PressClub Greece · Article.
Sensational victory in Spa-Francorchamps: BMW M6 GT3 celebrates overall win on its 24-hour debut in the Ardennes.
Mon Aug 01 09:55:48 CEST 2016 Press Kit
The BMW M6 GT3 repeated last year’s success for its predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3, by winning the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BE). After 531 laps, the ROWE Racing car number 99, driven by Maxime Martin (BE), Philipp Eng (AT) and Alexander Sims (GB), crossed the finish line in first place. The trio clinched the 23rd victory overall for BMW in the endurance classic at the "Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps".
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Sensational victory in Spa-Francorchamps: BMW M6 GT3 celebrates overall win on its 24-hour debut in the Ardennes.
Local heroes Pascal Ickx (BE) and Gérard Langlois (BE)
secured BMW's first triumph at the Ardennes marathon in
a BMW 1800 TI/SA back in 1965. Nicky Catsburg (NL),
Lucas Luhr (DE) and Markus Palttala (FI) scored victory
with the BMW Z4 GT3 last season. Now its successor, the
BMW M6 GT3, has also added its name to the list of
winners of the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (BE) –
and on its very first appearance.
It was a race of highs, lows and a perfect finish
for the victorious #99 BMW M6 GT3. In the initial phase
in particular, yellow flags, a safety car phase lasting
almost an hour and a lot of traffic in the pit lane kept
mixing up the field. Martin, Sims and Eng were even
outside the top 30 for a while. As the race went on,
they were able to battle their way up through the field
lap by lap. When night fell, the BMW M6 GT3 had
established itself among the front-runners and led the
field. The car entered the pits for a mandatory
five-minute stop to change its brakes during a yellow
flag phase. Afterwards, Sims, Martin and Eng continued
to hold their ground among the front-runners and were in
fourth place halfway through the race. They returned to
first place in the early hours of the morning.
Unperturbed by the changeable conditions, ROWE Racing
brought home victory. The triumph was a particularly
special experience for Belgian driver Martin at his home
race in Spa-Francorchamps.
Last year's winner Nick Catsburg (NL), with Stef
Dusseldorp (NL) and Dirk Werner (DE), also drove a
fantastic race in the car 98. ROWE Racing's second BMW
M6 GT3 was in the top 10 for long periods of the race
and also completed laps as the leader. Like their
teammates in the sister car, Catsburg, Dusseldorp and
Werner also made it through the night without incident.
They were in 16th place at the halfway point, made it
back into the top 10 with an outstanding display of
driving, and established themselves in a strong
position. Then, an hour and a half before the end of the
race, the #98 BMW M6 GT3 suffered a problem with the
clutch. Catsburg, Dusseldorp and Werner were forced to retire.
BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk (DE) in the #15 BMW
M6 GT3 was also very unlucky. The German contested his
first 24-hour race at the "Circuit de
Spa-Francorchamps" for BMW Team Italia. Tomczyk,
who drove the first stint, showed impressive pace right
from the start. The BMW works driver started the race
from 47th on the grid and delivered an impressive
charging drive. At the end of his double stint, he
handed over the BMW M6 GT3 that was contesting the
Pro-Am class to Stefano Colombo (IT) in 16th place.
Unfortunately, Tomczyk's performance went unrewarded:
the team was forced to return the car to the garage
after an accident in the early stages of the race. The
marathon also came to an early end for Boutsen Ginion
Racing; shortly after six in the morning, a technical
defect forced the team to retire.
Quotes after the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport
Director):
"Last year we bid farewell
to the BMW Z4 GT3 with a win in Spa-Francorchamps. The
fact that its successor, the BMW M6 GT3, was able to
repeat this magnificent success in its first year in
action is fantastic. Congratulations to the entire ROWE
Racing team on their sensational overall win in Spa. The
crew did as flawless a job and so did the drivers Maxime
Martin, Philipp Eng and Alexander Sims in the cockpit –
and they more than earned first place. With this success
on its debut at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the
BMW M6 GT3 proved its enormous potential yet again and
showed that it is totally reliable and competitive. I
feel particularly sorry for Nick Catsburg, Stef
Dusseldorp and Dirk Werner. They drove a very good race
before they were forced to retire their car an hour and
a half before the end of the race. I would also like to
highlight Martin Tomczyk's incredible display of
driving, he did a fantastic job with BMW Team Italia.
Martin went on an impressive pursuit at his first
appearance in Spa; he and his team deserved to do well.
It was also a shame for Boutsen Ginion Racing, who were
not rewarded for their efforts in this race."
Maxime Martin (#99 BMW M6 GT3, ROWE
Racing):
"I can't describe how I'm
feeling. I've competed in the 24 Hours of Spa ten times
now and have been in the lead, without winning, in the
four previous races. I had a technical issue each time,
and I was kind of expecting us to be unlucky again this
year. The entire team did a flawless job. We didn't have
a single problem in the entire race – we were
consistently good. It was the best win of my career,
alongside my successes in the DTM. When I embraced my
father, I felt a surge of emotions. My family has won
the race seven times now, that is simply sensational."
Philipp Eng (#99 BMW M6 GT3, ROWE
Racing):
"The feeling of winning here
is fantastic. There are some races that you want to win
in your career as a racing driver, and Spa is definitely
one of those. The fact that we are at the top in the BMW
M6 GT3's very first year is incredible. This is my first
major success as a works driver, my first major win as
an endurance specialist – I need to take it all in
first. So much happened in the race, and we also had
some good fortune. Then when it started to rain again 30
minutes before the end, I asked myself 'Is that really
necessary, why now?' I don't need to experience that
tension ever again."
Alexander Sims (#99 BMW M6 GT3, ROWE
Racing):
“Honestly, I still can't believe
it. The last stint in particular was very emotional, and
I tried to focus on ending the race safely. My team
helped me a lot with that via radio, keeping me
informed. The 24 Hours of Spa has been a very special
race to me since the start of my career in motorsport,
and I never expected to win it after just four years of
GT racing. I think that everyone at ROWE Racing and BMW
Motorsport did a fantastic job with the BMW M6 GT3. What
an incredible start; the first season for the car and
the first victory at the 24 Hours of Spa. My thanks go
to Philipp and Maxime too. They were fantastic from
start to finish."
Nick Catsburg (#98 BMW M6 GT3, ROWE
Racing):
"I'm still a bit torn at
the moment. Naturally, we were unable to finish the
race, but we were up there fighting for the leading
positions for large sections of the race. We had the
required pace. The team did an outstanding job. And our
sister car brought home the win. I know what that feels
like, and it is something very special for Maxime Martin
and the entire team. There is no way that anyone could
have predicted such a result in the BMW M6 GT3's first
year. It really is fantastic."
Dirk Werner (#98 BMW M6 GT3, ROWE
Racing):
"It was an unfortunate race
for us. We lost a lap at the start during a yellow flag
phase. But from that point on, things went pretty well
for us. We had good lap times, were able to keep up with
our rivals, but were a lap behind. This meant that we
were stuck in sixth or seventh place. Unfortunately, we
were unable to finish the race, which is a shame, but
that can happen in a 24-hour race. Congratulations to
our teammates on their win. They drove a fantastic race."
Stef Dusseldorp (#98 BMW M6 GT3, ROWE
Racing):
"It is very frustrating.
Somehow, the race seems to have it in for me. It all
feels a little bit like last year. We were on the way to
getting a good result, everyone delivered a strong
performance, and then something like that happens. It is
really depressing retiring from the race like that.
Fortunately, the other car performed perfectly and they
were able to bring home the win. However, overall
everyone did a fantastic job, which is why no one can
criticise anyone in the team."