BMW Wins 2010 ALMS Manufacturers Championship!

Jason · 10-02-2010, 08:10 PM

Updated with press release:

Quote:

Joy is the Champion. ALMS Manufacturer's and Team Championships to the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team.

* 03.10.2010
* Press Release

Woodcliff Lake , N.J. – Oct. 2, 2010… In only its second season of competition, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team won the American Le Mans Series GT Manufacturer and Team Championships in the closing moments of the 13th annual Petit Le Mans, after a season of hard-fought competition.

The fourth place finish by the embattled No. 92 M3 GT of Bill Auberlen, Tommy Milner and Dirk Werner was the only race in 2010 that the Team did not finish with at least one M3 GT on the podium. The No. 92 M3 GT completed 354 laps in a race that lasted just over 9 hours, 12 minutes. The race was ultimately decided on fuel efficiency, and BMW-RLR was awarded the Michelin GreenX Challenge race win for the best combination of performance and efficiency as a result.

The finish was enough to score the badly needed points to stay ahead of fierce competitors Ferrari and Porsche in the GT Manufacturer’s Championship by a single point. “All it takes is one point,” quipped a happy Bobby Rahal, Team Principal, at the post-race press conference. Rahal Letterman Racing handily secured the GT Team Championship with the result. Martin Birkmann, BMW NA Motorsport Manager, reflected, “Tonight I can say we’ve done almost everything we set out to do when we put the program together, and we dedicate this Manufacturer’s Championship to the memory of our dear friend, Jack Pitney.”

The great start by the No. 90 M3 GT was spoiled by a controversial steward’s call for alleged contact only an hour into the race. The resulting stop-and-go penalty cost Müller one lap, but then extensive repairs to a failed starter motor following the car’s first scheduled pitstop effectively eliminated the No. 90 from contention. Müller, Hand, and Priaulx continued to circulate, ultimately finishing 13th in the GT class.

VIDEOS:

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team celebrates! Petit Le Mans. Oct. 2, 2010.

Bobby Rahal on the team's GT Manufacturer and Team victories at Petit Le Mans. Oct. 2, 2010.

YouTube: Martin Birkmann reflects on the accomplishments of the 2010 ALMS season.

The BMW Rahal Letterman team has just secured the 2010 ALMS Championship in the GT class at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta Georgia! The team entered the race trailing Porsche by just 1 single point for the GT Manufacturer's Championship, and managed to score enough points (with a 4th place finish by Auberlen/Milner) to win the manufacturer's championship after the Ferrari team miscalculated and saw its cars run out of gas after being in the lead.

Congrats to the entire BMW Rahal Letterman Racing team!

Official press release forthcoming from BMW, but here's a clip of the last lap

skiernan36 · 10-02-2010, 08:17 PM

it was a great race, go BMW!

graider · 10-02-2010, 08:19 PM

so bmw won this year in the gt2 class?

Syndicategt · 10-02-2010, 08:20 PM

Fun race to watch today! Ferrari messed up a bunch today, pitted when it was closed and then ran out of gas

Jason · 10-02-2010, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graider

so bmw won this year in the gt2 class?

Yup!

Tony717 · 10-02-2010, 08:23 PM

Corvette won the race, but BMW won the constructors/team title by Ferrari not winning.

GobaS · 10-02-2010, 08:27 PM

BMW

Poppin Fresh · 10-02-2010, 08:41 PM

It was an epic 10 hour race. Going down with a bad cough/cold wasn't so bad while watching this race. Congratualtions to RLR Team and BMW!

JL 325i · 10-02-2010, 08:47 PM

what channel do you guys watch these races on? if you have satellite tv

Kayani_1 · 10-02-2010, 08:51 PM

When the Ferrari 430 came in to the pits for that final pit stop. I was thinking man they barely even hooked up the fuel hose before the car was ready to go back out. I was like did they even put enough fuel. Because it seemed that BMW took a little more fuel then the Ferrari on their pit stop.

I do not know why Ferrari took a risk that was not needed. But I am glad BMW won because of that stupid risk.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syndicategt

Fun race to watch today! Ferrari messed up a bunch today, pitted when it was closed and then ran out of gas

datbimmerdoe · 10-02-2010, 08:57 PM

alright!

Merciphil · 10-02-2010, 08:57 PM

lol ferrari

henryyxyu · 10-02-2010, 09:04 PM

ferrari? more like failari..(failed joke attempt). bmw and RLR team ftw!

03BeastCharmer · 10-02-2010, 09:10 PM

We finished 4th, but yes team and manuf titles, but not drivers title. Great race to watch! Road Atlanta is such a great track. Having driven it, it's very impressive to see how quickly they get around there.

foosh · 10-02-2010, 09:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JL 325i

what channel do you guys watch these races on? if you have satellite tv

It's on the Speed TV channel, and if you're on DirectTV that requires a premium package. It's on 607, if you're subscribed.

Damn, I tuned out, and went off to do other things, thinking Ferrari had it in the bag. Good for Rahal/Letterman.

Jason · 10-02-2010, 09:58 PM

Video of the last lap

Poppin Fresh · 10-02-2010, 10:10 PM

Someone's head is going to roll in the Ferrari pit.

///mmmKevin · 10-02-2010, 10:52 PM

I saw the first 45 mins of this race this morning. I was barely awake so I don't remember much besides when the BMW car bumped that Porsche and had to spend a lap in the penalty box.

