DTM season opener: Schubert Motorsport competes with three BMW M4 GT3s at the home race in Oschersleben.

Munich. The 2024 DTM season, in which the racing series celebrates its 40th anniversary, starts for Schubert Motorsport with a real highlight: the home event at the gates of the company's headquarters in Oschersleben (GER). The team has intensively prepared for the season in the past weeks with testing in Hockenheim (GER) and Oschersleben, where it will field three BMW M4 GT3s for the first time. DTM champions René Rast (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Marco Wittmann (GER) will compete in the colours of BMW M Motorsport partners RoboMarkets, Shell, and Schaeffler, aiming for podium finishes and victories .

The track record of the driver trio in DTM is impressive. Rast has three titles and 26 wins in 106 races, Wittmann two titles and 18 wins in 178 races. Van der Linde has one title and five wins in 84 races. Schubert Motorsport is entering its third DTM season. Following the win of the driver and team titles at its debut in 2022, the team finished fourth in the team standings last season. In just two years, Team Principal Torsten Schubert and his crew have achieved five wins and nine additional podium finishes.

At the official testing in Hockenheim, the BMW M4 GT3s made a strong impression, and the team collected much valuable data. Last week, the cars completed their laps in the Motorsport Arena, where the first two races of the year will be held on Saturday and Sunday each at 13:30 CEST. The supporting programme also includes the season starts of the ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4 Germany, where FK Performance Motorsport will compete with a large contingent in the BMW M4 GT3 and BMW M4 GT4. Other GT4 teams representing the colours of BMW M Motorsport are Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and ME Motorsport, each fielding two BMW M4 GT4s in the ADAC GT4 Germany.

Comments before the DTM season opener:

Björn Lellmann (Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport): “I am incredibly excited for a packed race weekend in Oschersleben. DTM, ADAC GT Masters, and ADAC GT4 Germany – that means: Five BMW M4 GT3s and eight BMW M4 GT4s are fighting for victories and podium places in the most prominent German GT racing series. These are impressive numbers that underline how popular our BMW M Motorsport race cars are with our customers. Schubert Motorsport has a great track record in DTM and is entering the race with a very strong line-up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for Torsten Schubert, our BMW M works drivers, and the team that they will have a successful home game and a strong season following the good testing results. In the ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4 Germany, FK Performance Motorsport is fielding a total of two BMW M4 GT3s and four BMW M4 GT4s. Thank you for this fantastic commitment to BMW M Motorsport and the racing series. I wish the team as much success as Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and ME Motorsport, who are each bringing two BMW M4 GT4s to the start in the ADAC GT4 Germany.”

Torsten Schubert (Team Principal Schubert Motorsport): “It's great to start the season in my hometown because I have a lot of connections with Oschersleben. We expect more than 1,000 guests over the weekend and will also offer the spectators in our own fan area a varied programme. We are generally very satisfied with the testing ahead of the season. Fielding three instead of two cars is a challenge for the team. It takes some time to get the way of working within the crews 100 percent right. But this will quickly fall into place thanks to our experienced team members. Drivers, engineers, and mechanics complement each other – the whole team is great! Even though the Oschersleben circuit does not optimally suit the strengths of the BMW M4 GT3, we will do everything we can to compete at the front.”

Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3): “I used the testing to get to know the team as well as possible because it's incredibly important that we trust each other. We were very satisfied with our pace in Hockenheim. Of course, the true balance of power is never shown in preparation, but it was nice to see that we are competitive. Even if the Oschersleben circuit may not suit the car as well as Hockenheim, we will do everything we can to achieve good results for Schubert Motorsport at the home game.”

Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 GT3): “There have also been personnel changes in my crew, so the tests were very good for me to optimally coordinate with my engineers so they know what I need to be fast. Overall, I think the new team structure will make us even stronger. The car felt good at both tests. Of course, we don't yet know what that will be worth, but I'm going into the season with a good feeling.”

René Rast (#33 RoboMarkets BMW M4 GT3): “For me, it was the first time in a while that I was back in my DTM car in Hockenheim. It felt very good, especially in Hockenheim. We struggle a bit more in Oschersleben, but we learned a lot during the tests. Now we'll see where we really stand this weekend.”