Munich. FIA WEC, DTM and the IMSA series: Fans of BMW M
Motorsport can enjoy action galore this weekend. The new BMW M8 GTE
is set for its race debut in the FIA World Endurance Championship
(FIA WEC) at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). This is also the dress
rehearsal for the highlight of the season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans
(FRA) in June. Hockenheim (GER) traditionally hosts the opening
round of the DTM, with the BMW teams lining up for races one and two
of the 2018 season on Saturday and Sunday (5th and 6th May). In the
USA, BMW Team RLL is at the “Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course” (USA) with
the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
“We are looking forward to an exciting and hopefully successful
mega race weekend,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “We
get down to business in the FIA WEC for the first time. This is the
pinnacle of endurance racing. We are looking forward to being a part
of it with our new BMW M8 GTE. At the same time, our teams and drivers
in the DTM will be battling for the first points of the year. Since we
returned to the series in 2012, we have won eight titles – and our
clear goal is to add to this collection with the BMW M4 DTM this year.
In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, BMW Team RLL is hungry
for a good result with the BMW M8 GTE at its home event in Mid-Ohio.
The weekend is an absolute treat for BMW fans.”
FIA WEC: The “Super Season” gets underway at Spa-Francorchamps.
The 6-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) kicks off the
eight-race 2018/19 “Super Season” in the FIA World Endurance
Championship. The BMW M8 GTE will contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans
(FRA) twice in the “Super Season” with BMW Team MTEK responsible for
the two cars. Martin Tomczyk (GER) and Nick Catsburg (NED) will
alternate at the wheel of the #81 car at Spa-Francorchamps. António
Félix da Costa (POR), like Tomczyk and Catsburg a regular BMW driver
in the WEC, will share the cockpit of the #82 BMW M8 GTE with Tom
Blomqvist (GBR), who stands in for Augusto Farfus (BRA) for this race.
Martin Tomczyk (GER, #81 BMW M8 GTE): “The first race
at Spa-Francorchamps marks the end of a long phase of preparations for
me and the entire team. For me personally, the first WEC race is going
to be rather special. I am really looking forward to the great track
at Spa-Francorchamps and hope we can make a good start with the BMW M8 GTE.”
Nick Catsburg (NED, #81 BMW M8 GTE): “When BMW said
they were building a GTE car and joining the World Endurance
Championship, I was extremely excited. Our first race at
Spa-Francorchamps is now just around the corner. It is a very
demanding track for both the car and the driver, but we are well prepared.”
António Félix da Costa (POR, #82 BMW M8 GTE): “I am
really looking forward to this project getting going.
Spa-Francorchamps is a track that I love. Going into endurance racing
is the start of something new in my career.”
Tom Blomqvist (GBR, #82 BMW M8 GTE): “I’m excited to
be one of the first drivers to be behind the wheel of the BMW M8 GTE
as it makes its WEC debut. A lot is still new to us, and we must see
how we stack up against the opposition. However, testing went well and
we are prepared for the first race.”
Media appointments at Spa-Francorchamps:
Thursday, 14:00: “Meet the BMW WEC drivers” (BMW
hospitality)
Thursday, 15:00: FIA WEC press conference, with
António Félix da Costa (PC room)
Friday, 9:30: Interview session
with BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt (BMW
hospitality)
Friday, 16:45-16:55: Media mixed zone with the BMW
WEC drivers (PC room)
—
DTM: Good momentum ahead of the season-opener in Hockenheim.
This year’s DTM calendar features ten events with a total of 20
races in six different countries. Hockenheim (GER) is traditionally
the venue for the first race of the season. As well as the experienced
Augusto Farfus, Timo Glock (GER), Bruno Spengler (CAN) and Marco
Wittmann (GER), Philipp Eng (AUT) and Joel Eriksson (SWE) also line up
in their debut seasons in the DTM. The BMW M4 DTM has been the subject
of extensive modifications in accordance with changes to the
regulations – particularly aerodynamically. The car generates far less
downforce than in 2017, putting an even greater emphasis on the
drivers this year. Wittmann was victorious at the Hockenheimring at
the final round of last season. Furthermore, Spengler clocked the
fastest time of the four-day test at Hockenheim at the start of April.
