BMW Motorsport News

Whether in the DTM, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the ABB FIA Formula E
Championship, or countless other championships: Week after week BMW
teams and drivers around the world do battle for points, victories
and titles. Away from the track too, members of the large BMW
Motorsport family around the world are also creating headlines. The
“BMW Motorsport News” allows us to regularly summarise all the
action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you
are always up to speed.

 

BMW Customer Racing: BMW M4 GT4 track days at Portimão.

Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (POR) was the venue for last
week’s BMW M4 GT4 track days. During the two-day event, held in
conjunction with the BMW and MINI Driving Experience, VLN winners
Danny Brink, Philipp Leisen and Christopher Rink (all GER) were given
the opportunity to put the GT4 car through its paces on Friday. As
well as a healthy amount of prize money, the three BMW drivers were
also presented with the test drive as a bonus for winning the 2017/18
BMW Sports Trophy Drivers’ Competition. More customer tests were held
on Saturday. Racing driver and TV presenter Tim Schrick (GER) was keen
not to miss out on the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the BMW
M4 GT4 and take it for a spin at the Algarve circuit. The BMW M4 GT4
enjoyed an extremely successful rookie year in 2018. By the end of the
season, the new car in the BMW Customer Racing portfolio had amassed
33 class wins and just short of 100 podium finishes. It was also named
“Race Car of the Year” at the Professional MotorSport World Expo Awards.

 

For a good cause: Marco Wittmann presents the helmet from his
DTM win at the Norisring to its new owner.

Last week, Marco Wittmann (GER) was at the BMW and MINI Driving
Experience in Maisach (GER) to present the helmet from the race of his
life to its new owner. The two-time DTM champion had a special helmet
design produced for the fourth race weekend of the 2018 season, at the
Norisring (GER). Wittmann was wearing that very helmet as he crossed
the line to take victory at his home circuit in Nürnberg (GER) for the
first time on the Sunday afternoon. In conjunction with the BMW and
MINI Driving Experience, a draw was organised for the helmet, raising
over 5,000 euros in donations. All profits went to the charity
‘Stiftung Kinderhilfe Fürstenfeldbruck’, which has been committed to
integrating and supporting people with disabilities since 1969. On
Tuesday, Wittmann presented the helmet, which features various images
of the Norisring race and the BMW cars from his two
championship-winning seasons in 2014 and 2016, to the lucky winner,
whose name was drawn from all who had donated. After the presentation
of the helmet, the new owner of the helmet was given a taste of what
Wittmann is capable of behind the wheel. Driving exercises were
organised on the grounds of the BMW and MINI Driving Academy. “It was
a great day. It felt good to present the helmet to its new owner and
to see how pleased he was with it,” said Wittmann. “I am sure the
helmet is in good hands with him, and that it will be kept in a very
special place. I would like to say another big thank you to him and
all the other donors. I am delighted that we have raised such a large
amount for charity. As well as the presentation of the helmet, the
driving exercises were obviously another highlight of a wonderful
day.” In keeping with tradition, the 2019 DTM season kicks off with
the opening race at the Hockenheimring (GER) on 4th May.
The hard work begins this week for Wittmann. Together with his five
fellow DTM drivers, he will be in Viareggio (ITA) for a fitness camp
to fine-tune his physical condition ahead of the new season.

 

Martin Tomczyk nominated for German Sports Journalist award.

BMW works driver Martin Tomczyk (GER) has accounted for positive
headlines off the track as well as on it. He has been nominated for
the German Sports Journalist award, in acknowledgement of his work as
a TV expert on SAT.1’s DTM coverage last season. His sound and
entertaining analyses earned him a place in the final selection in the
category “Newcomer of the Year”. “To even be considered for this award
is obviously a great honour for me,” said Tomczyk. “To be honest, it
came as a surprise. At the same time, it is something I am proud of.”
The nominees for the awards for the top German sports journalists of
the year were selected for the first time by a committee made up of
prominent elite sportspeople and representatives of the media. The
prize winners will be announced in Hamburg (GER) on 25th
March 2019. Like Tomczyk, BMW works driver Timo Scheider (GER) also
worked as a TV expert for SAT.1.