Test Drive: 2011 BMW M3 coupe

BMW is celebrating the 35th anniversary of the M3 this year and each of the four generations of this iconic model has been very active in racing around the world over those years. The first E30 M3 from the late 1980’s was made to homologate the racing version of the car, which dominated European circuits with drivers like Roberto Ravaglia, Johnny Cecotto and Steve Soper. The E36 and E46 versions were raced very effectively by Team PTG here in the U.S. from 1995-2001, with multiple championships that included wins at Sebring and Daytona, as well as the ALMS championship with the fire-breathing M3 GTR’s that were entered by PTG and BMW Motorsport Team Schnitzer in 2001.

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SCi Interview: Bill Auberlen

Bill Auberlen’s name will forever be associated with BMW. He passed his 250^th race start in a BMW-powered car earlier this season and has been adding to it with drives this season in the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing M3 in ALMS, as well as in Grand Am Rolex GT and Continental Challenge with Turner Motorsport. Auberlen has been one of the fastest drivers in sports car racing for fifteen years and has raced just about every type of car, from street stock BMWs in World Challenge and Continental Challenge to Grand Am Daytona Prototypes and cutting edge GT cars. He’s also driven the BMW V12 LMR prototype and has raced at Le Mans in the McLaren F1 GTR. Along the way, he’s won six championships (four of them in BMWs). We caught up with Bill before and after the Lime Rock ALMS race.

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