Munich (DE), 15th August 2016. This weekend, the “Moscow Raceway” on
the outskirts of the Russian capital Moscow hosts the DTM for the
fourth time. BMW Motorsport heads to the 3.931-kilometre circuit
leading all three DTM competitions: Marco Wittmann (DE) leads the
Drivers’ Championship with 105 points after ten of the season’s 18
races. BMW Team RMG, with drivers Wittmann and Timo Glock (DE), moved
to the top of the Team standings in Zandvoort (NL). Meanwhile, BMW
also holds a slender lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
The BMW drivers have fond memories of the “Moscow Raceway”. Augusto
Farfus (BR) finished third when the series made its debut in Moscow in
2013. Maxime Martin (BE) claimed his maiden DTM victory there in 2014.
Last year, Bruno Spengler (CA) finished second and third to take his
place on the podium after both races. Wittmann started Saturday’s race
from pole position and came home second. In total, a BMW driver has
stepped onto the podium on six occasions after the four races so far
in Moscow.
Quotes ahead of the sixth race weekend of 2016 in Moscow.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“The summer break has done the team good and helped us recharge our
batteries ahead of the second half of the season. Our goal for the
remaining eight races is to defend our promising positions in the
Drivers’, Team and Manufacturers’ competitions. That will undoubtedly
be a big challenge. So far, our drivers and teams have done a
virtually flawless job. That is why we are in the fine position we
find ourselves in. If possible, we want to maintain this maximum level
of concentration. The trip to Moscow is always rather special. We have
always done really well at this track in the past. One win, two pole
positions and six podium finishes in the four previous races at the
‘Moscow Raceway’ is a very good record, and one we are looking to
improve this weekend.”
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“I am obviously pleased that we are leading the Team standings and
the Drivers’ Championship with Marco Wittmann just after the halfway
point of the season. We have done a good job so far, but know full
well that the rest of the season will be all the more strenuous. The
challenge in Moscow will once again be to get the very best out of our
package and pick up as many points as possible. We always focus solely
on the next step.”
Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK):
“For various reasons, we have been unable to meet our own high
standards this season. We have worked hard as a team to improve in all
areas. That is particularly true of our weakness, qualifying. Although
the hard work put in by the mechanics, engineers and drivers was not
reflected in the results in Zandvoort, our pace in the races was
particularly encouraging. We are now hoping that everything comes
together in qualifying in Moscow, and that we can repeat the fine
results we achieved last year.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“The ‘Moscow Raceway’ is a circuit, at which BMW has always enjoyed
good results. Maxime Martin and Tom Blomqvist both finished in the
points last year. Maxime knows how it feels to win in Moscow. We now
hope to be successful together there this year.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“After a first half of the season that was not exactly easy for us,
we used the summer break to recharge our batteries and prepare for the
DTM weekend in Moscow. The races in Russia kick off the second half of
the DTM season. The ‘Moscow Raceway’ is a modern circuit and very
popular with the drivers. It has a good mix of long straights and fast
and slow corners. We are looking forward to the races in Russia and
will do our best to get good results there.”
Marco Wittmann (car number 11, BMW Team RMG):
“I had a very good Saturday race at the ‘Moscow Raceway’ last year.
Unfortunately, I was denied victory by a tyre issue, but my pace was
very good. Because of this, I go into this year’s two races with
plenty of confidence. I would like to get my second win of the season
there and, with an eye on the Drivers’ Championship, obviously want to
score as many points as possible.”
Timo Glock (car number 16, BMW Team RMG):
“It was a long summer break, and I took the opportunity to take a bit
of a holiday. I am now looking forward to getting back out on the
racetrack all the more. The circuit in Russia is great fun to drive,
and BMW has always done well there in recent years. I am intrigued to
see how we fare this time.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team MTEK):
“I have very fond memories of last year in Moscow. That was my best
race weekend, as I ended both races on the podium. Hopefully we will
have better luck there than in Zandvoort. It is important to focus on
improving the car for qualifying, as our race pace is really good.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 18, BMW Team MTEK):
“We used the last few weeks to take a breather and do a lot of
analysis. I hope we can put what we have learned into practice in
Moscow and, in particular, that we perform better in qualifying. I
like the ‘Moscow Raceway’ and finished on the podium there in 2013.”
Tom Blomqvist (car number 31, BMW Team RBM):
“It is going to be a very interesting weekend. The races have all
been very close this year, and I fully expect it to be the same story
in Moscow. I did pretty well on my debut there in 2015, and finished
in the points. That is the goal again this year.”
Maxime Martin (car number 36, BMW Team RBM):
“I obviously have great memories of Moscow. After all, it was there
that I claimed my first win in the DTM in 2014. I then had one good
race and one poor one in 2015. This year, I think we once again have a
package that will allow us to put on a good show in Russia.”
António Félix da Costa (car number 13, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“I really like the ‘Moscow Raceway’ and have won races there in other
series. It goes without saying that I also want to taste success at
this track in the DTM. My team and I will do everything in our power
to achieve this.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 100, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“Moscow is always worth a trip. The fans there are passionate about
the DTM and the track itself is also very interesting. Although this
is now our fourth time there, I am still really looking forward to
some new experiences in Russia.”
Statistics: Moscow.
Length:
3.931 km
2015 winners:
Pascal Wehrlein, Mercedes (race 1)
Mike Rockenfeller, Audi (race 2)
2015 poles:
1:28.810 minutes, Marco Wittmann, BMW (race 1)
1:28.540 minutes, Mike Rockenfeller, Audi (race 2)
Best-placed BMW 2015:
Marco Wittmann, 2nd (race 1)
Bruno Spengler, 2nd (race 2)
DTM debut:
2013
BMW wins:
1
BMW pole positions:
2
BMW fastest laps:
–
BMW podiums:
6
Statistics: BMW DTM drivers.
BMW Motorsport media schedule.
2016 DTM calendar.
6th-8th May – Hockenheim (DE), 20th-22nd May – Spielberg (AT),
3rd-5th June – Lausitzring (DE), 24th-26th June – Norisring (DE),
15th-17th July – Zandvoort (NL), 19th-21st August – Moscow
(RU), 9th-11th September – Nürburgring (DE), 23rd-25th
September – Budapest (HU), 14th-16th October – Hockenheim (DE).
More information.
You can find the latest BMW Motorsport media information, the DTM
Press Kit, and copyright-free images for editorial purposes online at
www.press.bmwgroup.com/deutschland.
BMW Motorsport on the web.
Website: www.bmw-motorsport.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bmwmotorsport
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bmwmotorsport
YouTube: www.youtube.com/bmwmotorsport
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bmwmotorsport
Google+: www.plus.google.com/+bmwmotorsport
About the DTM.
The German Touring Car Masters – DTM for short – is the most popular
touring car series in the world. The series pits the three premium
automobile manufacturers BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz against each
other in a sporting contest. BMW fielded its first works teams from
1984 to 1992, during which time it claimed 49 race victories and won
the Drivers’ Championship on three occasions (1984, 1987 and 1989).
The manufacturer returned to the DTM in 2012, since when it has won
seven of a possible twelve titles. 18 races, spread over nine
weekends, are scheduled for 2016. ARD broadcasts all the races live.
Tickets for all the DTM races are available here: https://tickets.bmw-motorsport.com/index.html