Sports cars go fast … no one disputes that. However, the Dunlop-equipped BMW M3 racing cars of the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team are demonstrating that a new race team can get “up to speed” quickly, as the team posted its first podium finish in just the second race of the 2009 American Le Mans Series (ALMS) season.
In the April 4 Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg, the No. 92 M3 of BMW Rahal Letterman Racing finished in second place in the GT2 class, with drivers Dirk Muller and Tommy Milner sharing duties.
In post-race remarks, Muller commented, “Dunlop gave me a perfect tire. It was absolutely awesome, so the corners were really so much fun.” Milner echoed the statement: “The tires were awesome. Dunlop is really behind us.”
Martin Birkmann, BMW of North America LLC motorsports manager, complimented the Dunlop team on its pre-season testing and development plan, adding, “We were very strong on both sets of tires on the 92 car, and, ultimately, that has helped us in securing our first podium.”
The second car in the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team stable, the No. 90 BMW M3, suffered mechanical difficulties that kept it from finishing the race.
The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team selected Dunlop as its official race tire supplier for the 2009 ALMS season. The highly anticipated return of BMW to professional production car racing coincides with the ALMS’ 10th season of world-class sports car racing.
The next race of the 10-event season, the Long Beach Grand Prix, will take place on April 18.