BMW new Z4 GTE ALMS contender

Last week, BMW has unveiled their all new car that will replace the old M3 GT in American Le Mans Series that won the ALMS GT class drivers' title in 2011 and manufacturers' crowns in 2010 and '11 with the Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing. Their 2013 race car will be the all new BMW Z4 GTE, which was revealed at the Daytona International Speedway last week(12/2/13).





The new car has been developed from BMW's successful Z4 GT3 contender at BMW Motorsport in Munich and will use the old M3 GT BMW 4 litre V8. The Z4 GTE will also race on Michelin tyres rather than the Dunlops on which the old M3 ran for the last few seasons in ALMS. The Z4 GTE tested for the first time in mid-January and will make its race debut at the Sebring 12 Hours ALMS opener in a few weeks time.

BMW and RLL have also announced the driver pairings for the ALMS campaign, Bill Auberlen and Maxime Martin in #55 car; and Joey Hand and John Edwards will alternate with Dirk Muller in the #56 car. Also, Jorg Muller and Uwe Alzen will be the third drivers in the two cars for the Sebring and Petit Le Mans rounds.



But, unlike the Ferrari 458 Italia GT2, Aston Martin Vantage GTE, Porsche 991 RSR, Chevrolet Corvette C6.R and the SRT Viper GTS-R which will be at Le mans doing the 24 hour race later in the season. The BMW Z4 GTE however will not be racing at Le mans this year. Which will be a shame not to, anyway the Z4 GTE will be racing at American Le Mans Series that is for sure this season. A race winning BMW? time will tell.

End of post/blog for now, new post soon. Bye.