BMW Motorsport News – Issue 31/2017.

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.

BTCC: Three podiums for the BMW 125i M Sport at Knockhill.

Colin Turkington (GBR) achieved another milestone for West Surrey Racing and BMW in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). His third place in race two at Knockhill (GBR) was the 250^th podium for BMW in the BTCC. Turkington also finished third in the other two races, and consequently climbs to the top of the Drivers’ Championship with three events remaining. His team-mate Rob Collard (GBR) finished fourth twice and eleventh in the BMW 125i M Sport at Knockhill. The BTCC returns to action in a fortnight’s time in Rockingham (GBR).

Pirelli World Challenge: BMW M235i Racing dominates in Utah.

The Pirelli World Challenge was at the “Utah Motorsports Campus” (USA) this weekend for races seven and eight of the season in the TC class. The starting grid featured over 20 BMW M235i Racings – and the car completed top-five and top-seven lock-outs at the 4.905-kilometre circuit in Tooele (USA). Victory in both races went to Greg Liefooghe (USA) of the Stephen Cameron Racing team, who also set the fastest lap time of 2:05.242 minutes in race two. Toby Grahovec (USA) took his place on the podium twice. He came home second and third in the #1 BMW M235i Racing fielded by the Classic BMW team.

BMW M8 GTE: Test programme continues in Spain.

Last week, BMW Motorsport continued its test and development programme with the new BMW M8 GTE at “Circuit de Catalunya”, near Barcelona (ESP). Martin Tomczyk (GER), Nick Catsburg (NED), Bruno Spengler (CAN) and Philipp Eng (AUT) alternated at the wheel of the GT racing car, which will start in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2018. You can find the latest images attached to this press release and in the BMW Group PressClub.

BMW Motorsport Juniors: Licence for the “Green Hell”.

After a month’s break, the VLN Endurance Championship returns to action on 19^th August. BMW Motorsport Juniors Mikkel Jensen (DEN), Dennis Marschall (GER) and Beitske Visser (NED), who were accepted onto this year’s multi-level programme for talented young drivers, will use the fifth race of the season on the iconic Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER) to obtain their licence for the “Green Hell”. The Nordschleife permit, which is issued by the German Motorsport Association (DMSB), authorises the youngsters to compete in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, as well as other events. Another BMW Motorsport Junior will also drive at the next round of the VLN; Ricky Collard (GBR) will be in action in the new BMW M4 GT4. He will race alongside Dirk Adorf (GER), who will support the BMW Motorsport Juniors in the “Green Hell” in his role as mentor.