With the 2016 WeatherTech SportsCar Championship fast approaching, Turner Motorsport arrives at Daytona International Speedway for the first public test of the new BMW M6 GT3. As announced after the finale of the 2015 season, Turner Motorsport will campaign two BMW M6 GT3 cars for the entirety of the 2016 WeatherTech Championship.

Following the first US test at Sebring International Raceway in late October, Turner Motorsport is eager to run the M6 at Daytona with BMW factory drivers including Maxime Martin, Marco Wittman and Jens Klingmann.

“The test at Sebring went very well so we are looking forward to getting back on track with this new M6 GT3,” said Will Turner. “We are excited to participate in BMW’s first public test with the new car and hope to learn a lot to carry over into the Rolex 24 and the 2016 season.”

The Turner Motorsport team will be testing at Daytona alongside BMW Motorsport engineers as well as BMW Team RLL on both Tuesday and Wednesday of this week before the test car is returned to Germany.

The new M6 GT3 features a 4.4L twin turbo engine similar to those found in the M6 street cars. In race trim the car produces approximately 580 hp, weighing in at about 2800 lbs. The carbon-bodied M6 GT3 also features a six-speed sequential transmission and dry sump lubrication system with optimized aero for both high speed and cornering stability.

With two new BMW M6 GT3 cars on the way, Turner Motorsport has secured two full season programs in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship with Michael Marsal and Bret Curtis to return back behind the wheel of the blue and yellow BMWs.

Michael Marsal will be returning for his sixth year with Turner Motorsport to campaign his No. 97 BMW M6 GT3.

“I am very excited for this new platform and to return to GTD competition with Turner Motorsport in 2016,” said Michael Marsal. “These early tests have provided us with a lot of insight into the new platform which should pay dividends as we enter the season. We have some very exciting season plans and driver lineups for this year so Daytona and 2016 cannot come soon enough.” 

Bret Curtis will make his first season-long debut in the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship behind the wheel of the No. 96 BMW M6 GT3 after completing a full season with Turner in the BMW Z4 GT3 in Pirelli World Challenge in 2015.

The final driver lineups for the No. 96 and 97 Turner BMWs are finalized and will be announced shortly as Turner Motorsport is expecting delivery of their two new M6 GT3s in December.

The 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship begins with the 54th running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 30th-31st. Follow Turner Motorsport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates.