BMW Sports & Classic Rally: Four eventful days, one final highlight in the Alps.

Over the four eventful days, the sportsmen and women completed 780 kilometres at the wheels of vintage BMW cars, during this time they had plenty of opportunity to discuss their own particular sports and build an excellent rapport. 

The eight BMW DTM drivers were joined on their journey by big names from the world of sport, including BMW Group Sports Ambassador Katarina Witt (DE) and BMW Running Ambassador Jan Fitschen (DE), as well as winter sports stars Felix Loch (DE, luge), Manuel Machata (DE, bobsleigh), Francesco Friedrich (DE, bobsleigh), Natalie Geisenberger (DE, luge), Anja Huber (DE, skeleton) and national bobsleigh coach Christoph Langen (DE). Driving fascinating cars from various periods of BMW’s history, the rally started out from the BMW Museum in Munich (DE) and took the sports stars to Spielberg, the venue for the third round of the 2013 DTM. 

Despite encountering heavy rain and driving the open-top BMW 328, Prince Leopold of Bavaria (DE) demonstrated he was not daunted by the conditions, and looked back on a successful first BMW Sports & Classic Rally. “This event really had something for everybody,” said the BMW Brand Ambassador. “It goes without saying I love the historic BMW cars we travelled down to Austria in. It was also fascinating to see top athletes from motorsport, winter sport and running coming together, and how they were immediately on the same wavelength. The highlight was the trip to Spielberg, which gave the non-motorsport participants a taste of the DTM. It was a very successful event, despite the poor weather en route.” 

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt enjoyed welcoming the BMW sport stars to the circuit: “Our drivers had a lot of fun on the BMW Sports & Classic Rally and enjoyed the stages they spent behind the wheel. Everyone in the team is thrilled when Olympic champions, world champions and European champions from other sports show an enthusiasm for motorsport and want to experience our DTM project at close hand. So far, the visit has proven to be an extremely good omen for us.” 

Bruno Spengler (CA) secured pole position in Saturday’s qualifying, followed by Marco Wittmann (DE). Augusto Farfus (BR) qualified fourth to set up a very promising prospect going into the afternoon’s race. “I obviously want to see our guys win now,” said skeleton world champion Huber. “I was out on the track myself today in the BMW M3 GT2 race taxi. It was an awesome experience. I will keep my fingers crossed that the DTM drivers do well in the race. And it goes without saying the DTM drivers are more than welcome to join us at the ice channel again anytime.”