Andretti and Ganassi in running for BMW United SportsCar GT deal
Andretti Autosport and Chip Ganassi Racing have emerged as contenders to take over the running of BMW's United SportsCar Championship campaign from the Rahal team in 2015
AUTOSPORT has learnt that BMW has invited proposals from Andretti, Ganassi and possibly others to mastermind its continued attack on the USC's GT Le Mans class with a pair of Z4 GTEs next season.
It is understood that Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing is part of the review process and could yet keep a deal that started in the American Le Mans Series in 2009.
BMW has yet to confirm its 2015 programme, but marque motorsport boss Jens Marquardt explained that there "was a clear desire to continue" in US sportscars in what will be the 40th anniversary year of BMW North America.
"Next year is a big year for us here in North America where racing has been part of our DNA from day one and will continue to be the case," he said.
"There is a clear intention to be back, but as usual we will try to announce our programme in December."
Marquardt stressed that controversy over the Balance of Performance, known as the Adjustment of Performance in the USC, would not be a factor in BMW's decision on 2015.
"I wouldn't say it will influence our decision, but at the same time I cannot say that we are happy," he explained.
"It just needs to be acknowledged that this BoP is not correct and needs to be sorted out properly."
Andretti chief operating officer JF Thormann would not confirm any approach by BMW, but stated that the team was "always interested in exploring new opportunities, especially when they involve manufacturers".
Ganassi has links with BMW from its use of the German marque's Dinan-tuned V8s in its Grand-Am Daytona Prototypes in 2010-13, but is now forging an alliance with Ford through its use of the Roush Yates EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 in the USC's Prototype class.
The news of BMW's approach to new teams comes at the same time as Rahal has admitted interest in the Prototype class and revealed that it could run a Daytona Prototype in selected races next year.
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