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BMW RLL Readies for 2011 Season Start @ Sebring - Live Chat This Thursday

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This Saturday, March 19th, the American Le Mans Series picks up the 2011 season with the 12 Hours of Sebring. BMW Team RLL is set to continue last year's success of winning both the Team and Manufacturer titles in the GT class. For 2011, BMW Team RLL will race two newly constructed BMW M3 GT cars (picture shows the 2010 model).

Here is a video of Bobby Rahal previewing the race:

The drivers for the no. 55 BMW M3 GT will be Dirk Werner (Germany), Bill Auberlen (USA) and Augusto Farfus (Brasilia) while Dirk Müller (Germany), Joey Hand (USA) and Andy Priaulx (Great Britain) will alternate behind the wheel of the no. 56 M3 GT.

Prior to the race on Saturday, BMW will continue their succesful BMW Conversations series on Thursday, March 17th at 2:00 - 2:30PM (EST). According to BMW, "BMW Conversations is a series of live broadcasts with BMW experts and employees that give BMW fans an exclusive peek into the world of BMW. The videos are aired in real-time on Facebook, giving our fans the opportunity to ask questions and receive immediate answers."

Thursday's BMW Conversation will highlight what it takes to prepare for a 12-hour race, what makes the Sebring race different from others, some updates to the M3 racecar, and more. Hosts are Tom Plucinsky, BMW Product and Technology Communications Manager, Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand, both BMW Racecar Driver.

Make sure to watch it live on BMW's Facebook Page on Thursday at 2:00-2:30 PM (EST).

BMW Team RLL ready to get 2011 season started in Sebring

14.03.2011 | Press Release

Munich, 14th March 2011. Saturday, March 19th marks the start of the new campaign for BMW Team Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL). BMW Team RLL will field two newly constructed BMW M3 GT cars in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) this season. The 12 Hours of Sebring (US) at “Sebring International Raceway” traditionally provides the stage for the curtain-raiser to this popular endurance championship. The Bobby Rahal (US) led team is focused on continuing last season’s success. In 2010, BMW Team RLL won both the Team and Manufacturer titles in the GT class with BMW M3 GT2 cars.

At the same time, Sebring will also see the first points awarded in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC), in which BMW Motorsport will once again be competing this year. BMW Team Schnitzer will be responsible for the fielding two BMW M3 GT cars at the European rounds of the ILMC, which include the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours (FR), as well as the season finale in China.

In Sebring, the no. 55 BMW M3 GT will be driven by Dirk Werner (DE), Bill Auberlen (US) and Augusto Farfus (BR). Dirk Müller (DE), Joey Hand (US) and Andy Priaulx (GB) will alternate behind the wheel of the no. 56 car. Last year, BMW Team RLL started the season in style, finishing second and third in Florida.

Dirk Werner: “I’m very happy to drive a full championship season with BMW Team RLL and Bill Auberlen. With the practice starting on Monday there will be enough time to get rid of the winter-rust during the week. The field in the GTE class is impressive and the race is very demanding. To win everything has to be 100%.”

Bill Auberlen: “Last year at Sebring we were on the second and third step of the podium. This year the plan is to be on the first and second step. I’m looking forward to co-driving with Dirk Werner and Augusto Farfus as I know the BMW M3 GT will always be in perfect hands.”

Augusto Farfus: “It’s great to be back at the wheel of the BMW M3 GT. My season started well with victory in the Dubai 24 Hours. Now it’s time to get the ball rolling in ALMS and ILMC. We have a great team, great drivers and a great car – so I hope we can score a strong result in Sebring. I’m looking forward to driving in America. Sebring has a long tradition and the fans are enthusiastic.”

Dirk Müller: “I am extremely excited about the 2011 season. BMW did a superb job over the winter and gave as an updated BMW M3 GT to race. We are all looking forward to fight for a Sebring 12-Hour victory. Everyone on the team is working very hard to continue BMW’s positive momentum in the US.”

Joey Hand: “This is our third ALMS season together and I can feel the potential energy. Pre-season testing has shown we have longevity, strength, speed and reliability. We have worked hard and definitely raised the level of our game. I am excited to add Andy Priaulx onboard with Dirk Müller in my car for the 12 Hours.”

Andy Priaulx: “I’m really looking forward to the start of my season, racing with BMW Team RLL in the opening round. This year will be a new challenge for me. I’m going to Sebring with a very different focus compared to last year, when I just wanted to back up the other guys really well. Now we are fighting for ALMS and ILMC points together as one big team. Sebring is a bumpy and narrow track. It’s not like all the modern race tracks, but I really like that. It has a lot of character.”

BMW Conversations: Live at Sebring

Topic: BMW Conversations: Live at Sebring
Event: 59th Annual Mobil 1 12 Hours of Sebring
Location: Sebring International Raceway, FL
Date: Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 2:00-2:30 PM Eastern Time
Live Link: (Where the live stream will be hosted): http://www.facebook.com/BMWUSA?v=app_107543882600438
Videos Hosts:
• Tom Plucinsky, BMW Product and Technology Communications Manager
• Bill Auberlen, BMW Racecar Driver
• Joey Hand, BMW Racecar Driver

This particular installment of BMW Conversations will highlight what it takes to prepare for a 12-hour race, what makes the Sebring race different from others, some updates to the M3 racecar, and more.

BMW Conversations Overview:
BMW Conversations is a series of live broadcasts with BMW experts and employees that give BMW fans an exclusive peek into the world of BMW. The videos are aired in real-time on Facebook, giving our fans the opportunity to ask questions and receive immediate answers.

Past BMW Conversations:

BMW Conversations: Live at the Track Part One
http://www.facebook.com/video/video....00397558850810

BMW Conversations: Live at the Track Part Two
http://www.facebook.com/video/video....00397564604280

BMW Conversations: The all-new X3.
http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1611042070376

BMW Conversations: Next Generation 6 Series
http://www.facebook.com/video/video....00372149181990

[constantin]

Anyone know where this is being broadcasted on TV?

[scalbert]

Originally Posted by constantin

Anyone know where this is being broadcasted on TV?

ESPN3 will have it live but that is online only from what I recall. ABC and ESPN2 will have a highlight reel the follow days I beleive.

And they actually announced that this was an improvement.

[positiveions]

Originally Posted by constantin

Anyone know where this is being broadcasted on TV?

Just watch it on Facebook
But so glad that Bill Auberlen remained with them. Top notch driver.

[Looper]

I'm headed down Wednesday for the support racing and hopefully will see the awesome RLL M3's raging and kicking ass in the GT class on Saturday........ Probably one of the best fields in years if not ever, should be a blast, anybody else on the board going?

[Looper]

I've heard that a local Sebring station will air the entire race live...... Not that it will do a whole lot of good for most.

[josephr25]

Originally Posted by scalbert

ESPN3 will have it live but that is online only from what I recall. ABC and ESPN2 will have a highlight reel the follow days I beleive.

And they actually announced that this was an improvement.

This is garbage. I used to like sitting down in front of the TV all day for these enduro events; I doubt I'll sit in front of a computer screen.

[DriveHard]

Originally Posted by Kampfer

This is garbage. I used to like sitting down in front of the TV all day for these enduro events; I doubt I'll sit in front of a computer screen.

hook up the pc to the TV ??? I do it from my lap top to watch NETFLIX movies all the time..