Racing News Article #527 | Turner Motorsport

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Racing News Article #527

Turner Motorsport BMWs Back in Both IWSC and IMPC Action at Laguna Seca

Barletta and Foley Bring IMPC Grand Sport Points Lead to California

Newton, NH --- May 9, 2023 ---

The May 12 – 14 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca weekend will see four Turner Motorsport BMWs back in action in both the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) and IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) series.

In the most recent IMPC race at Sebring Turner Motorsport gave the new-for-2023 BMW M4 GT4 (G82) racing car its first IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge victory in the two-hour Alan Jay Automotive Network 120. In fact, the race went so well the team finished 1-2 overall and in the Grand Sport class. Vin Barletta and Robby Foley scored the win in the No. 96 ZEBRING split-liveried BMW M4 GT4, finishing .601 seconds ahead of the No. 95 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 of Cameron Lawrence and Robert Megennis.

The victory has Barletta and Foley at the top of the GS class driver points and the No. 96 crew leading the team points. Last season, the duo scored a fourth-place finish at Laguna Seca. Lawrence and Megennis stand tenth in driver points.

The April 15th Acura Long Beach Grand Prix, the first Sprint Cup race of the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, saw the team finish the 100-minute race a-less-than-stellar eighth and eleventh in the GT Daytona class.

The No. 96 LIQUI-MOLY BMW M4 GT3, of Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher, took the checkered flag in eighth, credited with completing 72 laps of the 1,968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit as the race ended under caution. Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull finished eleventh in the No. 97 McIntosh BMW M4 GT3, the car falling behind early after Hull incurred a drive-through penalty during his stint. Last season’s Laguna Seca race saw Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley finish third in the No. 96 LIQUI-MOLY BMW M4 GT3.

“We are looking for better luck in the second half this season’s California trip,” said Will Turner. “Long Beach did not go our way with the GTD cars so we are looking to Laguna Seca to turn it around. Last year, Vin and Robby finished fourth in GS and this year they already leading the driver points with their win at Sebring. Bill and Robby scored their first GTD podium of last season at Laguna. This year we have two very strong BMWs in the class. All signs point to a good Turner weekend.”

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