BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING SEBRING PRE-TEST
17/03/2009
BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team completed the third of three pre-race testing sessions this afternoon in preparation for this Saturday's 57th annual 12 Hours of Sebring. Today's one-and-one-half-hour session followed two yesterday with the two BMW M3s recording times in the upper half of the 13-car GT2 class field.
A total of 109 laps were completed over the two days with BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team personnel working together with BMW Motorsport engineers to continue chassis and tire development. On Monday, the team took full advantage of the first time both M3s tested together and tested Dunlop tires for future races.
Pleased with the progress made, the team will shift its focus to specific preparation for the 12-hour race with the start of official practice tomorrow.
Driver quotes:
Bill Auberlen, No. 90 M3
“I think we are making a very good race car. Between the Dunlop tire engineers and all the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team crew, we are making a very consistent racing car that is awesome to drive.”
Joey Hand, No. 90 M3
“So far everything has gone well. We can do one setup on one car and a different setup on the other car and see which one works better. Compared to the winter test and the test a few weeks ago, we are progressing much faster. We have a lot of things to run through, but we are cutting through them quickly. You can tell that these guys are really good. The team has a strong crew with the engineers on top of everything.”
Tommy Milner, No. 92 M3:
“Today was very good. It was my first time on new tires so that added some fun to the day. Having two cars has helped a lot. Taking some of the settings from the No. 90 car has helped us so we are definitely seeing the benefits of having two cars.”
Dirk Müller, No. 92 M3
“Yesterday was really a good, productive day. It is awesome to have two cars. We are learning together and it helps the progress. I have a big smile on my face when I am driving the M3. I know we still have work to do on the car, but we are making good steps.”
Official practice begins tomorrow with qualifying scheduled for 2:45 p.m. Thursday. The 57th annual 12 Hours of Sebring starts at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
About Rahal Letterman Racing:
Rahal Letterman Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal and CBS LATE SHOW host David Letterman, has been competing for more than a decade compiling 20 victories, 30 poles and one series championship (Bobby Rahal in 1992 in CART) and an Indianapolis 500 championship (Buddy Rice in 2004). In 2008 Rahal Letterman Racing again won Rookie-of-the-Year honors at the Indianapolis 500 and partnered with Andersen Racing to run two entries in the Indy Pro Series. In 2009 the team has joined BMW North America to campaign the new BMW M3 as BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team in the American Le Mans Series and will as serve as the organizers of the Formula BMW Americas championship.
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