Team RLL is back with two Z4s, two returning drivers, and two new drivers
BMW Team RLL will once again run a pair of Z4s in the competitive Tudor United SportsCar Championship GTLM class.
The team will race two new Z4s with two returning and two new drivers. Bill Auberlen and John Edwards, who raced for Team RLL in 2014, will return, while Dirk Werner and Lucas Luhr will join the team. Werner raced for BMW in ALMS competition in 2011, in DTM in 2012 and 2013, and in endurance races in 2014. Luhr, who raced for both Porsche and Audi in endurance competition in the US and Europe for a number of years, winning six ALMS titles along the way, has also raced in DTM and in the IndyCar series. He raced for BMW in endurance competition in 2014.
DTM racers Bruno Spengler and Augusto Farfus will drive with Team RLL at Daytona, as will Graham Rahal and Jens Klingmann.
Dirk Müller, who drove for Team RLL in 2014, is listed as part of BMW’s lineup at the Nürburgring 24 Hours in 2015, but has not been mentioned as a driver for BMW in other series.
Priaulx will race in the European Le Mans Series
Andy Priaulx, who also raced for Team RLL in 2014, will drive a Z4 GTE for Marc VDS in European Le Mans competition in 2015. His teammates at Marc VDS have not yet been announced.
Gordon McDonnell moves into a new role at BMW
Gordon McDonnell, who served as BMW NA Motorsport Manager in the 2013 and 2014 seasons, will join BMW Motorrad USA as Motorrad Aftersales Manager, effective January 1, 2015. BMW NA’s release on the change notes that “McDonnell’s success in racing includes championing and administering BMW’s current support for independent racing teams in the US market, unquestionably highlighted by the 2014 championship won by Turner Motorsport in the GTD class of the IMSA United SportsCar Championship, and multiple wins and championships for BMW teams in the Continental Tire Sports Car Championship. During his tenure with BMW Team RLL, the GTLM team secured six pole positions and 13 podium finishes, including two 2013 wins at Long Beach and Lime Rock Park.”—Brian S. Morgan