Bruno Spengler (CAN, #7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, 157
races, 15 wins, 18 pole positions, 1 title): “I am really
excited to finally start the new season. The curtain raiser at
Hockenheim is always something special. It is just great to meet the
fans again and to feel the unique atmosphere there after the long
winter break. My goal is to get the maximum out of me and the car.”
Marco Wittmann (GER, #11 BMW Driving Experience M4 DTM, BMW
Team RMG, 74 races, 9 wins, 9 pole positions, 2 titles):
“The first race of the season will show where we really stand. We have
definitely done our homework, and I am optimistic ahead of the opening
race weekend. Each one of us is really looking forward to the season
finally getting started again. You can definitely notice the changes
to the car. They will make it even more exciting.”
Augusto Farfus (BRA, #15 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, 84
races, 4 wins, 6 pole positions): “It will be like a new
start for everybody this year with the new rules and the modified
cars. That’s a pretty big challenge. Our test at Hockenheim went
pretty well so I am very motivated and head to Hockenheim with high
hopes of having a clean and good start to the season.”
Timo Glock (GER, #16 DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR,
74 races, 4 wins, 4 pole positions): “After the long
winter, I, like everyone else, am pleased to finally get back down to
business. The tests in Hockenheim went well, although I still have
really no idea exactly how good we are compared to the others. Our
times looked good, but you never know whether somebody else may have
had a few kilos of fuel more on board. I am certainly excited.”
Philipp Eng (AUT, #25 SAMSUNG BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team
RMR): “I am really looking forward to making my DTM debut.
Being given this opportunity at the age of 28 is very cool. The tests
so far have shown that we are right up there. For me, the tests were
primarily about getting used to the car. It felt very good. Hopefully
I will be able to enjoy myself a bit when it all gets going in Hockenheim.”
Joel Eriksson (SWE, #47 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM):
“It is going to be really interesting and I am very much looking
forward to my first race in the DTM. After the good Hockenheim test I
am feeling quite comfortable and very well prepared.”
Media appointments in Hockenheim:
Saturday, 15:40: DTM Mixed Zone with the BMW
drivers
Sunday, 09:50: Interview session with BMW Motorsport
Director Jens Marquardt
Sunday, 15:40: DTM Mixed Zone with the
BMW drivers
—
IMSA: Home outing for BMW Team RLL.
The fourth race of the season, at the “Mid-Ohio Sports Car
Course” in Lexington (USA), is rather special for BMW Team RLL: The
team’s headquarters in Hilliard (USA) are only about an hour’s drive
from the circuit. Team Principal Bobby Rahal’s (USA) outfit has had to
wait a long time to contest another home race in the IMSA WeatherTech
SportsCar Championship: the last time the circuit hosted the series
was back in 2012. As such, the team is highly motivated to back up its
second place at the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA) with another success
with the new BMW M8 GTE.
Jesse Krohn (FIN, #24 BMW M8 GTE): “Mid-Ohio is
another new track for me this season. I hope we can be more
competitive than we were at Long Beach. The team and BMW Motorsport is
doing a great job developing the car.”
John Edwards (USA, #24 BMW M8 GTE): “I haven’t raced
at Mid-Ohio since the Grand Am series, but it’s something of a home
race for me and the team, so I’m glad to be back. I lived in
Cincinnati and my parents still live there. It’s a great track.”
Connor De Phillippi (USA, #25 BMW M8 GTE): “Mid-Ohio
is a big event for us as a team. The BMW Team RLL headquarters are not
far away. It’s a new track for me, so there will have to be a steep
learning curve. However, I’m fortunate to have a very experienced team
around me to lean on for support.”
Alexander Sims (GBR, #25 BMW M8 GTE): “I am really
looking forward to the challenge of Mid-Ohio. It’s completely new to
me, so I don’t know what to expect from the weekend. The important
thing is to find a good basic set-up as quickly as possible.”