Oschersleben. BMW works driver Timo Scheider (GER) and BMW
Motorsport Junior Mikkel Jensen (DEN) started the 2018 season of the
ADAC GT Masters with podium success. The BMW Team Schnitzer duo
initially crossed the finish line in fourth place at the wheel of
the #42 BMW M6 GT3 in the race on Saturday in Oschersleben (GER).
However, as the Lamborghini that finished ahead of them was later
excluded from the classification after scrutineering, the Schnitzer
duo moved up a place and celebrated third place on their maiden ADAC
GT Masters appearance. It was the first ever race weekend in the GT
series with a top-class field for both two-time DTM champion
Scheider and the rapid talented youngster Jensen. They finished
16th in the second race on Sunday.
BMW Team Schnitzer, on the other hand, is contesting
their second season in the ADAC GT Masters and Oschersleben proved to
be a good hunting ground for team principal Charly Lamm’s (GER) crew
last year when the racing team from Freilassing (GER) won the Sunday
race at the opening weekend last season. This year BMW Team Schnitzer
is competing with two BMW M6 GT3s. In the #43 car, BMW Motorsport
Junior Dennis Marschall (GER) and Victor Bouveng (SWE), who was part
of the BMW Motorsport Junior programme in 2015, finished in
16th place on Saturday. They finished the second race in
20th place. Jens Klingmann (GER) and Christopher
Zöchling (AUT) in the #14 MRS GT-Racing BMW M6 GT3 finished in
34th and 19th place.
Reactions to the season opener in Oschersleben.
Timo Scheider (#42 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Team Schnitzer,
3rd 16th place): “I’m really
looking forward to my first full season with BMW and in the ADAC GT
Masters. We got off to a great start with third place in the first
race. That’s what you want, since it makes the rest of the year a
little bit easier from a sporting perspective. I have a strong
team-mate at my side in Mikkel Jensen, and Dennis Marschall and Victor
Bouveng are also doing a great job. And some of them even have more
experience in a GT car than I do, which I can benefit from. The guys
are very eager to learn. They have ambitious goals, want to be works
drivers, earn money from motorsport. So not making mistakes due to
nerves and pressure is a very special task. But the guys have come
here professionally prepared, and have a lot of experience. BMW is
doing a great job with the Junior programme. You can’t tell the
difference between young and old. I have to say that I am having a lot
of fun right now.”
Mikkel Jensen (#42 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Team Schnitzer,
3rd and 16th place): “I didn’t expect
to finish on the podium on my debut. I felt we were more the
underdogs, so the result is a great success and I am delighted with
it. The way that BMW Team Schnitzer works is highly professional.
Everything is structured clearly, with a fantastic flow of information
and the team spirit gives you that extra motivation. Timo Scheider,
with whom I share a car, has the same philosophy when it comes to the
set-up which is perfect. We can both learn a lot from each other. Timo
has incredible experience of racing. While perhaps I am a bit more
familiar with the BMW M6 GT3 at the moment. My goal is to repeat the
success at the opener and if we are able to fight for the title, that
would be fantastic.”
Dennis Marschall (#43 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Team Schnitzer,
16th 20th place): “I have never
experienced professionalism like there is at BMW Team Schnitzer,
everything is discussed in detail both before and after the session.
We spend a lot of time in the briefing room and are constantly trying
to improve the car. The team gives it their all to provide the driver
with the best package. And even though the work is totally
professional, we all get on really well. The atmosphere is very
informal. As a driver, I feel the strong backing from the team. There
is a top-class field in the ADAC GT Masters this year. You can’t
afford to make a single mistake, you often have only one chance to put
in a quick lap and you have to make use of it.”
Victor Bouveng (#43 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Team Schnitzer,
16th 20th place): “It is great
fun to be at a race weekend and know that you will be working with a
team as top class as Schnitzer. The engineers and mechanics –
everything is the best. And of course, Charly Lamm, my team principal
is an absolute legend. It is a great honour for me to be allowed to
represent the Schnitzer and BMW colours. The solidarity in the team is
fantastic. We all benefit from Timo Scheider’s experience in
particular; he has clocked up so many kilometres in a racing car. The
ADAC GT Masters is an awesome series. I was the best BMW driver in
qualifying on Sunday and had a few great duels on the track. I’m
really looking forward to the rest of the season.”