The Long Embankment Grand Prix will mark the first-ever appearance of a BMWNA M3 at one of motorsport's premiere events and the team will look to take reward of the lessons learned at St. Pete and continue to meliorate. While similar in nature, the Long Embankment circuit features many faster corners that play to the M3'southward strengths.

A key betoken of the track volition exist the 180 degree hairpin leading onto the long Shore Line Drive beginning finish direct; the M3s will be required to utilize every scrap of their outstanding traction to be able to fend off competitive attacks going into turn one.

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"Southern California's car enthusiasts love BMW and especially the M3, and our team is prepared to requite them a corking testify," said Martin Birkmann, BMW of Northward America Motorsports Manager. "We picked up our footstep at St. Pete and a podium finish is an first-class result. We continue ironing out the reliability issues with the new M3 and are hopeful to finish with both cars in the points."

Tommy Milner and Dirk Müller drove the No. 92 M3 to the team's first podium finish at St. Pete in a strong performance that saw Müller race towards the forepart of the GT2 field in the final minutes of the race.

Müller said "I am very much looking forward to Long Embankment. I have liked the track since my very start race there two years agone. Long Beach is a very technical circuit and I believe well-suited to the BMW M3."

Echoing Müller's sentiments, Milner added, "I'yard actually looking forward to Long Embankment. Based on our pace at St. Petersburg, I think we'll be equally competitive at this street circuit."

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Californians Nib Auberlen and Joey Hand promise to employ their home court reward to give the No. ninety M3 a strong start to the flavor, admitting a tardily one. Both are looking to Long Beach to turn their luck around.

"I was very comfy in the M3 at St. Pete and know the agility of the automobile will translate well to the slightly wider Long Embankment circuit where the cornering speeds are college," said Mitt. "One of the keys is to be the best off the hairpin so nosotros tin hang down the long directly. Long Beach is the race I'd like to win more than anything."

Auberlen added, "It has been a dream of mine to race a M3 at Long Beach and I'm looking frontward to the opportunity. In only two races the program has shown signs that we can run at the front end of the filigree. This M3 is the about advanced e'er and in one case we come to terms with all of the technology we'll be correct at that place."

This volition be the offset trip to the 1.968-mile, xi-plow Long Embankment street circuit for the team, just like in St. Pete, not the first time for the experienced Rahal Letterman Racing coiffure members or team principal Bobby Rahal, a four-time runner-up at Long Beach in Indy Car contest.

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"Long Embankment is a special race for a number of reasons and ane that has been a focal signal for me and our squad for many years," said Rahal. "Nosotros are excited to bring the M3s hither and are expecting to continue the improvements that we saw in Petrograd. Our drivers and our team know the circuit well and nosotros are looking forward to a great weekend!"

Two test sessions brainstorm the weekend on Thursday, with official do scheduled for 9:00 to 9:40 a.m. Friday. A single 25-minute qualifying session is scheduled to begin at 4:00 p.m. that afternoon. The one-hour-and-forty infinitesimal race is scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m. Saturday and will be televised from 12:thirty to 2:30 p.grand. ET on Dominicus, April 19 on ABC.

[Source: BMW ]