BMW Motorsport News – Issue 20/15.

DTM: Wittmann unveils number 1 BMW Maxi-Scooter.

A special honour was bestowed upon BMW Team RMG driver Marco Wittmann (DE) during the race weekend at the Lausitzring (DE): accompanied by Henning Putzke, Head of BMW Motorrad Deutschland, and BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, the reigning DTM champion unveiled the first BMW Maxi-Scooter C 600 Sport in the same design as the Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM, with which Wittmann won the Drivers’ Championship in 2014. The sporty Maxi-Scooter is a visual treat, featuring the champion’s signature, the number 1, and a specially designed seat in Ice-Watch colours – just like the BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition, which was launched by BMW M GmbH in 2014 in recognition of Wittmann’s DTM success.

Three questions for... Marco Wittmann.

Marco, after the BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition, you now also have a C 600 Sport: how do you like seeing the design of your championship-winning car on the BMW Motorrad Maxi-Scooter?

Marco Wittmann: “I obviously find it awesome. I was absolutely delighted when I saw the BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition for the first time at the final round of the 2014 season in Hockenheim. And the same was true when I unveiled the C 600 Sport here at the Lausitzring. Thank you very much to BMW Motorrad for this special edition. I think the Ice-Watch design always looks great – whether on four wheels or two.”

We will see you on two wheels more often before long...

Wittmann: “Yes, that’s right. I am doing my motorcycle licence at the moment. This is something I have meant to do for quite a while, but have just not really had the time. However, I have finally got round to it now. I can hardly wait to try out the bikes from BMW Motorrad.”

Luck was not on your side at the Lausitzring, and you had to settle for 13th and 17th. How would you sum up the weekend?

Wittmann: “There was definitely more in it for us, but we were prevented from getting better results on both days by things we had no influence over. On Saturday I received a grid penalty, which I could not really understand. That made the race tough for me right from the start. Sunday’s race was over early doors for me, when Robert Wickens forced me off into the gravel bed and I rejoined the race at the very back of the field. All the same, I was still able to make up a few positions. BMW Team RMG and I are looking ahead now: I am looking forward to my home round at the Norisring at the end of June.”

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United SportsCar Championship: thrilling fightback in Detroit.
The United SportsCar Championship was at the Belle Isle Circuit in Detroit on Saturday, where Turner Motorsport finished sixth in its class with Michael Marsal (US) and Markus Palttala (FI) at the wheel of the number 97 BMW Z4 GTD. The drivers had a tough 100-minute race, as they were forced to start from the back of the grid after Marsal lost his qualifying time due to a crash during the session. They battled through the ten-car field to earn their best finish of the season. The class was won by the Porsche of Ian James (GB) and Mario Farnbacher (DE). For the very first time, the Turner Motorsport team fielded all three of its racing cars at the same event, as the Pirelli World Challenge Championship was also on the same race schedule, which supported the latest race in the IndyCar Series. In the first of the two 50-minute races, which were held on Saturday and Sunday, Bret Curtis (US) in the number 94 BMW Z4 finished runner-up in the GTA class. Bill Ziegler (US) was tenth in the team’s number 95 car. The GTA winner was Henrique Cisneros (US) in his Ferrari. On Sunday, series officials were forced to cancel the race due to inclement weather and reduced track visibility.

British GT Championship: double podium for the BMW Z4 GT3 in Silverstone.
Two crews finished in the top three with the BMW Z4 GT3 at the third race weekend of the British GT Championship in Silverstone (GB). In a fiercely-competitive three-hour race at the iconic British circuit, Lee Mowle (GB) and Joe Osborne (GB) in the number 888 BMW Z4 GT3 narrowly missed out on victory for the Triple Eight Racing team. They finished runners-up, just 0.5 seconds behind the winners. Defending champions Marco Attard (GB) and Alexander Sims (GB) of Ecurie Ecosse finished third in the number 1 BMW Z4 GT3 to join them on the podium. John Minshaw (GB) and Phil Keen (GB) failed to finish in the number 63 BMW Z4 GT3 of Barwell/Team Russia.

12h Zandvoort: exciting race on the North Sea coast.
Twelve BMW racing cars were in action on Friday and Saturday at the third event in the 24h Series, the 12-hour race in Zandvoort (NL). The Hofor-Küpper Racing team finished as the runner-up in the A5 class with the number 75 BMW M3 Coupé to claim a spot on the podium. The Cup 1 class was solely for crews in the BMW M235i Racing. Victory went to Bonk Motorsport with its drivers Michael Schrey (DE) and Alexander Mies (DE). The next round of the 24h Series will take place at the “Circuit Paul Ricard” on 11th/12th July. The race duration will be 24 hours.