Turner Motorsport Confirms Return To GTD Class For 2015
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Source: Turner Motorsport, Jan 5, 2015)
Amesbury, MA -- January 5th, 2015 – In wake of the highlight 2014 race season, Turner Motorsport begins final preparation for the 2015 return to the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship GT Daytona (GTD) class.
Turner is excited to announce its return to the TUDOR Championship as defending 2014 GTD Champions. The No. 97 GTD-class BMW Z4 in Turner Blue and Yellow will make its debut at the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The No. 97 BMW Z4 will be driven by two endurance racing veterans, Michael Marsal and Markus Palttala for the entire 10-race season.
“I have been working on putting this program together since the last race – I’m happy to say that everything just fell into place this past weekend - now my guys are going to have to work round the clock to get the car ready for Daytona, said team owner Will Turner."
Michael Marsal, who has appeared in several Turner Motorsport racecars over the years as well as in the P1 class in Europe, is returning for his fifth full season with Turner. In Marsal’s rookie season with Turner, he and co-driver Joey Hand finished second in driver points with two wins and eight podiums.
“It is great to have another full season ahead with Turner, I have had some great years with this team and it just feels right to get back behind the wheel of a blue and yellow BMW, especially the Z4 GTD with it’s success. Markus (Palttala) is back and we are ready for some 2015 racing,” commented Michael Marsal.
Palttala, who had an impressive debut season state-side with four wins, six podiums and ten top-ten finishes has signed on to share seat-time with Marsal for the entire 2015 TUDOR Championship season. Palttala was also crowned 2014's most successful privateer BMW driver in the world at the BMW Sport Trophy awards ceremony back in December.
”I’m especially happy to return to the Tudor Championship with Turner Motorsport and the BMW Z4 GTD No. 97. I love racing in the US, there are just so many great circuits and events. With everything I learned in 2014 I think Michael and I will have a good run this season and I am looking forward to another season with Turner Motorsport,” said Markus Palttala
"With just under 25 days until Daytona, it’s crazy to think 2015 is already here,” commented Will Turner. “I hope we can carry some of the success we had with last year’s championship season into this year."
For 2015, Turner welcomes a new partner and familiar BMW Motorsport driver to the team. The IHG® Rewards Club 2015 partnership with Turner will put Andy Priaulx in the Turner driver lineup for Tequila Patrón North American Endurance Cup races including the Rolex 24 At Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida.
Priaulx is a long time BMW works driver winning the FIA World Touring Car Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2007. In 2011 he was a member of BMW Motorsport’s Intercontinental Le Mans Cup team co-driving the BMW M3 GT to a win at the 12 Hours of Sebring and a third place finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. In 2012 Priaulx joined BMW Motorsport’s DTM effort for two full seasons in the Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM. Most recently Priaulx co-drove the No. 55 RLL Team BMW Z4 GTLM with Bill Auberlen in 2014.
“Andy (Priaulx) is a fantastic addition to the team; the IHG® Rewards Club partnership is especially exciting for us. Now we need to decide on our fourth driver and our driver lineup will be complete for Daytona. Fast, experienced silvers are not easy to find but I am confident that we will choose the best option in the next few days,” said Will Turner.
In 2014 Turner Motorsport won four races, made the podium a total of six times and finished inside the top 10 a total of ten times in just eleven races. The team was also able to achieve the 300-professional race milestone at COTA while campaigning the BMW Z4 as well as to be the first team worldwide to win a major championship with the BMW Z4 GT3.
The landmark 2014 year for Turner finished strong several weeks ago with Turner driver Markus Palttala crowned as 2014 BMW Sport Trophy Champion and co-driver Dane Cameron taking second at the award ceremony in Munich.
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Priaulx joins Turner Motorsport for USCC endurance races.
BMW works driver Andy Priaulx will return to racing in North America in 2015 with the championship winning Turner Motorsport team. He will be contesting the endurance races in Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta in a BMW Z4 GTD.
When announcing the deal team principal Will Turner explained: “I have been working on putting this IMSA programme together since the last race. Now my guys are going to have to work round the clock to get the car ready for Daytona.”
Priaulx added: “This is an amazing opportunity for me and one I grabbed with both hands. Last year I was able to see how this team worked close at hand and I was very impressed by its professionalism. It can’t get much better than going racing in a fiercely competitive series with the team that won the GTD team and driver titles last year. I thoroughly enjoyed racing in America in these endurance races and so I can’t wait to get back on track in a couple of weeks for the Daytona 24 Hours.”
The Guernsey driver will compete in the North American Endurance Cup, which is part of the United SportsCar Championship (USCC). He will drive alongside Finland’s Markus Palttala, who was the 2014 BMW Sports Trophy winner, and America’s Michael Marsal in the number 97 BMW Z4 GTD. 2015 will be a busy year for Priaulx who is also competing for BMW in the European Le Mans Series. In 2014 Turner Motorsport clinched the GTD titles in the USCC with four wins, six podiums and ten top ten finishes in 11 races.
The North American Endurance Cup calendar at a glance:
24th /25th January – Daytona 24 Hours
21st March – 12 Hours of Sebring
28th June – Six Hours of the Glen
3rd October – Petit Le Mans
(Source: Bmw-Motorsport Jan 5, 2015)