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GRAND-AM
V8: BMW’s Joey Hand, Dirk Muller, Andy Priaulx In For GC600
The V8 Supercars series announces three BMW drivers--Joey Hand, Dirk Muller and Andy Priaulx--will drive in this year's Gold Coast 600 invitational at Surfers Paradise.
Hand, Priaulx and Muller can't wait to head Down Under in October. (Marshall Pruett)
International stars Andy Priaulx, Dirk Müller and Joey Hand will team up in the famous Le Mans 24-hour in France this weekend – then battle against each other on the streets of Surfers Paradise in the Armor All Gold Coast 600, October 21-23.
Priaulx will rejoin Team Vodafone while Müller and Hand will both be a part of Dick Johnson Racing’s Jim Beam-backed Ford team on the streets of the Gold Coast. At Le Mans this weekend the trio will drive a BMW M3 GT.
The three join this year’s Indy 500 pole sitter Alex Tagliani to be confirmed in the Armor All Gold Coast 600 field with the remaining 24 drivers being announced in coming weeks.
A world-class field of 18 internationals took to the track as co-drivers with regular V8 Supercar drivers last year – the number increases to 28 this year with every Supercar including an international star.
The international stars will team-up with home-grown Australian talent such as Craig Lowndes, Mark Winterbottom, Jamie Whincup, James Courtney, Steve Johnson, Jason Bright, Will Davison, Russell Ingall, Garth Tander and Rick Kelly.
“It’s fantastic that these three international drivers will be cutting loose at the Armor All Gold Coast 600 this year,” Queensland Sport Minister Phil Reeves said.
“I’m sure our Australian drivers will welcome drivers like Andy Priaulx, Dirk Müller and Joey Hand and put up some stiff competition.
“Events like the Le Mans 24 hour will help get them highly tuned to be part of this iconic Queensland V8 Supercar event.”
This year’s event will not only include some of the biggest names in world motorsport, but also from the world of entertainment with the event’s Rock and Race format to continue with nightly concerts at the Broadwater Parklands entertainment precinct.
More drivers will be announced in coming weeks before the entire field, ticketing options and world-class concert acts are announced at the event’s official launch in mid-July.
“Where else can international drivers go to experience V8 Supercar action combined with surf, sun and fun, than at The Gold Coast 600,” Minister Reeves said.
“The event showcases Queensland’s best assets to an international audience.”
Priaulx was the most successful international driver on the Gold Coast last year with a second in Saturday’s 300km race and a 10th place finish with his co-driver Craig Lowndes on the Sunday.
He is a former three-time world touring car champion, European Touring Car Champion, Nurburgring 24-hour winner and made Bathurst appearances in 2002, 03 and 2009.
TeamVodafone is yet to announce its second international driver, or whether Priaulx will again partner Lowndes in 2011 or Championship leader Jamie Whincup.
Hand is a 32-old US racer who won the Daytona 24-hour earlier this year with Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Graham Rahal.
He overcame a couple of big accidents early in his career to punch his way back and currently be regarded as one of the best sportscar racers in the business.
Müller is a talented German racer who has forged a career in touring cars and sports cars during the last 15 years.
He has driven factory cars for Ferrari, Porsche and is currently part of the BMW Motorsports operation.
Dick Johnson Racing is yet to decide the combination they roll out in Surfers Paradise with co-driver roles with Steve Johnson and James Moffat both up for grabs.
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ...
Andy Priaulx - TeamVoadfone:
“Racing in Surfers last year was an amazing experience,” said Priaulx. I love street circuits and this is definitely one of the best I have driven on. I would have been very disappointed if I had not been asked back by Roland Dane and Triple Eight this year, so thank you for the invite and also a big thank you to BMW for letting this happen. The fans also just blew me away, as they are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I have a lot to live up to this year, as in 2010 I was the highest finisher of the international drivers. I know the competition will be tougher this year, as there are a lot more of us ‘visitors’ including Dirk and Joey, who are my team mates here in Le Mans. I may not let them into too many secrets about the event, as I don’t intend giving up my crown easily.”
Joey Hand – Dick Johnson/Jim Beam Racing:
“To me the key to this race is the fact I am always anxious to compete against the best drivers in the world, and this is just the opportunity I will have in the Gold Coast,” said Hand. I love the idea of the organisers inviting the best drivers from many series around the world. There are some challenges there as the cars are right hand drive, but again this is not something that will phase me as I have already had experiences sitting this side of a race car. We are heading for a street fight and this is the sort of racing I feel I fit to perfectly. I have already won this year in the BMW M3 GT round Long Beach so can’t wait to get on the streets of Surfers Paradise. I am looking forward working with the legendary Dick Johnson and I am delighted BMW is allowing me and my Le Mans team-mates to compete in this race.”
