BMW Motorsport News – Issue 03/15.

Whether in the DTM, the United SportsCar Championship, 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. 

Wittmann and BMW Team RMG honoured at the “Champions' Gala” in Wiesbaden.

2015 sees the series of honours in recognition of Marco Wittmann's (DE) first DTM title in 2014 continue. At the “Champions' Gala” hosted by the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (DMSB) in Wiesbaden on Friday, the DMSB president presented him with an award for his success. Wittmann's team principal Stefan Reinhold (DE) also received a trophy. BMW Team RMG secured first place in the Team standings of the DTM in 2014. 

Three questions for ... Marco Wittmann. 

Marco, in Wiesbaden you received another award for your victory in the 2014 DTM season. Which of the trophies that you have received so far means the most to you? 

Marco Wittmann: “First of all, I'd like to say that I had a fantastic evening at the DMSB Gala celebrations. I came across a lot of familiar faces, and it was great to be on stage alongside so many champions at the end of the evening. Naturally I am delighted with each of the awards, but being named ADAC motorsport personality of the year stands out. After all, you don't receive that award every day. It's fantastic to come out on top against so many other fantastic motorsport personalities.” 

How much are you looking forward to taking to the track for the first time in your Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM with number 1 on the car? 

Wittmann: “I can hardly wait to finally start testing again. I've had a lot of events since the end of the 2014 season, and have been away a lot, but not in a race car. If I could, I'd be back at the wheel of my Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM tomorrow. Starting with number 1 is something very special. This number shows what I achieved in 2014 and that I will be the one everyone wants to beat in the coming season. I'm really looking forward to having that role.” 

As reigning DTM Champion, what are your aims for the new season? 

Wittmann: “When you have number 1 on your car, there can only be one goal for the season: defending your title. But everyone knows how close the DTM is. Our rivals were already extremely strong in 2014, and have no doubt used the winter to become even stronger. We need to give it our all to be able to compete for the top spot again in 2015. Success isn't guaranteed in the DTM.” 

--

CTSCC: ST class podium finish for BMW in Daytona.
In Friday’s first round of the  2015 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge at the Daytona International Speedway BMW drivers began the season with a fourth place finish in the Grand Sport class and third, fifth and sixth place finishes in the Street Tuner class. A total of nine BMWs were entered in the two and a half hour BMW Performance 200 race. Trent Hindman (US) and Ashley Freiberg (US) were the top finishing BMW drivers in fourth in the number 46 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3, 11.17 seconds behind the winning Porsche of brothers Matt and Hugh Plumb (US). In the Street Tuner class Team TGM owner Ted Giovannis (US) and David Murry (US), in the number 64 BMW 328i, scored the team's best CTSCC finish ever in third. Jason Briedis (US) and James Clay (US) finished fifth in the number 84 Bimmerworld Racing BMW 328i. The number 23 Burton Racing BMW 328i of Terry Borcheller (US) and Mike LaMarra (US) finished sixth.