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BMW's works American Le Mans Series team Rahal Letterman Lanigan will switch from the M3 GT to a new GTE version of the Z4 for 2013.

RLL has run BMW's ALMS programme since 2009, winning the teams' and manufacturers' titles in '10, then taking a clean sweep of drivers', teams' and manufacturers' crowns the following year.

The GT3 variant of the Z4 is already used by BMW teams in European sportscar racing, coming close to the GT1 world title with Vita4One this season.

BMW motorsport boss Jens Marquardt said the Z4 would now be the primary focus of the firm's sportscar efforts.

"This change in model shows that we are focusing fully on the BMW Z4 as an all-encompassing GT car," said Marquardt.

"The BMW Z4 GT3 has been very successful on the GT3 scene in recent years, and has proven its ability to win races. I am confident this car will also play a major role as a GTE car in the ALMS."