Photo: BMW
The race held at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, proved to be disappointing for BMW Team RLL. The circuit that has long straights and allowed the Corvettes and Vipers to outrun the Z4s thanks to their higher top speeds.
Both Z4 GTE race cars held the lead during the mistake free race. Maxime Martin set the fastest lap of the race (1:15.907 minutes, L102) in the closing minutes of the contest. Dirk Müller and Joey Hand, driving the No. 56 Z4 GTE, finished fifth, retaining Müller’s lead in the GT driver standings by five points.
Bill Auberlen started the No. 55 Z4 GTE, moving up to start the race in fourth after qualifying fifth. The Californian ran a strong stint to hand off to Maxime Martin from the fourth position on lap 46, one hour into the race.
Martin raced into the lead, but dropped back to sixth after his pit stop on lap 90 for fuel and new Michelin tires. He was unable to improve his position in the final 45 minutes of the race.
“The Corvettes and Vipers are 10km/h faster than we are up the straightaway. When the Z4s are by themselves we can make up that difference, but when you get in traffic, they get a run on you and there is nothing you can do. They just drive by us,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal.
"Obviously there needs to be a change in the restrictor in both the Corvette and the Viper because how can you make up 10kmh? Now we go to Elkhart Lake and that will probably be more of the same. It’s pretty disappointing that these straightline speed advantages continue," he then added.
Bill Auberlen started the No. 55 Z4 GTE, moving up to start the race in fourth after qualifying fifth. The Californian ran a strong stint to hand off to Maxime Martin from the fourth position on lap 46, one hour into the race.
Martin raced into the lead, but dropped back to sixth after his pit stop on lap 90 for fuel and new Michelin tires. He was unable to improve his position in the final 45 minutes of the race.
“The Corvettes and Vipers are 10km/h faster than we are up the straightaway. When the Z4s are by themselves we can make up that difference, but when you get in traffic, they get a run on you and there is nothing you can do. They just drive by us,” said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal.
"Obviously there needs to be a change in the restrictor in both the Corvette and the Viper because how can you make up 10kmh? Now we go to Elkhart Lake and that will probably be more of the same. It’s pretty disappointing that these straightline speed advantages continue," he then added.
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