BMW M Motorsport News, 5th December 2023

MBEDDED: Emotional insights into the FIA GT World Cup in Macau .

There is no more spectacular street race in GT sports than the FIA GT World Cup in Macau. In 2023, BMW M Motorsport returned to the tight streets of the Asian gambling mecca for the first time since 2019. The new episode of the BMW M Motorsport video documentary series MBEDDED captures the unique, electrifying atmosphere in Macau and follows BMW M works drivers Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) as they dance between the guardrails with the BMW M4 GT3 up close. Veteran Farfus looks back at his emotional Macau victory in 2018 with Charly Lamm at the beginning of the episode and celebrates again on the podium at the end. Van der Linde experiences the fascination of Macau as a rookie for the first time and impresses with a strong performance – but without a happy ending.

Link to the full episode: https://b.mw/MBEDDED_Macau .

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ALMS: Project 1 starts the season in Sepang .

Last weekend, the 2023/2024 season of the Asian Le Mans Series (ALMS) began with two 4-hour races in Sepang (MAS). The BMW M Motorsport team Project 1 started with two BMW M4 GT3s and was supported by BMW M works driver Dan Harper (GBR). In the first race on Saturday, Harper and his teammates Darren Leung (GBR) and Christian Bogle (USA) were on course for a top-ten finish, but retired due to a loose wheel after a pit stop shortly before the end and were classified 18th in the GT class. In the sister car, Sean Gelael (INA), Maxime Oosten (NED), and Huilin Han (CHN) finished in 20th place. On Sunday, Harper, Leung, and Bogle finished in tenth place in their second attempt to secure a top-ten finish. The second car was doing well in the race for a long time, but then fell back to 18th position due to a drive-through penalty for a collision.

“It’s been a fantastic experience making my Asian Le Mans Series debut, getting to work with Darren, Christian and Project 1, and learning a fantastic new circuit in Sepang,” said Harper. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have the ultimate pace to challenge at the front of the field this weekend, with tyre degradation in particular making it tough for us, but the team did a brilliant job.”

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Sim racing: The champions of the BMW M SIM Cup have been crowned .

Dominik Hofmann (AUT) has been crowned champion at the season finale of the BMW M SIM Cup on iRacing. In the last of ten races on the Suzuka (JPN) circuit, the Austrian, alongside Daniel Alves Lourenco (GER), finished third in the virtual #90 BMW M Hybrid V8, but secured the title thanks to the fastest lap, ahead of his teammate from URANO eSports.

“Even if our qualifying sessions were not always optimal, we always found a way to work our way to the top and score important points. The fact that this work is rewarded with the championship in the end is of great significance,” said Hofmann. Even before the tenth race, it was decided that Hofmann and Lourenco would compete for the title. However, Hofmann started the season finale with a one-point lead.

On the virtual Suzuka International Racing Course, the dominant #90 BMW M Hybrid V8 with Hofmann and Lourenco made it to the podium for the ninth time in ten races. The 25-year-old Austrian drove the fastest lap again in the 66th lap of the season finale, securing his second bonus point of the season and thus the title in the BMW M SIM Cup on iRacing – with a two-point lead over Lourenco. Third in the overall standings was Matt J. Farrow (GBR) from Team Williams Esports Mahle, who finished his strong season alongside Josh Lad (GBR) in the virtual #11 BMW M Hybrid V8 with the day’s victory.

The championship in the GT3 class of the BMW M SIM Cup on iRacing was also decided between two teammates. In the last race, Diogo C. Pinto (POR) and Chris Lulham (GBR) in the #20 BMW M4 GT3 from Team Redline achieved their fifth victory of the year, thus crowning their dominant season. Since both drivers had also each driven two fastest laps in the ten races, the Portuguese and the Briton shared the title in the end with a large lead.