BMW Motorsport News - Issue 06/2019.

Whether in the DTM, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, or countless other championships: Week after week BMW teams and drivers around the world do battle for points, victories and titles. Away from the track too, members of the large BMW Motorsport family around the world are also creating headlines. The “BMW Motorsport News” allows us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed. 

WEC/Formula E: Focus on fitness.

After the BMW DTM drivers underwent an extensive training programme in Viareggio (ITA) last week, it was the turn of the BMW drivers from the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the ABB FIA Formula E Championship to hone their fitness from Thursday to Saturday. In order to ensure they are perfectly prepared for the challenges ahead and the critical phase of the season with the BMW M8 GTE and the BMW iFE.18, Tom Blomqvist (GBR), António Félix da Costa (POR), Jesse Krohn (FIN), Alexander Sims (GBR) and Martin Tomczyk (GER) swapped their race overalls for tracksuits. Under the watchful eye of team doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli (ITA) and his Formula Medicine team, the drivers worked hard to improve their physical and mental strength.

The programme included cardio and strength workouts on various pieces of equipment, as well as reaction and concentration exercises. The drivers were also given valuable tips for preparing for this season’s remaining races. “The fitness week was great fun. As well as the actual exercise, I think this is paramount,” said Tomczyk. “It is important for us drivers to spend time together outside of race weekends. That brings us together. The possibilities are huge here, particularly when it comes to the mental training. It is primarily about keeping absolutely calm out on the track, even in stressful situations. As always, the Formula Medicine team have done an outstanding job and set us up as well as possible for the critical phase of the season.” Félix da Costa adds: “As a racing driver, I am on the road a lot. That makes it difficult to find time for focussed training on several days in a row. That is why the annual training camp is so important for me. I can reset and focus again on taking care of my body. After one year, we give ourselves a self-assessment during this week, to see what level our fitness is at. I have a feeling that we have taken a step forward again.”

Sims and Félix da Costa are back in action in Formula E next weekend, at the Hong Kong E-Prix. The FIA WEC “Super Season” resumes on 13^thMarch with the 1000 Miles of Sebring (USA).

Blancpain GT World Challenge America: Big BMW contingent at season-opener in Austin. 

BMW fans at the “Circuit of The Americas” (USA) enjoyed an action-packed weekend with a host of models from the BMW M Motorsport customer racing range. Three series kicked off their seasons, as the Pirelli GT4 America and TC America series shared the bill with the Blancpain GT World Challenge America. A contingent of 25 BMW race cars took part in the event. As well as the BMW M6 GT3, the crowds at the circuit were also able to check out the BMW M4 GT4, BMW M240i Racing and the BMW M235i Racing. 

The TC America season opened in particularly spectacular fashion. Johan Schwartz (DNK) in the Rooster Hall Racing BMW M235i and Toby Grahovec (USA) in the BMW M240i Racing run by Classic BMW were embroiled in a thrilling battle right down to the final lap. Schwartz crossed the finish line with a slender lead of just 0.520 seconds. Grahovec came home second to make it a one-two for the BMW teams in the first race of the season. The best-placed BMW representatives in the overall standings after round one of the Pirelli GT4 America series are Justin Raphael (USA) and Stevan McAleer (SCO), who finished tenth in the BMW M4 GT4 of Classic BMW. Henry Schmitt and Gregory Liefooghe (both USA) came home twelfth in the Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M6 GT3. The remaining races had not been completed by the editorial deadline.

British GT: Century Motorsport expands its GT3 involvement.

Century Motorsport will run another BMW M6 GT3 in the new season of the British GT Championship. The team from Fenny Compton (GBR) announced back in December that it would be entering the GT3 category of the British GT Championship with the BMW M6 GT3. This sees Century Motorsport expand its involvement in the series, having won the Driver and Team titles in the GT4 class in 2018. As well as the two BMW M6 GT3, the team will also field the BMW M4 GT4 again in 2019. The driver pairings for Century Motorsport’s new GT3 project have already been confirmed. 2018 GT4 champion Jack Mitchell (GBR) will alternate at the wheel with Adrian Willmott (GBR). Driving duties in the second car will be shared by Ben Green and Dominic Paul (both GBR). The new British GT Championship kicks off at Oulton Park (GBR) from 20^thto 22^ndApril. Two 60-minute races will be held on Easter Monday.