BMW racer Bill Auberlen is right at home on the streets of Long Beach – in fact – home is only a few miles away in Redondo Beach.

Auberlen and the newcomer Maxine Martin are the BMW “men in black” this year with the No.55 Z4 GTE.

Both BMWs started strong this morning – continuing their impressive race pace from the Twelve Hours of Sebring.

Auberlen not only will be in action throughout 2013 in the American Le Mans Series, he has also been “loaned out” to Aston Martin Racing to fill one of their seats for their massive five car line-up for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“It’s excellent news that I’m going back to Le Mans, even more so that I’m doing it in such a competitive car,” Auberlen said.

“It will also be good preparation in case BMW goes back to Le Mans. It’s got to be good for our programme, too.”

The Californian will drive with Pedro Lamy and Paul Dalla Lana, with whom he has raced in the Grand-Am GT class since 2010.