Munich. ROWE Racing is approaching the start of the 2018 GT
season in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. The team will
compete in the season’s five races with two BMW M6 GT3s and a strong
BMW driver line-up. The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) promises
to be the highlight of the year.
The new Blancpain GT Series season starts with the first race this
weekend at Monza (ITA). Just as last year, ROWE Racing will compete
there again. The St. Ingbert (GER) based team is competing in the
Endurance Cup with two BMW M6 GT3s. The season consists of five races:
Monza, Silverstone (GBR), Le Castellet (FRA), Barcelona (ESP) and of
course the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps, which ROWE Racing won in
2016. BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard (GBR) and the BMW works
drivers Jens Klingmann (GER) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) will be involved in
every race,in one of the BMW M6 GT3s. A number of top-class BMW
drivers will share driving duties in the second car throughout the
season. At the “Autodromo Nazionale di Monza” two-time DTM champion
Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW WEC driver Nick Catsburg (NED) and BMW IMSA
driver Alexander Sims (GBR) will be at the wheel of the second BMW M6 GT3.
“BMW Motorsport and ROWE Racing – this combination has proved to be
very successful over the last two years,” said BMW Motorsport Director
Jens Marquardt. “In 2016, ROWE Racing won the 24 Hours of
Spa-Francorchamps with the BMW M6 GT3. We reached the podium together
at the Nürburgring in 2017 so I am really looking forward to the new
season in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, where we will be
supporting the team with a great driver line-up. I am particularly
pleased that we can give our BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard the
chance to gather valuable experience in a very professional team
environment, in one of the world’s most competitive GT racing series.”
“We are looking forward to the start of the Blancpain GT Series
Endurance Cup and with our traditional strength in endurance races are
hoping to be up there fighting for the title in this series with a
top-class field,” said ROWE Team Principal Hans-Peter Naundorf. “We
are also proud of now becoming part of the legendary and successful
BMW Motorsport Juniors development programme. Ricky Collard made a
very good impression last year on his two GT4 outings for our team.
Jesse Krohn also came through the BMW development school, so is no
doubt a good role model for Collard. I am really excited that it
finally worked out getting Jens Klingmann on board. He knows the BMW
M6 GT3 better than other drivers and is very fast. With this trio, we
have three young drivers in the #98 who really enjoy GT racing and who
have the right attitude. In Monza, a two-time DTM champion in Marco
Wittmann will reinforce our team, who alongside Nick Catsburg and Alex
Sims, will no doubt form a strong trio.”