BMW RLL only scored the 2d victory of the 2011 ALMS season at the Long Beach track in California. Auto No. 56 driven by Joey Mitt and Dirk Mueller takes the win, while Car No. 55 comes on the 7th place.

Corvette Racing comes in 2d and 5th to score points over again after Sebring. Yesterday, Joey Hand qualified Car No. 56 M3 GT on the class pole and No. 55 M3 GT of Bill Auberlen and Dirk Werner started third and straight behind Manus and Müller.

BMW RLL continues the domination started at the 12 Hour of Sebring and the revised M3 GT is heading full strength for a new manufacturer championship championship. Next race for ALMS will be the Northeast GP at Lime Rock Park on July eight-ix.

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Printing Release:

Joey Manus and Dirk Müller collection BMW Squad RLL to the top of the GT class podium for a 2nd sequent time this season at today's American Le Mans Serial at Long Embankment. The No. 56 M3 GT will be credited with the most laps led in the 2 hr competition, but non until the final minutes of the race were slowed by a caution flag was the outcome decided.

Hand started the race from the form pole and led for the opening laps, but lost the lead some twenty minutes into the race afterwards an about surreal set of circumstances. A few positions behind Hand, teammate Bill Auberlen, in the No. 55 M3 GT, was struck past a competitor and spun around 180 degrees in the tight confines of turn ii. When he finally was able to get turned in the correct direction Hand was dorsum effectually and lost two positions as he avoided the accelerating Auberlen.

Hand gave chase and with a slick double pass in turn six regained the lead at the 40 infinitesimal marking. A 2nd boxing ensued with Patrick Long's Porsche and Manus lost the lead only to regain it a 2d time as Long slid into the wall.

He built up a seven second lead earlier pitting just past the hr mark. Müller took over and held the lead for the concluding hr of the race and the duo'south second consecutive GT win.

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Dirk Werner finished the race in the No. 55 M3 GT seventh in class, two laps in arrears.

"This was a great win by Joey Manus and Dirk Mueller in the No. 56 motorcar today and a groovy position to be in going into the Le Mans break," said Dr. Mario Theissen, BMW Motorsport Director. "We are as well confident that we had the possibility for a i-2 victory today. Both cars are clearly very reliable, nosotros take a strong team and strong drivers. With the result today, we are well positioned in both the ALMS and ILMC championships"

Bobby Rahal, Team main, added, "This was a big win for u.s. as we didn't want to come to Long Beach and lose the advantage we fought so hard for in Sebring. Back-to-dorsum wins are tough to come by in whatsoever series, but especially here in the GT class of ALMS, and this is a big victory for our squad."

Following the traditional American Le Mans Series hiatus for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June, BMW Team RLL volition begin its defense the GT class atomic number 82 at Lime Rock Park, in Lakeville, Conn., on July nine.