Munich. The BMW M6 GT3 will be appearing in the upcoming
Intercontinental GT Challenge season as part of the BMW Motorsport
programme. BMW Team Schnitzer and Walkenhorst Motorsport will each
compete with one car in the opening race of the global race series
in Bathurst (AUS) on 3rd February 2019. Three BMW drivers
will be sharing each cockpit.
Both BMW teams have plenty of momentum as they
approach the legendary “Mount Panorama” in south-eastern Australia.
BMW Team Schnitzer claimed victory at the FIA GT World Cup in
mid-November – and intends to build on this strong performance at
Bathurst. As he was in Macau (CHN), Augusto Farfus (BRA) will be at
the wheel of the #42 BMW M6 GT3 in the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
His team-mates will be Martin Tomczyk (GER) and local hero Chaz
Mostert (AUS). Last year, BMW Team Schnitzer secured pole position at
Bathurst, but the BMW M6 GT3 then had to retire early from the race.
“Bathurst is one of the best circuits in the world,” said
Farfus. “Last year, we had a good weekend there overall but were
unable to top it off with a good result. However, we still learned a
lot in 2018. So, I think we are well set for the race in February. We
have certainly set ourselves some ambitious targets.”
The greatest triumph thus far in the history of Walkenhorst
Motorsport came with victory at the Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) 24-hour
race in 2018. The team, headed by principal Henry Walkenhorst (GER),
is now taking on the new IGTC challenge. Christian Krognes (NOR) will
be one of the drivers, accompanied by the BMW works drivers Nick
Catsburg (NED) and Mikkel Jensen (DEN). Jensen made the step up from
the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme in 2018.
Catsburg added: “Bathurst has long been on my to-do list – and
now I will be competing there for the very first time. I am really
looking forward to it. I am familiar with the circuit from the
simulator and I have watched all the races from recent years.
Christian Krognes and Mikkel Jensen are great drivers and Walkenhorst
Motorsport has just had a sensational year. Now we are preparing
intensively for this great event.”
The Intercontinental GT Challenge will continue at Laguna Seca
(USA, 31st March), Spa-Francorchamps (BEL,
27th/28th July), Suzuka (JPN, 25th
August) and Kyalami (RSA, 23rd November).