DTM: Team Schubert collects important points at the Lausitzring – debut for the BMW M2 Cup.

Lausitzring. Schubert Motorsport achieved top-ten results at the third race weekend of the DTM season at the Lausitzring (GER), securing valuable points in the championship. Marco Wittmann (GER) finished fifth and eighth in the #11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3 EVO in the two races, while Kelvin van der Linde (RSA) took tenth place on Saturday and ninth place on Sunday in the #3 Shell BMW M4 GT3 EVO. The BMW M2 Cup celebrated its debut in the Lausitz with a double victory for Michael Schrey (GER). In the ADAC GT Masters, brothers Juliano and Sandro Holzem (both GER) won their first race, and Leyton Fourie (RSA) and Tim Zimmermann (GER) took the overall lead.

The two DTM races were hard work for Team Schubert. This time, the pace wasn’t enough for top starting positions, but once again Wittmann and his crew managed to stage a major comeback on Saturday. After a rain shower, Wittmann gambled on slicks as the track dried and was rewarded with a charge from 18th on the grid to fifth place. On Sunday, he finished eighth. Ahead of his home races at the Norisring (GER) in two weeks, Wittmann sits fourth in the drivers’ standings with 71 points. Kelvin van der Linde also gained several positions in both races, finishing tenth and ninth. He is eighth overall with 54 points. Thanks to four top-ten results, Schubert Motorsport has taken the lead in the team standings with 119 points.

BMW M2 Cup: Double victory at the debut.
BMW M Motorsport veteran Michael Schrey (GER) was the man of the weekend at the BMW M2 Cup’s debut as part of the DTM support programme. In the #2 BMW M2 Racing car from Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport, he drove from pole position to victory in both races. The other podium places went to the young guns. On Saturday, Moritz Groneck (GER) from Team ME Motorsport finished second ahead of Niklas Hirsch (GER, Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport). On Sunday, second and third places went to Christopher Holst (SUI, ME Motorsport) and Tatu Siipola (FIN, FK Performance Motorsport). The remaining season events will take place at the Norisring, Nürburgring, Sachsenring, and Hockenheimring (all GER).

ADAC GT Masters: First victory for the Holzem brothers.
In the ADAC GT Masters, the BMW M4 GT3 EVO won both races at the Lausitzring. On Saturday, Juliano and Sandro Holzem celebrated their first victory with the #56 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from Schubert Motorsport. Leyton Fourie and Tim Zimmermann completed the BMW M Motorsport one-two finish in the #11 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from FK Performance Motorsport. In Sunday’s race, the German-South African duo went one better and celebrated the win, which also meant taking the lead in the drivers’ standings. At the halfway point of the season, FK Performance Motorsport leads the team standings.

Quotes after the race weekend:

Björn Lellmann (Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport): “From BMW M Motorsport’s perspective, the weekend at the Lausitzring had a lot to offer. In the DTM, we struggled with pace, but thanks to great strategy and strong pit stops from Team Schubert, we still achieved solid results. Things went fantastically in the ADAC GT Masters. Congratulations to FK Performance Motorsport and Schubert Motorsport for their victories in both races – amazing! Last but not least, our BMW M2 Cup celebrated a great debut. Congratulations to Michael Schrey, who deservedly won both races with his experience. Behind him, we saw entertaining racing from the youngsters – it was a lot of fun! I am convinced that we will have a very good first season. Many thanks to the ADAC for the organisation!”

Torsten Schubert (Team Principal, Schubert Motorsport): “I think we made the best of the opportunities we had here at the Lausitzring. We scored solid points with both cars in both races, and as a result, we have even taken the lead in the team standings. We also remain within striking distance of the top in the drivers’ standings. On Sunday, Kelvin van der Linde had much fresher tyres than Marco Wittmann at the end and was therefore able to get past him. It’s unfortunate that he received a five-second penalty afterwards. A special congratulations this weekend goes to Sandro and Juliano Holzem, who won their first race in the ADAC GT Masters in our car on Saturday.”

Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Race 1: 5th place, Race 2: 8th place): “The summary of the weekend is mixed. Our weakness this season remains qualifying, where we can’t get as much out of the car as our competitors. That means we have to take more risks in the races. On Saturday, the gamble with slicks on a drying track worked perfectly. Fifth place was a great result. On Sunday, we really suffered with the older tyres in the heat. I think we got almost the maximum out of this weekend, but the goal is always the podium.”

Kelvin van der Linde (#3 Shell BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Race 1: 10th place, Race 2: 9th place): “It was a tough weekend. Our pace in both races wasn’t where it was at the Red Bull Ring and Zandvoort. The heat made the races even harder but we fought and scored important points in both races. That was the main thing this time. Now I’m looking forward to the Norisring – another track I have to learn with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO.”