BMW M Motorsport enters the 2018 DTM season finishing straight in Styria.

Munich. The 2018 DTM season is entering the finishing straight for BMW M Motorsport and the BMW DTM teams: this weekend (21^st to 23^rd September), the Red Bull Ring near Spielberg (AUT) hosts the penultimate event of the year. BMW M Motorsport is set to reach another big milestone. Saturday’s race will be BMW’s 300^th in the history of the DTM. BMW fielded works teams in the DTM between 1984 and 1992. The manufacturer then returned to the series in 2012, since when it has contested 100 races in the new DTM.

The Red Bull Ring, nestled in the picturesque Styrian landscape, has been a happy stomping ground for BMW in recent years. The nine races the BMW DTM teams have contested there so far have yielded four victories and ten podiums in total. Among the most memorable successes in Austria are the one-two-three in 2013 and the top-four lock-out in 2014. This season, the BMW DTM drivers have won four races and picked up a total of 14 podium results. The most recent of these came at the Nürburgring (GER), courtesy of second place for Bruno Spengler (CAN) in Saturday’s race and third place for Marco Wittmann (GER) in race two on Sunday.

Quotes ahead of the DTM races at the Red Bull Ring.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“We enter the finishing straight in this year’s DTM at Spielberg. We have two weekends ahead of us, at which we want to thrill the fans with some exciting motor racing. The Nürburgring showed once again just how evenly-matched the field is. All three manufacturers featured on the podium after both races – that is exactly what the fans want to see. The final four races of the year promise to be very exciting. Our goal is to get the maximum out of them and to add more wins and podiums to our record for the season. We will concentrate and work hard from the first to the last minute to achieve this. After contesting our 100^th race since returning to the series in 2012 at the Nürburgring a fortnight ago, we will reach another important milestone for our brand on Saturday: BMW’s 300^th race in the DTM. We could not wish for a more beautiful backdrop for this achievement than the Styrian mountains.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG):

“One thing follows another for us: immediately after Marco’s podium in our 100^th DTM race, at our home event at the Nürburgring, we started preparing for the Red Bull Ring. We have enjoyed success at Spielberg in the past, with victories for Marco and Timo, as well as other podium finishes. The recent races showed that all three drivers have good race pace. We are now working hard to ensure that all three are also quick in qualifying to lay the foundations for top results. We are confident that we are well-prepared for the finishing straight.”

Marco Wittmann (#11 BMW Driving Experience M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG – 5^th place in the overall standings, points: 137):

“After the strong weekend at the Nürburgring, where I picked up plenty of points, I am hoping for a similar performance at Spielberg. We have always had a good car there in the past and have won races at the Red Bull Ring. As such, it is one of my very favourite circuits. We still have four races ahead of us, and I hope we can push hard again in the final stages of the season. Our goal is to battle for third place in the championship. I think it is becoming less and less likely that we will be able to reel in first and second place. We have to accept that, but third place would be a nice way to end the season.”

Augusto Farfus (#15 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG – 15^th place in the overall standings, points: 48):

“I think that the Red Bull Ring is the most beautiful circuit of the season. Hopefully we are going to have good weather in the mountains. It is a high-speed track and has the type of corners I like. We are coming closer to the end of the year, time just flies by. Let’s try to get a little bit more from our package in qualifying because our race pace has been very reasonable recently, but we need to start up front. I had some very good results at Spielberg already, so we will do everything to be up there this time, too.”

Timo Glock (#16 DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR – 6^th place in the overall standings, points: 119):

“We have always enjoyed good results at Spielberg in the past. As such, I am hopeful that we will have good speed there. I am already looking forward to the weekend. It is always a nice race, and the whole event is excellent every year.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM):

“Our team is highly motivated ahead of this season’s remaining race weekends. We know that we have the pace required to achieve top results. We showed that with all three drivers at the recent rounds at Misano and the Nürburgring. Plus, our team is on top form. Joel’s crew completed the fastest pit stop in both Eifel races. As such, our goal for Spielberg and Hockenheim is to fight for victory and the podium.”

Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM – 10^th place in the overall standings, points: 75):

“We had a superb weekend at the Nürburgring, where we scored a lot of points. I am now really looking forward to the Red Bull Ring. The scenery is great. The circuit itself is also great fun to drive, with up and downhill sections, fast corners, hard braking points and long straights. There are also good overtaking opportunities. The Spielberg atmosphere is always a bit special and I am looking forward to seeing the Austrian fans. The races there are sure to be a good show.”

Philipp Eng (#25 SAMSUNG BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR – 9^th place in the overall standings, points: 92):

“I am already really looking forward to the weekend. I really enjoy driving at the Red Bull Ring and love coming to the Styria region. The facility at the Red Bull Ring is simply awesome and, in my opinion, different to anything else in Europe. I have also always been successful there: my Spielberg qualifying and podium record is very good. I hope we have a good race weekend.”

Joel Eriksson (#47 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM – 11^th place in the overall standings, points: 60):

“The Red Bull Ring is my favourite racetrack on this year’s calendar. I also have a really good history from there. I’ve won there in every category I have raced in and I also took my first ever win there. That’s why I’m really looking forward to it because the track suits my driving style really perfectly. The place itself is so beautiful and also the track that goes up and down all the time is the most fun track for everybody. I can’t wait to get there.”

Media Schedule.

Friday, 21^st September

14:00-14:30 CEST, ITR press conference with Philipp Eng, Media Centre

Saturday, 22^nd September

15:50-16:00 CEST, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Media Centre

Sunday, 23^rd September

11:30-12:00 CEST, Media Round Table with BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, BMW Hospitality

15:50-16:00 CEST, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Media Centre

Statistics service.

BMW Motorsport offers a Chatbot service for journalists also in the 2018 DTM season. This allows users to receive the latest information directly to their smartphone. The information available includes driver statistics, statements and photos. You can register for the BMW Motorsport Chatbot at the following link: http://bit.ly/BMW_Motorsport_Media_Broadcast_EN