2016 IMSA Campaign with Turner Motorsport Marks Next BMW Chapter for Marsal

Since making his first start in the IMSA ranks on the streets of Trois Rivieres in 2009 in a BMW 330i production-based racer, Michael Marsal and BMW have been inextricably linked. The next chapter in that history will be written in the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship as Marsal has been tabbed by Turner Motorsport to return for the team’s GTD effort in the No. 97 Turner Motorsport BMW GT3 with co-driver Markus Palttala. The 11-race season will open with the Rolex 24 At Daytona on January 30-31, with the championship-deciding race set for the Petit Le Mans 10-hour finale at Road Atlanta in October. Having won in production-based BMW race cars, scored podiums in tube-frame based BMW GT machines, and enjoyed podium champagne celebrations after big drives in prototype machinery, the opportunity to pilot an all-new design from BMW is one that Marsal has been working toward ever since that first start in 2009. 2016 will see the GTD class enjoy a complete makeover as IMSA has moved to adopt full GT3 specifications. The GT3 regulations are globally recognized, with the category having attracted the interest of more than 15 manufacturers and over 300 cars in racing action globally in 2015. “IMSA converting to the full GT3 rules is a great move, and seeing all the different teams, cars, and drivers that are going to be racing in GTD, it is going to be incredibly competitive,” said Marsal. Turner Motorsport, who like Marsal has been connected to BMW since the aftermarket firm first got its start in motorsports, will be campaigning two all-new BMW M6 GT machines that will feature a twin-turbo 4.4-liter V8 motor. Marsal and his Turner Motorsport squad had the opportunity to test the car earlier this month in the Roar Before the 24 test at Daytona International Speedway. “The car is just incredible,” said Marsal. “The fact that the M6 has been designed for the GT3 rules from the very beginning is huge, and you can see all the detail that has gone into the car. After getting to drive it at the Roar, now I cannot wait to race it. There is a lot to learn about the M6, but it made an amazing first impression. ” The M6 replaces the BMW Z4 that Turner Motorsport had adapted to race in IMSA competition ahead of the 2013 season. Marsal and co-driver Dane Cameron were able to bring the Z4 one final IMSA victory last year, racing to a win on the home track for both Marsal and Turner Motorsport with a dominating win at Lime Rock Park. With the 2016 season marking Marsal’s third full-time campaign in the GTD ranks, the New York resident is hoping for a strong and consistent season as the championship is staged from January until the finale in October. “I gained a lot of confidence with the old car and even though it will be a new one to learn with this M6, having done that with the Z4, I’m optimistic about what we can do with the new car,” said Marsal. “There should be a lot of potential there and hopefully we can get a solid start at Daytona.” Marsal knows that it won’t just be the car that will matter for the results as he will have to be able to deliver everything he has behind the wheel, and that his conditioning will be critical, particularly in the opening endurance rounds of the championship at Daytona and Sebring. “I’ve been really pushing myself with weights and some really-high intensity workouts,” said Marsal, who last season set a personal best time in a half marathon the day after his Sebring 12 Hour debut. “Ever since Petit, I’ve been in the gym constantly, and I know that’s going to be important for our results this year. This is a great opportunity with an all-new car and I want to be able to do the best job that I can.” The season-opening race is not only the longest at 24 hours, it attracts a banner entry as over 50 cars are expected to crowd the 3.56-mile lap distance at Daytona starting on January 30. That traffic intensity could well factor into who emerges as the winner on Sunday afternoon. “Dealing with traffic is always very important in the 24, but I think this year with everyone in these new cars that should be very close performance-wise, making good decisions with traffic is going to be even more important,” said Marsal. “I don’t think I’ve ever looked forward to next season as much as I am looking forward to 2016, and getting to drive the car only spooled everything up more for me and everyone at Turner Motorsport.” Marsal will get the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship underway on January 30-31 for the traditional Rolex 24 At Daytona. FOX Sports 1 will carry live coverage for the opening segment of the race.

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