Augusto Farfus behind the wheel of the Shell BMW M4 DTM race taxi in the “Green Hell”.

Nürburgring (DE), 12th September 2016. Monday marked the first time
for 23 years and 133 days since a DTM car made an appearance on the
legendary Nürburgring Nordschleife (DE): after the DTM weekend in the
Eifel region, BMW works driver Augusto Farfus (BR) drove the Shell BMW
M4 DTM race taxi through the “Green Hell”. This unique fan promotion
from Shell, Premium Technology Partner for BMW, was made possible by
special conversion work on the car. The Shell BMW M4 DTM race taxi was
adjusted for the specific track conditions on the Nordschleife.

 

The lucky winner of the Shell prize draw occupied the passenger seat
next to Farfus, to experience iconic track sections such as
“Brünnchen”, “Hohe Acht” or “Fuchsröhre” from the cockpit perspective.
The commentator for this event was Matthias Malmedie (DE), best known
from “Grip – Das Motormagazin” on the TV station RTL II.

 

The Nordschleife is far from being unknown territory for Farfus. The
Brazilian has already started numerous 24-hour races in the Eifel
region. In 2010, he won the classic endurance race: together with Jörg
Müller (DE), Pedro Lamy (PT) and Uwe Alzen (DE), he drove the BMW M3
GT2 to victory. “The event was great fun,” said Farfus after
completing his laps. “Everyone knows that I love the Nordschleife. Our
win at the 24-hour race in 2010 is one of the absolute highlights of
my career. It was great to be able to go out onto the circuit with the
Shell BMW M4 DTM race taxi – and I think my passenger enjoyed it too.
Thanks to Shell and BMW Motorsport for this unique event.”

 

The Nordschleife is the longest permanent race track in the world.
Ten DTM races took place there between 1988 and 1993. No DTM car has
competed in the “Green Hell” since 2nd May 1993. BMW has claimed 12
DTM wins at the Nürburgring so far, more than at any other circuit.
However, they only recorded one win on the Nordschleife. Jacques
Laffite (FR) remains the only driver in DTM history to have won a race
on the Nordschleife for BMW. On 16th June 1990, he crossed the line in
first place after four laps on the then 25.3-kilometre circuit, in the
BMW M3. At that time, the DTM race took place together with the
24-hour race.