Munich (DE), 11th July 2016. The DTM travels to the Netherlands for
the fifth race weekend of the 2016 season: BMW Motorsport will be in
action at the iconic “Circuit Park Zandvoort” (NL) from 15th to 17th
July. The BMW teams return to the circuit near Amsterdam (NL) with
fond memories. Last year, the BMW drivers completed a top-seven
lock-out in Saturday’s race on the North Sea coast. In Sunday’s second
race, five BMW M4 DTMs led the rest of the field home.
The 2015 winners were Marco Wittmann (DE) and António Félix da Costa
(PT), who claimed his very first DTM win in Zandvoort. Augusto Farfus
(BR) had previously won in the Netherlands in 2013, at the wheel of
the BMW M3 DTM. Wittmann arrives in Zandvoort as the leader in the
Drivers’ Championship. The BMW Team RMG driver finished fourth and
sixth at his home round a fortnight ago at the Norisring (DE) to move
to the top of the overall standings. BMW also tops the Manufacturers’
Championship with 310 points after eight of the season’s 18 races.
The “Circuit Park” is an old-school track. With its crests and bumps,
each lap is like a rollercoaster ride. The sand that is blown across
the track by the coastal wind is a unique feature. The “Tarzanbocht”,
the first turn at the end of the start/finish straight, represents one
of the best overtaking opportunities.
The DTM races in Zandvoort start at 18:08 on Saturday and 13:43 on Sunday.
Quotes ahead of the fifth race weekend of 2016 in Zandvoort.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“The first half of the 2016 DTM season draws to a close in Zandvoort.
Dutch fans can definitely expect two exciting races at this iconic
circuit. Zandvoort is always a bit special. We are battling for points
and race wins where others go to enjoy their holidays. The atmosphere
on the North Sea coast is unique. Therefore, we are very much looking
forward to returning to the Netherlands.”
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“The first race in Zandvoort in 2015, after which both Marco Wittmann
and Maxime Martin were on the podium for us, was very special. It is
not every day you get that kind of dream result as a team in the DTM.
We obviously all start from scratch again this year. Despite this,
however, we will obviously do our very best to allow Marco and Timo
Glock to add to their points tally. We are only approaching the
halfway point of the season, so we still have a lot ahead of us.
Everything will have to come together this weekend, in order for us to
stay on the ball. The circuit in Zandvoort certainly provides a great backdrop.”
Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK):
“Zandvoort is a special place for us, for several reasons. Last year
we performed very well there. At the same time, it is fantastic for me
personally to appear with my team in my native Netherlands. We go into
the weekend well-prepared and hungry to do better than we have done
recently, particularly in qualifying.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“Following the Norisring races, we bring a lot of momentum to
Zandvoort. Maxime Martin has shown an unbelievably consistent
performance this year, Tom Blomqvist is also in a really strong shape.
It was great seeing both of them on the podium in Nuremberg side by
side. Now the cards will be reshuffled in Zandvoort, but we are positive.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“Zandvoort has virtually everything you could wish for from a
circuit: a special layout, a unique setting nestled in the dunes,
passionate fans, and always exciting racing. We have fantastic
memories of this track. We claimed pole position and a win here with
António Félix da Costa in 2015. Martin Tomczyk has also been very
successful in Zandvoort in the past. Our drivers are definitely well
prepared, as is the entire team. I hope our hard work will be rewarded
with point finishes.”
Marco Wittmann (car number 11, BMW Team RMG):
“Zandvoort has always suited me so far. Therefore, I hope we can put
on another good show and be successful this time too. It is fantastic
to compete as the championship leader again. It is now important for
us to push hard and again score points in Zandvoort.”
Timo Glock (car number 16, BMW Team RMG):
“I am looking forward to Zandvoort, because the track suits our car
and we will hopefully be looking at another good result. I hope we
have a profitable weekend and finish well in the points in both races.
We will certainly be doing our best to get the absolute maximum out of
the weekend. I like the circuit, because it has a good rhythm.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team MTEK):
“Last year went very well for us in Zandvoort, but you always have to
keep your feet on the ground. It is a new season. We will have to work
hard from the first free practice. Zandvoort is a great circuit with a
lot of blind corners, uphill and downhill stretches, and a lot of
quick sections – which I really like.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 18, BMW Team MTEK):
“We have a magnificent past in Zandvoort. I have made it onto the
podium there and have started from pole position. It is the coolest
track of the year, with very fast corners. I always love being there.”
Tom Blomqvist (car number 31, BMW Team RBM):
“I am really looking forward to Zandvoort. We obviously had a clear
weight advantage in 2015. Because of this, I expect it to be a far
closer affair here. However, my team and I have always been among the
front-runners this year, and the whole team is working very well. For
this reason, we can head to Zandvoort in a confident mood.”
Maxime Martin (car number 36, BMW Team RBM):
“Zandvoort is a good circuit for BMW. We showed that last season, but
also in the previous years. We will try to score as many points as
possible. I made it onto the podium once there in 2015, so my goal is
to be strong there once again this year.”
António Félix da Costa (car number 13, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“Zandvoort is a genuine highlight. I won there last year and am now
putting a bit of pressure on myself to score another strong result.
However, it is a nice pressure. I hope that my team-mates and I can be
very strong again, and that we can go on the attack again.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 100, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“The circuit in Zandvoort obviously suits us, which is why we head
there with the goal of playing a major role again. Let’s see what
happens this year. Mercedes and Audi will certainly be strong, too.”
Statistics: Zandvoort.
Length:
4.307 km
2015 winners:
Marco Wittmann, BMW (race 1)
António Félix da Costa, BMW (race 2)
2015 poles:
1:31.266 minutes, Augusto Farfus, BMW (race 1)
1:30.483 minutes, António Félix da Costa, BMW (race 2)
Best-placed BMW 2015:
Marco Wittmann, 1st place (race 1)
António Félix da Costa, 1st place (race 2)
DTM debut:
2001
BMW wins:
3
BMW pole positions:
3
BMW fastest laps:
4
BMW podiums:
9
Statistics: BMW DTM drivers.
BMW Motorsport media schedule.
2016 DTM calendar.
6th-8th May – Hockenheim (DE), 20th-22nd May – Spielberg (AT),
3rd-5th June – Lausitzring (DE), 24th-26th June – Norisring (DE),
15th-17th July – Zandvoort (NL), 19th-21st August –
Moscow (RU), 9th-11th September – Nürburgring (DE), 23rd-25th
September – Budapest (HU), 14th-16th October – Hockenheim (DE).
More information.
You can find the latest BMW Motorsport media information, the DTM
Press Kit, and copyright-free images for editorial purposes online at
www.press.bmwgroup.com/global.
BMW Motorsport on the web.
Website: www.bmw-motorsport.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/bmwmotorsport
Instagram: www.instagram.com/bmwmotorsport
YouTube: www.youtube.com/bmwmotorsport
Twitter: www.twitter.com/bmwmotorsport
Google+: www.plus.google.com/+bmwmotorsport
About the DTM.
The German Touring Car Masters – DTM for short – is the most popular
touring car series in the world. The series pits the three premium
automobile manufacturers BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz against each
other in a sporting contest. BMW fielded its first works teams from
1984 to 1992, during which time it claimed 49 race victories and won
the Drivers’ Championship on three occasions (1984, 1987 and 1989).
The manufacturer returned to the DTM in 2012, since when it has won
seven of a possible twelve titles. 18 races, spread over nine
weekends, are scheduled for 2016. ARD broadcasts all the races live.
Tickets for all the DTM races are available here: https://tickets.bmw-motorsport.com/index.html