BMW Motorsport News – Issue 34/13.

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” allows us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed.

American Le Mans Series: Müller moves into second.

The American Le Mans Series and BMW Team RLL celebrated a successful debut at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin (US). Dirk Müller (DE) and John Edwards (US) finished third in their number 56 BMW Z4 GTE in the GT class. Their team-mates, Joey Hand (US) and Bill Auberlen (US), came fourth. After his second successive podium finish, Müller has moved up to second in the Driver Championship, keeping him in the running for his third GT title in the ALMS. The two remaining races at the Virginia International Raceway (US) and in Road Atlanta (US) will decide the title.

Three questions for … Dirk Müller.

Dirk, how did you like your first race at the Circuit of the Americas?

Dirk Müller: “I am still speechless. I had heard lots of good things about the track, and I have to say this circuit is incredible. Hats off to Hermann Tilke who designed the track. There is not a single corner that I would change. I love this place, and it is a very demanding track.”

H ow difficult did you find it to secure your podium finish in Austin?

Müller: “This was the hardest I have ever had to fight to finish third in my entire career. We were even able to challenge for the lead, but in the end we managed P3. Considering the circumstances, I am happy.”

And you are still challenging for the title…

Müller: “Yes, and it is an amazing achievement by BMW and BMW Team RLL. We do not let things get us down; we keep going and believe in ourselves. This is what makes us unique. Everyone can picture how we could have started further up the grid. We want to win – and I am very proud of the whole team.”

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FIA WTCC: One-two finish for Coronel and Bennani in Suzuka.

Strong performance for BMW 320 TC in Suzuka (JP): In the 200th race of the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) Coronel crossed the finish line first for ROAL Motorsport. Proteam driver Bennani won the Independents' Trophy and finished second. In addition to the two drivers at the top, Charles Ng (HK), Stefano d’Aste (IT) and Darryl O’Young (HK) finished in seventh, ninth and tenth for BMW in the points. In the first race at the Suzuka International Racing Course, Coronel was the highest finisher for BMW in eighth. In the drivers' standings the Dutchman moved up to eighth. It was his second victory of the season and the third for BMW in 2013.

Blancpain Endurance Series: Marc VDS Racing win team title.
At the final race of the season in the Blancpain Endurance Series at the Nürburgring (DE), Maxime Martin (BE), Yelmer Buurman (NL) and Bas Leinders (BE) finished second in their number 3 BMW Z4 GT3. Their team-mates, Markus Paltalla (FI), Henri Moser (CH) and Nicky Catsburg (NL, finished the 1,000 kilometre race in seventh. This secured the Pro Cup team title for Marc VDS Racing in the hard fought GT racing series. However, in the Drivers’ Championship Martin, Buurman and Leinders had to settle for third. The title went to Mercedes driver Maximilian Buhk (DE), who won the race together with his team-mates Maximilian Götz (DE) and Bernd Schneider (DE). In the Pro-Am class, the ROAL Motorsport team also had reason to celebrate in the final: Michela Cerruti (IT) and Stefano Comandini (IT) finished second in their BMW Z4 GT3 with number 43.