PressClub Belux · Article.
Belgen Ugo de Wilde en Charles Weerts aan het stuur van de BMW M2 Racing op de Nürburgring
19.05.2025 Persbericht
Tijdens de 24 uur van de Nürburgring op 21 en 22 juni 2025 zal de BMW M2 Racing zijn laatste grote uithoudingstest voor de lancering afronden. De Belgische coureurs Ugo de Wilde en Charles Weerts, samen met de Duitse coureur Jens Klingmann - die vanaf het begin betrokken is geweest bij het testen en ontwikkelen van de auto - zullen als trio BMW M piloten achter het stuur plaatsnemen van het nieuwe instapmodel van BMW M Motorsport.
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BMW Group
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Author.
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
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Munich. At the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (GER) on 21st/22nd June 2025, the BMW M2 Racing will complete its final major endurance test before the sales launch, with a high-profile driver lineup. Belgian drivers Ugo de Wilde and Charles Weerts, along with German driver Jens Klingmann – who has been involved in the testing and development of the vehicle from the very beginning – will take the wheel as a trio of BMW M works drivers in the cockpit of the new entry-level model from BMW M Motorsport. They will be joined by experienced Nürburgring racer and motorsport journalist Michael Bräutigam (GER). The car will be fielded by FK Performance Motorsport.
Media guide with all information on the BMW M2 Racing: https://b.mw/M2_Racing_Media_Guide.
The BMW M2 Racing has already completed more than 30,000 test kilometres and will be available to BMW M Motorsport customer teams as the ideal entry-level race car from the 2026 season. In this final major test, the car will compete in the SP3T class and be put through its paces by the drivers and team under the extreme conditions of an endurance race. Klingmann has been actively involved in every stage of the BMW M2 Racing’s development and has played a key role in preparing the car for launch. De Wilde recently earned his Nordschleife permit and will make his 24-hour race debut. Weerts finished third overall in 2024 and now trades his GT3 seat for valuable test duties with BMW M Motorsport. Bräutigam has driven many race cars and will bring a journalistic perspective to the BMW M2 Racing thanks to his extensive experience. FK Performance Motorsport oversaw the car’s debut at the first test race in the 2024 Nürburgring Endurance Series and will manage it again during the Qualifiers and the 24h race in 2025. At the Qualifiers this coming weekend, Weerts, de Wilde, and Bräutigam will take turns at the wheel, with Klingmann joining for the 24-hour race.
Quotes.
Björn Lellmann (Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport):
“With the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, the intensive test
and development phase of our new entry-level car, the BMW M2 Racing,
comes to an end. For one final time, our works drivers will collect
data and impressions to help us deliver a car to our customers that is
as well-prepared as possible. The Eifel endurance race is the ultimate
test of strength. I’m delighted that we can also give the media the
exclusive opportunity to experience the car’s performance firsthand.”
Ugo de Wilde: “I can’t wait to be there. I did my permit on the Nordschleife this year and I really love the track. It is an amazing circuit and the atmosphere around there was already fantastic in NLS so I can’t wait to discover the 24–hour race and to compete there with the brand new BMW M2 Racing. It’s really excting; I’ve heard really good comments from Charles and the other drivers who opportunity to test it already.”
Jens Klingmann: “The 24 Hours of Nürburgring marks the final major dress rehearsal for our BMW M2 Racing. We’ve completed a long and intensive testing and development phase and have covered a lot of kilometres. Now we’re especially looking forward to putting the car through its paces once more in race conditions, to ensure we can hand over a perfectly developed BMW M2 Racing to our customers. I believe we are very well prepared. We’ve simulated every scenario for all areas of use – whether on the Nordschleife, in other championships, or for track days. Of course, things are always a bit different in real race conditions. For example, you see how driver changes go, or whether everything is finalised on the software side. So this is truly the final big test before production begins.”
Charles Weerts: “I can’t wait to be at the Nordschleife for a legendary race, the 24 hours. I’ve got lucky enough to be driving their last year with the BMW M4 GT3, with Max Hesse and Dan Harper, and we finished third on our first attempt together which is definitely a nice memory. This year we come back with a different approach and different goals. I will be sharing duties with Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde and Michael Bräutigam in the new BMW M2 Racing where we will do our best for BMW M Motorsport to optimally develop this car for the customer in 2026. I am very much looking forward to see how this car will handle in the ‘Green Hell’ and can’t wait to be there again.”