(FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE)
Turner LIQUI MOLY BMW M6 GT3 finishes 6th in the 24 and double podiums in the 4 hour GS race
Daytona Beach, FL (January 25, 2021) ---
Of the three races entered in preparation for and during the 59th Rolex 24 At Daytona weekend Turner Motorsport achieved some excellent results as the team celebrated a very special anniversary. While the focus was on the tasks at hand, the team passed its milestone 400th race with BMW.
Starting it off with a win (and a pole)
New for this season was a 100-minute qualifying race on the Sunday of the Roar Before the 24 test that preceded the Rolex 24 weekend. It would be the first time this year to face off against the 18-car GT Daytona class and co-drivers Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley, and the Turner Motorsport team showed they were ready. Robby started off the affair in rainy conditions and Turner was among the first to make the call for dry tires. Auberlen took over the No. 96 Liqui Moly BMW M6 GT3 and the race, taking the checkered flag in first and, as the IMSA all-time win leader often does, set the quickest time of the class. In addition to the usual trophies and fanfare, the victory secured the class pole for the Rolex 24 and the bonus 35 points that goes along with a 2021 pole.
Friday’s double-podium
The four-hour BMW Endurance Challenge at Daytona kicks off the Rolex 24 weekend and features the cars of the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. In Turner’s case, its two BMW M4 GT4 machines would compete in the 24-car Grand Sport class; Vin Barletta and Robby Foley in the No. 96, Bill Auberlen and Dillon Machavern in the No. 95. Opening stint drivers Barletta and Machavern did what starting drivers are supposed to do, hand off the car to the closer in good shape and in good position. Both did exactly that, in Machavern’s case from the race lead. The final 20 minutes of the race is destined for the Turner highlight reel although it’s a toss-up on who had the move of the race, Auberlen’s left-right shimmy through the Bus Stop to take the second spot or Foley’s side-draft through the banking and down the front straight to take the final step of the podium. Either way, the double-podium was the best result for the team at Daytona since 2011.
Sixth on Sunday
By every measure, the Rolex 24 At Daytona is one tough race. Turner entered the race ready to start from the GTD class pole and still jazzed from Friday’s double-podium finish in the IMPC BMW Endurance Challenge. Co-drivers Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley, Colton Herta and Aidan Read made for one of the best lineups Turner had ever brought to the twice-around-the-clock classic. The mantra at the Rolex 24 is “no mistakes”. Well, the team made three small ones, but it was enough to back the No. 96 BMW M6 GT3 towards the rear of the grid and focus on getting back to the sharp end of the field, not challenge for the win. Ultimately, at the checkered flag it was a sixth-place finish, but the points earned plus the 35 from the previous Sunday’s qualifying race give Turner Motorsport a very sold foundation to begin the 2021 title fight.
Will Turner – “The Rolex 24 is a 24-hour race made up of 24 one-hour sprint races. We had a strong car, a stellar lineup of drivers and, unfortunately, we also had three little incidents that cost us the chance to race for the win. Two drive-through penalties, and a tire puncture cost us to lose one lap that we could not get back. You have to be perfect here to get the win, but with a sixth-place finish we recovered enough to be in a good position for the season.”
Bill Auberlen - “The win in the qualifying race last Sunday was a great start to the season. We missed it a bit in the 24, but the combination of the qualifying and sixth-place points puts us in a good position with the Twelve Hours of Sebring up next.”
Colton Herta – “Ultimately, we did not put together what we needed for the win, but we got the maximum out of what we had to work with. I believe Turner looks to be in a strong position for the rest of the season.”
Robby Foley -“Despite the few issues we had quite a good race. I think we’re ready for a strong result at Sebring.”
Aidan Read –“I’m knackered, but delighted to have finished my first 24-hour race. I really enjoyed it. We needed to get a bit of help with a wave-by to get back on the lead lap, but it did not come together. The BMW M6 was strong and reliable. We’ll certainly look for more in the next races.”
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About Turner Motorsport
Turner Motorsport is the leading BMW tuner in North America, bringing technology and expertise from the racetrack to the street for over two decades. Since 1993 the Turner Motorsport Team has competed in over 380 professional races, winning seven professional racing championships in four different series since 2003. The most recent being the 2014 Team Championship in the GTD-class of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship. Their success is passed into every component that Turner Motorsport designs and sells through their comprehensive website and performance showroom. Our Race Team, R&D Engineers and Sales Team work together, ensuring practical knowledge and state-of-the-art engineering flow in both directions. Few companies in North America can claim such a close relationship to what they sell and what they race.
