Joey Hand Qualifies P1 in Austin

Austin, TX- The Circuit of the Americas is known for 100+ degree days and rubber melting track temperatures. Instead, the state-of-the-art facility was soaked by rain showers when Friday’s ALMS qualifying session took place.

For the RLL BMW team, the rain was just what the team needed.

The 2013 BMW Z4GTE has succeeded in high-downforce, low top-speed course,s and  The Circuit of Americas is neither one of those things.

But the inclement weather slowed the field way down and Joey Hand took advantage.

“The team told me they were doing the rain dance for us this weekend.”

Hand praised his wet weather Michelin tires. They provided the right amount of grip while understeer was kept to a minimum.

The team knew they would be down on straight line speed as compared to the Corvettes and Vipers and even in the rain that held true. But on the high speed esses and Istanbul Park like final sector, Hand’s Z4GTE had more than enough downforce for the task.

Not bad for a man who was filling in for a busy Maxime Martin.