bmer
Tire Trailblazer
Friday, September 25th 2009, 15:30 GMT
By Simon Strang
BMW Motorsport has confirmed it will continue in the American Le Mans Series in 2010 with Rahal Letterman Racing.
Following BMW's withdrawal from Formula 1, the manufacturer has recommitted to its sportscar programme and the team will again field two M3 GTRs in the new amalgamated GT class in 2010.
"I think if you look at the grid it is extremely compelling," said BMW Motorsport's US chief Martin Berkmann. "The GT class allows manufacturers to produce cars that are in philosophy and engineering layout very similar to the street cars we are selling.
"This year has been tremendous in terms of development of the new competitors. For us racing is something we like to do against others. We have a lot of respect for our competition but we also enjoy tremendously challenging them."
Rahal Letterman team owner Bobby Rahal admitted that BMW's decision to commit to the ALMS programme was a relief after it terminated its F1 involvement.
"Despite the economy BMW has stayed true to [ALMS] which speaks volumes for their commitment to the series," he said. "It's great news for us that we will be back again. It has been a year that we have had difficulties, but we were always going to have those in the first year of a car.
"But we have had successes as well and that encourages us for the future as we make the car better and better with each race."
Rahal added that he hoped, now that BMW had realigned its motorsport priorities, his GT programme might see some benefits from the company's departure from F1.
Read full article: autosport.com - ALMS News: BMW commits to 2010 ALMS
