Bill Auberlen took his 60th win in IMSA competition last weekend when he took top honours in GTD with Turner Motorsport alongside Robby Foley and Dillon Machavern.
The #96 BMW M6 GT3 was a top contender in the very competitive class, but took the win after the #33 Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3 in the hands of Felipe Fraga ran out of fuel in the very last lap of the ten hour season finale. Fraga had fiercely defended the top spot from Auberlen after the restart, but was defenseless as his car spluttered to a halt exiting the Esses.
Auberlen now ties Scott Pruitt for the most wins in IMSA history, taking the landmark victory on his 51st birthday. The veteran sat on 58 wins for nearly two years and took win number 59 together with Foley at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in July
"I'm so glad BMW still sees I can get it done," said Auberlen. "To tie 60 wins with Scott Pruett, it just shows how great of a career BMW has allowed me to have — winning in these BMWs day in and day out. Now to be tied with the most wins in America.
Auberlen began racing in IMSA in the late 1980s and has built up an impressive resume. He won the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Twelve Hours of Sebring twice in 1997 and 1998, became a two time GRAND-AM GT champion and competed in well over 300 races in BMW machinery.
"When you look back, you get to see how many unique wins there have been," he added. "When I look at my trophy case and I get to add this to it, all of it is a bunch of great memories.
I'll never forget all the joy it brings from the camaraderie. Every single weekend you go to battle with a group of guys who would die for you and you would die for them. You come with everything you have, and to get to do that with BMW for 23 years now, it has been a great road that I wouldn't trade for anything."