Dirk Müller – Dick Johnson/Jim Beam Racing:
“I’m really excited about joining Jim Beam Racing and Dick Johnson’s team for the Gold Coast 600 at Surfers Paradise,” said Müller. “I have heard so many positive things about this event, so cannot wait to go there and support the team’s campaign. I have very fond memories of Australia. The last time I competed there was in Adelaide in 2000. I won the race and claimed the ALMS GT title. The racing in V8 Supercars is amazing, and I’m really grateful to BMW Motorsport for giving me this opportunity to be a part of the Gold Coast event.”
DRIVER PROFILES
ANDY PRIAULX – UNITED KINGDOM
Born: August 8, 1974
Place: Guernsey, United Kingdom
Lives: Guernsey, United Kingdom
Status: Wife Joanne
Children: Sebastian, Daniella
Current Series: Intercontinental Le Mans Championship
Current Team: BMW
V8 Supercar Team for the Gold Coast: TeamVodafone
Career Highlights:
• 2005, 2006, 2007 World Touring Car Champion
• 2004 European Touring Car Champion
• 2005 Nurburgring 24 Hour winner
• 2009 Race of Champions Legends Champion
• 2011 12 hours of Sebring GT class winner
Interesting Facts:
• Has finished fourth for the last three years in the World Touring Car Championship.
• Has experience in V8 Supercars, competing with Craig Lowndes of TeamVodafone during the 2010 Armor All Gold Coast 600 to be the highest placed international competitor for the weekend (2nd on Saturday and 10th on Sunday). He also drove at Bathurst in 2002/2003 with Kmart Racing and in 2009 with Bundaberg Red Racing.
• Competed for Honda in the British Touring Car Championship before starting his relationship with BMW in 2003.
• Was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2008.
• Hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in any championship he has competed in, whether it be WTCC, BTCC, ETCC, British Formula 3 or Formula Palmer Audi.
Andy Priaulx holds a special place in touring car history, being the only FIA Touring Car Champion to win an international level championship four years running. He claimed the World Touring Car Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2007 after sealing the European Championship in 2004.
He has formed a strong relationship with BMW having competed for the German manufacturer since 2003 and even has been given the opportunity to test for their Formula 1 squad in the past.
A diverse driver, Priaulx is a former British Hillclimb and Renault Spider Champion who has also sampled V8 Supercar racing in Australia, with three previous starts at Bathurst in Walkinshaw Racing-run Commodores and a 2010 Armor All Gold Coast 600 stint with TeamVodafone in which he was the most successful international competitor. Priaulx will return to the 2011 Gold Coast event with TeamVodafone.
JOEY HAND – UNITED STATES
Born: February 10, 1979
Place: Sacramento, California, USA
Lives: Sacramento, California, USA
Status: Married with two children
Current Series: American Le Mans Series/Grand-Am Rolex Rolex Series
Current Team: BMW Team RLL/Turner Motorpsorts BMW
V8 Supercar Team for the Gold Coast: Dick Johnson /Jim Beam Racing
Career Highlights:
• 2011 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner (with co-drivers Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Graham Rahal)
• Winner, 2011 12 Hours of Sebring (as part of BMW Motorsport team)
• 2003 Jovy Marcelo Sportmanship Award winner
• Five Rolex Series GT victories – including four in 2005
• 1999 Formula Mazda Champion
Interesting Facts:
• Three big crashes – 1999 karting incident, 2002 Toyota Atlantic Series crash and 2007 Grand-Am Crash, all of which he has recovered from to continue racing
• Met his wife Natalie while racing go karts (she also raced go karts)
• Will be making his V8 Supercar debut on the streets of the Gold Coast in 2011
• Owns the Kartel Motorsports go-kart team, which competes in Top-Kart. He has been attending races since he was young, sitting in the stands while his father drove stock cars at California dirt tracks.
Starting his career in go karts at the age of 12, Hand moved up to the Star Mazda Series in 1998, in which he won nine races, won the 1998 Rookie of the Year award and the 1998 series championship.
An injury late in 1999 saw a full-time ride for 2000 hard to come by, however he competed and won the Team USA Scholarship in England, and at the end of 2000 received a call to be part of a six-man shootout for the DSTP Toyota Atlantic Series team, owned by Dede Rogers, after which he was selected to race for the team, achieving two wins, six podiums, a pole, third in the championship and the rookie of the year title.
In 2002 and 2003 Hand continued to race for DTSP, with an unfortunate crash during testing on the Milwaukee Mile in 2002 seeing him break three vertebra, his left knee, tailbone and rib, seeing him miss six races while recovering.
