| Bill Auberlen | |
| Fullname: | William Anthony Auberlen |
| Nationality: | American |
| Racing Licence: | FIA Gold |
| Current Series: | IMSA SportsCar Championship |
| First Year: | 2014 |
| Current Team: | Turner Motorsport |
| Wins: | 12 |
| Prev Series: | American Le Mans Series Rolex Sports Car Series IMSA GT Championship |
| Former Teams: | BMW Team RLL |
| Starts: | 101 |
| Best Finish: | 2nd |
| Year: | 2015, 2017, 2019 |
| Podiums: | 31 |
| Birth Place: | Redondo Beach, California, United States |
| Birth Date: | October 12, 1968 |
William Anthony Auberlen[1] (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. Auberlen currently competes for Turner Motorsport in the IMSA SportsCar Championship and Michelin Pilot Challenge. He is the winningest driver in IMSA history.
Auberlen was born in Redondo Beach, California, located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and attended Rolling Hills High School. 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 and took part in several Formula Atlantic races.
Auberlen mentioned in a 2020 edition of the Marshall Pruett Podcast that he was in advanced negotiations with Hogan Racing for a drive in the 1998 CART series but chose to pursue an opportunity with BMW instead.[2]
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[3] 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 once again exclusively drove BMWs — 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.
It is believed that 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.[4] 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 returned to full-time competition for BMW, partnering with Robby Foley in the Turner BMW #96 in the GTD class.[5]
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.
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)
2020 WeatherTech Sports Car Championship GTD – 61st career win, surpassing Scott Pruett for most in IMSA history.
| Year | Team | Co-drivers | Car | Class | Laps | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| 2021 | Turner Motorsport | Robby Foley Colton Herta Aidan Read | BMW M6 GT3 | GTD | 744 | 27th | 6th | |
| 2022 | Turner Motorsport | Robby Foley Michael Dinan Jens Klingmann | BMW M4 GT3 | GTD | 280 | DNF | DNF | |
| 2023 | Turner Motorsport | John Edwards Chandler Hull Bruno Spengler | BMW M4 GT3 | GTD Pro | 635 | DNF | DNF | |
| Source: | ||||||||
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | |
| Source: | ||||||||
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
| 1999 | Price & Bscher | LMP | BMW V12 LM | BMW S70 6.0 L V12 | SEB DNF | [6] | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW Motorsport | BMW V12 LMR | BMW S70 6.0 L V12 | ATL | MOS DNS | SON 5 | POR 4 | PET 2 | MON 3 | LSV 2 | |||||||||||
| 2000 | BMW Motorsport | LMP | BMW V12 LMR | BMW S70 6.0 L V12 | SEB 4 | CHA 4 | SIL DNF | NÜR 9 | SON 4 | MOS 3 | TEX 5 | ROS 10 | PET DNF | MON 4 | LSV 3 | [7] | ||||
| Prototype Technology Group | GT | BMW M3 GTR | BMW 3.2L I6 | ADE 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Prototype Technology Group | GT | BMW M3 GTR | BMW 4.0L V8 | TEX 7 | SEB DNF | DON | JAR | SON 4 | POR 8† | MOS | MID | MON 4 | PET 1 | [8] | |||||
| 2002 | Panoz Motor Sports | LMP900 | Panoz LMP01 Evo | Élan 6L8 6.0L V8 | SEB 7 | SON 3 | MID 4 | AME DNF | WAS 6 | TRO 4 | MOS 5 | MON 6 | MIA 8 | PET 5 | [9] | |||||
| 2003 | Doran Lista Racing | LMP900 | Dallara SP1 | Judd GV5 5.0L V10 | SEB | ATL | SON 3 | TRO | MOS | AME | [10] | |||||||||
| Team Olive Garden | GTS | Ferrari 550 Maranello | Ferrari 6.0L V12 | MON 4 | ||||||||||||||||
| Alegra Motorsports | GT | BMW M3 | BMW 3.2L I6 | MIA DNF | ||||||||||||||||
| Prototype Technology Group (PTG) | BMW M3 GTR | BMW 3.2L I6 | PET 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Panoz Motor Sports | GT2 | Panoz Esperante GT-LM | Ford (Élan) 5.0L V8 | SEB DNF | ATL 1 | MID | LIM 8 | SON 5 | POR | AME 5 | MOS 8† | PET 9 | MON 2 | [11] | |||||
| 2006 | BMW Team PTG | GT2 | BMW M3 | BMW 3.4L I6 | SEB DNF | TEX DNF | MID 4 | LIM 3 | UTA 6 | POR 3 | AME 2 | MOS 5 | PET 6 | MON 8† | 7th | 84 | [12] | |||
| 2007 | Panoz Team PTG | GT2 | Panoz Esperante GT-LM | Ford (Élan) 5.0L V8 | SEB DNF | STP 3 | LNB 5 | TEX DNF | UTA DNF | LIM 8 | MID DNF | AME 10† | MOS DNF | DET 7 | PET 7 | MON 6 | 22nd | 47 | [13] | |
| 2009 | BMW Rahal Letterman Racing | GT2 | BMW M3 GT2 | BMW 4.0 L V8 | SEB DNF | STP DNF | LBH 8 | UTA 8 | LRP 3 | MDO 8 | ELK 1 | MOS 9 | PET 12 | LAG DNF | 20th | 44 | [14] | |||
| 2010 | BMW Rahal Letterman Racing | GT | BMW M3 GT2 | BMW 4.0 L V8 | SEB 2 | LBH 3 | LAG 8 | UTA 2 | LRP 2 | MDO 3 | ELK DNF | MOS 3 | PET 4 | 3rd | 125 | [15] | ||||
| 2011 | BMW Team RLL | GT | BMW M3 GT2 | BMW 4.0 L V8 | SEB 2 | LBH 7 | LRP 8 | MOS 5 | MDO 5 | ELK 2 | BAL 5 | LAG 4 | PET 2 | 3rd | 129 | [16] | ||||
| 2012 | BMW Team RLL | GT | BMW M3 GT2 | BMW 4.0 L V8 | SEB 4 | LBH 10 | LAG 3 | LRP 6 | MOS 7 | MDO 3 | ELK 1 | BAL 8 | VIR 4 | PET 3 | 6th | 107 | [17] | |||
| 2013 | BMW Team RLL | GT | BMW Z4 GTE | BMW 4.4 L V8 | SEB 4 | LBH 1 | LAG DNF | LRP 4 | MOS 6 | ELK 7 | BAL 4 | COA 4 | VIR 5 | PET 2 | 4th | 102 | [18] |
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; results in italics indicate fastest lap)
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)