Munich. Since Saturday, the 185th Oktoberfest on
the Theresienwiese has once again been thrilling millions of
visitors from all over the world. This can mean only one thing: it
is time for the BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch. For the ninth time, BMW
invited well-known athletes and guests from various sports, as well
as its sport and brand ambassadors, to the largest and most famous
fair in the world.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt toasted the “fifth season”. He
was joined by guests including BMW works driver and Brand Ambassador
Alessandro Zanardi (ITA), BMW Classic ambassadors Katarina Witt (GER)
and Prince Leopold of Bavaria (GER), and BMW works drivers from the
DTM and endurance racing, as well as Olympic gold medallists, world
champions and top winter sport athletes. Olympic luge champion Natalie
Geisenberger (GER) presented all five of her medals in public for the
first time during the BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch.
In keeping with tradition, the BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch began with
a jovial stroll around Oktoberfest; the action on the Devil’s Wheel,
bumper cars and the Münchner Rutschn (slide) was predictably
competitive. This was followed by the more relaxed part of the BMW
Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch, in the wonderful atmosphere of the
Käfer-Wiesn-Schänke, where athletes past and present discussed their
sports and much more over a snack and a beer.
BMW guests from the world of winter sport.
Rosi Mittermaier (GER), BMW Wintersport Ambassador
Christian Neureuther (GER), BMW Wintersport Ambassador
Natalie Geisenberger (GER), four-time Olympic luge champion
Felix Loch (GER), three-time Olympic luge champion
Georg Hackl (GER), three-time Olympic luge champion
Johannes Lochner (GER), three-time world bob champion with pushers
Florian Bauer, Marc Rademacher and Christian Rasp
Norbert Loch (GER), BSD head coach luge/bobsleigh
René Spies (GER), BSD head coach bobsleigh
Alexander Resch (GER), member of the board of management of the BSD
BMW guests from the world of motorsport.
Jens Marquardt (GER), BMW Motorsport Director
Alessandro Zanardi (ITA), BMW Brand Ambassador
Philipp Eng (AUT), BMW DTM driver
Augusto Farfus (BRA), BMW DTM and WEC driver
Nico Menzel (GER), BMW Motorsport Junior
Timo Scheider (GER), BMW works driver
Martin Tomczyk (GER), BMW works driver
Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW DTM driver
Sven Quandt (GER), Team principal of X-raid Team
Christina Surer (SUI), former racing driver
Other BMW Ambassadors.
Katarina Witt (GER), BMW Classic Ambassador
Prince Leopold of Bavaria (GER), BMW Classic Ambassador
Quotes from the 2018 BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch.
Katarina Witt (BMW Classic Ambassador):
“Despite all the many projects I have on at the moment – I was on the
BMW Classic Rally two weeks ago and am also preparing a figure skating
show – I was not going to miss out on this get-together. It has become
a wonderful tradition.”
Prince Leopold of Bavaria (BMW Classic Ambassador):
“Oktoberfest is obviously rather special for my family, as it was
introduced by my great-great-grandfather Ludwig I. I always really
look forward to attending this big get-together of the BMW sporting
family, and to seeing so many familiar faces.”
Alessandro Zanardi (BMW Brand Ambassador, BMW works driver):
“I share a long and fantastic history with BMW. Over all the years, I
have obviously made a lot of friends, and it is great to meet some of
them at an occasion like this. I enjoy a beer, but a beer with friends
is so much better.”
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“For me, the BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch is a very pleasant
appointment each year. It shows the diverse positioning of BMW in
sport, motorsport and beyond. In my opinion, this gathering is the
embodiment of BMW’s philosophy of being a global group and yet still
like a big family.”
Marco Wittmann (BMW DTM driver):
“This event is a great tradition every year. When the weather is as
good as it is today, what more do you want? Visiting Oktoberfest and
meeting all the other members of the BMW family makes a nice change
from the everyday routine of motorsport.”
Philipp Eng (BMW DTM driver):
“This year is actually the first time in my life that I have visited
Oktoberfest. It is great to meet sportsmen and women from other
sports, who I only knew from television before, in person at this BMW event.”
Augusto Farfus (BMW DTM driver):
“It is nice to be back. Oktoberfest is huge. It reminds me a bit of
our Brazilian carnival. It is great to meet up with so many other
sportsmen and women here once a year. It is funny that although we are
all part of the BMW family, our schedules do not allow us to meet more
often. That makes the get-together at Oktoberfest all the better.”
Martin Tomczyk (BMW works driver):
“The BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch has become something of an
institution and I am very happy to be back here with my wife Christina
again this year. I am always particularly pleased to meet the
bobsledders, as we have a very close relationship.”
Timo Scheider (BMW works driver):
“Not only have I got to know many sportsmen and women from a wide
range of sports, but also a number of journalists who were familiar to
me. We are usually all caught up in our everyday lives and do not have
much time for each other. This is the perfect place to have a more
relaxed chat with a few people.”
Rosi Mittermaier (BMW Wintersport Ambassador):
“It is always a nice mixture of a reunion with old acquaintances and
an opportunity to get to know new, young members of the BMW family. I
particularly like it when the Wiesn is a little quieter, like this
morning, and you can enjoy the original atmosphere. It is a nice
Bavarian tradition.”
Christian Neureuther (BMW Wintersport Ambassador):
“There is always a relaxed atmosphere at the BMW Wiesn
Sport-Stammtisch. I particularly like that. I really enjoy coming here
in the morning and seeing so many children about.”
Johannes Lochner (world bobsleigh champion):
“A real Bavarian has to visit the Wiesn at least once a year. The BMW
Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch is the perfect opportunity. After all, we
bobsledders are back on the ice for the first time in just three
weeks’ time, so we have to make the most of this opportunity.
Natalie Geisenberger (Olympic luge champion):
“I chose the BMW Wiesn Sport-Stammtisch as the place to show all five
of my Olympic medals in public for the first time. I think it is a
very cool occasion to do it. Although the start of the season is just
around the corner, and we consequently have a lot of engagements, I
enjoy coming to this gathering every year. It is like a family get-together.”
Georg Hackl (Olympic luge champion):
“We luge athletes head to Norway at the end of the week for some
training. That makes it all the nicer to spend a morning relaxing at
Oktoberfest and meeting other sportsmen and women from the BMW family.
This event has become something of a tradition.”
Felix Loch (Olympic luge champion):
“Every year, this visit to Oktoberfest is a nice change from everyday
training, as we are already in the middle of our preparations for the
coming winter. I am very happy so far and am looking forward to
getting on the ice for the first time in Lillehammer this weekend.”