Whether in the DTM, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
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, 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. That way, you are always up
to speed.
DTM: BMW Motorsport tests the new BMW M4 DTM in Portugal.
BMW Motorsport continued the development of the new BMW M4 DTM for
the 2017 season with a three-day test in Portimão in the south of
Portugal. The technical regulations require a number of significant
changes to be made, including to the car’s aerodynamics. BMW
Motorsport used the test to evaluate the new racing car and its parts,
and to gather valuable data. They were treated to fine weather
conditions, with sun and springtime temperatures. All three
manufacturers represented in the DTM were in attendance in Portugal,
each taking to the track with one car. BMW Team RMG, with reigning
champion Marco Wittmann (GER) and his new team-mate Augusto Farfus
(BRA), were in action for BMW Motorsport. Wittmann said: “We are very
happy with the test. It was very interesting to take to the track with
the new BMW M4 DTM for the first time. Our findings will be very
important for the development work ahead. It is always fun to drive a
car for the first time in the development phase, and to discover what
effect any innovations may have on the track. I think the greater
power and new tyres will make for more action and exciting races,”
said Wittmann. BMW Motorsport will continue its pre-season
preparations with another test in Vallelunga (ITA) from
14th to 16th March.
Three questions for… Augusto Farfus.
Augusto, it was your first DTM test with the new BMW M4 DTM
and the new team. How do you feel it went?
Augusto Farfus: “It was an honour for me to be the first to drive the
new BMW M4 DTM. The car feels good and has great potential, but we
still have a lot of set-up work ahead of us between now and the start
of the season. It was important to use these days to get to know both
the new car and my new team.”
How did you spend the winter break?
Farfus: “There was a lot going on. For the first time in my life, I
spent Christmas and New Year with just my wife and daughter and was
not in Brazil. We flew to Dubai together for the festive period. I
also spent a lot of time in the USA. I was in Daytona twice, first for
the test and then for the 24-hour race. I then headed to Palm Springs
for the launch of the BMW M760Li xDrive. So, I had plenty to do and it
was not actually a very long winter break.”
You are part of the strong BMW Motorsport contingent at the
Nürburgring 24 Hours again in 2017…
Farfus: “That is definitely a highlight. Our contingent is even
stronger than it has been in recent years. We saw last year that the
Nordschleife really suits the BMW M6 GT3. Unfortunately, technical
issues prevented us from challenging for the win. We want to change
that this time around.”
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BTCC: BMW UK to run three works BMW 125i M Sport in 2017.
BMW UK is returning to the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC)
with a works presence after an absence of 21 years. Works team West
Surrey Racing (WSR) will field three BMW 125i M Sport, to be driven by
top-class drivers. Rob Collard (GBR), who drove for the WSR team last
year, will be joined by two former BTCC champions. Colin Turkington
(GBR) returns to the manufacturer, with whom he won the Drivers’
Championship in 2009 and 2014. The impressive BMW team for the 2017
season is completed by 2013 BTCC champion Andrew Jordan (GBR). The
season kicks off in Brands Hatch (GBR) on 1st and
2nd April.
Australian GT Championship: New drivers for BMW Team SRM.
BMW Team SRM lines up with a new driver pairing in this season’s
Australian GT Championship. Team principal Steve Richards (NZL) will
share the BMW M6 GT3 cockpit with James Bergmüller (AUS). The duo will
contest all the rounds of the Australian GT Championship and the
Australian Endurance Championship. The first races will take place as
part of the “Clipsal 500” in Adelaide (AUS) from 3rd to
5th March. Bergmüller was impressed after his first test
drives in the BMW M6 GT3: “The car has such an incredible amount of
power and grip. It feels like a spaceship. It is like nothing I have
ever driven before and exceeds all my expectations. You can feel all
the development work that has gone into the car, and you understand
immediately why it won last year’s 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.”