BMW Motorsport Newsletter – Issue 14/17.

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, 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. That way, you are always up to speed.

DTM: Fans to get an exclusive insight into the “sacred halls”.

The BMW fans in the DTM can look forward to a spectacular innovation for the 2017 season: At the season opener in Hockenheim (GER) on the first weekend in May, holders of a paddock ticket are able to gain exclusive insight into how the teams work during the pit stop. The fans will have access to a pit from where they can watch the teams work in the two neighbouring garages at close quarters. A total of three pits will be open to DTM spectators during the pit stops in future – one per manufacturer. The DTM is setting standards once again in terms of bringing fans close to the action. On top of this, an attractive programme on the show stage in the fan village will provide even more entertainment. Spectators can also watch all the teams practise pit stops live during a special pit walk on Saturday and Sunday morning. A further pit walk on Saturday evening offers an additional stroll through the pit lane. The doors will be open for an hour.

VLN: Successful race debut for Félix da Costa.

António Félix da Costa (POR) completed his first race outing in the BMW M6 GT3 on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER) with success. In the second race of the VLN Endurance Championship, the BMW works driver got the sixth-fastest time in qualifying, thereby giving his team-mate Timo Scheider (GER) a place on the third row of the grid for the 4-hour race. And at one point, the duo in action for BMW Team Schnitzer were even on course to finish on the podium. After a thrilling race, they ended up finishing in tenth place, trailing the victorious Porsche by 2:41 minutes. This made Félix da Costa and Scheider the best-placed BMW team. “Driving on this track in this car is one of the best experiences of my racing career – comparable only with my first test in a Formula 1 car,” said Félix da Costa. “I’m learning an incredible amount in such a short space of time at the moment. But that is normal at this stage. For me, it’s about being at the top of my game for the 24-hour race.” A total of nine BMW M6 GT3 cars were on duty. In addition to BMW Team Schnitzer, Schubert Motorsport, ROWE Racing, Walkenhorst Motorsport and Falken Motorsports were also in action in the GT3 class.

BMW M235i Racing Cup: Second win of the season for the “Eifelblitz”.

Rudi Adams (GER) and Thomas Jäger (AUT) celebrated the second win of the season in race two in the BMW M235i Racing at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER). The duo in the “Eifelblitz” of Team Scheid-Honert Motorsport prevailed over Heiko Eichenberg (GER) of Team Securtal Sorg Rennsport after a close race. Third place went to Glib Kutepov (UKR) and Tobias Müller (GER) of Team MKR-Engineering. A total of 18 BMW M235i Racing were on the grid.

Blancpain GT Series Asia: First success in first race.

The two races in Malaysia opened the inaugural season of the Blancpain GT Series Asia this weekend. In the opening race on Saturday, the BMW M6 GT3 immediately celebrated its first success. After 26 laps of the “Sepang International Circuit” (MAS), Jesse Krohn (FIN) and Ollie Millroy (GBR) finished third for FIST – Team AAI. The were forced to retire early in race 2. The inaugural season of the Blancpain GT Series Asia comprises a total of twelve races, spread over six events. The next two races will be held at the “Chang International Circuit” in Thailand on 20^nd/21^st May. Then the series will be hosted by Japan twice and by China.

ADAC GT Masters: Eng and Collard starting in the BMW M6 GT3.

BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard (GBR) will complete a full season in the ADAC GT Masters. Collard is competing in the BMW M6 GT3 together with Philipp Eng (AUT), the winner of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchanmps (BEL) in 2016. The car will be sporting the colours of the BMW Team Schnitzer. Collard celebrated his debut in the BMW M6 GT3 in March, competing at the Bathurst 12 Hour (AUS) with Nico Menzel and Jörg Müller (both GER), the mentor for the BMW Juniors in GT racing. “It is great to compete in a full season in the ADAC GT Masters,” says Collard. “I was able to get some initial impressions of the BMW M6 GT3 in Bathurst. The car is fantastic. I am particularly looking forward to being with the BMW Team Schnitzer. It is legendary in motorsport. It is an honour for me to be able to compete with Phillip Eng for Charly Lamm’s team.” The 2017 ADAC GT Masters season gets underway with the first two races in Oschersleben (GER) on 29^th/30^th April. Collard, Eng and the BMW Team Schnitzer will be battling for points on a total of seven race weekends, before the season concludes with the finale in Hockenheim on 29^th September. “The ADAC GT Masters provides fantastic motor racing at an extremely high level,” says Eng. “I am really looking forward to making my comeback there in the BMW M6 GT3. In Ricky, I will have an extremely fast youngster alongside me. I am sure we will be able to cause a stir. For us to both be starting for Schnitzer really is the icing on the cake. This team is legendary.”

Japanese Super GT Championship: Fifth place for Autobacs Racing Team Aguri at season-opener in Okayama.

The first race weekend of the 2017 Japanese Super GT Championship at the Okayama International Circuit (JPN) saw the Autobacs Racing Team Aguri just miss out on a podium finish in the GT300 class. After 77 laps Shinichi Takagi (JPN) and Sean Walkinshaw (GBR) came home fifth. The second BMW M6 GT3, run by BMW Team Studie and driven by Jörg Müller (GER) and Seiji Ara (JPN), finished 13^th. Round two of the Japanese Super GT Championship is in Fuji (JP) on 3^rd and 4^th May.