PressClub Global · Article.
A rooftop tour of Munich: BMW DTM drivers check out the view from the roof of the Olympic Stadium.
Fri Jul 13 11:30:38 CEST 2012 Press Release
Before they took to the track to complete their first practice laps in the Olympic Stadium, the BMW DTM drivers experienced the circuit within the stadium and the Bavarian scenery from a completely different perspective. Together with BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt (DE), Martin Tomczyk (DE), Bruno Spengler (CA), Dirk Werner (DE), Joey Hand (US), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Andy Priaulx (GB) were given a tour over the canopy roof of the stadium and were rewarded with a magnificent view of the circuit and BMW headquarters.
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Author.
Ingo Lehbrink
BMW Group
Munich, 13th July 2012. Before they took to the track to complete their first practice laps in the Olympic Stadium, the BMW DTM drivers experienced the circuit within the stadium and the Bavarian scenery from a completely different perspective. Together with BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt (DE), Martin Tomczyk (DE), Bruno Spengler (CA), Dirk Werner (DE), Joey Hand (US), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Andy Priaulx (GB) were given a tour over the canopy roof of the stadium and were rewarded with a magnificent view of the circuit and BMW headquarters.
On Wednesday, Tomczyk, Spengler and Werner became acquainted with Munich while visiting several local newspapers, driving a first-generation BMW M3, a BMW M1 and the 2012 BMW M3 DTM Safety Car. Then they were treated to a magnificent view of the circuit, the nearby BMW headquarters and the Olympic Parc, which – as well as BMW M – is celebrating its 40th birthday this year.
Courage, safety hooks and rope: that is all the BMW drivers needed for their expedition. Starting out from the North Stand, they climbed along the unique, listed roof construction 40 metres above the ground. The stadium, which was built for the 1972 Olympic Games, and the racetrack constructed specially for this weekend’s DTM event were quite literally at their feet. “I am now in my 12th DTM season and know all the circuits back to front. However, I had never seen a track from this perspective before,” said reigning DTM champion Tomczyk, who has already scored 54 points for BMW Team RMG this season.
BMW Team Schnitzer driver Bruno Spengler said: “I already get goosebumps just thinking about the thousands of spectators cheering us on from the stands I can see below me now on Saturday and Sunday. I won on the Sunday here last year, and just really like this event. Following our excursion on the roof, I am even keener to get out on the track and get started.”
During the tour, guides from Olympiapark München GmbH described the unmistakable architecture of the Olympic site to the six BMW drivers. German architect Frei Otto developed the canopy roof construction, which remains as spectacular today as it was back then. The structure, which covers an area of 74,800 m², is suspended on 58 steel masts and made of translucent acrylic glass, spans the Olympic Stadium, Olympic Hall and Olympic Swimming Pool. “Although the stadium already has a few years under its belt, it still looks very modern,” said BMW Team RBM driver Farfus. “I have never driven in a stadium, so to make my debut in such an iconic arena in the centre of Munich is fantastic. The tour was great fun.”