The Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 rolls into Virginia International Raceway carrying momentum from a recent four-race podium streak beginning at Watkins Glen International in June.
The driver duo of Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley have hit their stride to make their way up to second place in the GTD class standings with just three races remaining in the 2019 WeatherTech Championship.
This weekend’s race on the 3.27- mile, 17-turn VIR will mark round nine of the 2019 season following a short break since the team’s third place finish at Road America earlier in August to put the Turner BMW just 24 points back from first place in the championship.
Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley will team up in the two-hour and forty-minute Michelin GT Challenge for the second GT-only weekend on the schedule.
“We have found our stride over the last month or so and have been very successful in executing race strategy and clean racing,” said Bill Auberlen. “We have been working together very well as a team to accomplish consistency over the last four race weekends and we are really looking to continue that through the end of the season. Our BMW has been strong and the Turner team has been flawless so I don’t think I have ever been so excited to chase a Championship and race wins along the way.”
Last year, Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley ran a solid race at VIR with a podium in their sights when a mechanical failure caused Foley to lose pace and give up crucial positions. In 2017, Turner drivers Jens Klingmann and Jesse Krohn put together a strong second place finish just missing the top step of the podium in the final minutes of the race.
“The Turner cars have historically been strong at VIR over the years,” said Robby Foley. “Last year we had a solid platform and ran a strong race but unfortunately did not have the pace at the end to stay with the leaders due to a broken suspension component. We have had some success recently which has shifted our strategy to chase the championship points so consistency is key. The last four races have been very strong so hopefully we are able to keep that consistency going until Petit to close out the year.”
In addition to the GTD class action with the BMW M6 GT3, the LMC Industrial Contractors BMW M4 GT4 will make its return to the GS class in the Michelin Pilot Challenge this weekend. Drivers Robby Foley and Vin Barletta will make another appearance together to mark Barletta’s second appearance in IMSA.
“I am glad Vin (Barletta) is back with us in the BMW M4 GT4,” said Robby Foley. “We had a good showing at Watkins Glen so we should have a good weekend working off that sixth place finish in the four hour race. I also have to thank LMC for all their support with this program.”
Barletta and Foley finished sixth in their first appearance together at Watkins Glen International earlier this season for the four hour Tioga Downs 240.
This weekend will begin with the first GS practice on Thursday afternoon followed by practice and qualifying on Friday. GS qualifying begins at 7:35pm ET on Friday August 22nd. The Virginia is for Lovers Grand Prix goes green on Saturday at 2:15pm ET.
The GTD qualifying is at 12:25pm ET on Saturday August 22nd LIVE on IMSA.com and the Michelin GT Challenge is LIVE on NBC Sports Network at 1:30pm ET.
