Munich. 2016 sees the BMW Group celebrate its
centenary under the motto THE NEXT 100 YEARS. The official
celebrations started on 7th March in Munich with the big Centenary
Event in the Olympic Hall. Among the 2,000 invited guests were many
athletes, who have enjoyed success around the world in sports
supported by BMW. They were there in person when BMW’s pioneering
vision vehicle, the BMW VISION NEXT 100, was unveiled. Prior to this,
a multimedia show had taken guests through the key moments in the BMW
Group’s history and presented the company’s interpretations of future
premium mobility.
Among those representing BMW Motorsport were the eight DTM drivers
Marco Wittmann (GER), Timo Glock (GER), Bruno Spengler (CAN), Augusto
Farfus (BRA), Maxime Martin (BEL), Tom Blomqvist (GBR), António Félix
da Costa (POR) and Martin Tomczyk (GER), as well as BMW Brand
Ambassador Alex Zanardi (ITA). As well as many other works drivers and
team principals, BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt and his
predecessors Mario Theissen and Jochen Neerpasch, the first managing
director of BMW Motorsport GmbH, also witnessed the Centenary Event at
first hand. The same went for many other well-known protagonists from
BMW’s successful motorsport history – including Gerhard Berger (AUT),
Pierluigi Martini (ITA), Harald Grohs (GER), Johnny Cecotto (VEN),
Roberto Ravaglia (ITA) and Paul Rosche (GER).
The world of winter sports was represented in Munich by BMW Group
Classic Ambassador Katarina Witt (GER), as well as by Olympic luge
gold medallists Natalie Geisenberger (GER) and Georg Hackl (GER).
Five-time America’s Cup winner Russell Coutts (NZL) and BMW Outdoor
Ambassador Stefan Glowacz (GER) were also thrilled by the captivating
programme in the Olympic Hall.
The BMW Group employs more than 122,000 staff, who were invited to
follow the show at the Olympic Hall via live streaming or at many
local events at locations around the world. One special highlight for
employees in Munich was the live broadcast to the Allianz Arena, where
over 30,000 employees watched the launch event unfold. Among those at
the event were Spengler and Tomczyk, who met BMW employees as part of
the preliminary programme. In the evening, their fellow DTM driver
Farfus met international employees at the BMW Pavillon in Munich city
centre, where he spoke about his ties with BMW. He has raced for BMW
Motorsport since 2007.
Quotes on the Centenary Event in Munich:
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“It is a great honour for me to experience the centenary of the BMW
Group and BMW brand as Motorsport Director. All the employees at BMW
Motorsport are proud to be able to represent BMW at the racetracks of
this world. Motorsport is quite simply in BMW’s DNA. Motor racing
continues to play a key role when it comes to the company’s innovative
strength. Race outings have allowed us to test new technologies many
times in the toughest possible conditions, before that technology is
then incorporated in production development. In this special year, we
will do our utmost in all the racing series around the world to
present BMW with as many victories as possible to mark the centenary.”
Alex Zanardi (BMW Brand Ambassador):
“I am proud
to have been a member of the BMW family for many years, and it is a
great privilege for me to represent BMW around the globe as Brand
Ambassador. As a physically impaired racing driver, I benefit greatly
from the innovative ideas, technological expertise and the courage to
take new and unusual paths. When it comes to making the impossible
possible, for example, me competing in a 24-hour race, there are no
limits to the creativity at BMW. BMW always takes on new challenges
successfully – but this is only possible, when you are driven by
passion. And this passion is characterizing everyone within the BMW
family. The future is exciting.”
Martin Tomczyk (BMW DTM driver):
“Like many of
the 30,000 employees watching the broadcast of the Centenary Event, I
also learned my craft at BMW. To a certain degree, I did my training
to become a racing driver in the BMW ADAC Formula Junior Cup in 1998.
Today, I wear the BMW colours in the DTM. For me, it is really special
to be able to compete with the number 100 on my car in this centenary
year. My team, the other BMW drivers in the DTM, and I will do
everything in our powers to give the employees plenty of reason to
celebrate in BMW’s centenary year.”
Bruno Spengler (BMW DTM driver):
“Many people
just see me as Bruno Spengler the racing driver – the driver who was
champion when BMW returned to the DTM. In principle, however, I am
also a BMW employee and, of course, a big fan of the brand. I was one
of many in the Allianz Arena when the Centenary Event was broadcast.
The atmosphere among the 30,000 employees was fantastic. We are all
one big family and are celebrating a big occasion this year – 100
years of BMW. It is going to be a fantastic party.”
Augusto Farfus (BMW DTM driver):
“When BMW
signed me up for the 2007 season, I was still rather wet behind the
ears. But I was full of pride to represent BMW as a racing driver.
Since then, BMW has become like a family to me. We have enjoyed great
success together – in the FIA WTCC and with the historic victory at
the 24-hour race at the iconic Nürburgring. The evening event in the
BMW Pavilion showed me once again how strong the bond is between the
employees and BMW. If I could sign a 100-year contract at BMW, I would
not hesitate a second.”
Timo Glock (BMW DTM driver):
“BMW is 100 years
old today – and this day belongs to all the BMW drivers, employees and
fans. I am just like them: BMW also plays a major role in my life. My
first car was a BMW 318ti. I enjoyed my first successes in motor
racing in the BMW ADAC Formula Junior Cup. When, after five years in
Formula One, I was given the chance to race for BMW again, I did not
hesitate for a second and switched to the DTM. That move brought me
home again. I hope for BMW that the brand maintains its innovation and
pioneering spirit for the next 100 years – and that it continues to
build such beautiful and fast racing cars.”
