Photo by: Jeff Davidson
Woodcliff Lake, N.J. - May11, 2012… BMW Team RLL will line up in the third and seventh GT class starting positions for tomorrows six-hour American Le Mans Monterey race at Laguna Seca Raceway.
Jörg Müller posted a 1:22.905 minute lap in the No. 55 BMW M3 GT for the third fastest time in the 12-car GT class. This weekend is Müller's first time back at the 2.238 -mile, 11- turn circuit since 2001 when he co-drove to a victory with JJ Lehto in the No. 42 BMW M3 GTR. He will co-drive this weekend with Bill Auberlen.
Joey Hand set the seventh fastest time in today's 15-minute qualifying session. He drove the No. 56 BMW M3 to a 1:22.939 minute lap. Hand and co-driver Dirk Müller sit atop the GT class driver points after a win at the season-opening 12 Hours of Sebring and a second place finish four weeks ago at Long Beach. The duo has finished second in this race in the previous two seasons.
BMW has shared a significant history with the classic Laguna Seca circuit, beginning with a win by Hans Joachim Stuck and Dieter Quester in a BMW CSL in 1975. BMW Team RLL arrives to Laguna Seca tied for the lead in GT Manufacturer point standings and is looking for the team's first victory at Laguna Seca.
"I don't know why but six hours here seems harder than twelve hours at Sebring," said Bobby Rahal, Team Principal. "Tomorrow will be difficult, but we have good handling cars and I have no doubt that there will be lots of yellows. We have been here before and gotten close. We would like to finish the job tomorrow and get the win."
Jörg Müller, driver No. 55 M3 GT (third): "It was 11 yrs ago that I raced here and I was surprised how quickly I got back into the rhythm of the circuit even though there was quite a bit of traffic. I am quite happy with my performance so far. Laguna Seca is one of the nicest circuits in North America. I walked up to the corkscrew yesterday just to watch at such a unique turn."
Joey Hand, driver No. 56 M3 GT (seventh): "We had a decent qualifying session today. We made a lot of changes through practice and the car got better and better. We are still working on getting rid of a little bit of understeer, but I know Chris Yanchar (car chief) has a few good ideas about that."
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