Three questions for… BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
The heart of international GT racing was beating at Sebring (USA)
this weekend. The FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA
WeatherTech SportsCar Championship paid a visit to the historic
circuit in Florida. In action were four BMW M8 GTEs and cars from the
BMW Motorsport customer racing product range. The highlight was second
place for BMW Team MTEK on Friday. In this interview, BMW Motorsport
Director Jens Marquardt talks about the ‘BMW M Motorsport Super Weekend’.
Mr. Marquardt, what conclusions did you draw from the full
race schedule at Sebring?
Jens Marquardt: “We experienced a real ‘BMW M Motorsport Super
Weekend’ at Sebring. The atmosphere throughout the entire weekend was
excellent – and we were able to record some good results to thank the
many BMW fans at the circuit for their great support. Second place in
the WEC and only just missing out on the podium in the IMSA Series
show that we are very competitive with the BMW M8 GTE, as did our
triumph at Daytona. We also secured a podium finish for the BMW M4 GT4
in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. In sporting terms, I am more
than happy with this weekend.”
What made this race weekend so special?
Marquardt: “It was clear to see the significance that motorsport has
for BMW in North America. The brand put on a great performance at
Sebring – with full event activation from BMW North America and
extensive support from Munich. Thanks to the ‘BMW Owners’ Lounge’, we
had an even more noticeable presence in the paddock this year and we
had ‘full house’ over the whole weekend in our hospitality area. The
level of interest in this double-header was enormous. It was fantastic
to be able to present the two GT racing programmes side-by-side, in
such a compact format. It was definitely a successful premiere for the
‘Super Sebring’ weekend.”
Are you pleased with the start to the 2019 season?
Marquardt: “Definitely. Recording wins at the FIA GT World Cup in
Macau and at our very first Formula E race in Ad Diriyah at the end of
2018 had already given us extra motivation. We were able to carry this
momentum into the new year and celebrate an emotional IMSA victory at
Daytona. The podium finish in the WEC race shows that we can compete
for wins in both series with the BMW M8 GTE. The same is true for
Formula E and we will be competing in the Sanya E-Prix this coming
weekend. The DTM season and the endurance highlights at Le Mans and on
the Nordschleife are also drawing closer. We are certainly
well-positioned to face the tasks ahead.”
—
China GT Championship: Victory for the BMW M6 GT3 at Sepang.
FIST-Team AAI has started the 2019 China GT Championship season with
an impressive win at Sepang (MAS). New BMW works driver Nick Yelloly
(GBR) and his team-mate Junsan Chen (CHN) began the opening race on
Saturday from pole position with their BMW M6 GT3. Starting driver
Chen was in second place when he handed over to Yelloly and a
breathtaking battle for the win then took shape. Lap after lap,
Yelloly was locked into a thrilling wheel-to-wheel struggle with local
hero Jazeman Jafaar (MAS). Yelloly prevailed in the end, claiming his
debut win in his first race as a BMW works driver. “I have already
come up against Jazeman in races in Europe and I knew that it would be
tough, but fair,” said Yelloly. “It is great that we were able to
secure pole position and then victory for FIST-Team AAI, and Junsan
did a great job.” In Sunday’s race, Yelloly and Chen celebrated on the
podium again after crossing the line in third position. The duo leaves
Sepang leading the championship standings after the season-opener.
IMPC: Podium for the BMW M4 GT4 at Sebring.
Friday’s two-hour IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge race, the opening act
of the Super Sebring weekend, saw the three BMW M4 GT4 race cars
entered record second, seventh and tenth place finishes in the Grand
Sport class. James Clay and Devin Jones (both USA) took the runner-up
finish in the #82 BimmerWorld Racing car to score the first podium and
best result for BMW this season. Greg Liefooghe and Henry Schmitt
(both USA) finished seventh in the #88 Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M4
GT4, while Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley (both USA), the best BMW
qualifier in the field (fourth), finished tenth in the #96 Turner
Motorsport car.
BMW Motorsport Junior Programme: Erik Johansson in action on
the Nordschleife.
Another race series has been added to new BMW Motorsport Junior Erik
Johansson’s (SWE) training programme. The 22-year-old driver will be
in action on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, driving a BMW M4 GT4 for
the Sorg Rennsport team in the VLN Endurance Endurance Championship
Nürburgring. To prepare for the season, Johansson and the team
completed testing and set-up sessions for VLN this Saturday. As part
of his first year of training, Johansson will also compete in the
entire Italian GT Championship season, driving a BMW M6 GT3 for BMW
Team Italia. The first test will take place at Monza (ITA) on
Monday. “It is great for me to be driving both in GT races in Italy,
and with the BMW M4 GT4 for Sorg Rennsport in VLN,” said
Johansson. “It’s going to be an exciting season for me, with plenty of
races. Last year, the BMW M4 GT4 already showed how fast it can go on
the Nordschleife. I am looking forward to building on these successes
and trying to claim another title for BMW M Motorsport.” A former
customer racing driver, Johansson made the step up to the BMW
Motorsport Junior programme after an intensive selection procedure.
Nürburgring Nordschleife: BMW works drivers at the VLN season-opener.
When the 2019 VLN Endurance Championship Nürburgring season starts
next weekend (23rd March), the new BMW Motorsport Junior
Erik Johansson (SWE) will be joined on the Nordschleife (GER) by
several BMW works drivers. Tom Blomqvist (GBR), Connor De Phillippi
(USA), Mikkel Jensen (DEN), Marco Wittmann (GER), Nick Catsburg (NED)
and John Edwards (USA) will all be among the competitors for the first
VLN race of the year. They will be sharing driving duties in the two
ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3s. Jens Klingmann (GER) will also be in VLN
action on the Nordschleife, in the cockpit of the Falken Motorsport
BMW M6 GT3.
Media lunch: Marco Wittmann gets into the mood for the
Nürburgring season at PR event.
In just a few days, the lights will go green at the Nürburgring and
the first race of the VLN Endurance Championship will be
underway: Last Wednesday, a media lunch gave press representatives and
management the chance to get into the mood for the new season. Taking
part was BMW works driver Marco Wittmann (GER), who will be in action
at the legendary 24-hour race in 2019, as well as appearing in
selected VLN races and competing in the Eifel region on the eighth DTM
race weekend. “The winter break went on for long enough and I can’t
wait for the season to start,” said Wittmann. “An event like today’s
media lunch helps to increase the sense of anticipation as we look
forward to the new season. I am competing in the DTM with BMW Team
RMG, which has its headquarters near here and that makes the Eifel
area something like a second home for me, so of course I am looking
forward to driving in so many races here this year.” After the
discussions, Wittmann was able to take part in some special activities
with a BMW M2. More of this will be revealed in due course. Wittmann
will be returning to the Eifel region in a few days. The VLN season
starts on Saturday 23rd March with the 65th ADAC
Westfalenfahrt. Wittmann will be competing there for the ROWE Racing
team with Nick Catsburg (NED) and John Edwards (USA) in the BMW M6 GT3.