BMW has announced a new three-year contract for racing driver and brand ambassador Bill Auberlen that runs through 2026. In the first year of this new deal, Auberlen will drive for ST Racing in the SRO GT World Challenge America series which has expanded to two cars.
Auberlen will drive the new #28 BMW M4 GT3 in the Pro class, joined by 27-year-old Varun Choksey, who graduates from Porsche Carrera Cup North America after two seasons; they’ll race alongside the previously-announced #38 in the Pro-Am class for team owner Samantha Tan and Neil Verhagen.
“I am excited to begin another chapter with BMW and BMW of North America,” said Auberlen. “In addition to driving the Roundel to the top of as many podiums as I can, I have always enjoyed mentoring up-and-coming drivers.
“I’m happy to welcome Varun to the BMW brand. ST Racing has already enjoyed quite a bit of success in SRO competition, and I hope Varun and I can contribute to even more great results.”
Auberlen, the all-time IMSA leader in career wins (65) and pole positions (45) across all competitive classes, was a very noticeable absence from this year’s grid at the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. It was the first time that the 55-year-old had missed the race since 2009 – and only the third time in the last 32 years.
His new deal will keep him in the BMW family through 2025, BMW of North America’s 50th anniversary, and 2026, to celebrate his 30th anniversary as a BMW works driver.
Auberlen has spent the last two seasons of GT World Challenge America racing for BimmerWorld Racing alongside Chandler Hull. The pair recorded two wins including a Pro-Am class win at the 2022 Indianapolis 8 Hour. This past week, BimmerWorld announced that it would focus exclusively on the Pirelli GT4 America series in 2024 and would not be returning to GT3 competition.
Choksey is the latest of over 90 co-drivers that Auberlen has raced with in his career. The Atlanta native said of his pending GT World Challenge debut: “It is important for me to continue to race a GT3 car and learn the intricacies of the co-driver relationship in the next stages of my career. SRO is a great step because GT World Challenge America offers great competition with excellent manufacturer support.
“When I was looking at next steps, Bill’s name was put forward as someone I should speak with. After a few calls, our families got together at Petit Le Mans 2023, and we began to make a plan. Bill put together a test at Buttonwillow with ST Racing and it went very well. I believe Bill and ST Racing is the combination that is the perfect move for me.”
This announcement also comes on the heels of an announcement that Tan would officially return as a brand ambassador for BMW in 2024. Her racing efforts will include the GT World Challenge America campaign, plus a one-off in the GT America sprint series’ return to Long Beach, and select Nürburgring races in a BMW M4 GT4.
“Finding the right words to convey my excitement and the significance of this moment is a challenge,” Tan said of Monday’s announcement. “Being a lifelong enthusiast of BMW, I am thrilled to continue my role as an official brand ambassador for BMW M Motorsport in 2024. This journey has been a dream realized, and it fills me with immense pride to represent BMW and race in their colours. I am eager to start this exhilarating season ahead and look forward to our continued growth and success.”
Images © BMW
