Whether in the DTM, 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, 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. That way, you are always up
to speed.
DTM: Fans to get an exclusive insight into the “sacred halls”.
The BMW fans in the DTM can look forward to a spectacular innovation
for the 2017 season: At the season opener in Hockenheim (GER) on the
first weekend in May, holders of a paddock ticket are able to gain
exclusive insight into how the teams work during the pit stop. The
fans will have access to a pit from where they can watch the teams
work in the two neighbouring garages at close quarters. A total of
three pits will be open to DTM spectators during the pit stops in
future – one per manufacturer. The DTM is setting standards once again
in terms of bringing fans close to the action. On top of this, an
attractive programme on the show stage in the fan village will provide
even more entertainment. Spectators can also watch all the teams
practise pit stops live during a special pit walk on Saturday and
Sunday morning. A further pit walk on Saturday evening offers an
additional stroll through the pit lane. The doors will be open for an hour.
VLN: Successful race debut for Félix da Costa.
António Félix da Costa (POR) completed his first race outing in the
BMW M6 GT3 on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER) with success. In the
second race of the VLN Endurance Championship, the BMW works driver
got the sixth-fastest time in qualifying, thereby giving his team-mate
Timo Scheider (GER) a place on the third row of the grid for the
4-hour race. And at one point, the duo in action for BMW Team
Schnitzer were even on course to finish on the podium. After a
thrilling race, they ended up finishing in tenth place, trailing the
victorious Porsche by 2:41 minutes. This made Félix da Costa and
Scheider the best-placed BMW team. “Driving on this track in this car
is one of the best experiences of my racing career – comparable only
with my first test in a Formula 1 car,” said Félix da Costa. “I’m
learning an incredible amount in such a short space of time at the
moment. But that is normal at this stage. For me, it’s about being at
the top of my game for the 24-hour race.” A total of nine BMW M6 GT3
cars were on duty. In addition to BMW Team Schnitzer, Schubert
Motorsport, ROWE Racing, Walkenhorst Motorsport and Falken Motorsports
were also in action in the GT3 class.
BMW M235i Racing Cup: Second win of the season for the “Eifelblitz”.
Rudi Adams (GER) and Thomas Jäger (AUT) celebrated the second win of
the season in race two in the BMW M235i Racing at the
Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER). The duo in the “Eifelblitz” of Team
Scheid-Honert Motorsport prevailed over Heiko Eichenberg (GER) of Team
Securtal Sorg Rennsport after a close race. Third place went to Glib
Kutepov (UKR) and Tobias Müller (GER) of Team MKR-Engineering. A total
of 18 BMW M235i Racing were on the grid.
Blancpain GT Series Asia: First success in first race.
The two races in Malaysia opened the inaugural season of the
Blancpain GT Series Asia this weekend. In the opening race on
Saturday, the BMW M6 GT3 immediately celebrated its first success.
After 26 laps of the “Sepang International Circuit” (MAS), Jesse Krohn
(FIN) and Ollie Millroy (GBR) finished third for FIST – Team AAI. The
were forced to retire early in race 2. The inaugural season of the
Blancpain GT Series Asia comprises a total of twelve races, spread
over six events. The next two races will be held at the “Chang
International Circuit” in Thailand on 20nd/21st
May. Then the series will be hosted by Japan twice and by China.
ADAC GT Masters: Eng and Collard starting in the BMW M6 GT3.
BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard (GBR) will complete a full season
in the ADAC GT Masters. Collard is competing in the BMW M6 GT3
together with Philipp Eng (AUT), the winner of the 24 Hours of
Spa-Francorchanmps (BEL) in 2016. The car will be sporting the colours
of the BMW Team Schnitzer. Collard celebrated his debut in the BMW M6
GT3 in March, competing at the Bathurst 12 Hour (AUS) with Nico Menzel
and Jörg Müller (both GER), the mentor for the BMW Juniors in GT
racing. “It is great to compete in a full season in the ADAC GT
Masters,” says Collard. “I was able to get some initial impressions of
the BMW M6 GT3 in Bathurst. The car is fantastic. I am particularly
looking forward to being with the BMW Team Schnitzer. It is legendary
in motorsport. It is an honour for me to be able to compete with
Phillip Eng for Charly Lamm’s team.” The 2017 ADAC GT Masters season
gets underway with the first two races in Oschersleben (GER) on
29th/30th April. Collard, Eng and the BMW Team
Schnitzer will be battling for points on a total of seven race
weekends, before the season concludes with the finale in Hockenheim on
29th September. “The ADAC GT Masters provides fantastic
motor racing at an extremely high level,” says Eng. “I am really
looking forward to making my comeback there in the BMW M6 GT3. In
Ricky, I will have an extremely fast youngster alongside me. I am sure
we will be able to cause a stir. For us to both be starting for
Schnitzer really is the icing on the cake. This team is legendary.”
Japanese Super GT Championship: Fifth place for Autobacs
Racing Team Aguri at season-opener in Okayama.
The first race weekend of the 2017 Japanese Super GT Championship at
the Okayama International Circuit (JPN) saw the Autobacs Racing Team
Aguri just miss out on a podium finish in the GT300 class. After 77
laps Shinichi Takagi (JPN) and Sean Walkinshaw (GBR) came home fifth.
The second BMW M6 GT3, run by BMW Team Studie and driven by Jörg
Müller (GER) and Seiji Ara (JPN), finished 13th. Round two
of the Japanese Super GT Championship is in Fuji (JP) on 3rd
and 4th May.