BMW DTM teams ready for the England round at Brands Hatch.

Munich. The sixth round of the 2019 DTM season takes the BMW DTM teams to Great Britain. Race numbers eleven and twelve of the season will be held at Brands Hatch (GBR) this coming weekend (10^th and 11^th August). Like last year, the DTM will compete on the longer Grand Prix version of the legendary track just outside London.

After five race weekends, Marco Wittmann (GER) in third place overall with 118 points is the best-ranked BMW driver in the DTM driver standings. Right behind him is Philipp Eng (AUT) with 111 points in fourth place. In the ten races held to date, the new BMW M4 DTM with turbo drive has bagged five wins. Wittmann has taken the top spot on the podium three times, while Eng and Bruno Spengler (CAN) have each won one race. On top of this are a further five podiums.

The schedule for Brands Hatch is more compact than at the other DTM race weekends: All of the action on track has been packed into two days. First on Saturday morning is a free practice session, followed by qualifying and at 13:30 local time (14:30 CEST), the first of the two races. Sunday gets underway with the second qualifying session, before the lights go out for the second race at 13:30 local time.

Quotes ahead of the DTM races at Brands Hatch.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director):

“Brands Hatch is a place with a long history of motorsport, and we are looking forward to putting on an exciting DTM show for the enthusiastic English fans. The compacted schedule will no doubt be a challenge for everyone since there will only be one free practice session for finding a good set-up for this track before the first qualifying session. However, we are confident that our teams and drivers will manage this with the new BMW M4 DTM with turbo drive. So far we have brought home a win and podiums at every race weekend of the season and we want to expand on that at Brands Hatch. The goal is to be well positioned from the first practice session so that we can pick up as many points as possible.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG):

“We are highly motivated going into the race weekend at Brands Hatch. Marco heads to Great Britain with a lot of momentum after his strong performance at Assen and Bruno and Timo also have the pace to be up there at the front. We will use the free practice on Saturday morning to prepare our drivers as well as possible for the qualifying sessions and the races. We are ready for the challenges that await us at Brands Hatch, and have resolved to be up there fighting for the front of the grid once again.”

Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Drivers’ standings: 6^th, 77 points):

“The great thing about Brands Hatch is that it always draws a really big crowd. You feel the sheer motorsport history there as well. The fans can see a great deal of the racing action in the infield. However, it is really difficult to overtake at Brands Hatch, but the track as such is a real challenge, and when you get the right set-up, it is a lot of fun which is why I am looking forward to Brands Hatch.”

Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Drivers’ standings: 3^rd, 118 points):

“After the Assen weekend, the momentum is on our side. I was the driver who picked up the most points there. I am looking forward to coming to England. The layout of Brands Hatch has similarities with Assen, particularly the fast turns that lead into the forest. But the track is much narrower, and it is probably even more difficult to overtake there. I’m looking forward to the weekend and the longer Grand Prix track that we have been using since last year. We are hoping to take the momentum from Assen with us to Brands Hatch and to be able to gain more ground on the frontrunners there.”

Timo Glock (#16 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Drivers’ standings: 12^th, 33 points):

“Last year at Brands Hatch we used the longer track version for the first time, and we are excited to see how our new BMW M4 DTM performs there this year. I really liked the track last year; it was a lot of fun. We just need to try and have two consistently good races and I hope that we will be able to pick up a few points again there.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM):

“We are looking forward to a great weekend, since Brands Hatch is a real classic. Philipp and Joel like the long Grand Prix version, and our rookie Sheldon has already proved several times this season that he quickly gets to grips with tracks he is unfamiliar with. The ingredients for a successful weekend are there. The compact schedule is a little unusual, and it is important to use the free practice on Saturday as effectively as possible to prepare for the qualifying sessions and the races. We are ready and will be targeting the podium at Brands Hatch.”

Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Drivers’ standings: 4^th, 111 points):

“I’m really looking forward to the weekend. Brands Hatch is one of the coolest tracks on the calendar. It’s also great that we will be using the Grand Prix track there, like last year. The track is a challenge, and you have to give everything in qualifying to get a good lap. In the race we will have to wait and see how it is with overtaking, but I think that qualifying will be the key to success.”

Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Drivers’ standings: 13^th, 26 points):

“I’ve never been to Brands Hatch before, so it’s another new track for me but I think I’ve dealt quite well this year with new tracks. So from that point of view I think we are more than ready. We are also preparing in the simulator with the team so let’s see how it will go. In general, I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Joel Eriksson (#47 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Drivers’ standings: 10^th, 43 points):

“Brands Hatch is a fun track. Last year, I was racing there for the first time and still had to learn the track. So my expectations are for sure that I will do better than last year. I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a cool circuit and it will be nice to race there in the new BMW M4 DTM.”

Media Schedule (all times local time).

Friday, 9^th August

14:00-14:30, ITR press conference with Bruno Spengler, Media Centre

Saturday, 10^th August

15:30-15:40, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Media Centre

Sunday, 11^th August

08:30-09:00, Media round table with BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens

Marquardt, BMW Hospitality

15:30-15:40, Mixed Zone with all BMW drivers, Media Centre