BMW Motorsport News – Issue 46/16.

Whether in the DTM, the IMSA WeatherTech 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.

DTM: Marco Wittmann receives new company car.

Six weeks have passed since Marco Wittmann (DE) won his second drivers’ title in the final of the DTM racing season at the Hockenheimring (DE). Now he has collected his new and very special company car in Munich (DE) – the BMW M4 Coupe equipped with a comprehensive package of BMW M Performance Parts. The BMW Team RMG driver was given a detailed first-hand description of the fitted components before receiving the key of his Java Green BMW M4 Coupe at the BMW Welt in the afternoon. “My new company car looks great and is a really fantastic drive,” Wittmann said. “The colour suits me very well, because I love being on the road in a slightly more conspicuous car. BMW M Performance Parts refine the already awesome BMW M4 Coupe and turn it into a valuable and unique one-off. Many thanks to BMW, the BMW M GmbH and to BMW M Performance Parts. I will enjoy every kilometre in my new car.”

IWSC: Spengler and Farfus looking forward to BMW M6 GTLM Art Car.

Bruno Spengler (CA) and Augusto Farfus (BR) will enjoy a special honour in January. They will join Bill Auberlen (US) and Alexander Sims (GB) behind the wheel of the 19th BMW Art Car at the 24 Hours of Daytona (US). Designed by US artist John Baldessari, the BMW M6 GTLM was presented at Art Basel in Miami (US) last week. While involved in the DTM test in Jerez de la Frontera (ES), Spengler and Farfus took time out to talk about the BMW Art Car, Daytona and the DTM tests.

Three questions for... Bruno Spengler and Augusto Farfus.

Bruno, Augusto, does it feel special to be driving the 19th BMW Art Car in Daytona?

Bruno Spengler: “This is the very first time that I have been able to drive a BMW Art Car. That's why it is a very special occasion for me and a great honour. The BMW Art Car has a long history and I am really looking forward to becoming a small part of this history in Daytona.”

Augusto Farfus: “When you drive the BMW Art Car, you are driving a work of art. All of our BMW race cars are artistic and unique. So when one of them is designed by an artist, that just makes it even more special. It is great for me to be part of history in the BMW Art Car at Daytona.”

How significant is the 24 Hours of Daytona?

Farfus: “As far as I am concerned, it is a really cool race. You start the motorsport year there with a great atmosphere and a great team. We have already come very close to the big win there, finishing second. Maybe we’ll triumph in 2017.”

Spengler: “Daytona is very significant for me, for various reasons. I competed in my very first 24-hour race there in 2015, which really started my GT career. The date of the race is perfect too, as the DTM takes a break in January and I can concentrate completely on the 24 Hours of Daytona. I like the special challenge the circuit poses with its high, banked corners, and I feel the same about the American fans and BMW Team RLL. It’s all a bit different to Europe. I really like the change of scenery.”

This week, you were both involved in more testing for the 2017 season in the BMW M4 DTM. How did that go?

Spengler: “Working on the car for the 2017 season is great fun. All the manufacturers are developing new cars, so working on the set-up is an exciting challenge. As opportunities for testing are limited, I really look forward to every day that I can spend in the BMW M4 DTM.”

Farfus: It is extremely important for me to keep my driving rhythm going with tests like this, or by competing in races. I can keep fit with sport during winter, but it is essential to spend time in the car and get that real feel for driving. You wouldn’t tell a tennis player that he can’t pick up his racket for months at a time. It is exactly the same for a racing driver and his race car.”

--

Asian Le Mans Series: Podium for the BMW M6 GT3 in Fuji.

Team AAI claimed third place in the GT class of the Asian Le Mans Series with the BMW M6 GT3 at the 4 Hours of Fuji (JP). BMW works driver Philipp Eng (AT) celebrated this success on the podium with his fellow drivers Jun San Chen (TW) and Ollie Millroy (GB). BMW DTM driver Tom Blomqvist (GB) was due to compete in the team’s second car, which was unable to start the race due to a technical problem.

BMW M235i Racing Cup Belgium: Awards ceremony with Maxime Martin.

BMW DTM driver Maxime Martin (BE) presented awards to the winners in the BMW M235i Racing Cup Belgium at the season review celebrations. At the BMW Brand Store in Brussels (BE), Martin presented his compatriot Guillaume Dumarey (BE) with the trophy for winning the drivers’ championship. Dumarey had dominated the season with a total of six wins. First place in the team championship went to PK Carsport. Nico Otto (DE) won the Junior title and Dirk Van Rompuy (BE) claimed first place in the Gentlemen’s standings.