BMW Motorsport News - Issue 42/2017.

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. 

Asian Le Mans Series: Perfect start to the season for the BMW M6 GT3.

The FIST-Team AAI BMW M6 GT3 had a perfect start to the Asian Le Mans Series 2017/18 season. At the opener in Zhuhai (CHN), Jesse Krohn (FIN), Jun San Chen (TPE) and Chaz Mostert (AUS) in the number 91 car crossed the finish line as winners of the GT class after four hours. The trio laid the foundation for their success in qualifying with an outstanding second place on the grid. Before the second round of the Asian Le Mans Series takes place on 3rd December in Fuji (JPN), AAI Motorsports will head to Macau (CHN) in mid-November for the FIA GT World Cup. Mostert will once again be at the wheel of one of the two BMW M6 GT3s. Marco Wittmann (GER) will take to the track in the second car.

International GT Open: Podium success at season finale.

BMW Team Teo Martín ended the International GT Open season with a podium finish. BMW works driver António Félix da Costa and Lourenço Beirão da Veiga (both POR) started the final race from pole position in the number 51 BMW M6 GT3, and were second to see the chequered flag after a fiercely contested race at the Circuit de Catalunya (ESP). They finished in fifth place in the first race of the weekend. Like last year, the drivers’ and team championships were not decided until the finale in Barcelona (ESP). BMW Team Teo Martín, Victor Bouveng (SWE) and Fran Rueda (ESP) were in with a chance of winning the two available titles right down to the wire. After finishing fourth and sixth in the final two races of the season, the Bouveng/Rueda Rang duo claimed second place in the drivers’ championship. In the team standings, Teo Martín Motorsport also finished in second place after 14 races. Senkyr Motorsport made a guest appearance in the BMW M6 GT3 at the series finale, with the drivers Jakob Knoll (CZE) and Richard Gonda (SVK) behind the wheel.

FIA GT World Cup: BMW Team Schnitzer returns to the Guia Circuit.

Eight years after their last win in Macau (CHN) BMW Team Schnitzer will return to the scene of legendary successes for the FIA GT World Cup. The Freilassing (GER) team will compete at the Guia Circuit on 18th and 19th November in the 18th BMW Art Car – designed by Chinese artist Cao Fei. Augusto Farfus (BRA) will be at the wheel of the number 18 car. The DTM driver has already celebrated two victories on the streets of Macau. In 2005, he crossed the finish line as the winner of the first race in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) final. Farfus also claimed the most recent success for BMW Team Schnitzer in the former Portuguese colony, when the Brazilian won in a BMW 320si WTCC in 2009. With 13 wins, the Charly Lamm (GER) owned team is the record holder in Macau. The first victory was back in 1980. Then, it was Hans-Joachim Stuck (GER) in the BMW 320 who was the first to cross the line. Between 1980 and 1998 alone, the team won the Macau Guia Race for BMW a total of nine times. “Returning to Macau will be a very emotional experience for our team,” said Lamm. “This street race is unique in motorsport and is unlike any other event. We have already celebrated many memorable wins at the Guia Circuit which is why we are really looking forward to being back in Macau, and being allowed to race in the BMW Art Car is a great honour for us. The BMW Art Cars are moving works of art and have a great tradition which we are keen to continue with a good result on the track.”

BMW M Festival: BMW M4 DTM delights fans in South Africa.

Just under 20,000 fans attended the first BMW M Festival in South Africa, hosted at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit in Gauteng (RSA), last weekend. Visitors were able to admire the new BMW X3 (fuel consumption combined: 8.4-5.0 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 193-132 g/km), the new BMW M5 (consumption combined: 10.5 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 241 g/km) and the exclusive limited special edition BMW M4 CS (consumption combined: 8.4 l/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 197 g/km) up close and personal. More than 2,000 fans seized the opportunity to take a test drive on the Kyalami Circuit in one of the numerous BMW models. BMW DTM driver Tom Blomqvist (GBR), perennial BMW Superbike rider Lance Isaacs (RSA) and GTC BMW driver Gennaro Bonafede (RSA) caused a stir as they staged drag races in the BMW M4 DTM, on the BMW S 1000 RR and in the BMW M4 CS. Blomqvist also took some of the visitors for a quick spin around the 4.5-kilometre Kyalami Circuit in his DTM race car. The inaugural BMW M Festival in South Africa wasn’t just about luxury vehicles, international DJs also ensured there was a great atmosphere.