Motegi. Four weeks after the final round of the 2017 DTM
season at Hockenheim (GER), the BMW M4 DTM was back in action in the
Far East this weekend. The three manufacturers involved in the DTM
thrilled the huge crowd of fans at the Japanese Super GT
Championship in Motegi (JPN) season finale, where they presented the
touring car series to the Japanese spectators and teams. This was a
return visit, after the DTM welcomed the Super GT manufacturers to
the DTM finale at Hockenheim.
BMW Motorsport sent the BMW Driving Experience M4 DTM to Japan. The
car was run by BMW Team RBM, with BMW DTM driver Augusto Farfus (BRA)
at the wheel. The DTM played a prominent role in the Super GT
Championship weekend schedule. On Friday, the cars headed out onto the
track for an exclusive half-hour session. They were then joined by the
Super GT cars for outings on Saturday and Sunday. Prior to Sunday’s
race, the DTM cars also took part in the parade, which traditionally
takes place immediately before the start in the Japanese championship.
“It was a fantastic weekend and we enjoyed a very warm welcome by the
Japanese organisers, teams and fans,” said Farfus. “I know Japan from
my time in the World Touring Car Championship, and have raced in the
Super GT Championship with Jörg Müller in a BMW M6 GT3 run by BMW Team
Studie. I love Japan. The fans here are simply fantastic, and rather
special. As such, I really enjoyed taking the BMW M4 DTM out onto the
Motegi track and giving the Japanese spectators and teams a closer
look at the DTM.”
The fans at the circuit also had the opportunity to check out the BMW
M4 DTM up close and personal in a tent specially erected for the DTM
in the paddock, as well as in the pit lane during pit walks on
Saturday and Sunday. The programme also included several autograph
sessions, during which Farfus – one of the crowd favourites – posed
for countless selfies. The Super GT teams also showed great interest
in the visitors from Europe, and spent much time chatting with their
DTM guests.