BMW M Motorsport enters the 2018 DTM season finishing straight in Styria.

Munich. The 2018 DTM season is entering the finishing straight
for BMW M Motorsport and the BMW DTM teams: this weekend
(21st to 23rd September), the Red Bull Ring
near Spielberg (AUT) hosts the penultimate event of the year. BMW M
Motorsport is set to reach another big milestone. Saturday’s race
will be BMW’s 300th in the history of the DTM. BMW
fielded works teams in the DTM between 1984 and 1992. The
manufacturer then returned to the series in 2012, since when it has
contested 100 races in the new DTM.

 

The Red Bull Ring, nestled in the picturesque Styrian landscape, has
been a happy stomping ground for BMW in recent years. The nine races
the BMW DTM teams have contested there so far have yielded four
victories and ten podiums in total. Among the most memorable successes
in Austria are the one-two-three in 2013 and the top-four lock-out in
2014. This season, the BMW DTM drivers have won four races and picked
up a total of 14 podium results. The most recent of these came at the
Nürburgring (GER), courtesy of second place for Bruno Spengler (CAN)
in Saturday’s race and third place for Marco Wittmann (GER) in race
two on Sunday.

 

Quotes ahead of the DTM races at the Red Bull Ring.

 

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“We enter the finishing straight in this year’s DTM at Spielberg. We
have two weekends ahead of us, at which we want to thrill the fans
with some exciting motor racing. The Nürburgring showed once again
just how evenly-matched the field is. All three manufacturers featured
on the podium after both races – that is exactly what the fans want to
see. The final four races of the year promise to be very exciting. Our
goal is to get the maximum out of them and to add more wins and
podiums to our record for the season. We will concentrate and work
hard from the first to the last minute to achieve this. After
contesting our 100th race since returning to the series in
2012 at the Nürburgring a fortnight ago, we will reach another
important milestone for our brand on Saturday: BMW’s 300th
race in the DTM. We could not wish for a more beautiful backdrop for
this achievement than the Styrian mountains.”

 

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG):

“One thing follows another for us: immediately after Marco’s podium
in our 100th DTM race, at our home event at the
Nürburgring, we started preparing for the Red Bull Ring. We have
enjoyed success at Spielberg in the past, with victories for Marco and
Timo, as well as other podium finishes. The recent races showed that
all three drivers have good race pace. We are now working hard to
ensure that all three are also quick in qualifying to lay the
foundations for top results. We are confident that we are
well-prepared for the finishing straight.”

 

Marco Wittmann (#11 BMW Driving Experience M4 DTM, BMW Team
RMG – 5th place in the overall standings, points: 137):

“After the strong weekend at the Nürburgring, where I picked up
plenty of points, I am hoping for a similar performance at Spielberg.
We have always had a good car there in the past and have won races at
the Red Bull Ring. As such, it is one of my very favourite circuits.
We still have four races ahead of us, and I hope we can push hard
again in the final stages of the season. Our goal is to battle for
third place in the championship. I think it is becoming less and less
likely that we will be able to reel in first and second place. We have
to accept that, but third place would be a nice way to end the season.”

 

Augusto Farfus (#15 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG –
15th place in the overall standings, points: 48):

“I think that the Red Bull Ring is the most beautiful circuit of the
season. Hopefully we are going to have good weather in the mountains.
It is a high-speed track and has the type of corners I like. We are
coming closer to the end of the year, time just flies by. Let’s try to
get a little bit more from our package in qualifying because our race
pace has been very reasonable recently, but we need to start up front.
I had some very good results at Spielberg already, so we will do
everything to be up there this time, too.”

 

Timo Glock (#16 DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR –
6th place in the overall standings, points: 119):

“We have always enjoyed good results at Spielberg in the past. As
such, I am hopeful that we will have good speed there. I am already
looking forward to the weekend. It is always a nice race, and the
whole event is excellent every year.”

 

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM):

“Our team is highly motivated ahead of this season’s remaining race
weekends. We know that we have the pace required to achieve top
results. We showed that with all three drivers at the recent rounds at
Misano and the Nürburgring. Plus, our team is on top form. Joel’s crew
completed the fastest pit stop in both Eifel races. As such, our goal
for Spielberg and Hockenheim is to fight for victory and the podium.”

 

Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM –
10th place in the overall standings, points: 75):

“We had a superb weekend at the Nürburgring, where we scored a lot of
points. I am now really looking forward to the Red Bull Ring. The
scenery is great. The circuit itself is also great fun to drive, with
up and downhill sections, fast corners, hard braking points and long
straights. There are also good overtaking opportunities. The Spielberg
atmosphere is always a bit special and I am looking forward to seeing
the Austrian fans. The races there are sure to be a good show.”

 

Philipp Eng (#25 SAMSUNG BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR –
9th place in the overall standings, points: 92):

“I am already really looking forward to the weekend. I really enjoy
driving at the Red Bull Ring and love coming to the Styria region. The
facility at the Red Bull Ring is simply awesome and, in my opinion,
different to anything else in Europe. I have also always been
successful there: my Spielberg qualifying and podium record is very
good. I hope we have a good race weekend.”

 

Joel Eriksson (#47 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM – 11th
place in the overall standings, points: 60):

“The Red Bull Ring is my favourite racetrack on this year’s calendar.
I also have a really good history from there. I’ve won there in every
category I have raced in and I also took my first ever win there.
That’s why I’m really looking forward to it because the track suits my
driving style really perfectly. The place itself is so beautiful and
also the track that goes up and down all the time is the most fun
track for everybody. I can’t wait to get there.”

 

Media Schedule.

 

Friday, 21st September

14:00-14:30 CEST, ITR press conference with Philipp Eng, Media Centre

 

Saturday, 22nd September

15:50-16:00 CEST, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Media Centre

 

Sunday, 23rd September

11:30-12:00 CEST, Media Round Table with BMW Motorsport Director Jens
Marquardt, BMW Hospitality

 

15:50-16:00 CEST, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Media Centre

 

 

Statistics service.

BMW Motorsport offers a Chatbot service for journalists also in the
2018 DTM season. This allows users to receive the latest information
directly to their smartphone. The information available includes
driver statistics, statements and photos. You can register for the BMW
Motorsport Chatbot at the following link: http://bit.ly/BMW_Motorsport_Media_Broadcast_EN