Marco Wittmann (BMW DTM driver):
“It is
incredible that BMW has been successful for 100 years already. For me
personally, the company has played a very special role in my career. I
was sponsored in my youth, and in 2014 we celebrated the greatest
success of my racing career so far together when I won the DTM title.
I am sure that maximum performance, coupled with the constant drive to
use innovation to redefine the limits, will continue to be a feature
of BMW for the next 100 years. I am proud to be a part of this
motorsport success story.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team
Schnitzer):
“The history of Schnitzer Motorsport is
intrinsically tied to BMW. Our team has been racing since the 1960s
and has always had a magnificent partner in BMW, one that builds
fantastic GT and touring cars. My fondest memories are obviously of
the greatest successes we have enjoyed together: victory at the 24
Hours of Le Mans in 1999, winning the DTM title in 1989 and 2012 on
BMW’s return to the series, the world touring car title in 1987, the
title in the 2001 American Le Mans Series and, of course, the total of
ten victories at the 24-hour classics at the Nürburgring and in
Spa-Francorchamps. And there were many more great moments. Hopefully
we will have many more in the future.”
Dirk Werner (BMW works driver):
“In 2010, BMW
made my dream of taking to the track as a professional racing driver
come true. The moment I heard that I was to be given a contract as a
BMW works driver was one of the best of my career. I have an awful lot
to thank BMW for and am proud, in every race, to fly the BMW flag and
drive such fantastic racing cars.”
Jörg Müller (BMW works driver):
“BMW is the best
thing to happen to me in my career as a racing driver. We have had
great times together. It goes without saying that the big wins at the
24-hour races and the title in the American Le Mans Series stand out,
but I have enjoyed every single year. I am also proud to be so deeply
involved in the development of the new BMW M6 GT3.”
Roberto Ravaglia (former BMW works driver):
“I
associate BMW with the greatest successes of my motorsport career. I
will never forget the 1980s, when I claimed countless fantastic
victories together with BMW and Schnitzer Motorsport in the BMW M3.
That was a great time. Today, I am proud still to be able to represent
BMW as team principal of ROAL Motorsport.”
Mario Theissen (former BMW Motorsport Director):
“I had a very exciting and wonderful time with BMW. One
particular highlight was Nelson Piquet’s triumph in the world
championship in 1983. Back then I was a young engineer at BMW – and
was absolutely thrilled, just as the entire company was. The
subsequent Formula One project was certainly the greatest challenge we
faced together. However, I obviously also remember the many fantastic
successes in GT and touring car racing fondly. Above all, I must
mention the wins at the 24-hour races in Le Mans and at the
Nürburgring, as well as the titles in the European Touring Car
Championship and World Touring Car Championship. Motorsport and BMW
belong together. That was always the case, and it will remain that way.”
Jochen Neerpasch (first managing director of BMW Motorsport
GmbH):
“It was an exciting time when we founded BMW
Motorsport GmbH in 1972. Every one of us brought the same passion for
racing to the project. Today, nothing has changed in that regard.
Since then, BMW racing cars have celebrated countless victories and
titles all over the world. I am certain that will remain the case for
the next 100 years.”
Katarina Witt (BMW Group Classic Ambassador):
“As BMW Group Classic Ambassador, I have been fortunate enough often
to have the opportunity to drive fascinating cars from throughout the
100-year history of BMW. The looks and charm of these cars never fail
to thrill me, but the technology is also impressive. You can feel that
BMW has always been ahead of its time, and it will surely remain that
way. I am proud to be part of a team that represents this global group.”
Russell Coutts (five-time America’s Cup
winner):
“In our sport there is no competition that
relies on innovation and creative thinking as much as the America’s
Cup. In its history spanning more than 160 years, visionary
technologies have continuously pushed the boundaries of what is
possible. BMW also represents this combination of tradition and
innovation – which makes the company the perfect ‘Global Partner’ for
the America’s Cup.”
Georg Hackl (Olympic luge champion):
“Even
during my time as an active luger I was a tinkler. It was always clear
to me that you can only achieve great success if you leave no stone
unturned and never stop looking for ways to improve – no matter how
small. This approach, never to be satisfied with what you have
achieved and always to think a little bit ahead, is what makes BMW so
special. We at the German Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton Federation are
very proud to have BMW on our side as technology partner and are
looking forward to a successful and innovative future together – one
that can happily last another 100 years as far as I’m concerned.”
Natalie Geisenberger (Olympic luge champion):
“In the ice channel, you not only have to be quick but also
efficient. After the start, we athletes can no longer actively
accelerate. The intelligent use of existing resources and, at the same
time, maximum dynamics is also something that drives BMW. The results,
such as the BMW i3 and the BMW i8, show emphatically that the future
began long ago at BMW.”
Stefan Glowacz (BMW Outdoor Ambassador):
“People
are rediscovering their love of nature. Outdoor sports are fashionable
and millions of people are spending their leisure time outside. They
want to be out amid nature, and also to protect it. The key words are
activity and sustainability – and these are also issues, to which BMW
is dedicated. BMW is intensely involved in the topic of
sustainability. The pioneering role in electric mobility is the best
example, but not the only one.”