Bill Auberlen

Bill Auberlen (born October 12, 1968) is an American factory race car driver known for his affiliation with BMW, driving cars made and run by the famous German marque for a number of years.

The GT sports car of w:Bill Auberlen, Paul Dalla Lana, and Joey Hand racing at an event at w:Road America.

Motorsports career and affiliation with BMW

Auberlen was born in Redondo Beach, California, located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. His career started in the 1970s in motocross, with Auberlen moving to IMSA GTU in 1987. He stayed there until 1997, his last year resulting in him winning the championship. During his time in the IMSA Series he had also become the 1996 Peruvian Formula Three champion. Other competitions Auberlen has competed in during his career include the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series (1999-2003), driving a BMW V12 LMR in 1999 and 2000 for Schnitzer Motorsport. During the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta in 2000, his BMW did a spectacular back flip[1] over the same hump over which Yannick Dalmas backflipped in a Porsche 911 GT1 in 1998.

Auberlen briefly stepped up to Grand-Am's Daytona Prototype class in 2003, in addition to driving a BMW 325i for Turner Motorsport in World Challenge touring. Auberlen won both the 2003 and 2004 Speed World Challenge Touring Car Championship behind the wheel of a Turner Motorsport BMW 325i. By doing so, Auberlen ended an eight-year Honda / Acura domination of the series. For 2004, Auberlen dedicated himself to the production-based World Challenge GT class for BMW Motorsport's Prototype Technology Group team, earning the series championship for BMW. In 2005, Auberlen continued to drive for BMW PTG in Grand-Am's GT series, while also driving for Panoz Racing in IMSA's American Le Mans Series. In 2006, Auberlen is once again exclusively driving BMW's — an M3 for Sigalsport's Grand-Am GT team, an M3 for Turner's Grand-Am team and an M3 for BMW PTG's ALMS team.

Bill Auberlen has driven BMW cars in more races than any other driver in the world. He has won six professional auto-racing championships, four with BMW power. He has competed in over 500 professional races to date, 339 in BMWs. His results include 91 race victories, 188 podium finishes, 56 pole positions, 83 fastest race laps and 110 records.

For four seasons (2014-2017), Auberlen drove full-time for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in the IMSA GTLM class of the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship; first in a BMW Z4 GTE then BMW M6 GTLM. In November 2017, Auberlen was named a BMW Brand Ambassador, but stepped down as a full-time driver in GTLM for 2018.[2] He continued to compete part-time for RLLR in the endurance races, while driving for Turner Motorsports in the IMSA GTD class in shorter events, driving a BMW M6 GT3.

In 2019, Auberlen is returning to full-time competition for BMW, partnering with Robby Foley in the Turner BMW #96 in the GTD class.[3]

Personal life

In addition to his racing success, Auberlen has designed and built fast boats and bikes. Using motorsport technology, he developed X Power Drive, a high-performance boating outdrive, engineered a custom 1554-hp Chevrolet engine that powered his open-bow Carrera catamaran to numerous world speed and acceleration records. He also built a custom turbocharged 420 hp motorcycle.

Career highlights

1987-94 IMSA GTU – eight poles (five record), five wins including pole and win in East-West Challenge 1993 (Fuji, Japan) and 1994 (Autopolis, Japan), 16 podiums including second in 12 Hours of Sebring 1987 and 24 Hours of Daytona 1988, three fastest race laps (one record); co-drove with father Gary 1987 to 1989.

1995 IMSA GTS-2 – second, record seven-consecutive record poles, five wins including 12 Hours of Sebring on 10th anniversary of father Gary's Sebring win, eight podiums and seven record fastest race laps in 11 races; Speedvision Cup – two wins, three podiums, two record fastest race laps; Atlantic Championship – second in series debut, record fastest race lap.

1996 Bill joined BMW Team PTG after his very successful privateer effort. He became the 1996 Peruvian Formula Three champion – four wins, five podiums; IMSA GTS-2 – one record pole, three podiums, one fastest race lap; competed in all three classes at the 12 Hours of Sebring; first WSC start, in Rolex 24 At Daytona

In 1997, Bill was the IMSA GTS-3 champion – six poles (three record), five wins including Rolex 24 At Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, eight podiums, three fastest race laps (two record); three WSC starts; Speedvision Cup – one record pole, two podiums; Atlantic Championship podium.

