BMW Team RLL Scores Second ALMS Win at Long Beach

Dirk Muller and Joey Hand drove the BMW Team RLL to the top of the GT class podium for a second consecutive time this ALMS season at Saturday’s race at Long Beach. The number 56 BMW M3 GT was credited with the most laps led in the two hour contest. Hand started the race from the GT class pole and led for the opening laps, but lost the lead some 20 minutes into the race.

A few positions behind Hand, team mate Bill Auberlen, in the no. 55 BMW M3 GT, was hit by a competitor and spun around 180 degrees in the tight confines of turn two. By the time he was finally able to straighten the car, Hand had come back around and lost two positions as he avoided the accelerating Auberlen.

“This was a great win by Joey Hand and Dirk Müller in the no. 56 car and a great position to be in going into the Le Mans break. We are also confident we had the possibility for a one-two. Both cars are clearly very reliable, we have a strong team and strong drivers,” said Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director.

“This was a big win for us as we didn’t want to come to Long Beach and lose the advantage we fought so hard for in Sebring. Back-to-back wins are tough to come by in any series, but especially here in the GT class of ALMS, and this is a big victory for our team,” Bobby Rahal, Team Principal.

“I’m extremely excited. Finally I got this win at Long Beach. It’s a big deal for me, after coming here for ten years. I drove very hard in the beginning, in order to make sure Dirk Müller would be in a good position. I knew he would then bring it home – and that’s exactly what he did,” added driver Joey Hand.