[Jason]

BMW Rahal Letterman's #90 M3 GT2 driven by Dirk Müller has just won the ALMS Race at Road America! Unfortunately the other BMW RLR car, number #92 crashed out of the race. Congrats to BMW RLR and Dirk Müller for the first place finish!

No official press release from BMW yet (which we will post when released), but here are some great race notes courtesy of BIMMERFILE:

• One lap in Joey hand improves one spot to third.
• Lap 2 Joey hand overtakes corvette for 2nd.
• Porsche spin lap 5 caution flag.
• Auberlin up two places by lap 7 after caution to 6 pos.
• Rahal on mic to driver to set up for green as yellow falls.
• BMW hunting corvettes hand takes lead on lap 8.
• 92 crashed out with lmp car lap 8
• Joey pitted for fuel and tires under caution lap 11 dropped to 3rd.
• Bergermeister apologized for taking out the BMW.
• Rahal to driver, “ready set,ready, ready set, , , Green green green”
• Build/switch chassis for mosport – damage to 92 car too severe.
• Vette’s pit , equal pits to Joey, Joey 2nd – 1 hour mark 24 laps in.
• ALMS photographer somewhat impeded driver change stop – muller in 5th from 2nd – stop was under caution.
• Go get em, have fun.
• Fuel only stop under caution, 38th lap, good stop, jumped possibly two positions, maybe three. Dirk in second. Lap 39.
• Dirk grabbed 1st on the restart!!!
• 15 minutes left Dirk leads, porsche 45 in second, and though vette’s closing, he should be able to hold them off.
• Win BMW wins!

Updated with BMW press release:

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team Wins at Road America!

* 23.08.2010
* Press Release

Woodcliff Lake , N.J. – August 22, 2010… Proving once again that the BMW M3 knows the way to victory lane at Road America, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team won the ultra-competitive American Le Mans Series GT class for the second consecutive year at the classic Road America circuit.

No. 90 BMW M3 GT drivers Joey Hand and Dirk Müller completed 66 laps of the 4.0-mile circuit in today’s two-hour-and-forty-five-minute American Le Mans Series race, winning by 2.6 seconds. The outstanding result gives BMW a six point lead in the all-important Manufacturer point standings. Hand and Müller move up to a tie for second in Driver points before the last two races of the season.

The day did not have such a good outcome for teammates Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner. Auberlen made a strong start in the No. 92 M3 GT, moving quickly up two positions from his P8 grid start. Unfortunately, on lap 8, only 20 minutes into the race, he became victim of a slowing prototype in the “Kink” and was hit hard from behind, just after shifting to sixth gear. The result was a high-energy crash at the fastest part of the track, which appears to have terminally damaged the No. 92 chassis but luckily, caused Auberlen no serious injuries. The car was retired from the race. Tommy Milner did not race and neither driver will score points. However, thanks to their consistent performance this season, he and Auberlen only drop to fourth in driver standings.

With testing scheduled to begin this coming Friday, August 27th for Round 8 at Mosport International Raceway, in Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada, any celebrations will be short-lived. Before the checkered flag flew over the No. 90 machine, half of the team departed for home to start first thing Monday morning on the build of the new No. 92 chassis.


Joey Hand and Dirk Müller describe their win at Road America.





Martin Birkmann, Motorsport Manager, on the win at Road America.





Bobby Rahal, Team Principal, on the win at Road America.

[turb0mike]

I watched the entire race, so freaking tight!!!!!!!! BMW racing ftw.

[RON1X]

congrats!
BMW

[JL 325i]

Bravo!
Where do you watch these races anyway?

[M_Time]

Great race !!! To bad Tucker #55 LMP didn't allow Bill Auberlen #92 to pass on the high speed section causing the contact and throwing him to the wall.

Great thing Joey Hand took the win.

Here's the video of the crash.

[bobbyd1961]

wow i thought ferrari and porsche were in front the whole race unless i was watching something else today. Hand? was in third for bmw???? what race was i watching on speed?

[Feco]

Well Done BMW Racing!

[OC ///M]

We really needed the 92 car to come through today, but I'm very happy for the 90 car win, Joey and Dirk drove hard.

• Bergermeister apologized for taking out the BMW.

I'm glad to see this bullet point in the OP that Bergmeister apologized for the bump. I thought I was the only one who noticed this.

After watching the countless replays I was yelling at the Flying Lizard team through the tv all the while the commentators on the Speed Channel didn't even mention this important fact. I think Bill could've withstood the impact of the Lmpc car, but coupled with the nudge from behind, disaster was imminent.

Hopes were high for a repeat 1-2 Road America finish for BMW. All eyes will be on the replacement 92 car chassis, with the GT standings are so close, next week promises to be a big one.

[turb0mike]

Originally Posted by bobbyd1961

wow i thought ferrari and porsche were in front the whole race unless i was watching something else today. Hand? was in third for bmw???? what race was i watching on speed?

Porsche was in front but a smart pit by BMW to top off fuel really helped them, along with the almost perfectly timed pit exit. Ferrari was never higher than third I believe.

And you can watch it on SPEED.

[rzm3]

It's gonna be tough for 92 since a new chassis means everything has to be tweaked again. Good luck BMW! Go beat those flying lizards!

[Oulixes]

Well done, congratulations.

[Kyoshi71]

I watched it. Was fantastic!

[the infamous...]

sweet!

[audiprotein]

[TK-421]

Even though I didn't cheer for them, it's not the same without Audi

[audiprotein]

Originally Posted by TK-421

Even though I didn't cheer for them, it's not the same without Audi

True that. Three years ago, Road America had twice as much people, the race was i think 5 hours long, and was way more fun. I miss those Porsche DHL LMP cars too.
And how sick it would be if Peugeot showed up!?

[bluescoupe]

Originally Posted by audiprotein

True that. Three years ago, Road America had twice as much people, the race was i think 5 hours long, and was way more fun. I miss those Porsche DHL LMP cars too.
And how sick it would be if Peugeot showed up!?

PETIT LEMANS will have everything!!

Who is going?
And WHERE is the BMW Car Corral?!

Want to buy tickets NOW!

[DPritchett]

Originally Posted by JL 325i

Bravo!
Where do you watch these races anyway?

Mostly on Speed TV - although CBS broadcast one last weekend. LAguna Seca was on the web.

The ALMS web site will let you know what your viewing options are: http://www.americanlemans.com/

[audiprotein]

Originally Posted by bluescoupe

PETIT LEMANS will have everything!!

Who is going?
And WHERE is the BMW Car Corral?!

Want to buy tickets NOW!

I know, we were talking about ALMS in general, except of Petit/Sebring.
I might go there actually.

[N54MPower]

I recorded the race and watched it last night. The GT cars are usually more exciting to watch but watching the Drayson Racing LMP at the end of the race was fantastic. Great driving!

[GTM_Challenge]

Went to this event for the first time this year. I could only be there friday night and half of Saturday but it was still a great time! I had to come back sunday to work on E9X stainless Xpipes for you all

Greg

[audiprotein]