1998 fourth, 24 Heures du Mans GT1; test driver, BMW V8 race engine development; SPORTS CAR – first BMW prototype victory; SPORTS CAR and USRRC GT2 and GT3 – six record poles, seven wins including Rolex 24 At Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring, two class wins in same race, nine podiums, seven fastest race laps (six record); International Sports Racing Series – two podiums; Won the final IMSA GT Championship race overall at Laguna Seca Raceway

1999 fifth, 24 Heures du Mans Prototype; American Le Mans Series Prototype – three podiums; USRRC GT3 – one record fastest race lap

2000 American Le Mans Series Prototype – two podiums; Grand American Road Racing Association GTU – two wins, two record fastest race laps

2001 American Le Mans Series GT – Petit Le Mans win, one record fastest race lap; Rolex Sports Car Series GT – one overall and GT podium, one record fastest race lap; World Challenge TC – one pole, record 43-place last-to-first victory at Lime Rock Park, one fastest race lap

2002 Rolex Sports Car Series GT co-champion – two poles (one record), five wins, seven podiums, one record fastest race lap; 24 Heures du Mans LMP 900; American Le Mans Series LMP 900 – one podium; Grand-Am Cup GS1 – one podium, one record fastest race lap

2003 World Challenge TC champion – three poles (two record), four wins including three flag-to-flag, record eight podiums, seven fastest race laps (five record), two record race speeds; World Challenge GT – second, four poles (three record), three wins, one flag-to-flag and one last-to-first at Lime Rock Park in heavy rain, four podiums, four fastest race laps (three record), one record race speed; Rolex Sports Car Series DP – one record pole, two podiums, one record fastest race lap; American Le Mans Series LMP 900 – one podium

2003 Grassroots Motorsports Editors' Choice Award.

2004 Rolex Sports Car Series GT champion – five record poles, record eight wins including record six consecutive wins, nine podiums, six fastest race laps (three record), career GT victory record; World Challenge TC champion – three record poles, three wins, five podiums, two record fastest race laps, one record race speed, record career winning percentage; Grand-Am Cup ST – one win; selected as All-American Team member, American Auto Racing Writers and Broadcasters Association

2005 24 Heures du Mans GT2 – qualified third; American Le Mans Series GT – one record pole, one win, two podiums; Rolex Sports Car Series GT – three poles (one record), three wins, five podiums, three fastest race laps (two record); Grand-Am Cup GS – five wins, six podiums, one record fastest race lap; World Challenge TC – one pole, two wins, three podiums, two fastest race laps (one record), one record race speed, series record fifth career win at Lime Rock Park

2006 American Le Mans Series GT2 – three podiums; Rolex Sports Car Series – one DP podium, one GT record fastest race lap; Grand-Am Cup GS – third, two wins, five podiums, two fastest race laps (one record); World Challenge TC – one record pole, one win, one record fastest race lap

2007 American Le Mans Series GT2 – one podium; Rolex Sports Car Series DP – one win; KONI Challenge Series GS – three wins, five podiums, two fastest race laps (one record)

2008 Rolex Sports Car Series DP – two podiums; KONI Sports Car Challenge GS – one pole, one win, four podiums, four fastest race laps

2009 American Le Mans Series GT2 - one win, two podiums; KONI Sports Car Challenge GS – one win, four podiums, one fastest race lap

2010 American Le Mans Series GT – team champion, third in driver points, six podiums including 12 Hours of Sebring; Rolex Sports Car Series GT – one win, two podiums, two fastest race laps(one record); Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge GS – one fastest race lap

2011 American Le Mans Series GT – five podiums, including second, 12 Hours of Sebring; 24H Dubai – fifth, third-fastest race lap; Rolex Sports Car Series GT – two wins, four podiums, one fastest race lap; Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge GS – one win, five podiums, two fastest race laps (one record)

2012 American Le Mans Series GT – one record pole, one win, four podiums, one record fastest race lap; Rolex Sports Car Series GT – two wins, four podiums, two fastest race laps (one record)

