BMW Motorsport News – Issue 12/14.

Whether in the DTM, the United SportsCar Championship, or countless other championships: week after week BMW teams and drivers around the world do battle for points, victories and titles. Away from the track too, members of the large BMW Motorsport family around the world are also creating headlines. The “BMW Motorsport News” allows us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed.

USCC: Third podium finish in a row for BMW Team RLL.
BMW Team RLL scored a third consecutive podium in the 2014 TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, finishing second and sixth in Saturday's Sports Car Showcase at Long Beach (US). John Edwards (US) and Dirk Müller (DE) scored their first podium of the season, racing the number 56 BMW Z4 GTLM to second place. Bill Auberlen (US) and Andy Priaulx (GB) had a disappointing finish in sixth after an excellent start in the number 55 car. However, sixth was enough for them to retain the lead in the driver points standings.

VLN: Seven class victories for BMW Sports Trophy Teams at the Nordschleife.
Round two of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring (DE) was very successful for the BMW Sports Trophy Teams. Seven classes were won by BMW vehicles. First and foremost BMW Team Adrenalin won the very first race of the new BMW M235i Racing Cup Class. BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS and BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert continued the preparation of their BMW Z4 GT3s for the 24 Hour race in June. Maxime Martin (BE) and Jörg Müller (DE) finished fifth and were the best placed BMW Crew. DTM driver Martin Tomczyk (DE) drove with Claudia Hürtgen (DE) and finished sixth just before travelling to the final DTM test session at Hockenheim (DE).

Three questions for... Martin Tomczyk.

Martin, for weeks you’ve been switching between testing in the BMW M4 DTM and racing in the BMW Z4 GT3. How are you coping with that?
Martin Tomczyk: “Switching from one to the other is working really well. Although the cars are generally very different to drive, I’m not having any problems at all with that. At the end of the day, I know the BMW Z4 GT3 very well from last year. It’s a great car, and I immediately felt at home in it again. The DTM naturally takes priority for me, but it’s very good for me get back into racing mode in the VLN before the start of the DTM season. And, without doubt, the Nürburgring 24 Hours will be a real highlight again.”

How have you settled into BMW Team Schnitzer?
Tomczyk: “Really very well. It’s, of course, very good I now only have a 50-minute drive from home to the team. That makes everything much easier on the organisational side. BMW Team Schnitzer is a Bavarian team through and through, so, as a Bavarian myself, I understand its mentality. Nevertheless, naturally I still have to get to know the team members and their working methods. There’s a lot that’s new for me this season. I’m really looking forward to it.”

What are your goals going into the DTM season, and the 24 Hour race?
Tomczyk: “The goal for the 24-hour race is very clear: we’re in it to win it. And in the DTM, I want to drive at the front with the best of them again after a disappointing year in 2013.”

--

Blancpain Sprint Series: Zanardi kicks off his comeback season.
The preparations with the BMW Z4 GT3 are complete, and the first appearance for Alessandro Zanardi (IT) is set for this coming weekend: the Italian will compete in the first race in his comeback season as a BMW works driver in Nogaro (FR). The 47 year-old is returning to racing after a break of four years. In 2014, he’s competing in the Blancpain Sprint Series, which starts its season at the “Circuit Paul Armagnac” this Easter weekend, with ROAL Motorsport. “We’re really looking forward to finally seeing Alex back racing,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “Working with him is a lot of fun. We’ve remembered that after the last three months while working with him and ROAL Motorsport to prepare his BMW Z4 GT3 for the season ahead. Alex is dying to get started, and the same goes for us, too. We’re confident it will be an exciting season in the Blancpain Sprint Series. Alex has what it takes to deliver some surprises.”

Blancpain Endurance Series: ROAL Motorsport wins Pro-Am class at Monza.
The three BMW Sports Trophy Teams finished in midfield positions at the season opener of the Blancpain Endurance Series in Monza (IT). ROAL Motorsport claimed a convincing sixth place with Stefano Colombo (IT), Stefano Comandini (IT) and Eugenio Amos (IT) and was the best placed team in the Pro-Am class. Ecurie Ecosse and the two BMW Z4 GT3s of TDS Racing missed the top-ten.

DTM: Farfus at “Motorsport vorm Schloss” in Braunschweig.
Three weeks before the start of the season in Hockenheim (DE), BMW DTM driver Augusto Farfus (BR) helped the north German fans get in the mood for the 2014 DTM season. Last Saturday, he made a guest appearance at “Motorsport vorm Schloss” (“Motorsport in front of the Castle”) in Braunschweig (DE). Farfus was on the DTM Showtruck stage for a question and answer session, signed autographs and chatted with the fans. “The event was fun – it was also a great way for me to get in the mood for the season,” said Farfus. “I like events like this – I get to meet fans and have fun with them without having the pressure of a race weekend. But now I can hardly wait for everything to finally get started.” The organiser of “Motorsport vorm Schloss” was the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (DE), which hosts the second race of the 2014 DTM season on 18th May.