Impressive programme on four and two wheels: BMW out in force at the Motorsport Festival at the Lausitzring.

Munich (DE), 31st May 2016. The DTM fans are in for a real treat at the third round of the 2016 season: in combination with the ADAC GT Masters and the SUPERBIKE*IDM, the series will be part of a very special motorsport festival at the Lausitzring (DE). BMW is well-represented in all three championships.

 

The BMW teams in the DTM are looking to back up their impressive performances last time out in Spielberg (AT), where they won both races. In the ADAC GT Masters, the two BMW Motorsport Juniors Jesse Krohn (FI) and Louis Delétraz (CH) will be at the wheel of a BMW M6 GT3. In the SUPERBIKE*IDM, Mathieu Gines (FR) leads the field on his BMW S 1000 RR ahead of the races at the Lausitzring.

 

When BMW returned to the DTM after a 20-year absence in 2012, the Lausitzring was the scene of historic results: Bruno Spengler (CA) claimed BMW’s first pole position on the Saturday, before completing the first victory of the comeback season on the Sunday. This also represented BMW’s 50th victory in the DTM.

 

A good four years later, the manufacturer has taken its tally of DTM victories to 71. The latest additions to the ever-increasing list of wins came courtesy of Marco Wittmann (DE) and Timo Glock (DE) at the Red Bull Ring. A fine all-round team performance from all eight drivers, which yielded 138 points over the course of the weekend, also took BMW to the top of the Manufacturers’ Championship with 203 points. In the Team competition, BMW Team RMG (72 points) and BMW Team RBM (71) are currently first and second. The best-placed BMW driver in the Drivers’ Championship is Timo Glock (DE) in third place. He has 37 points to his name after the first four races.

 

Last weekend, Maxime Martin (BE) was the most successful of the BMW DTM drivers competing in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE): Together with Alexander Sims (GB), Philipp Eng (AT) and Dirk Werner (DE), he claimed fifth place in the ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3.

 

Two BMW DTM drivers have recently made guest appearances in the ADAC GT Masters: Spengler joined Schubert Motorsport for the final round of the 2015 season in Hockenheim (DE), where he helped the team from Oschersleben (DE) score valuable points that ultimately secured the team title. Martin Tomczyk (DE) raced alongside Krohn at the start of the current season, finishing fifth and eighth to achieve the first top-ten results for the new BMW M6 GT3 in the ADAC GT Masters.

 

The DTM races at the Lausitzring start at 15:28 on Saturday and 15:13 on Sunday.

 

Quotes ahead of the third race weekend of 2016 at the Lausitzring.

 

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“The 2016 motorsport season has a fast rhythm at the moment, which is how we like it: first the DTM races in Spielberg, where we won twice, then the 24-hour race at the iconic Nürburgring Nordschleife. In total, five of our DTM drivers were in action at the endurance classic in the Eifel Mountains. Timo Glock rounded off our contingent as a TV expert. At the same time, Bruno Spengler also made a guest appearance in the Australian GT Championship. And there is no time to catch your breath: the next motorsport festival awaits us this weekend at the Lausitzring – with the DTM, ADAC GT Masters and the SUPERBIKE*IDM forming an awesome threesome. BMW and BMW Motorrad are represented in all three series. Therefore, it promises to be a very special weekend in the Lausitz region for us and the fans. After the recent success, we obviously travel to the EuroSpeedway with a lot of momentum. However, the cards will be re-shuffled compared to Spielberg. That is just how it is in the DTM.”

 

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG): 

“The race weekend in the Lausitz region will be a huge event. We will have a tight schedule, which features three racing series, and hopefully a lot of fans, who will visit the Lausitzring to check out the great programme. We are determined to do better there this time than we have in recent years. We had a good test for the Lausitzring in the winter break. Therefore, I hope we can now put what we learned there into practice. We are certainly full of confidence after the success in Spielberg.”

 

Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK):

“Previously, the races at the Lausitzring have always been a bit difficult for us. However, I believe we should have a better chance this year. I am definitely really looking forward to the unique challenges that await us on this packed weekend of racing.”

 

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):

“I hope we are spared last year’s fog this time around. However, it is very difficult to make any predictions. Everyone is so evenly matched in the DTM. The first few races of the year have shown that: 24 cars within seven tenths of a second. You just have to keep working hard all the time. However, I am confident we will seize the chance to score points again at the Lausitzring when that opportunity arises.”

 

Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“We experienced highs and lows over the course of the Spielberg weekend. The upwards trend we showed in qualifying is definitely a positive. With the DTM so evenly matched, the grid position is quite simply a very important factor. With regard to the Lausitzring, our goal is now to back up the progress we made, and to convert it into decent results.”

