BMW Team Schnitzer claims win in ILMC debut season.

Intercontinental Le Mans Cup: Maiden victory in China.


BMW Motorsport 2010 Review


As well as lining up in the American Le Mans Series, the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring, and the three 24-hour classics, the BMW M3 GT2 also contested the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup (ILMC), which was held for the first time in 2010. The season featured three events in Europe, North America and Asia.

In Silverstone (GB) BMW Team Schnitzer was responsible for fielding the no. 78 GT sports car. Jörg Müller and Dirk Werner finished eighth in the LM GT2 class at the 1,000-kilometre race. The team’s analysis after the turbulent season finale of the Le Mans Series, which was also the first race of the ILMC, had two sides. While the team wasn’t satisfied with the result, the car’s performance compared to the pace displayed at earlier LMS races this year, gave everyone reason for optimism.

The second round of the ILMC was the traditional “Petit Le Mans” held on 2nd October. At the season finale of the American Le Mans Series in Road Atlanta, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team bore the BMW colours. Dirk Werner, Bill Auberlen and Tommy Milner finished fourth in the GT class with BMW M3 GT2 number 92, while their team-mates Andy Priaulx, Dirk Müller and Joey Hand had to settle for 13th following problems early on in the race. Fourth place was not only enough to secure the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team title glories in the American Le Mans Series, but was also the best result to date in the ILMC.

It was to get even better at the finale in Zhuhai (CN). Jörg Müller and Dirk Werner claimed victory in the LMGT2 class with the BMW M3 GT2. After 202 laps, final-stint driver Müller took the chequered flag in first, 1:32.141 minutes ahead of the second-placed Porsche.

This was the first victory for the BMW M3 GT2 in this specification and the maiden win for BMW Team Schnitzer on mainland China. Starting from third on the grid, Müller laid the foundation for this excellent result with a strong first stint in sunny conditions. When he pitted at the end of lap 39 to hand over the wheel to his team-mate, the BMW M3 GT2 was already in the lead.

Werner completed a double stint, consolidating the lead, and then Müller took over on lap 121. The BMW works driver came home to victory at the 4.319-kilometre “Zhuhai International Circuit”. While some competitors were involved in incidents, the BMW M3 GT2 was able to finish the race without any problems, thus making for a successful end to the 2010 ILMC season.


- Ingo Lehbrink-