Photo: BMW
It’s been a long, 7-week break for the teams competing in the 2014 United SportsCar Championship but it’s all about to end this weekend, with drivers returning from around the world to the Watkins Glen International circuit.
The Sahlen Six Hours of the Glen race will be the fifth race of the season and BMW Team RLL is hopeful before the start. Bill Auberlen and Andy Priaulx with their number 55 BMW Z4 GTLM car are currently leading the team points standings. The other two drivers, Dirk Muller and John Edwards, with their number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM car stand sixth in the drivers’ championship and eight in the team points. With just 2 points behind Porsche, BMW is currently the second best ranked manufacturer in the series.
The preparations for Sunday’s race began about a month ago, when Team RLL had a two-day test on the 11-turn road course with drivers Auberlen, Muller and Priaulx. John Edwards was caught up in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competition at that time and didn’t partake. For Muller and Priaulx, this was the first time they drove on this track and, after 207 laps, they can now say they are familiar with it.
Talking about this practice run, Team Manager, Bobby Rahal wasn’t overenthusiastic:
“There are a lot of high speed corners, which we’re pleased about and there is a long straightaway, which we’re not so pleased about but just to be back at Watkins Glen is important for BMW, our team and sports car racing. It’s going to be a tough race for sure but it’s such a great circuit.”
In past years, BMW teams have had success at Watkins Glen and the six-hour race. Most recently Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates raced to the overall win in 2010 with the No. 01 BMW Riley and, in 2004, Bill Auberlen and Boris Said took the GT win in a BMW Team PTG M3.
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen will take the green flag at 11:15 a.m. ET Sunday, June 29th. The race will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 with coverage beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.
The preparations for Sunday’s race began about a month ago, when Team RLL had a two-day test on the 11-turn road course with drivers Auberlen, Muller and Priaulx. John Edwards was caught up in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge competition at that time and didn’t partake. For Muller and Priaulx, this was the first time they drove on this track and, after 207 laps, they can now say they are familiar with it.
Talking about this practice run, Team Manager, Bobby Rahal wasn’t overenthusiastic:
“There are a lot of high speed corners, which we’re pleased about and there is a long straightaway, which we’re not so pleased about but just to be back at Watkins Glen is important for BMW, our team and sports car racing. It’s going to be a tough race for sure but it’s such a great circuit.”
In past years, BMW teams have had success at Watkins Glen and the six-hour race. Most recently Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates raced to the overall win in 2010 with the No. 01 BMW Riley and, in 2004, Bill Auberlen and Boris Said took the GT win in a BMW Team PTG M3.
The Sahlen’s Six Hours of the Glen will take the green flag at 11:15 a.m. ET Sunday, June 29th. The race will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 with coverage beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.
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