PressClub Global · Article.
BMW Motorsport News – Issue 19/2017.
Sun May 21 20:55:25 CEST 2017 Press Release
Eng and Collard just miss out on podium in the ADAC GT Masters – Wins for BMW drivers in the BTCC and the Pirelli World Challenge.
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Ingo Lehbrink
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ADAC GT Masters: Fifth place for Eng and Collard at the Lausitzring.
Having claimed victory at the season-opener in Oschersleben (GER), the BMW Team Schnitzer was fully focused on the second race weekend in the 2017 ADAC GT Masters, which took place as part of the Motorsport Festival at the Lausitzring (GER). BMW works driver Philipp Eng (AUT) and BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard (GBR) were battling for another podium finish on Sunday. Eng started from sixth position in the #42 BMW M6 GT3 and catapulted himself into second place just after the start. He defended the position until handing over the cockpit to the young British driver after about 30 minutes. Collard remained on course for a podium finish in the BMW M6 GT3 until the final stages, but then experienced some difficulties in staving off his competitors’ attacks. After an hour, he crossed the line in fifth place, which translated to third place in the Junior rankings. “I had taken another look at past races and I was convinced that I could drive the outside line,” said Eng as he recalled his start. “I just decided to brake very late. After that, I took the race as it came and concentrated on looking after the tyres for Ricky as well as I could. Ricky losing a few places at the end is not a problem. It’s all part of the learning process and he made the best out of the situation. It was a great team performance.” Collard said: “I had huge problems with deteriorating tyres at the end. I tried my best to keep the others behind me but this is all new for me. I still have to learn the best way to defend in those situations. Overall, I am not entirely pleased with my performance today but I am a Junior, and I am here to learn. Now I will analyse everything, watch the videos of the race and work out what I can do better.” In the first race on Saturday, Eng and Collard finished in 17th place - they had 30 kilogrammes of success ballast in the car after their win at Oschersleben.
BTCC: Win for Andrew Jordan and a milestone for WSR.
On the fourth race weekend in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), the West Surrey Racing team celebrated another win at Oulton Park (GBR) – and reached a special milestone. In the first race of the weekend, Andrew Jordan (GBR) was first over the finishing line in the BMW 125i M Sport. His team-mates Rob Collard (GBR) and Colin Turkington (GBR) finished in fifth and 29th places respectively. Collard finished second to reach the rostrum in the second race - recording the 150th podium for WSR with BMW in the BTCC. Jordan claimed fifth place this time, while Turkington was 13th. In the third race on Sunday evening, Jordan increased the number of podium finishes to 151; he secured third place. Turkington and Collard crossed the line in fifth and sixth.
Pirelli World Challenge: Mason Filippi wins in Canada in the BMW M235i Racing.
The BMW M235i Racing drivers remain on course for success in the Pirelli World Challenge’s strong touring car class. Mason Filippi (USA) celebrated a dominant win in Sunday’s race as the series visited the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville, Canada. After 25 laps, the 18-year-old driver from the Winding Road Team TFB was 26 seconds ahead of the rest of the field. The BMW M235i Racing had already claimed a podium finish in Saturday’s race when Nick Wittmer (CAN) secured second place. A total of 14 BMW M235i Racings were competing in Canada. Five of them crossed the line in the top ten in each race.
Japanese Super GT: Podium finish for the BMW M6 GT3.
The circuit at Autopolis (JPN) proved to be a happy hunting ground for the BMW teams in the Japanese Super GT Championship. In the third race of the season, the Autobacs Racing Team Aguri recorded a podium finish in the GT300 class. After 61 laps, Shinichi Takagi (JPN) and Sean Walkinshaw (GBR) crossed the line with their BMW M6 GT3 in third place. Immediately behind them, Jörg Müller (GER) and Seiji Ara (JPN) claimed fourth place in the BMW M6 GT3 from the BMW Team Studie.
BMW Motorsport Junior Programme: Eriksson wins classic event.
Every year, the races on the tight street circuit in Pau (FRA) are a real highlight of the Formula 3 season - and BMW Motorsport Junior Joel Eriksson (SWE) celebrated a win there this weekend. In his first race on the legendary “Circuit de Pau-Ville”, the 19-year-old driver crossed the line 0.243 seconds ahead of Lando Norris (GBR). He had to retire from the second race but claimed fifth place in the third race of the weekend. With nine races of the season completed, Eriksson now leads the overall standings with 139 points.