Slamming into the wall in the Kink at 160 mph or so isn't the way to win races at Road America, but BMW managed to overcome the dust-up of their No. 92 car and qualifying just 4th and 8th to put the No. 90 car, driven by Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller, on the top of the podium at this weekend's American Le Mans Series race.
The win marks the first for the team in this season's GT class competition, though it has been nipping at victory all season long, including a 2-3 finish at Lime Rock. In a field against Ferraris, Porsches, and Corvettes, the M3 GT's win is a key step in the year-end points championship, putting Hand and Mueller in second place. Despite crashing out of the race and failing to score any points this round, the No. 92's drivers, Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner, are still in fourth.
Hand and Mueller completed 66 laps of the four-mile Road America circuit in the 2-hour, 45-minute race, though fast lap went to the Beretta/Gavin duo in the No. 4 Corvette.
Only two rounds remain in the ALMS schedule, the next coming this weekend at Mosport International Raceway in Canada, followed by the Petit Le Mans a month later at Road Atlanta.
[BMW Rahal Letterman Racing]
