August 17 2009   Source: BMW North America

Rahal Letterman M3s Qualify, Finish 1-2 at Road America

Underlining a clear intent to make August a month of hard racing, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team delivered an all-BMW M3 front row in qualifying for the GT2 class of Sunday's Time Warner Cable Road Race Showcase.

Having already been at the top of the time sheets in both of the day's practice sessions, Joey Hand and Dirk Müller gave the 11-car GT2 class a 1-2 BMW punch in Saturday afternoon's 20-minute qualifying session.

On race day, the #90 M3, driven by Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen, achieved the new M3 racing program's first victory. Teammates Tommy Milner and Dirk Müller in the #92 M3 scored their fourth podium finish of the season by finishing second.

Bobby Rahal, Team Principal:
"It can't get better than this! Great for the team and great for BMW. Everyone did a super job today!"

Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager:
"Yesterday I was asked about the best moment of this program and my answer was bringing the new BMW M3s to the grid at Sebring. After today, I would give a different answer. We were fast from the beginning of the weekend and brought home the first victory for the program. We had incredible support from all our partners and especially Dunlop, who continue to deliver for us. We have now arrived at a level where we can fight for top honors and that's what the program was designed to do. Today was BMW's day."

Bill Auberlen, No. 90 M3 (first):
"This is what this team has earned. Everyone has worked so hard. Thanks to BMW, RLR, and Dunlop. The win seems long overdue and I can't be any happier. Road America is where I won my first professional race and now it is where we won the first one for this team. Awesome!"

Joey Hand, No. 90 M3 (first):
"Bill and I called this win. Babe Ruth style. I told my wife before I left that I knew something really good was going to happen. Bill got the #90 M3 out front and I just brought it home. The team knows how to pit like nobody else. Every part of this team pulled together today. We earned this win."

Dirk Müller, No 92 M3 (second):
"One -two, oh so nice. Incredible! The #92 M3 was fantastic. I am really happy for the team."

Tommy Milner, No. 93 M3 (second):
"A great result for sure! We had one hiccup today, but in the end we overcame it. A great job by Dirk to run for second."