Four hours into the 2016 Rolex 24 At Daytona the No. 100 and No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM racing cars stand 5th and 8th respectively in the GTLM class.
John Edwards started the No. 100 M6 from the third position and ran three stints in the opening two-hours-and-twenty-two minutes of the race. Edwards was slowed on his first pit stop when he stuck a tire left from the No. 25 pit stop and had to serve a drive through penalty. He caught back up to the lead pack before handing off to Lucas Luhr. As the fourth hour was completed Luhr was beginning his third stint and stood in fifth place.
Dirk Werner doubled stinted the No. 25 M6 before Bill Auberlen took over one-hour-and-twenty-minutes into the race. Auberlen was forced to the pits on lap 66 after a puncture to his right rear Michelin. After the quick pit stop No. 25 came out two laps behind to the leaders. 27 laps later he pitted for fuel and tires and began his third stint. Just before the four-hour mark Auberlen handed the No. 25 machine off to Bruno Spengler from the eighth position, one lap down to the leaders.
Bill Auberlen, driver No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM: “I was a bit better than the leaders on the infield sections, but they had a better top speed and so it was a little bit of give and take. I had quite a ride after the right rear exploded, but I was able to keep the car off the wall and limp it back to the pits. That put us two laps down. We have made a lap back now.”
John Edwards, driver No. 100 BMW M6 GTLM: “As the track continued to rubber in we saw the balance come to us. I am hoping it continues to do that for the rest of the race. Unfortunately we had a little bit of a mess up on the first pit stop. From my seat it is almost impossible to see something like a tire that close to the car. I got a drive penalty but finally caught up on the next yellows so we are back in it now.”
Dirk Werner, driver No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM: “We came pretty smoothly into this race and just tried to hang in there. We don’t want to do anything stupid and just want to keep the car in one piece . The performance seems to be all right compared to the others. We can just drive at the same pace. I am happy the car feels good and I think we are ready for a long day and a long night.”
Follow BMW Team RLL on Twitter at @BMWUSARacing for “from-the-pit-box” updates all weekend.
