BMW Motorsport News – Issue 38/15.

BTCC: Thrilling final races in Brands Hatch.

The 2015 season of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) drew to a close with three thrilling races. The final was held in Brands Hatch (GB) this weekend. BMW works driver Andy Priaulx (GB), who had returned to the BTCC this season after a break of 13 years, was the most successful of the BMW drivers. In his West Surrey Racing BMW 125i M Sport, he finished the first two races in eighth and ninth. In the third race, during which the positions were hotly contested right down to the final lap, Priaulx was on track to finish in the top six until shortly before the end of the race, but then he dropped down into tenth. His team-mate Robert Collard (GB) finished the three final races tenth twice and in seventh once. In the third West Surrey Racing BMW 125i M Sport of Sam Tordoff (GB) finished in 11th twice and in 13th once. There were numerous incidents involving safety car phases in all three races. Honda driver Gordon Shedden (GB) clinched the BTCC championship title at the last minute.

Three questions for … Andy Priaulx.

Andy, in 2015 you returned to the British Touring Car Championship after 13 years. What has been your greatest experience in your comeback season in BTCC?

Andy Priaulx: “Being on pole in the first race was a great experience. But the whole season has been great. The team has been brilliant and the fans absolutely amazing. I would like to thank them all very much for what really has been a truly enjoyable year of motorsport.”

Let us talk about your BMW 125i M Sport: how is it to drive a racing car that is so close to series production?

Priaulx: “As with any race car, it is not quite like the road car when you are in it. But the BMW 1 series is a fabulously balanced car and a real treat to drive.”

You and your team seem to be like a close racing family. What makes this team so special?

Priaulx: “I always make the team part of my family. The team and I gelled well from the start. The guys at West Surrey Racing are hugely professional and I have really enjoyed their company and working with them during the season. They are multiple champions and definitely the guys in the paddock to be with, which showed as we finished the season with two poles, eight podiums and two wins.”

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12h Brno: Class victories for BMW Juniors and the Duck Racing Team.

BMW Teams celebrated two class victories at the “12 Hours of Brno (CZ)” on Saturday. BMW Motorsport Juniors Victor Bouveng (SE), Nick Cassidy (NZ) and Trent Hindman (US) triumphed alongside their head instructor Dirk Adorf (DE) in the SP3 class. The success came as a surprise since the class was contested by more powerful cars than the BMW M235i Racing, with which the juniors competed. A BMW team also got the win in the A5 class. Duck Racing was victorious in a BMW M3 GTR. The Senkyr Motorsport BMW Z4 GT3  finished seventh in the overall standings. Ferrari took the win.

Asian Le Mans Series: BMW Z4 GT3 on the GT podium in Fuji. 

The opening race in Fuji, Japan, on Sunday saw the 2015/16 season of the Asian Le Mans Series get underway. And the BMW Z4 GT3 celebrated a spot on the podium: The AAI team finished the “6 Hours of Fuji” in third place in the GT class. Han Chen Chen (TW), Hiroki Yoshimoto (JP) and Shinya Hosokawa (JP) took it in turns at the wheel of the number 92 BMW Z4 GT3. They finished in fifth place in the overall standings for LMP2 and GT cars.

Blancpain Sprint Series: Season finale in Zandvoort.

The “Circuit Park Zandvoort” on the North Sea coast of the Netherlands played host to the 2015 season finale of the Blancpain Sprint Series. BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil fielded two BMW Z4 GT3s. Caca Bueno and Sergio Jimenez (both BR) in the number 0 car finished eighth in the qualifying race on Saturday. Their team-mates Atila Abreu and Valdeno Brito (both BR) in the number 77 sister car crossed the finish line right behind them to take ninth. Bueno and Jimenez finished tenth in the main race on Sunday; Abreu/Brito retired. Both races were won by the Bentley pairing of Vincent Abril (FR) and Maximilian Buhk (DE).