July 23, 2017... Munich. John Edwards (USA) and Martin Tomczyk (GER) raced the number 24 BMW M6 GTLM to a third place finish in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) race at Lime Rock Park (USA). The result is the third podium finish in the last four races for the duo and the 66th in BMW Team RLL history. Team-mates Bill Auberlen (USA) and Alexander Sims (GBR) finished sixth in the number 25 car after a tough race. The race was won by the number 911 Porsche.
Tomczyk moved into third when the last GTLM car made its second stop on lap 173, but he hardly had time to think about it as he was in the middle of a heated battle with the number 3 Corvette for the last step of the podium. A stellar effort and his years of DTM experience kept the number 24 BMW M6 GTLM in third to secure BMW Team RLL’s fourth consecutive race with at least one BMW on the podium.
John Edwards (No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM, third place): “That was stressful watching Martin’s race. He withstood some real pressure by the Corvette to defend and get us the to the podium – now two races in a row and three in the last four. Lime Rock does not play to the BMW M6 GTLMs strengths so a third feels like a win.”
Martin Tomczyk (No. 24 BMW M6 GTLM, third place): “Today was great fun because we finished third. A fourth place finish would not have been so exciting after such a tough battle. The end of the race with the Corvette was pure racing, even if it was a bit hard a few times. I had some really big moments, but I was able to defend whatever he tried.”
Bill Auberlen (No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM, sixth place): “We’ve had quite a few good race weekends of late, but they can’t all go our way. We did not have the car to win today, but we did not put a wheel wrong so minimised the points damage. Road America will suit us better.”
Alexander Sims (No. 25 BMW M6 GTLM, sixth place): “Frankly after two wins we are disappointed not to have been able to fight for a podium finish today. Unfortunately, sixth was the best we could do. Our sister car had a much better day, but everyone puts in the same effort win or lose.”
