DCT, nope. But no 6MT either.

[urbo73]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

do = no, I assume.

No M-DCT, nope. But no 6MT either.

I know - I've always wanted a sequential 6 speed clutch tranny in a street car, but that will never happen. Loved it when racing in SCCA - best of both worlds - i.e. clutch pedal and seq gearbox no H pattern.

Still, I want that shiftknob! That lever puts all SSK to shame LOL!

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by urbo73

I know - I've always wanted a sequential 6 speed clutch tranny in a street car, but that will never happen. Loved it when racing in SCCA - best of both worlds - i.e. clutch pedal and seq gearbox no H pattern.

Yeah, I recall some discussion on this when the car debuted. The clutch would be kinda cool for launching the car. Does it have any functionality when shifting on the move? I am curious how it all works.

[ase2dais]

Hope to be there!

[KINGLEH]

im also diggin the shift knob...


as i said in the other thread.. the best time i heard was a 1:20.5

the conditions were just about perfect... so its about 1 sec off right now... so not bad at all for one of its first outings in the US......

plus u never know if any sandbagging was involved....

[DirtBag335]

Originally Posted by Socom

Rules?? I dunno. It's only 11 lbs regardless (BMW says 22lbs but all M3's are sold with sunroof which is 11 lbs in itself).

What do you mean all M3's are sold with a sunroof?

[FStop7]

Originally Posted by Socom

Rules?? I dunno. It's only 11 lbs regardless (BMW says 22lbs but all M3's are sold with sunroof which is 11 lbs in itself).

LOL WUT

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by DirtBag335

What do you mean all M3's are sold with a sunroof?

He meant that all steel-roofed E92 M3s are sold with a sunroof, so the weight savings due to the CF roof appear to be more than they really are (since the sunroof adds weight too). The E90 can be had with a steel roof and no sunroof, but it also does not have the CF option either.

BTW is it certain that the M3 GT2 does not have a CF roof? It seems to me that it would have lots of CF bodywork, but that it would all be painted white anyway.

[masmole]

Rays Volk wheels FTW!

[03SG///M3]

I'm guessing the GT2 M3 will be very competitve this upcoming ALMS season. I can't wait to see it in action.

[M2381]

I was about to go see it today but I had school