CARENDURANCEALMS

New GT2 racer hits the track on US soil for maiden Rahal Letterman test session.

BMW Rahal Letterman Racing has concluded its first day of running with the new GT2-spec BMW M3 it will campaign in the American Le Mans series next season.

Former ALMS GT champion and works BMW driver Jorg Muller spent most of the time behind the wheel on Wednesday at Road Atlanta as the team kicked-off a two-day test, which marked the start of its relationship with the car that has already undergone a series of tests back in Europe.

The move to BMW will mark a return to the ALMS for the Rahal team having campaigned a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR back in 2007 and team boss Bobby Rahal said he was excited about the new venture.

"It's a great relationship between Rahal Letterman and BMW North America," he said. "Sports car racing is where I got my start so there were a lot of emotional reasons for being involved but there also were a variety of business-related reasons as well.

"With all due respect to our prototype friends, GT2 will truly be one for the ages. We are part of BMW returning, you have Corvette moving from GT1 and GT2 plus Panoz, Porsche and Ferrari. It will be extremely tough, competitive racing."

The M3 also will test Thursday at Road Atlanta before another test session next week at Sebring International Raceway, site of the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.

The car will debut at Sebring, with Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand named as the first drivers.

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