BMW Motorsport News – Issue 01/13.

Whether in the DTM, the American Le Mans Series, 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” now allows us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed. 

Bad luck for Schubert Motorsport in Dubai.

BMW teams celebrated a total of four class wins in this year’s Dubai (AE) 24-hour race. The two Saudi Falcon Team Schubert BMW Z4 GT3s proved their speed, ultimately the fighting spirit of the crew and its drivers wasn’t rewarded. The two cars run by Schubert Motorsport, the 2011 winners of the Dubai 24 Hours, had started from fourth and fifth on the grid respectively. While the number 12 BMW Z4 GT3, driven by Dirk Adorf (DE), Dominik Schwager (DE), Dominik Baumann (AT), Abdulaziz Al Faisal (SA) and Faisal Binladen (SA) was forced to retire early after being hit by another car, the number 24 sister car battled it out at the top of the field for countless laps. However, with just a few hours to go, Claudia Hürtgen (DE), Jörg Müller (DE), Dirk Müller (DE), Abdulaziz Al Faisal and Faisal Binladen also had to retire, running in second. “The team did an amazing job – and I really felt at home from the word go”, commented Dirk Müller, who contested his maiden Dubai 24-hour race. “We were running really well and were even leading. But then lady luck left us, it just shouldn’t have been.” Nevertheless, other BMW drivers had all reason to be happy with the outcome of the first highlight of the 2013 season. A total of four class wins were achieved by BMW teams. The best-placed BMW in the overall classification was JR Motorsport’s #63 BMW M3 GTR, finishing 18th. 

Big names line up with BMW Power at the 24 Hours of Daytona.

The first highlight of the North American racing season, the 24 Hours of Daytona (US), will take place from 24th to 27th January. Among those competing are once again the four-time Daytona winners from Chip Ganassi Racing. The two Riley racing cars, powered by BMW engines, will be manned by top-class drivers. Scott Dixon (AU), Juan Pablo Montoya (CO), Scott Pruett (US), Memo Rojas (MX) and Charlie Kimball (US) will be at the wheel of the number 01 BMW Riley. Scott Pruett (US) and Scott Dixon (AU) will also drive the number 02 car. They will be joined by Dario Franchitti (GB), Jamie McMurray (US) and BMW DTM and ALMS driver Joey Hand (US). However, during the first tests completed from 4th to 6th January in preparation for this race, it was another team with BMW Power that stole the limelight: Team Sahlen, with Dane Cameron (US) and Wayne Nonnamaker (US) set the fastest time (1:42.101 minutes) of all the BMW cars in the field. When all eight practice results were added together, this meant second place for Team Sahlen. 

Andy Priaulx visits Autosport International.

Andy Priaulx (GB) was at the Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (NEC) on Saturday to meet his UK fans at Autosport International. He also appeared on the Autosport Stage where he said about his maiden season in the DTM: "I feel I have now learnt the tricks of the trade in the series and can't wait for season two. You can't underestimate just how important experience is in this series. There were several new tracks for me to learn and this is always a challenge. It is important to know how the track develops over a weekend and now I have this valuable knowledge." As well as meeting the Guernsey driver at several locations and getting his autograph, fans were able to inspect his Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM at close quarters as it was featured on the Motorsport Vision stand, which is the company that owns the Brands Hatch circuit where the second round of the 2013  DTM series will be held on the 19th May.  

Tomczyk marries girlfriend Christina.

On 5th January, Martin Tomczyk (DE) married his long-term girlfriend Christina Surer (CH). The BMW DTM driver and his Swiss fiancée tied the knot in his home town of Rosenheim (DE). “It is just a fantastic feeling to be newly married,” said Tomczyk. “It was a very emotional and unforgettable day for us, but I guess that is normal. After all, you are entering into the eternal bond of matrimony.” The couple is expecting its first child at the end of February. “The baby will obviously play a major role in our life, and one that I am looking forward to,” said the 2011 DTM champion. “However, that will not change anything for me professionally. I will continue to be fully committed to BMW when I line up in the DTM.”