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BMW Team RLL Finishes Third in Sahlen’s Endurance Race, Despite Pouring Rain

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BMW Team RLL number 24 Z4 GTLM 73 photos
Photo: BMW
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It wasn’t all that easy to finish the endurance race held this weekend at Watkins Glen; BMW not only managed to do so, but the Team RLL also had a car on the podium. It was the number 25 BMW Z4 that came in third overall with Bill Auberlen and Dirk Werner behind the wheel.
Usually, endurance races aren’t all that easy to master and even a shorter, 6-hour stint could pose serious problems for various manufacturers and their cars. However, this weekend at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen race, pouring rain meant that finishing the race was a challenge all on its own, leaving aside the position you’d come in.

BMW Team RLL had two teams in the race, but unfortunately only one finished. The number 24 BMW Z4 GTLM car driven by John Edwards and Lucas Luhr came to a sudden stop during lap 77 when Edwards spun into the tire wall due to slippery conditions.

The number 25 car, on the other hand, was luckier, keep its head down and managing to finish the 157 laps of the 3.4-mile, 11-turn Watkins Glen International circuit despite the rain, eight caution periods and red flag for 14 minutes due to the downpour. In the end, the cars crossed the finish line behind the safety car, with the number 17 Porsche in first and the number 25 Z4 GTLM third.

This is the duo’s third podium this year including a win at Long Beach, turning them into the leaders of the GTLM standings.

"It was a tough day and tough conditions. We had a little electrical glitch with the No. 25 Z4, which caused us to lose second place right there at the end. The weather conditions made it difficult. It is a shame we lost the 24 car. All in all, another podium and the lead in both the manufacturers’ and drivers’ championship,” said Bobby Rahal, BMW Team RLL manager, after the race.

And indeed it was bad luck as with 30 minutes to go Bill Auberlen had moved into second place. The experienced veteran survived the difficult final minutes as the rain poured down causing the track to be extremely slick and affecting the car's electronics causing the engine to shut off intermittently. He lost second on lap 151 and was unable to get the position back as the race ended under yellow.

The next round will take place at the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada on July 12. It’s going to be a two-hour-and-forty-minute event.
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