I would have watched more but the lack of first person and in-car camera views made me even sleepier hahaha

TK-421 · 10-02-2010, 11:30 PM

Lucky as FUCK

itsbrokeagain · 10-03-2010, 12:26 AM

Great Job BMW

neoduffer · 10-03-2010, 02:31 AM

Risi leaving their car two corners short of gas was a sad sight, but good for BMW and Corvette. Congrats to RLR and BMW for a fine season.

M3_CSL_E92 · 10-03-2010, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TK-421

Lucky as FUCK

Stop Hatin, BMW won fair and square, Porsche got smoked. Just like Corvette won fair and square.

In order to win you must complete all of the laps despite leading the whole race..

10-02-2010, 08:17 PM	#2
skiernan36 stick to your guns 22 Rep 441 Posts Drives: 2007 335i 2012 Audi Q5 2.0T Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Fredericksburg, Va iTrader: (0)	it was a great race, go BMW! __________________ "Speed has never killed anyone...suddenly becoming stationary, thats what gets you."-Jeremy Clarkson
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 08:19 PM	#3
graider Colonel 35 Rep 2,406 Posts Drives: py/kiwi e46 m3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: toronto iTrader: (0)	so bmw won this year in the gt2 class?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 08:20 PM	#4
Syndicategt Brigadier General 167 Rep 3,730 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (11)	Fun race to watch today! Ferrari messed up a bunch today, pitted when it was closed and then ran out of gas __________________ 2008 BMW 335i e90 - Sold - Rob Beck Turbos / PROcede V5 / Aquamist HFS-4 / AR Downpipes / AE Exhaust / ER Comp FMIC / ER CP / TiAL BOV / Custom Intake / RPI Scoops / Quaife LSD / Swift-Koni Coilovers / DSS HS / Morr VS8.2 Sig Black / Michelin PSS / P3 Boost Guage / M3 body / M3 steering wheel / Adam's Rotors / Hawk HPS / SS lines /
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 08:23 PM	#6
Tony717 Lieutenant 42 Rep 462 Posts Drives: BMW 335d Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: FL iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Corvette won the race, but BMW won the constructors/team title by Ferrari not winning. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 08:27 PM	#7
GobaS Private First Class 14 Rep 130 Posts Drives: 2013 X6M, 2009 M3, 2005 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Younge and 401 iTrader: (0)	BMW
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 08:41 PM	#8
Poppin Fresh Colonel 101 Rep 2,147 Posts Drives: With a sunroof and front plate Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bergen County NJ iTrader: (0)	It was an epic 10 hour race. Going down with a bad cough/cold wasn't so bad while watching this race. Congratualtions to RLR Team and BMW! __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 08:47 PM	#9
JL 325i straight^ 29 Rep 779 Posts Drives: 325i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA iTrader: (7)	what channel do you guys watch these races on? if you have satellite tv
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 08:57 PM	#11
datbimmerdoe Lieutenant General 1325 Rep 17,493 Posts Drives: like I'M BOUT THAT LIFE Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: PARADISE aka CANES COUNTRY iTrader: (0)	alright! __________________ #datbimmerdoe #thatbimmertho FOLLOW @datbimmerdoe on INSTAGRAM
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 08:57 PM	#12
Merciphil Private First Class 2 Rep 123 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Socal iTrader: (0)	lol ferrari
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 09:04 PM	#13
henryyxyu Captain 121 Rep 636 Posts Drives: YXZ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	ferrari? more like failari..(failed joke attempt). bmw and RLR team ftw!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 09:10 PM	#14
03BeastCharmer Lieutenant Colonel 295 Rep 1,665 Posts Drives: '13 M3 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Houston iTrader: (3)	We finished 4th, but yes team and manuf titles, but not drivers title. Great race to watch! Road Atlanta is such a great track. Having driven it, it's very impressive to see how quickly they get around there. __________________ Current: '13 E92 M3 Euro Delivery Gone: E86 M Coupe; E30 M3, E39 M5, E36 M3
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 09:58 PM	#16
Jason Administrator 46555 Rep 21,382 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Video of the last lap __________________ Check on the Latest BMW News Become a fan of Bimmerpost Facebook Follow us on Bimmerpost Twitter Subscribe to Bimmerpost Youtube Channel
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 10:10 PM	#17
Poppin Fresh Colonel 101 Rep 2,147 Posts Drives: With a sunroof and front plate Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bergen County NJ iTrader: (0)	Someone's head is going to roll in the Ferrari pit. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 10:52 PM	#18
///mmmKevin Private 9 Rep 65 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Canada! iTrader: (0)	I saw the first 45 mins of this race this morning. I was barely awake so I don't remember much besides when the BMW car bumped that Porsche and had to spend a lap in the penalty box. I would have watched more but the lack of first person and in-car camera views made me even sleepier hahaha
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-02-2010, 11:30 PM	#19
TK-421 Registered Sex Offender 646 Rep 4,757 Posts Drives: E46 M3 \| 1JZ S13 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	Lucky as FUCK __________________ Stop putting stuff like painted reflectors and premium package in your signature. You're embarrassing.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-03-2010, 12:26 AM	#20
itsbrokeagain 316 Rep 15,747 Posts Drives: 1999 528iT, E53 X5, E46 325xi Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Strong Island iTrader: (7)	Great Job BMW
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-03-2010, 02:31 AM	#21
neoduffer Fast In, Slow Out 40 Rep 586 Posts Drives: 06 E90 330i Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SoCal, SGV iTrader: (5) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Risi leaving their car two corners short of gas was a sad sight, but good for BMW and Corvette. Congrats to RLR and BMW for a fine season. __________________ : Ken
	Appreciate 0 Quote