From 2004, Hand has raced in the Grand American Road Racing Association’s Rolex Sport Car Series, in both the Grand Touring and Daytona Prototype classes, winning five times in the GT category while driving BMWs.
He has also raced sporadically in the American Le Mans Series, and in 2006 was involved in a large end-to-end style crash at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, and in 2009 he won the first pole position for BMW in eight years in the ALMS at Road America. Most recently, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing along with co-drivers Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Graham Rahal, Hand won the 2011 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race at Daytona International Speedway. He also a part of the BMW Motorport team which won the GT class at this year’s the 12 Hours of Sebring.
DIRK MÜLLER - GERMANY
Born: November 18, 1975
Place: Burbach, Germany
Lives: Thurgau, Switzerland
Status: Married with one child
Current Series: American Le Mans Series
Current Team: BMW Motorsports Team
V8 Supercar Team for the Gold Coast: Dick Johnson/Jim Beam Racing
Career Highlights:
• 2010 Class win at 24 Hours of Spa
• 2008 Runner up of ALMS GT2
• 2007 FIA GT Champion (GT2 Class)
• 2005 Runner up World Touring Car Championship
• 2004 Runner up European Touring Car Champion
• 2004 Winner of the Nurburgring 24 Hours
• 2000 ALMS GT Champion
• 1998 Champion of Porsche Carrera Cup
• 1998 GT1 Winner of Dayton 24 Hour
Interesting Facts:
• Müller is a wholesale and export trader by profession
• Was a BMW Works driver from 2001 to 2006 before returning in 2009.
• In 2007 and 2008, Muller was a Ferrari Factory driver in the FIA GT Championship.
Müller’s career began in karting before moving on to include Formula Konig, Formula Vauxhall and a inclusion in the UPS Porsche Junior driver program, before becoming the 1998 Porsche Carrera Cup Champion.
In 1999 he climbed to the rank of Porsche factory driver, taking the GT2 title in the American Le Mans Series and then the GT Victory in Le Mans in 2000. In 2001 he moved to the BMW outfit, competing in the ALMS, touring Europe, taking part in the World Cup and also competing in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
After six years he started a new chapter as a Ferrari Factory driver in the FIA GT Championship, taking the championship in 2007 (GT2 class) and the runner up spot in the 2008 ALMS, before moving back to BMW from 2009, competing in the ALMS, 24 Hours of LE Mans, Nurburgring and Spa – with a class win in the 2010 running of the Spa.
Priaulx will rejoin Team Vodafone while Müller and Hand will both be a part of Dick Johnson Racing’s Jim Beam-backed Ford team on the streets of the Gold Coast. At Le Mans this weekend the trio will drive a BMW M3 GT.
The three join this year’s Indy 500 pole sitter Alex Tagliani to be confirmed in the Armor All Gold Coast 600 field with the remaining 24 drivers being announced in coming weeks.
A world-class field of 18 internationals took to the track as co-drivers with regular V8 Supercar drivers last year – the number increases to 28 this year with every Supercar including an international star.
The international stars will team-up with home-grown Australian talent such as Craig Lowndes, Mark Winterbottom, Jamie Whincup, James Courtney, Steve Johnson, Jason Bright, Will Davison, Russell Ingall, Garth Tander and Rick Kelly.
“It’s fantastic that these three international drivers will be cutting loose at the Armor All Gold Coast 600 this year,” Queensland Sport Minister Phil Reeves said.
“I’m sure our Australian drivers will welcome drivers like Andy Priaulx, Dirk Müller and Joey Hand and put up some stiff competition.
“Events like the Le Mans 24 hour will help get them highly tuned to be part of this iconic Queensland V8 Supercar event.”
This year’s event will not only include some of the biggest names in world motorsport, but also from the world of entertainment with the event’s Rock and Race format to continue with nightly concerts at the Broadwater Parklands entertainment precinct.
More drivers will be announced in coming weeks before the entire field, ticketing options and world-class concert acts are announced at the event’s official launch in mid-July.
“Where else can international drivers go to experience V8 Supercar action combined with surf, sun and fun, than at The Gold Coast 600,” Minister Reeves said.
“The event showcases Queensland’s best assets to an international audience.”
Priaulx was the most successful international driver on the Gold Coast last year with a second in Saturday’s 300km race and a 10th place finish with his co-driver Craig Lowndes on the Sunday.
He is a former three-time world touring car champion, European Touring Car Champion, Nurburgring 24-hour winner and made Bathurst appearances in 2002, 03 and 2009.
