BMW M Motorsport News, 14th April 2026.

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

“In the still young season, we can already celebrate further successes from our BMW M Motorsport teams. At Le Castellet, there were not only podium finishes for our BMW M4 GT3 EVO customer racing projects at the first GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS endurance race. The teams also collected trophies in the GT4 European Series with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO. In addition, our BMW M Racing Academy member Thomi Rackl gave an impressive performance in his first weekend in the series. In Asia, Team KRC secured a victory in the GT World Challenge Asia, and at the NLS race on the Nürburgring Nordschleife, various BMW M race cars once again achieved strong results. From a customer racing perspective, these included a class victory for Gamota Racing with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, as well as a double success for AV Racing by Black Falcon with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO. Let’s keep it going!”

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Top topic: Successful season opener in the GT4 European Series.

The strongest GT4 racing series in Europe, the GT4 European Series, kicked off its new season this past weekend at Le Castellet, southern France. For BMW M Motorsport teams, the opener with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO was a success – especially in the Pro-Am class, where BMW crews claimed victories in both races along with additional podium finishes.

In race one, the Swedish duo of Victor Bouveng and Joakim Walde prevailed in the #98 BMW M4 GT4 EVO run by Schubert Motorsport. Gustavo Xavier (SUI) and Önder Erdem (TUR) also made it onto the podium, finishing third in the #60 car entered by Razoon – more than racing. The Razoon – more than racing team then celebrated victory in the Pro-Am class in an exciting second race, with Daniel Drexel (AUT) and Christopher Salkeld (GBR) in the #70 BMW M4 GT4 EVO. Just behind them, Bouveng/Walde finished second for Schubert Motorsport.

A member of the BMW M Racing Academy, Thomi Rackl, caused a stir at the front of the overall field. The young German is making his debut in the GT4 European Series this season and is competing alongside Gabriele Piana (ITA) in the #12 BMW M4 GT4 for Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport in the top category, the Silver class. The duo set the fastest time in practice, secured pole position for race two, and even led the race at times. After a turbulent closing stage, during which the safety car bunched up the field again, they finished the second race in fifth place. In race one, they were forced to retire early.

Rackl’s summary after the opening weekend: “After the free practice sessions, where Gabriele set the fastest time and I did the same, we went into the weekend very confident. The car felt strong. I drove the first qualifying session, which is the more competitive one. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite nail the lap, and we ended up with a poor start position for race one. I felt very sorry for the team, as they had put in a lot of work. Starting from P25, I moved up to P17 in the first half of the race; the pace was very good, and I think a result between fourth and seventh place would have been possible. However, on the way to the pit stop, a competitor hit me from behind, and we had to retire. Race two initially went all the better. Gabriele secured pole position with a very strong qualifying performance, took the start, and handed the car over to me in P1. The pit stop went really well, and I was leading the race by several seconds. I was quite confident we would win, but shortly before the end, the safety car came out, and at the restart I couldn’t pull away. In turn one, competitors managed to get past me. We simply lacked straight-line speed, and the tyres were quite worn. It was a shame, as it would have been great to bring home the win for the team. But we keep working!”

The second round of the 2026 GT4 European Series will take place at the end of May at Monza (ITA).

All results at a glance

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BMW Z4 GT3: Comeback of the fan favourite.

When fans are asked about their favorite historic race cars, the BMW Z4 GT3 is very often mentioned. Now the cult car – affectionately known as the “Zetti” – is back on track and even competed at two different events this past weekend.

At the Nürburgring Nordschleife (GER), Peter Posavac, Michael Funke, and Nikolaus Frank (all GER) brought the BMW Z4 GT3 back into action. It marks a comeback following Posavac’s last Nürburgring 24-hour race with the car in 2019. The team used NLS 3, part of the Nürburgring Endurance Series, on Saturday as a test session to prepare for the major highlight.

The project is a true labour of love, fuelled by the overwhelming response from the motorsport community. Posavac said about the support from fans and former companions: “It’s highly emotional and shows what motorsport can achieve. I’m incredibly happy to bring the old lady back to the grid.”

Fans could admire no fewer than three “Zettis” in action last weekend at Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet (FRA). As part of the support programme for the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, the first two races of the new GT3 Revival Series were held. This new SRO championship is specifically designed for first-generation GT3 race cars – fitting for the 20th anniversary of GT3 racing being celebrated this year.

In the opening two races of the GT3 Revival Series, Christoph von Oeynhausen secured second place in the Pro-Am class on both occasions with the #888 BMW Z4 GT3 run by Classic & Speed. Additional BMW Z4 GT3 entries in the Revival Series are fielded by Barwell Motorsport and Pierre Hirschi with CMR.

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M News compact: More victories and podium finishes.

GT World Challenge Asia (3rd-5th April): At the season opener of the GT World Challenge Asia at Sepang (MAS), Team KRC, with Brian Lee (TPE) and Maxime Oosten (NED) in the #10 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, secured a class victory in the SIL-AM category.

All results at a glance

NLS (11th April): At the second round of the season at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, in addition to the overall victory for Schubert Motorsport, BMW teams celebrated no fewer than eight additional class wins. One of the standout results was the success of Gamota Racing with the #23 BMW M4 GT3 EVO: sixth place overall and victory in the SP9 PRO-AM class. Also exceptional was the double win for AV Racing by Black Falcon with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO in the SP10 category.

All results at a glance

GT Cup Series (11th-12th April): In the Endurance Race at the Red Bull Ring (AUT), Dennis Waszek (CZE) secured victory in the eD4-GT3 class in the BMW M4 GT3 entered by Racing Trevor.

All results at a glance: