New start in Hockenheim: The 2017 DTM season begins on familiar ground for BMW Motorsport.

Munich. When the sound of roaring engines rings around
Hockenheim (GER) at the start of May, it means one thing to every
motorsport fan: the DTM is back. The touring car series kicks off
this weekend with the first two races of the 18 that make up the
2017 season. BMW Motorsport will send six newly-developed BMW M4
DTMs in search of more success in the DTM. The squad of drivers is
spearheaded by reigning champion Marco Wittmann (GER), who last year
claimed the eighth title of a possible 15 for BMW since returning to
the DTM in 2012. With new racing cars and a finely-honed format, the
DTM once again promises to provide touring car racing of the highest
quality in 2017.

 

The situation:

The two BMW Teams, RMG and RBM, and their six drivers have an intense
period of preparation behind them. The BMW M4 DTM, which was developed
by BMW Motorsport, has proven itself and shown its great potential
during tests, including Timo Glock’s (GER) fastest time at the grand
finale of the preparations in Hockenheim at the start of April.
Despite this, the pack will be shuffled once again at the
season-opener on the 4.574-kilometre track. Traditionally, the first
qualifying sessions and race provide the first real opportunity to
assess the genuine balance of power with completely new cars.

 

The changes:

The race cars are not the only things that are new for the 2017 DTM
season. The same goes for many other areas. Softer tyres that degrade
more quickly, a more efficient Drag Reduction System (DRS), and such
details as a ban on heated tyre covers are among the innovations
designed to ensure that greater emphasis is on the driver’s ability
and that the fans are treated to even more action out on the track. As
on the Sunday, Saturday’s race will now also feature a mandatory pit
stop in 2017. Both races will last 55 minutes (+1 lap). Each of the
three automobile manufacturers involved in the DTM will line up with
six drivers.

Strict restrictions on radio communication between the team and
drivers have also been enforced. The re-start in an
Indianapolis-style, two-row grid formation after safety car phases
also promises to add to the excitement. Use of the DRS system is
limited to twelve laps (36 activations) in all races. Furthermore,
points will be awarded to the top three positions in qualifying in
2017: the driver on pole position will receive three points, second
place picks up two points, with one point going to the third-placed driver.

BMW Motorsport will send two works teams into battle, each with three
drivers. Marco Wittmann is joined at BMW Team RMG by Augusto Farfus
(BRA) and Timo Glock (GER). Bruno Spengler (CAN), Tom Blomqvist (GBR)
and Maxime Martin (BEL) will have their sights set on top results for
BMW Team RBM. Glock and Blomqvist’s cars will be run by combined crew
consisting of RMG and RBM mechanics – BMW Team RMR.

 

The expectations:

 

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt: “I think we
are about to witness one of the most exciting DTM seasons ever. In
many regards, the series set the course for a successful future over
the winter – whether with the development of the new cars, changes to
the regulations and format, or bringing a new man in at the top, in
the form of Gerhard Berger. As such, we are all really looking forward
to the first showdown in Hockenheim. Everything we saw at the tests
counts for nothing now. 18 of the top drivers in the world will go
head to head in racing cars generating over 500 hp – and in front of
what are probably the very best touring car crowds. We are well
prepared with the new BMW M4 DTM. Bring on the first two races of the year.”

 

Stefan Reinhold (team principal, BMW Team RMG): “Our
team has worked very hard indeed in the final weeks ahead of the
season-opener. Following the final tests, we have prepared the three
cars for our drivers and set them up as well as possible for the
opening races in Hockenheim. We have also spent a lot of time
practicing the new pit stop processes, which pose new challenges for
our crews. We are delighted to welcome Augusto Farfus into the team as
the third driver alongside Marco Wittmann and Timo Glock. He will be a
great addition with his experience and speed.”

 

Marco Wittmann (#11, Red Bull BMW M4 DTM – 56 races, 8 wins,
15 podiums, 8 pole positions, 523 points, 2 Drivers’ titles):
“It is obviously very nice to go into a DTM season as the
defending champion for the second time in my career – not with the
number 1 this time, but with the number 11. I hope that brings me more
luck than last time. My memories of Hockenheim are very good. After
all, I won the title in my last race there. That was a great weekend.”

 

Augusto Farfus (#15, Shell BMW M4 DTM – 66 races, 4 wins, 12
podiums, 5 pole positions, 345 points):
“Pretty much
everything is new to me at the start of this DTM season: the team, the
car, the engineers, my team-mates, the rules. I have not experienced
anything like this since 2012. However, I am really looking forward to
this new challenge. All the manufacturers are basically starting from
scratch this year. As such, I can imagine we may be in for a few
surprises in the first few races.”

 

Timo Glock (#16, DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM – 56 races, 3 wins,
5 podiums, 1 pole position, 335 points):
“We have an
exciting season ahead of us, and are all really looking forward to it.
I have a lot of positive associations with Hockenheim. I have had a
lot of good and, above all, successful races there. My maiden DTM win
in my debut season was obviously a bit special. That makes it all the
better that we get to go there twice every year. The circuit is
tailor-made for the DTM. I always have a good feeling when I come to
Hockenheim. I can hardly wait for the race season to finally get started.”

 

Bart Mampaey (team principal, BMW Team RBM): “After a
long and busy winter, we are delighted to be going racing again. In
Bruno Spengler, we welcome a very experienced and quick driver to the
team. He will form a very strong trio with Tom Blomqvist and Maxime
Martin. I am particularly looking forward to seeing how the
cooperation between our team and BMW Team RMG on the cars of Tom
Blomqvist and Timo Glock will work out.”

 

Bruno Spengler (#7, BMW Bank BMW M4 DTM – 139 races, 14 wins,
45 podiums, 17 pole positions, 758 points, 1 Drivers’ title):
“I have been made to feel very welcome in my new team, and am
very much looking forward to driving for BMW Team RBM this year. A new
team and a new car mean that this season is something of a new start,
after last year did not work out so well for me. It is always rather
special to go into a season with a new car. I am certainly very
motivated to do well.”

 

Tom Blomqvist (#31, BMW Driving Experience M4 DTM – 36 races,
1 win, 5 podiums, 1 pole position, 172 points):
“I really
like the new design of my BMW Driving Experience M4 DTM. It looks
fantastic and is hopefully very quick too. I am intrigued to see how
good we are compared to the opposition. The biggest difference to last
year will be the tyres, which will degrade faster. Let’s see who copes
best with that at the first race weekend.”

 

Maxime Martin (#36, SAMSUNG BMW M4 DTM – 46 races, 2 wins, 6
podiums, 2 pole positions, 231 points):
“I think the new
regulations will make the start of the season extremely interesting.
The cars have more power and are fantastic to drive. The new tyres
make a huge difference and, in my opinion, will make for a lot of
different race strategies. I am looking forward to an exciting weekend.”

 

The history:

In total, the Hockenheimring has hosted no fewer than 82 DTM races
since 1984. BMW has 14 wins, nine pole positions and 38 podiums to its
name. The last time a BMW driver climbed onto the top step of the
podium was in 2014, when Marco Wittmann won the opening race of the
season to claim the 60th BMW victory in the DTM. This was
also his first win in the series. Come the end of the year, the BMW
Team RMG driver was lifting the trophy as the champion driver.

 

The media schedule:

 

Thursday, 4th May

11:00-13:00, photo and interview session with Marco Wittmann and
Augusto Farfus to mark the special “100 Years of BMW” exhibition at
Technik Museum Speyer (Am Technik Museum 1, 67346 Speyer).

 

Friday, 5th May 2017

14:30-15:00, ITR Press Conference with Timo Glock, BW-Center

 

Saturday, 6th May 2017

16:45-16:55, mixed zone interviews with all BMW drivers, BW-Center

 

Sunday, 7th May 2017:

9:00-9:20, interview session with BMW Motorsport Director Jens
Marquardt, BMW Motorsport Hospitality

17:25-17:35, mixed zone interviews with all BMW drivers, BW-Center

 

The service:

BMW Motorsport will offer an innovative Chatbot service for
journalists for the first time in the 2017 DTM season. This allows
users to receive the latest information directly to their smartphone
via WhatsApp Messenger. The information available includes driver
statistics, statements and photos. You can register for the BMW
Motorsport Chatbot at the following link: http://bit.ly/BMW_Motorsport_Media_Broadcast_EN

 

The media guide:

You will find a pdf version of the 2017 BMW Motorsport Media Guide
attached to this press release. You will also find a lot of useful
information regarding BMW’s extensive racing programme in a compact format.