Munich. BMW Motorsport celebrated the end of the racing year
with a varied and entertaining programme at its annual Season Review
on Friday. Some of the year’s key protagonists assembled at the new
home of BMW Group Classic on Moosacher Straße in Munich (DE), where
they spent an enjoyable evening among the BMW Motorsport family.
During the evening, the drivers and teams who made history and
produced fascinating stories in 2016 were honoured.
Among the prize winners was Marco Wittmann (DE), who was responsible
for one of the many sporting highlights of the 2016 season from a BMW
Motorsport point of view, winning his second title in the DTM. After
receiving the “Victory of the Year” award from BMW Brand Ambassador
and works driver Alessandro Zanardi (IT), it was Wittmann’s turn to
present awards to the year’s most successful BMW privateers. First
place in the BMW Sports Trophy went to VLN champion Michael Schrey
(DE), while Pixum Team Adrenalin Motorsport won the Team competition
for the third time in a row.
Zanardi, who was presented with the “Achievement of the Year” award
by BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, was given a standing
ovation once again. He had not only added to his medal collection on
the handbike in Rio de Janeiro (BR), but also claimed victory on his
debut with the BMW M6 GT3 on his guest appearance in the Italian GT
Championship. Marquardt also thanked all the teams and drivers whose
successes ensured that the new BMW M6 GT3 enjoyed such an impressive
debut season. These included ROWE Racing, who won the 24 Hours of
Spa-Francorchamps (BE) with the BMW M6 GT3 and drivers Maxime Martin
(BE), Alexander Sims (GB) and Philipp Eng (AT). The inaugural
“Supplier of the Year” award went to the company Leimeister Modell-
Prototypenbau.
The evening was officially opened by Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the
Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. Marquardt then gave a
positive review of what was an eventful and thrilling 2016 motorsport
season. “We have every cause to celebrate again. An emotional year of
racing with countless highlights lies behind us. Marco Wittmann’s
triumph in the DTM and victory for ROWE Racing with the
newly-developed BMW M6 GT3 at Spa-Francorchamps are obviously worthy
of particular mention. In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,
the new BMW M6 GTLM challenged for podium finishes from the outset.
The BMW Sports Trophy also produced many victories for our privateer
teams and drivers again in 2016.”
The event concluded with Marquardt giving a detailed look at what to
expect in the 2017 season and revealing changes within the framework
of the strategic alignment of BMW Motorsport, which will be even more
diverse in the future.
An overview of the winners of the 2016 BMW Motorsport awards.
BMW Sports Trophy Driver of the Year:
Michael Schrey (DE)
BMW Sports Trophy Team of the Year:
Pixum Team Adrenalin Motorsport
BMW Motorsport Achievement of the Year:
Alessandro Zanardi (IT)
BMW Motorsport Victory of the Year:
Marco Wittmann (DE)
BMW M235i Racing Cup Team of the Year:
Bonk Motorsport
BMW M235i Racing Cup Drivers of the Year:
Alexander Mies, Michael Schrey (both DE)
BMW Motorsport Supplier of the Year:
Leimeister Modell- Prototypenbau