BMW Motorsport News – Issue 43/15.

BMW M6 GTLM: Public debut at Daytona test.

BMW Team RLL will participate in the IMSA test at Daytona International Speedway (US) on 17th/18th November, marking the first public test for BMW’s latest endurance racing challenger, the BMW M6 GTLM. As was announced during last season’s Petit Le Mans weekend, BMW Team RLL is expected to campaign two BMW M6 GTLM race cars in the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The car recently completed its first US test at Sebring International Raceway (US) in late October, along with a BMW M6 GT3 that will provide the foundation for BMW’s worldwide customer racing programme. 2015 season drivers Bill Auberlen (US), Dirk Werner (DE) and John Edwards (US) participated at Sebring along with 2014 GTLM driver champion Kuno Wittmer (CA), who has signed with BMW of North America to compete in the three endurance classics of the IMSA Championship – namely the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans. The Sebring test also provided the opportunity for 2015 BMW Motorsport Junior Trent Hindman (US) to drive this year’s BMW Z4 GTLM. At the Daytona test the drivers will be Auberlen, Edwards, Lucas Luhr (DE) and BMW DTM driver Bruno Spengler (CA).

DTM: Joint programme with the ADAC GT Masters at the Lausitzring.

The BMW M4 DTM and the BMW M6 GT3 at the same racetrack on the same weekend: this dream scenario for many BMW fans is set to become reality at the Lausitzring (DE) in 2016, when the DTM and ADAC GT Masters share the bill on the first weekend in June (4th-6th June). The two popular racing series will both contest two races at the “EuroSpeedway”, thus offering spectators twice the action in spectacular racing cars. The last time the two series held races at the same venue on the same weekend was back in 2008.

Race of Champions: Andy Priaulx back in action.

Andy Priaulx (GB) will take on some of the best racing drivers in the world when he makes his eighth appearance at the “Race of Champions”. The BMW works driver and three-time World Touring Car Champion will compete alongside Jason Plato (GB) for the England 1 team in the Nations Cup. He will also do battle in the individual competition. After Thailand (2012) and Barbados (2014), the “Race of Champions” returns to Europe and will be held at the former Olympic stadium in London (GB) on 20th and 21st December. Priaulx has reached the semi-final of the individual competition on three occasions, and has finished runner-up in the Nations Cup twice – most recently in 2010 with this year’s partner Plato. “I love this event,” said Priaulx. “What a great way to end a busy season – joining all my fellow champions in a fun head-to-head battle. It will be an epic challenge. Racing in the stadium is very special and I am really looking forward to the atmosphere in London.”

Japanese Super GT Championship: Season finale for the BMW Z4 GT3 in Motegi.

The 2015 season in the Japanese Super GT Championship drew to a close this weekend with the final round in Motegi (JP). At the “Twin Ring Motegi”, teams and drivers had to cope with difficult weather conditions. It rained during qualifying on Saturday, while the race itself was held under mixed conditions. During the first half of the race the track was still wet, but it dried out during the second half. Jörg Müller (DE) and Seiji Ara (JP) ended the final round of the season in ninth position with their BMW Sports Trophy Team Studie BMW Z4 GT3. Morio Nitta (JP) and Shigekazu Wakisaka (JP) finished 15th in their Team LMcorsa BMW Z4 GT3. Victory went to Toyota.