Shelly BMW Confirms, BMW Team RLL Kicks Off the 2012 ALMS Season in Sebring

March 14, 2012 – Buena Park, Calif. – Shelly BMW is excited to confirm, BMW team RLL launches the defense of its titles in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) at the 12 Hours of Sebring (US) this Saturday.

The “Sebring International Raceway” is the oldest circuit in North America and this year hosts the spectacular endurance race for the 60th time.

“This weekend BMW Team RLL will get down to business in the American Le Mans Series and we wish them the best of luck, said Steve Rudkin, General Manager.  

This is not the only important anniversary this year: BMW M is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2012. A BMW M3 has triumphed in the GT class at Sebring on four occasions – 1997, 1998, 2001 and 2011. BMW also has two overall victories to its name. In 1975 the BMW 3.0 CSL won in Florida, while the BMW V12 LMR prototype crossed the line first after 12 hours in 1999.

Joey Hand (US) and Dirk Müller (DE) return to the ALMS as reigning GT champions. This year they will once again alternate behind the wheel of the no. 56 BMW M3 GT. Twenty three-year-old Jonathan Summerton (US) will join them as the third driver in Sebring, and will also line up at a further three races over the course of the season.

The no.55 BMW M3 GT, which finished runner-up in Sebring last season, will be driven by Bill Auberlen (US) and Jörg Müller (DE). Auberlen has finished third in the Drivers’ Championship for the last two seasons. Jörg Müller is contesting his first ALMS season since 2001, when he won the GT title in the BMW M3 GTR. BMW Team RLL has called on the services of another old hand as this car’s third driver, in the form of Uwe Alzen (DE). The German is also due to start at the “Petit Le Mans” in Road Atlanta (US).

As one of the largest and fastest-growing BMW dealerships in the nation, Shelly BMW has served Southern California loyally for more than 15 years with some of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the automotive industry. For more information about Shelly BMW, visit us today at 6750 Auto Center Drive in Buena Park or shellybmw.com.

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As a proud member of the Shelly Automotive Group and one of the largest BMW centers on the West Coast, Shelly BMW loyally serves Orange County -including Anaheim, Atwwod, Brea, Buena Park, Cypress, Diamond Bar, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Hawaiian Gardens, La Habra, La Mirada, La Palma, Lakewood, Midway, Placentia, Pomona, Rowland Heights, Stanton, Whittier, Westminster and Yorba Linda.



  

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