TeamVodafone is yet to announce its second international driver, or whether Priaulx will again partner Lowndes in 2011 or Championship leader Jamie Whincup.
Hand is a 32-old US racer who won the Daytona 24-hour earlier this year with Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Graham Rahal.
He overcame a couple of big accidents early in his career to punch his way back and currently be regarded as one of the best sportscar racers in the business.
Müller is a talented German racer who has forged a career in touring cars and sports cars during the last 15 years.
He has driven factory cars for Ferrari, Porsche and is currently part of the BMW Motorsports operation.
Dick Johnson Racing is yet to decide the combination they roll out in Surfers Paradise with co-driver roles with Steve Johnson and James Moffat both up for grabs.
WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY ...
Andy Priaulx - TeamVoadfone:
“Racing in Surfers last year was an amazing experience,” said Priaulx. I love street circuits and this is definitely one of the best I have driven on. I would have been very disappointed if I had not been asked back by Roland Dane and Triple Eight this year, so thank you for the invite and also a big thank you to BMW for letting this happen. The fans also just blew me away, as they are so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. I have a lot to live up to this year, as in 2010 I was the highest finisher of the international drivers. I know the competition will be tougher this year, as there are a lot more of us ‘visitors’ including Dirk and Joey, who are my team mates here in Le Mans. I may not let them into too many secrets about the event, as I don’t intend giving up my crown easily.”
Joey Hand – Dick Johnson/Jim Beam Racing:
“To me the key to this race is the fact I am always anxious to compete against the best drivers in the world, and this is just the opportunity I will have in the Gold Coast,” said Hand. I love the idea of the organisers inviting the best drivers from many series around the world. There are some challenges there as the cars are right hand drive, but again this is not something that will phase me as I have already had experiences sitting this side of a race car. We are heading for a street fight and this is the sort of racing I feel I fit to perfectly. I have already won this year in the BMW M3 GT round Long Beach so can’t wait to get on the streets of Surfers Paradise. I am looking forward working with the legendary Dick Johnson and I am delighted BMW is allowing me and my Le Mans team-mates to compete in this race.”
Dirk Müller – Dick Johnson/Jim Beam Racing:
“I’m really excited about joining Jim Beam Racing and Dick Johnson’s team for the Gold Coast 600 at Surfers Paradise,” said Müller. “I have heard so many positive things about this event, so cannot wait to go there and support the team’s campaign. I have very fond memories of Australia. The last time I competed there was in Adelaide in 2000. I won the race and claimed the ALMS GT title. The racing in V8 Supercars is amazing, and I’m really grateful to BMW Motorsport for giving me this opportunity to be a part of the Gold Coast event.”
DRIVER PROFILES
ANDY PRIAULX – UNITED KINGDOM
Born: August 8, 1974
Place: Guernsey, United Kingdom
Lives: Guernsey, United Kingdom
Status: Wife Joanne
Children: Sebastian, Daniella
Current Series: Intercontinental Le Mans Championship
Current Team: BMW
V8 Supercar Team for the Gold Coast: TeamVodafone
Career Highlights:
• 2005, 2006, 2007 World Touring Car Champion
• 2004 European Touring Car Champion
• 2005 Nurburgring 24 Hour winner
• 2009 Race of Champions Legends Champion
• 2011 12 hours of Sebring GT class winner
Interesting Facts:
• Has finished fourth for the last three years in the World Touring Car Championship.
• Has experience in V8 Supercars, competing with Craig Lowndes of TeamVodafone during the 2010 Armor All Gold Coast 600 to be the highest placed international competitor for the weekend (2nd on Saturday and 10th on Sunday). He also drove at Bathurst in 2002/2003 with Kmart Racing and in 2009 with Bundaberg Red Racing.
• Competed for Honda in the British Touring Car Championship before starting his relationship with BMW in 2003.
• Was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in 2008.
• Hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in any championship he has competed in, whether it be WTCC, BTCC, ETCC, British Formula 3 or Formula Palmer Audi.
Andy Priaulx holds a special place in touring car history, being the only FIA Touring Car Champion to win an international level championship four years running. He claimed the World Touring Car Championship in 2005, 2006 and 2007 after sealing the European Championship in 2004.
He has formed a strong relationship with BMW having competed for the German manufacturer since 2003 and even has been given the opportunity to test for their Formula 1 squad in the past.
A diverse driver, Priaulx is a former British Hillclimb and Renault Spider Champion who has also sampled V8 Supercar racing in Australia, with three previous starts at Bathurst in Walkinshaw Racing-run Commodores and a 2010 Armor All Gold Coast 600 stint with TeamVodafone in which he was the most successful international competitor. Priaulx will return to the 2011 Gold Coast event with TeamVodafone.
