PressClub Global · Article.
BMW Motorsport News – Issue 26/15.
Sun Jul 12 19:39:06 CEST 2015 Press Release
Archive
Wittmann and Félix da Costa win in Zandvoort – Podiums and triumphs for BMW teams in a host of series around the world.
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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.
DTM: Perfect weekend for BMW Motorsport in Zandvoort.
The BMW drivers achieved an outstanding team result on the
fourth race weekend of the 2015 DTM season in Zandvoort (NL). All
six podium places went to drivers in BMW M4 DTMs. Marco Wittmann
(DE) and António Félix da Costa (PT) took the plaudits on the top
step of the podium after races seven and eight. Félix da Costa
first secured his maiden pole position in the DTM on Sunday
morning, before converting it to become the first Portuguese
driver ever to win a DTM race.
Three questions for... António Félix da Costa.
António, you were the man of the weekend in Zandvoort,
with a pole position, a win and a second place. What does this
success mean to you?
António Félix da Costa: “It is a fantastic feeling. When I
came to the DTM, a year and a half ago, everything felt easy. The
car was superb, BMW was very strong, and I was able to mix it at
the front of the field from the word go. However, I then had a few
problems. I suddenly struggled to get the balance of the car
right, which meant I could not show BMW and the DTM what I was
capable of. The second half of the 2014 season was really tough.
In the winter I took a big step forward and really analysed my
situation very closely. After a few problems for all the BMWs
early on in the season, everything came together here in Zandvoort
– and I am on the top step of the podium. I am obviously very
proud of that.”
What is the most important thing you have learned over the
past few months?
Félix da Costa: “My battles in the pack and the many tough
races have generally made me a better DTM driver. You have to gain
this experience to be stronger moving forward. At the same time, I
never doubted that I could lead and win races if everything fell
into place. That was finally the case here, and I kept my word and
proved that I can win.”
You have now earned your place in the long success story
of BMW Team Schnitzer...
Félix da Costa: “That means an awful lot to me. It is
unbelievable to enjoy success with such an experienced and iconic
team – and with a fantastic team principal like Charly Lamm.
Whenever I am in Freilassing, I marvel at the trophies and the
long stories you find everywhere there. Now I am a part of all that.”
--
European Le Mans Series: BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS
narrowly misses out on podium.
BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS narrowly missed out on a place
on the podium in race three of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS).
As at the races in Silverstone (GB) and Imola (IT), Andy Priaulx
(GB), BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn (FI) and Henry Hassid (FR)
– at the wheel of the number 52 BMW Z4 GTE – finished fourth in
the LMGTE class in the four-hour race at the Red Bull Ring (AT).
First place went to Ferrari. The TDS Racing team did make it onto
the podium in the GTC class. Franck Perera (FR), Dino Lunardi (FR)
and Eric Dermont (FR) finished second in their BMW Z4 GT3, behind
the winning Ferrari.
USCC: Second and third on the grid for BMW Team RLL.
The BMW Team RLL BMW Z4 GTLMs qualified in second and third
for the sixth round of the United SportsCar Championship (USCC) at
the Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CA), which is better known as
Mosport, just outside Toronto. In glorious sunshine it was the
number 25 car of Dirk Werner (US) that finished in second, just
three hundredths of a second off the pole time set by Nick Tandy
(GB) in the Porsche. Just behind was the number 24 car of Lucas
Luhr (DE) with a time just 0.127secs slower. As usual, Werner is
partnered by Bill Auberlen (US) and Luhr by John Edwards (US). The
two hours forty minutes race was due to start at 12.05 local time today.
CTSCC: Burton Racing comes up just short of a podium.
Terry Borcheller (US) and Mike LaMarra (US) were the
best-placed BMW drivers in Saturday’s 2.5-hour Continental Tire
Sports Car Challenge race at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.
Driving the number 23 Burton Racing BMW 128i, the duo finished
fourth in the Street Tuner class. BMW Motorsport Junior driver
Trent Hindman (US) did not get the chance to drive in the GS
class, as the number 46 BMW M3 retired on lap 21 with a mechanical failure.
24h Paul Ricard: Two class victories for BMW teams.
BMW teams Securtal Sorg Rennsport and Hofor-Küpperracing both
won their respective class in the 24-hour race in Paul Ricard
(FR). In the CUP1 class, in which the field was made up
exclusively of BMW M235i Racings, Nicolas Griebner (DE), Michael
Steffny (AT), Daniel Sorg (DE), Thomas Müller (DE) and Felix
Günther (DE) emerged victorious after 500 laps, finishing ahead of
Bonk Motorsport. The “Mission Possible Racing by Sorg Rennsport”
project, for quadriplegic drivers, came home third. Victory in the
A5 class went to Siarhei Paulavets (BY), Martin Kroll (CH),
Fabrice Reicher (FR), Bernd Küpper (DE) and Chantal Kroll (CH) in
the Hofor-Küpperracing BMW M3.
Mental and simulator training for the BMW Motorsport Juniors.
BMW Motorsport Juniors Victor Bouveng (SE), Nick Cassidy (NZ),
Louis Delétraz (CH) and Trent Hindman (US) visited the iZone
Driver Performance Centre in Silverstone (GB) last week, where
they underwent intense mental and simulator training. The focus
was on preparing for the first highlight of the season for the
class of 2015 – the start in the BMW M235i Racing at the 24 Hours
of Zolder (BE) on 29th/30th August. Bouveng, Delétraz and Hindman
will race alongside chief instructor Dirk Adorf (DE). The entire
quartet of Juniors will be in action at the 12 Hours of Brno (CZ)
on 10th October. In Silverstone, renowned sports psychologist
Prof. Dr. Dieter Hackfort (DE) laid the foundations for a
successful outing at both endurance races with a comprehensive
programme in the simulator, which included many different methods
of mental training. The Juniors learned how to first visualise a
racetrack mentally, before using this image later in the car to
improve their performance. Each of the four drivers was given
individual training in the simulator, which was tailored to their
particular needs.
British GT Championship: BMW on the podium at Spa-Francorchamps.
Barwell Motorsport’s Jon Minshaw (GB) and Phil Keen (GB)
finished second in their BMW Z4 GT3, as Spa-Francorchamps (BE)
hosted the 2:30-hour race in the British GT Championship. In doing
so, they claimed their first podium finish of the season. While
the number 7 Aston Martin won the race, Alexander Sims (GB) and
Marco Attard (GB) came home fourth in the Ecurie Ecosse BMW Z4 GT3
to extend their lead in the overall standings.
Italian GT Championship: Victory for Comandini/Gagliardini
in Mugello.
Stefano Comandini (IT) and Andrea Gagliardini (IT) won race
two of the Italian GT Championship in Mugello (IT). After 26 laps
of racing, the ROAL Motorsport duo in the number 5 BMW Z4 GT3 came
home first with a five-second lead over the second-placed Audi.
Comandini/Gagliardini had failed to finish Saturday’s opening race.