 

Marco Wittmann (car number 11, BMW Team RMG):

“The race weekend at the Lausitzring will certainly be a great event. Not only will the DTM be there, but also the ADAC GT Masters and the IDM. Whatever happens, it is going to be exciting – especially for the spectators. The Lausitzring has not always been the happiest stomping ground for BMW, but I did secure the Drivers’ title there in 2014. For this reason, I also have very fond memories of this circuit.”

 

Timo Glock (car number 16, BMW Team RMG):

“It will be an awesome event for the fans, that much is certain. The organisers have put together an exciting programme, which promises a lot of racing action with the DTM, ADAC GT Masters and the IDM. I obviously hope that we can perform well again. We have had the odd problem in recent years, but I have a good feeling this season.”

 

Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team MTEK):

“First and foremost, the weekend is going to be a huge festival of motorsport, as three great series will be in action. It is going to be really cool. I have some fond memories of the circuit, and have won there a few times in the past. I like the layout of the track. For this reason, I am really looking forward to the weekend, and especially to the fans and the great atmosphere.”

 

Augusto Farfus (car number 18, BMW Team MTEK):

“The Lausitzring has traditionally not been the best venue for us. However, the most important thing for the championship is to keep scoring. Right now we’re on the right path, and we need to stay on that path. I hope I can repeat my 2012 result: Putting the Shell BMW M4 DTM on the podium would be a great reward for all the team’s hard work."

 

Tom Blomqvist (car number 31, BMW Team RBM):

“The Lausitzring is the complete opposite of Spielberg. The track is very narrow, technically demanding and uneven, which means it will be a completely different challenge for us. I think we will find it a bit easier there this year than we did in 2015. However, I also assume that the opposition will make it far from easy for us.”

 

Maxime Martin (car number 36, BMW Team RBM):

“Things have not always gone entirely to plan for BMW at the Lausitzring in the past. I hope we do something about that this time. Last year, things were going relatively okay for me towards the end of the race weekend. For this reason, I am looking forward to the weekend and will try to pick up a few points, as I have done at the first four races of the year.”

 

António Félix da Costa (car number 13, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“It is really fun to drive at this circuit, even though I have not necessarily enjoyed my best results there. I am determined to change that this year. I think we have learned a lot about this track over the past two years. Therefore, our goal is to score points and finish as far up the field as possible.”

 

Martin Tomczyk (car number 100, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“With the DTM, ADAC GT Masters and the IDM, it is going to be a packed weekend at the Lausitzring, and the crowds can look forward to plenty of action. It will also make a nice change for us drivers, although it will obviously be tiring. I have had good experiences on this track, and have won there in the past. However, it will certainly not be easy.”

 

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Statistics: Lausitzring.

 

Length:                            

3.478 km

 

2015 winners:                 

Jamie Green, Audi (race 1)

Jamie Green, Audi (race 2)

 

2015 poles:

1:17.438 minutes (Miguel Molina, Audi, race 1)

1:17.386 minutes (Jamie Green, Audi, race 2)

 

Best-placed BMW 2015:

Maxime Martin, 7th place (race 1)

Maxime Martin, 8th place (race 2)

 

DTM debut:

2000

 

BMW wins:

1

 

BMW pole positions:

1

 

BMW fastest laps:

-

 

BMW podiums:

2

 

Statistics: BMW DTM drivers.

 

Driver	WIT	GLO	SPE	FAR	BLO	MAR	DAC	TOM
Nationality	DE	DE	CA	BR	GB	BE	PT	DE
Number	11	16	7	18	31	36	13	100
Age	26	34	32	32	22	30	24	34
DTM debut	2013	2013	2005	2012	2015	2014	2014	2001
Team	RMG	RMG	MTEK	MTEK	RBM	RBM	Schnitzer	Schnitzer
Races	42	42	125	52	22	32	32	163
Wins	6	3	14	4	1	2	1	7
Podiums	10	5	44	12	2	4	3	28
Poles	6	1	17	5	-	2	1	8
Fastest laps	5	2	14	1	1	1	1	8
Points	352	166	717	333	93	178	91	488

 

 

BMW Motorsport media schedule.

 

Saturday, 4th June
17:20-17:30	Interviews with the BMW DTM drivers (Mixed Zone)	Media Centre
19:45-20:00	Live Facebook interview with the best-placed BMW driver of the opening race	BMW Motorsport Facebook Page
Sunday, 5th June
09:50-10:10	Round table interview with BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt	BMW Hospitality
17:35-17:45	Interviews with the BMW DTM drivers (Mixed Zone)	Media Centre

 

 

 

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).