BMW Motorsport News – Issue 43/14.

Meeting of champions: exciting programme at the BMW Motorsport Media Track Days in Spain.
Last week, BMW Motorsport offered media representatives from all over the world the opportunity to drive various BMW racing cars for themselves and experience the fascination of motor racing at first hand at the “Circuito Monteblanco” (ES) near Seville (ES). In total, 31 participants from 15 different countries took to the 3.357-kilometre track. All four cars, with which BMW has won the DTM title since 1984, were in action. As well as last season’s championship-winning car, the Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM, the journalists also hit the road in the BMW Bank M3 DTM (2012), as well as behind the wheel or in the passenger seat of the BMW 635 CSi (1984) and the BMW M3 (1987). All four racing cars each won the title in their first season in the DTM. The media representatives also gained experience as racing drivers at the wheel of two BMW M235i Racings. On hand as celebrity instructors were reigning DTM champion Marco Wittmann (DE), Martin Tomczyk (DE), António Félix da Costa (PT), Dirk Adorf (DE) and BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn (FI). They gave the journalists an insight into their work, as well as offering valuable advice on how to handle the cars.

DTM: Double honours for Marco Wittmann in Essen – Formula One test at Imola.
Marco Wittmann (DE) travelled straight from the BMW Motorsport Media Track Days in Monteblanco (ES) to Essen (DE), where he received two awards at the the traditional “Race Night” held by Auto Bild Motorsport and Auto Bild Sportscars, which takes place every year as part of the Essen Motor Show. Wittmann was voted “Touring Car Driver of the Year” by readers and was also presented with the “Golden Racing Shoe” as the new DTM champion. However, the BMW works driver was not just there to receive prizes, but also presented some trophies: to the winners of the Speed Academy – the support programme run by BMW Motorsport premium partner, Deutsche Post. Another special appointment will await Wittmann on Thursday: in recognition of his performances in this DTM season, BMW Motorsport is giving him the opportunity to achieve a childhood dream and Wittmann will test a Formula One car for the first time. At Imola (IT), he will drive a 2012 Scuderia Toro Rosso car. This test is organised in co-operation with BMW Motorsport premium partner Red Bull.

DTM: Big rookie contingent in action at winter test in Jerez.
The BMW teams will take to the track this week for the first time since the end of the DTM season in Hockenheim on 19th October, when they travel to Jerez de la Frontera (ES) for testing from Tuesday to Thursday. As well as DTM champion Marco Wittmann (DE), Augusto Farfus (BR), Maxime Martin (BE), Bruno Spengler (CA), Timo Glock (DE) and António Félix da Costa (PT), several drivers will be given their first taste of the DTM in Spain. They include Tom Blomqvist (GB, 20 years old), Jack Harvey (GB, 21), Richie Stanaway (NZ, 23), Alex Lynn (GB, 21) and Sam Bird (GB, 27). BMW works driver Lucas Luhr (DE, 35) and Robin Frijns (NL, 23) will also drive the BMW M4 DTM for the first time.

Three questions for … Marco Wittmann.

Marco, you were on hand to offer journalists advice when they took to the track in the Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM last week. How did it go?
Marco Witmann: “The entire event was great fun. It is fantastic that BMW Motorsport allows journalists to experience how it feels to drive a racing car. I gave the participants an introduction to my Ice-Watch M4 DTM and then went through the data with them after their drives. That was very interesting for me. Some of the drivers had already driven other racing cars and coped well with the DTM car.”

What was your personal highlight?
Wittmann: “I had the opportunity to drive the legendary BMW DTM cars from the 1980s – the BMW 635 CSi and the BMW M3. For me, it was impressive to feel the differences for myself, and to see how the technology has developed over the past 30 years. As a driver, you had to work a lot harder on the steering wheel and when changing gear back in the past. However, it is more important to find the perfect racing line today, and you generally have to drive more accurately than back then. I really enjoyed my outing in the vintage cars. The1987 BMW M3, in particular, is my absolute favourite – a dream car.”

On a more general note, you have not stopped travelling and visiting events for the past few weeks. How are you coping with the many appointments that come with winning the DTM title?
Wittmann: “It has obviously been an extremely busy time for me since the end of the DTM season. I have hardly spent a single day at home. However, I am still really enjoying myself. After all, the reason for me having all these appointments is the fact that I was crowned the DTM champion. With this in mind, I am having an incredible time at the moment. On top of that it is an honour for me that my successes are appreciated from so many sides – as,   for example, now with the ‘Touring Car Driver of the Year’ and the ‘Golden Racing Shoe’ awards. That is something very special for a racing driver.”

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USCC: Andy Piaulx visits No. 10 Downing Street.
The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, held a special event at 10 Downing Street in London (GB) on Monday to celebrate the success of British Motorsport. Andy Priaulx (GB) was one of the UK’s top racing drivers to receive a personal invitation from the PM. “It was a great evening as it was obvious David Cameron really understood the importance of the British motorsport industry to the UK’s economy. It was great to meet him and he was interested to hear about my career with BMW. It was also great to chat with the icons of our sport such as Stirling Moss and John Surtees,” said the triple world touring car champion.