Palttala Drafted in as Last-Minute Sub for Auberlen

Photo: BMW

Markus Palttala has been drafted into the No. 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 for this weekend’s Continental Tire Road Race Showcase at Road America as a last-minute substitute for Bill Auberlen.

The Finn will join Robby Foley in the GT Daytona class contender after a home-related accident for Auberlen, who, as a result, has elected to skip the Road America event. It marks just the second race that Auberlen has missed in his career.

“All these years racing cars and I slip off a ladder at home,” Auberlen said.

“I’m a little sore and wanted to race, but BMW of North America suggested I sit this one out to be 100 percent ready for the next race at VIR.”

It’s understood the call was made just yesterday for Palttala to make the cross-Atlantic journey to Road America.

Palttala, who teamed with Dillon Machavern and Don Yount for class victory in last month’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen, is set for his third WeatherTech SportsCar Championship start of the season.

The Will Turner-led team is coming off a challenging weekend last time out at Lime Rock Park, following an opening-lap accident that knocked the car out of the race.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John