Racing record

24 Hours of Daytona results

Year	Team	Co-drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1987	SP Racing	Karl Durkheimer Dieter Oest Gary Auberlen	Porsche 911 Carrera	GTU	87	DNF	DNF
1988	SP Racing	Gary Auberlen Adrian Gang Cary Eisenlohr	Porsche 911 Carrera	GTU	586	17th	2nd
1989	SP Racing	Gary Auberlen Cary Eisenlohr Monte Shelton	Porsche 911 Carrera	GTU	351	DNF	DNF
1990	SP Racing	Nort Northam Cary Eisenlohr Gary Auberlen	Porsche 911 Carrera RSR	GTU	-	DNS	DNS
1993	Charles Wagner	Mike Graham Dave Russell	Mazda MX-6	GTU	430	34th	7th
1994	Bill Auberlen	Les Lindley Ron Finger Mike Sheehan	Mazda RX-7	GTU	462	26th	12th
1995	Daytona Racing	Wolfgang Land Arnold Mattschull Alexander Mattschull Ron Finger	Porsche 993 Carrera RSR	GTS-2	587	DNF	DNF
1996	Support Net Racing	Henry Camferdam Roger Mandeville Tony Kester	Hawk C-8-Chevrolet	WSC	466	DNF	DNF
1997	Prototype Technology Group	Javier Quiros Derek Hill Boris Said Tom Hessert	BMW M3	GTS-3	640	9th	1st
1998	Prototype Technology Group	Marc Duez Boris Said Peter Cunningham	BMW M3	GT3	657	6th	1st
1999	Prototype Technology Group	Brian Cunningham Johannes van Overbeek Hans-Joachim Stuck	BMW M3	GT3	238	DNF	DNF
2000	Genesis Racing	Rick Fairbanks Nick Ham Chris Gleason	BMW M3	GTU	312	DNF	DNF
2001	Genesis Racing	Chris Gleason Rick Fairbanks Chris Miller	BMW M3 E46	GT	627	9th	6th
2002	Scuderia Ferrari of Washington	Cort Wagner Constantino Bertuzzi Derrike Cope	Ferrari 360 Modena N-GT	GT	572	25th	14th
2004	Prototype Technology Group	Niclas Jönsson Joey Hand Boris Said Justin Marks	BMW M3 E46	GT	267	DNF	DNF
					162	DNF	DNF
2005	Prototype Technology Group	Joey Hand Ian James Chris Gleason	BMW M3 E46	GT	199	DNF	DNF
2006	Sigalsport BMW	Matthew Alhadeff Tommy Milner Justin Marks Gene Sigal	BMW M3 E46	GT	592	31st	16th
2007	Luggage Express Team Sigalsport BMW	Matthew Alhadeff Gene Sigal Karl Wendlinger	Riley Mk. XI-BMW	DP	367	DNF	DNF
2008	Alex Job Racing	Joey Hand Patrick Long Andy Wallace	Crawford DP08-Porsche	DP	569	DNF	DNF
2010	Turner Motorsport	Paul Dalla Lana Joey Hand Boris Said	BMW M6	GT	675	15th	8th
2011	Turner Motorsport	Boris Said Paul Dalla Lana Matt Plumb	BMW M6	GT	565	32nd	17th
2012	Turner Motorsport	Michael Marsal Dirk Werner Paul Dalla Lana Dirk Müller	BMW M3	GT	691	27th	16th
		Paul Dalla Lana Dirk Müller Boris Said Billy Johnson			86	DNF	DNF
2013	Turner Motorsport	Billy Johnson Paul Dalla Lana Boris Said Maxime Martin	BMW M3	GT	631	28th	18th
		Maxime Martin Michael Marsal Andy Priaulx Gunter Schaldach			-	DNS	DNS
2014	BMW Team RLL	Joey Hand Andy Priaulx Maxime Martin	BMW Z4 GTE	GTLM	679	7th	2nd
2015	BMW Team RLL	Dirk Werner Augusto Farfus Bruno Spengler	BMW Z4 GTE	GTLM	725	5th	2nd
2016	BMW Team RLL	Dirk Werner Augusto Farfus Bruno Spengler	BMW M6 GTLM	GTLM	721	11th	5th
2016	BMW Team RLL	Dirk Werner Augusto Farfus Bruno Spengler	BMW M6 GTLM	GTLM	721	11th	5th
2017	BMW Team RLL	Alexander Sims Augusto Farfus Bruno Spengler	BMW M6 GTLM	GTLM	651	12th	8th
2018	BMW Team RLL	Connor De Phillippi Philipp Eng Alexander Sims	BMW M8 GTE	GTLM	731	35th	9th
2019	Turner Motorsport	Robby Foley Dillon Machavern Jens Klingmann	BMW M6 GT3	GTD	560	26th	10th
2020	Turner Motorsport	Robby Foley Jens Klingmann Dillon Machavern	BMW M6 GT3	GTD	763	23rd	6th

24 Hours of Le Mans results

Year	Team	Co-Drivers	Car	Class	Laps	Pos.	Class Pos.
1998	Gulf Team Davidoff EMKA Racing	Steve O'Rourke Tim Sugden	McLaren F1 GTR	GT1	343	4th	4th
1999	Price+Bscher	Thomas Bscher Steve Soper	BMW V12 LM	LMP	345	5th	4th
2002	Panoz Motor Sports	David Donohue Gunnar Jeannette	Panoz LMP01 Evo-Élan	LMP900	230	DNF	DNF
2005	Panoz Motor Sports	Robin Liddell Scott Maxwell	Panoz Esperante GT-LM	GT2	27	DNF	DNF
2013	Aston Martin Racing	Paul Dalla Lana Pedro Lamy	Aston Martin Vantage GTE	GTE Pro	221	DNF	DNF

External links

1. Dalmas and Auberlen blowover at Road Atlanta
2. "De Phillippi Joins BMW Team RLL; Auberlen Set for NAEC Role". Sportscar 365. November 30, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
3. "Auberlen Aiming to Make History with Turner BMW". Racer.com. January 5, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.

• Grand-Am driver profile
• Bio and career highlights (Rahal Letterman Racing)
• Profile on TheRaceSite.com