BMW Motorsport News

Whether in the DTM, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, or countless other
championships: Week after week BMW teams and drivers around the
world do battle for points, victories and titles. Away from the
track too, members of the large BMW Motorsport family around the
world are also creating headlines. The “BMW Motorsport News” allows
us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and
informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed

.

 

Three questions for… Alessandro Zanardi.

On Friday and Saturday, BMW works driver and brand ambassador
Alessandro Zanardi (ITA) visited the BMW teams in Budapest in
preparation for his guest start in the DTM races at Misano (ITA). He
was given an insight into the drivers’ workflows, attended technical
meetings, signed countless autographs and gave more than his fair
share of interviews.  The 51-year-old discussed his latest project
with BMW M Motorsport and his preparations for the two DTM races in
his native Italy.

 

Alex, has your trip to Budapest put you in the mood for your
guest appearance in the DTM?

Alessandro Zanardi: “Yes, it was really great fun – and I gained a
lot of experience. It was also great to see people’s reactions. I saw
a lot of smiling faces and I am really looking forward to the races in
August. However, it also showed me again just how incredibly high the
standard of competition is in the DTM. I have the greatest respect for
that. Despite that, I will obviously try to make the most of my start.”

 

How did you react the first time BMW Motorsport Director Jens
Marquardt discussed the guest appearance with you?

Zanardi: “Honestly? I thought it was a joke. But Jens was being
deadly serious. Then we go straight down to discussing details. I was
delighted to receive the invitation. It is a fantastic opportunity.
Asking me whether I would like to drive at Misano is like asking a cat
whether it likes mice. It is going to be a unique experience.”

 

The races at Misano are an important step on the way to
another major goal…

Zanardi: “Yes, the plan is to race at the 24 Hours of Daytona in
2019. That has always been one of my dreams. With that goal in mind,
the races at Misano will play a special role. We will make a lot of
findings there that will help us in Daytona, particularly from a
technical point of view. Plus, it is a while since I went racing. For
that reason too, Misano will certainly be an important milestone on
the road to Daytona.”

 

 

Australian GT Championship: BMW Team SRM on the podium at
Phillip Island – Victory for the BMW M4 GT4.

An impressive display from BMW Team SRM in the Australian GT
Championship: Steve Richards (NZL) and Michael Almond (AUS) finished
second overall in the #100 BMW M6 GT3 in the endurance race at the
“Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit”. The GT3 class featured 15 cars in
total. In the GT4 category, the BMW drivers made it one step higher on
the podium when RHC Jorgensen/Strom by MARC team’s Daren Jorgensen and
Brett Strom (both USA) took the chequered flag after 73 laps of racing.

 

Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup: Eleventh place for ROWE
Racing at Le Castellet.

The Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup was at Le Castellet (FRA) this
weekend. Three BMW M6 GT3s raced in the 1000-kilometre race at the
“Circuit Paul Ricard”. After 172 laps of racing, Jens Klingmann (GER),
Chaz Mostert (AUS) and Tom Blomqvist (GBR) finished eleventh in the
#99 ROWE Racing car. A 30-second time penalty shortly before the end
of the race cost them a top ten finish. The team’s #98 car failed to
finish following a crash. In the AM Cup, Ralf Oeverhaus (GER), Anders
Buchardt (NOR) and Immanuel Vinke (GER) finished fourth in the #36 BMW
M6 GT3.

 

IMSA: Seventh place for Turner Motorsport in Detroit.

Detroit (USA) hosted the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship on
Saturday. Only cars in the Prototype and GTD class were in action on
the street circuit in the American metropolis. BMW of North America
Ambassador Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley (both USA) alternated at the
wheel of the #96 BMW M6 GT3 for Turner Motorsport. The duo finished
seventh after 64 laps.

 

International GT Open: Joel Eriksson in action for Šenkýř Motorsport.

Another BMW M6 GT3 will take its place in the starting field at round
three of the International GT Open at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) on
9th/10th June: Šenkýř Motorsport is returning to
the series with a strong pair of drivers. BMW works driver Joel
Eriksson (SWE), in action in the DTM this weekend, will share the
cockpit of the BMW M6 GT3 with Slovakia’s Richard Gonda. Gonda made
his Šenkýř Motorsport debut in the International GT Open at the 2017
season finale in Barcelona (ESP). “We want to be competing at the
front of the field,” said team principal Robert Šenkýř. “It is going
to be an exciting weekend at the best GP circuit in the world.”