BMW to race in Intercontinental Le Mans Cup in 2011.

Munich, Following the debut of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC) last year, BMW will once again in 2011 line up in the racing series, organised by Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO). BMW Team RLL (Rahal Letterman Lanigan) will fly the BMW flag at the two races on American soil. At the four European races and the championship’s Asian round in China, BMW Team Schnitzer will be responsible for fielding the two BMW M3 GT2 cars.

Five BMW works drivers will be behind the wheel in the ILMC. Andy Priaulx (GB), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Jörg Müller (DE) have been confirmed as regular drivers for BMW Team Schnitzer. Priaulx and Farfus will head to the USA for the ILMC races that form part of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). In Sebring (US) and in Road Atlanta (US) they will support BMW Team RLL and BMW works drivers, Dirk Müller (DE and Dirk Werner (DE), as well as the two Americans, Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand, who will be battling for points and victories throughout the entire ALMS season.

“The Intercontinental Le Mans Cup enjoyed a successful debut in 2010 – and we were able to experience victory in the LM GT2 class with the BMW M3 GT2 at the season finale in Zhuhai,” said BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. “We have decided to continue to support this relatively young series and to line up with two cars in the new LM GTE Pro category. We expect a close competition again this year, and for this class to be extremely hard fought in 2011. The highlight of the season is obviously the Le Mans 24 Hours, which also forms part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Fans of BMW Motorsport can look forward to some exciting racing on three continents.”

The ILMC season gets underway on 19th March 2011 with the classic 12-hour race at Sebring (US), which is also the curtain-raiser to the American Le Mans Series. Last year BMW Team RLL won the GT Team and Manufacturer titles in this series. One BMW M3 GT2 will be driven by Dirk Müller, Hand and Priaulx, while Werner, Auberlen and Farfus will alternate behind the wheel of the sister car.

BMW Team Schnitzer will join the action at the six-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (BE) on 8th May. Just over a month later the team travels to Le Mans (FR) for the legendary 24-hour race (11th/12th June). After another two European races in Imola (IT) and Silverstone (GB) on 3rd July and 11th September respectively, the ALMS finale in Road Atlanta (US) provides the stage for the second ILMC race in the United States on 1st October. The season ends in China on 12th November.