JOEY HAND – UNITED STATES
Born: February 10, 1979
Place: Sacramento, California, USA
Lives: Sacramento, California, USA
Status: Married with two children
Current Series: American Le Mans Series/Grand-Am Rolex Rolex Series
Current Team: BMW Team RLL/Turner Motorpsorts BMW
V8 Supercar Team for the Gold Coast: Dick Johnson /Jim Beam Racing
Career Highlights:
• 2011 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona winner (with co-drivers Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Graham Rahal)
• Winner, 2011 12 Hours of Sebring (as part of BMW Motorsport team)
• 2003 Jovy Marcelo Sportmanship Award winner
• Five Rolex Series GT victories – including four in 2005
• 1999 Formula Mazda Champion
Interesting Facts:
• Three big crashes – 1999 karting incident, 2002 Toyota Atlantic Series crash and 2007 Grand-Am Crash, all of which he has recovered from to continue racing
• Met his wife Natalie while racing go karts (she also raced go karts)
• Will be making his V8 Supercar debut on the streets of the Gold Coast in 2011
• Owns the Kartel Motorsports go-kart team, which competes in Top-Kart. He has been attending races since he was young, sitting in the stands while his father drove stock cars at California dirt tracks.
Starting his career in go karts at the age of 12, Hand moved up to the Star Mazda Series in 1998, in which he won nine races, won the 1998 Rookie of the Year award and the 1998 series championship.
An injury late in 1999 saw a full-time ride for 2000 hard to come by, however he competed and won the Team USA Scholarship in England, and at the end of 2000 received a call to be part of a six-man shootout for the DSTP Toyota Atlantic Series team, owned by Dede Rogers, after which he was selected to race for the team, achieving two wins, six podiums, a pole, third in the championship and the rookie of the year title.
In 2002 and 2003 Hand continued to race for DTSP, with an unfortunate crash during testing on the Milwaukee Mile in 2002 seeing him break three vertebra, his left knee, tailbone and rib, seeing him miss six races while recovering.
From 2004, Hand has raced in the Grand American Road Racing Association’s Rolex Sport Car Series, in both the Grand Touring and Daytona Prototype classes, winning five times in the GT category while driving BMWs.
He has also raced sporadically in the American Le Mans Series, and in 2006 was involved in a large end-to-end style crash at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course, and in 2009 he won the first pole position for BMW in eight years in the ALMS at Road America. Most recently, driving for Chip Ganassi Racing along with co-drivers Scott Pruett, Memo Rojas and Graham Rahal, Hand won the 2011 Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona endurance race at Daytona International Speedway. He also a part of the BMW Motorport team which won the GT class at this year’s the 12 Hours of Sebring.
DIRK MÜLLER - GERMANY
Born: November 18, 1975
Place: Burbach, Germany
Lives: Thurgau, Switzerland
Status: Married with one child
Current Series: American Le Mans Series
Current Team: BMW Motorsports Team
V8 Supercar Team for the Gold Coast: Dick Johnson/Jim Beam Racing
Career Highlights:
• 2010 Class win at 24 Hours of Spa
• 2008 Runner up of ALMS GT2
• 2007 FIA GT Champion (GT2 Class)
• 2005 Runner up World Touring Car Championship
• 2004 Runner up European Touring Car Champion
• 2004 Winner of the Nurburgring 24 Hours
• 2000 ALMS GT Champion
• 1998 Champion of Porsche Carrera Cup
• 1998 GT1 Winner of Dayton 24 Hour
Interesting Facts:
• Müller is a wholesale and export trader by profession
• Was a BMW Works driver from 2001 to 2006 before returning in 2009.
• In 2007 and 2008, Muller was a Ferrari Factory driver in the FIA GT Championship.
Müller’s career began in karting before moving on to include Formula Konig, Formula Vauxhall and a inclusion in the UPS Porsche Junior driver program, before becoming the 1998 Porsche Carrera Cup Champion.
In 1999 he climbed to the rank of Porsche factory driver, taking the GT2 title in the American Le Mans Series and then the GT Victory in Le Mans in 2000. In 2001 he moved to the BMW outfit, competing in the ALMS, touring Europe, taking part in the World Cup and also competing in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
After six years he started a new chapter as a Ferrari Factory driver in the FIA GT Championship, taking the championship in 2007 (GT2 class) and the runner up spot in the 2008 ALMS, before moving back to BMW from 2009, competing in the ALMS, 24 Hours of LE Mans, Nurburgring and Spa – with a class win in the 2010 running of the Spa.
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