BMW teams eager to end the 2019 DTM season with a highlight at the Hockenheim finale.

Munich. The 2019 DTM season comes to an end with races
17 and 18 at Hockenheim (GER) this weekend. For BMW M
Motorsport and the BMW DTM teams, the objective for the season
finale is to head into the winter break on a high. At the season
opener in May, BMW M Motorsport started the new turbo era with
success at the same track: On Saturday, Marco Wittmann (GER) took
the first pole position and the first win for the then new BMW M4
DTM with turbo drive; on Sunday, Philipp Eng (AUT) drove to pole
position, while Wittmann completed the front row of the grid.

 

Wittmann is in third place overall heading into the finale, and is
still in contention for second place in the driver’s standings. A top
three finish is also still within reach for Eng, who is currently in
fifth place.

 

One of the highlights of the final weekend is the Japanese SUPER GT
joining the action. Before the two series hold their first joint
‘dream race’ at Fuji (JPN) in November, three cars from the SUPER GT
will compete as guest starters at Hockenheim. Former Formula 1 world
champion Jenson Button (GBR) is just one of the drivers who will make
an appearance.

 

BMW M GmbH is using the finale of the DTM season at Hockenheim as a
stage for the world premiere of the new BMW X5 M (CO2
emissions (combined): 296 – 291 g/km, Fuel consumption (combined):
13.0 – 12.8 l/100km) and BMW X6 M (CO2 emissions
(combined): 289 – 284 g/km, Fuel consumption (combined): 12.7 – 12.5
l/100km)*. The cars will be unveiled on Saturday.

 

Quotes ahead of the DTM finale at Hockenheim.

 

Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director):

“We’re looking forward to the grand finale of the 2019 DTM season at
the Hockenheimring. The fans were treated to a fantastic opening round
in May. The final race weekend of the year is set to be another
highlight. We are very excited about the guest appearance of our
colleagues from the SUPER GT in Japan. This is a great taste of things
to come at the Fuji ‘Dream Race’ in November, which will undoubtedly
form a genuine highlight at the end of the motorsport year. When we
were at Hockenheim for the season-opener back in May, Marco Wittmann
claimed the first win of the new turbo era. Although the season has
not always been easy for us, we are all determined to end the season
with an equally successful weekend at the same venue. Our teams and
drivers are ready to give it their all one more time.”

 

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG):

“It seems that time is flying. It feels like just yesterday that we
kicked the 2019 DTM season off with the pole position and win at
Hockenheim. Our objective is to end the season with similar success.
We have a mixed record. We have brought home a total of five wins with
Marco Wittmann and Bruno Spengler, and Marco is still in with a chance
of finishing second in the overall standings. But there have also been
setbacks, and Timo Glock in particular has been very unlucky. But our
team refused to give up and kept on fighting. And the same will be
true at the final round, since we want to really go for it again with
success in the last two races.”

 

Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Drivers’
standings: 9th, 100 points):

“Hockenheim is a great track. A lot always happens during the races
there, and it is really good for overtaking. The Hockenheim finale is
definitely always a highlight of the season. Huge numbers of fans
always come to the track, which is another reason why I am really
looking forward to it. The atmosphere is very special. We will analyse
all the data in great detail and see where we can optimise our BMW M4
DTM to be competitive at Hockenheim. We’re going in the right
directions; we improved at the Nürburgring. The team and BMW will work
really hard as usual to give us a good car for the final. The goal is
to have two strong final races.”

 

Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG,
Drivers’ standings: 3rd, 182 points):

“We started the season with a win at Hockenheim, and I hope that we
can get a good end there to what has been a difficult season in part.
The championship has been decided, but we will try to make the finale
a great one for us personally at Hockenheim, with good results in both races.”

 

Timo Glock (#16 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Drivers’ standings:
13th, 37 points):

“I’m looking forward to the finale. Hockenheim is always a highlight,
and I have always had good races there. This season has been far from
easy for me. Now I’m just hoping that luck returns to my side at the
finale and that we can end the DTM year with results that make up for
the difficult season.”

 

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM):

“Going into the finale at Hockenheim, we look back on a season in
which all of our drivers have consistently shown strong performances.
Without a doubt, the highlight was our home event at Zolder, with the
one-two result of Philipp Eng and Joel Eriksson on the Saturday and
the pole position of our rookie Sheldon van der Linde and Philipp’s
podium finish on the Sunday. Philipp led the driver’ standings after
that, but unfortunately the second half of the season was difficult
for us. But the team always gave it their all and showed fantastic
dedication, and I’m proud of that. The goal for the finale is fight
for the front positions, like at the start of the season. We want to
get more strong results in the final two races.”

 

Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Drivers’
standings: 5th, 144 points):

“At the season opener at Hockenheim we had a really good weekend with
pole position and a fourth place in the race. I hope that we can build
on this performance again at the finale. We had a good package there,
and we will work hard to end the season on a high. The finale at
Hockenheim is always a highlight, with lots of fans and a great
atmosphere. I’m looking forward to it already.”

 

Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM,
Drivers’ standings: 12th, 42 points):

“For sure my aim is to finish my DTM rookie season on a high. We know
that Hockenheim was pretty good for us at the start of the year,
although the conditions have been very different. I think we have a
strong car at the moment and hopefully we can just bring everything
together. I have experience of the track and I am really looking
forward to it.”

 

Joel Eriksson (#47 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Drivers’
standings: 11th, 51 points):

“I think we all have the same goal for the final round. The entire
team wants to further improve in qualifying. Already at the
Nürburgring, the pace was better but there are still a few things we
need to sort out. I am always aiming to end the season on a high.
Hockenheim is a great track and the final round there is a highlight
of the season so I am looking forward to having a good time over there.”

 

Media Schedule (all times CEST).

 

Friday, 4th October

14:30-15:00, ITR press conference with Marco Wittmann,
Baden-Württemberg Center

 

Saturday, 5th October

15:30-15:40, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Baden-Württemberg Center

 

Sunday, 6th October

09:00-09:30, Media Round Table with BMW Group Motorsport Director
Jens Marquardt, BMW M Motorsport Hospitality

 

15:45-15:55, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Baden-Württemberg Center