The No. 25 BMW Team RLL with an ultra-durable AERO™ Advance Paint Technology livery secured a maiden podium result for the new BMW M6 GTLM in Sebring. Bill Auberlen, Dirk Werner, and Bruno Spengler took the BMW to second in the GTLM class in a well-fought finish, just 2.882 seconds behind the class-winning No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C7.R.

Auberlen’s phenomenal driving in qualifying putting the AERO-painted M6 GTLM on pole for the 12-hour race. It was again Auberlen who clocked the fastest GTLM lap time of 1:59.182 during the race.

“I believe the M6 GTLM was the car to beat today,” Auberlen stated, “but we didn’t help ourselves to the win. We had two penalties early on, but fought our way back up to the lead. An over boost penalty near the end of the race required another drive through the pits and, ultimately, we fell short, but this should not be considered anything close to a disappointing day for us.”

The BMWs of Rahal Letterman Lanigan racing, including the sixth-place finishing No. 100 car, saw an action-packed race fraught with issues. After one and a half hours it started raining heavily, causing several offs and accidents leading to a red flag period after about three hours. However, conditions remained variable thereafter, causing further on-track incidents over the course of the race. The outcome was determined in a furious sprint that started after the 13th full-course yellow in the final 20 minutes.

“It was a tough and exciting day at the office” stated team principal Bobby Rahal.” “Dirk [Werner] really stood on the gas at the end when he had to. It is frustrating to be that close, but given everything that went on today we have to be somewhat happy with second place at the second race for the car. The car was solid, the systems were reliable, and mechanically it didn’t miss a beat.”

BMW Team RLL has trusted aerospace-grade AERO™ film-based paints over the last three seasons, inclusive. After a prominent display of durability, aesthetic value, and ease of install in the team’s IndyCar program, the transition of the world’s only ultra-durable film-based paint applique system into endurance racing was obvious.

“The old adage of ‘race on Sunday, sell on Monday’ is totally obvious for the BMW marque,” AERO CEO Jim McGuire stated. “The guys at RLL are really showing the engineering and mechanical prowess of the M6 with AERO, which we think also shows the performance benefits of our paint to the general automotive market as well. BMW Team RLL has, and continues to be, a huge plus when showing our general automotive, commercial trucking, and OEM customers the value of our technology. Especially when these guys regularly appear on the podium!”

Keep track of both AERO-painted BMW Team RLL M6 GTLMs throughout the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, next appearing at the Grand Prix at Long Beach along with the No. 15 Honda-powered IndyCar of Graham Rahal on April 15-16.

About Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing

Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, based in Hilliard, Ohio and Brownsburg, Ind., and co-owned by three-time IndyCar Champion and 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal, former CBS Late Show host David Letterman and Mi-Jack co-owner Mike Lanigan, has been competing for over two decades. Prior to the start of their 25th season of competition in 2016, the team has compiled 37 victories, 49 poles, 144 podium finishes, three series championships (1992, 2010, 2011) and claimed an Indianapolis 500 victory (Buddy Rice in 2004). In 2009 the team joined BMW of North America to campaign the new BMW M3 in the American Le Mans Series. The following year the team won both the Manufacturer and Team Championships in the GT category and swept all three GT titles - Manufacturer, Team and Driver – in 2011. In 2012 the team finished second in the Team Championship and third in the Manufacturer Championship and in 2013, the team finished second in the Driver, Team and Manufacturer Championship. The 2014 season brought a new challenge with the creation of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship and the team finished on the podium six times including four second-place finishes. In 2015, the team earned three wins, two poles and a total of eight podium finishes to place second in the Manufacturer, Team, and Driver championships. Prior to the start of the 2016 season BMW Team RLL had won 13 races, 20 poles and 57 podium finishes.

About AERO™ Advanced Paint Technology

AERO™ Advanced Paint Technology is a division of entrotech, inc. that designs, manufactures, and sells a series of patent-pending, film-based paint appliques to the aerospace, automotive, and commercial trucking industries. Established in 1999, entrotech is a chemical technology business that designs, develops, and commercializes innovative materials used in many of the world’s most advanced products. The company’s focus is on life sciences, data storage, display protection, and green paint applique films. With executive offices and laboratories in San Francisco, the company has manufacturing and development facilities in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit: www.entrotech.com