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 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.
FIA GT World Cup: Good Macau debut for
Catsburg.
Nicky Catsburg (NL) from the ROWE Racing Team
claimed seventh place in the FIA GT World Cup on the legendary “Guia
Circuit” in Macau (CN) on Sunday. He had already concluded the
qualifying race on Saturday with the same result in his BMW M6 GT3.
However, Sunday’s race in the former Portuguese colony was anything
but normal for Catsburg and the team. At the start of the race, Ricky
Capo (AU) in the BMW Z4 GT3 from Team Modena Racing had hit a crash
barrier, necessitating a long interruption to allow repair work to
take place at the “Guia Circuit”. Capo had finished in 16th place on
Saturday. Shortly after the restart, Audi driver Laurens Vanthoor (BE)
survived a terrifying incident when he clipped the wall and catapulted
his car into the air before crashing to the asphalt, upside-down. The
race was stopped – but victory still went to Vanthoor as
classification was based on the lap before the incident. “The whole
weekend was an unbelievable experience,” said Catsburg, who also
claimed second place in the “Independence” standings. “This circuit is
unique, and extremely difficult. This was the first time here for me
and the team, so it was a major challenge. We got faster with each
session. But that main race was just crazy. The main thing is that
Laurens is okay after his accident. The race wasn’t that exciting for
us, as we hardly drove at all. But overall it was a sensational
experience to race the BMW M6 GT3 at high speed, so close to the crash barriers.”
FIA F3 World Cup: Wonderful Macau comeback for Félix da
Costa.
The BMW works driver António Félix da Costa was
the subject of close attention on his return to the most important
Formula 3 event of the year, having won the Macau Grand Prix in 2012 –
and the Portuguese driver proved once again why he is one of the best
racers in the world. He dealt expertly with the challenging street
circuit in Macau (CN) right from the start of the FIA F3 World Cup,
and his dominant performance was rewarded with victory in the
qualifying race. On Sunday, he lost first place to Sérgio Sette Câmara
(BR) at the start but returned to the lead as the race progressed.
Félix da Costa then crossed the finishing line to claim victory in the
FIA F3 World Cup, repeating his triumph from four years ago. BMW works
driver Alexander Sims (GB) also competed in Macau, finishing in tenth
place in the main race. BMW Motorsport Junior Joel Eriksson (SE) did
not finish.
BMW customer racing: Wittmann and Glock to make debut in
Bathurst.
DTM Champion Marco Wittmann (DE) and his BMW
team-mate Timo Glock (DE) will contest the legendary 12-hour race of
Bathurst (AU) in Australia in 2017. They will support BMW Team SRM,
who contested the entire 2016 season of the Australian GT Championship
with the BMW M6 GT3. Wittmann will share stints at the wheel of the
number 100 car with team boss Steve Richards (NZ) and reigning V8
Supercars champion Mark Winterbottom (AU). Glock will contest the
endurance classic in the number 7 sister car. He will have Australian
motorsport legends Mark Skaife, Russell Ingall and Tony Longhurst (all
AU) at his side. It will be the debut at the Mount Panorama Circuit
(AU) for both Wittmann and Glock. “It is super exciting to
compete at the 12 Hours of Bathurst,” said Wittmann. “I
haven’t ever been to Australia, so I have plenty of new impressions in
store, which I am really looking forward to. I only know the track
from a games console at the moment. It is legendary and will no doubt
be a great deal of fun. I can hardly wait to complete my first laps
there in the BMW M6 GT3.” Glock added: “It is fantastic to
return to racing in Australia after a few years break. I love the
country and the people and always arrived a week before the Formula 1
races to do some sightseeing. The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne
was my favourite race. I haven’t driven in Bathurst yet, but the track
in the Blue Mountains is legendary. I’m really looking forward to the
challenge and my first race in the BMW M6 GT3.”
DTM: Wittmann entered into two “Golden
Books”.
Great honour for Marco Wittmann: A month
after winning his second DTM title, he was honoured for his
exceptional performances on the racetrack in Fürth (DE) town hall on
Monday evening. At the reception in the historic chamber, Wittmann was
entered into the “Golden Book” of Fürth and of his former
home parish of Markt Erlbach (DE). “The entry into the ‘Golden
Book’ is a great honour for me,” said the DTM Champion. “Of
all the trophies and awards that I have received, naturally this is
something very special. It isn’t every day that you are immortalised
in two ‘Golden Books’. Since I’m very attached to my roots, this day
means a great deal to me.”
DTM: The new BMW M4 DTM clocks up additional test
kilometres.
The preparations for the 2017 DTM season are
still in full swing. This week, Portimão (PT) hosted the second test
of the new generation BMW M4 DTM from Monday to Thursday. The car,
kitted out with numerous 2017 edition components, completed its
initial kilometres on the racetrack at the “Motorsport Arena
Oschersleben” (DE) at the end of October. Augusto Farfus (BR) and
Bruno Spengler (CA) were in action for BMW on the 4.692-kilometre
track in Portugal. Together they completed 414 test laps. The BMW M4
DTM will make its next appearance at the DTM and Young Driver test in
Jerez de la Frontera (ES) from 29th November to 2nd December.
IWSC: BMW M6 GTLM and BMW M6 GT3 complete test in
Daytona.
The 2017 season of the IMSA WeatherTech
SportsCar Championship (IWSC) is already causing a lot of excitement.
A two-day test with the BMW M6 GTLM took place at the “Daytona
International Speedway” (US) on Tuesday and Wednesday. In an
intensive programme, BMW Team RLL prepared the car for its first
racing action of 2017, the 24 Hours of Daytona (US). The Turner
Motorsport team was also in action with the BMW M6 GT3 in Florida.