BMW and Joey Hand have enjoyed a profitable partnership for several years, and will continue to work together in 2011. The American lines up alongside his German teammate Dirk Müller for BMW Team RLL in the American Le Mans Series. Their goal is clear: to launch an attack on the Drivers' title.
The two drivers showed just how well they jell together in 2010, when the German-American duo claimed a prestigious win in Road America in the #90 BMW M3 GT2. Three further podium finishes and joint success in winning the GT Team and Manufacturer titles rounded off an excellent season.
Motorsport is a family tradition in the Hand household. His father made a name for himself as a successful stock car driver. Son Joey launched his career in karting and racing in Sprint Cars, which enjoys great popularity in North America. In 1998 he took the step up to single-seater racing. Following a year's apprenticeship, he won the Formula Mazda series in just his second season.
Unfortunately, the joy over his title win was short lived. Hand broke his elbow in a karting accident at the end of the season. However, the injury did not prevent Hand from emerging as the winner of the Team USA Scholarship program just months later. He moved up to Toyota Atlantic competition in 2001, finishing third in the championship and notching back-to-back wins in Vancouver and Houston. He started the 2002 season in fine fashion, winning the pole in Long Beach, but was injured in a crash at Milwaukee that sidelined him for the season.
2004 brought with it a new start with BMW on the GT racing scene. Hand ended his debut season in the Grand-Am Series with one win and six podium finishes to his name. He notched up a further four victories the following season, before he joined Bill Auberlen in a BMW M3 in the American Le Mans Series, finishing the season in sixth. After a stint with Panoz, Hand returned to BMW in 2009. Together with Auberlen he helped BMW Team RLL to its first victory in the GT class, a pole position, and the fastest lap in Mid-Ohio. He helped them to another win in 2010 at Road America, and was a key part of the squad that won the Team and Manufacturer’s championships in 2010.
