BMW Motorsport News – Issue 09/16.

Whether in the DTM, the IMSA WeatherTech 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.

GT Racing: Walkenhorst Motorsport ready for the Nordschleife.

Walkenhorst Motorsport took part in testing in Aragón (ES) last week to prepare the new BMW M6 GT3 for the season opener of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring (DE). Henry Walkenhorst's (DE) team will contest the entire season at the Nordschleife, including the 24-hour race, with a total of five BMW cars. Two new BMW M6 GT3s, a BMW Z4 GT3 and two BMW M235i Racings will be in action. Some of the drivers are famous names within the BMW family. One of these is Victor Bouveng (SE). The 19-year-old may not have been "Motorsport Junior of the Year" last season, but his outstanding performances in the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme earned him a place in the BMW M6 GT3. Bouveng will compete in all of the races in the VLN and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring for Walkenhorst Motorsport, for whom he contested some races in the BMW Z4 GT3 in 2015. With this major step in his career as a GT racer, he underlines the opportunities that participating in the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme offers talented racing drivers. One of the drivers who Bouveng will share the cockpit with in the 24-hour race is BMW DTM driver Tom Blomqvist (GB). BMW works driver Jörg Müller (DE) will also compete for Walkenhorst Motorsport in the VLN.

Three questions for ... Victor Bouveng.

Victor, how was your debut in the BMW M6 GT3?

Victor Bouveng: "It was fantastic. The car has incredible potential and we used the time to familiarise ourselves with it as much as possible. We tried out many different set-up versions and my first impression was very good. It was great to be back in a GT car after the winter break."

What are the differences between the BMW M6 GT3 and the BMW Z4 GT3?

Bouveng: "At the end of last season, in which I was fortunate enough to contest some races in the BMW Z4 GT3 for Walkenhorst Motorsport, we had a few problems with the top speed. Now the turbo engine of the BMW M6 GT3 means that we have a lot of power available to us. On top of that, the size of the BMW M6 GT3 is the main contrast with the BMW Z4 GT3. You have to get used to the dimensions at first, but in general it is an amazing feeling driving the BMW M6 GT3."

After your successful season as a BMW Motorsport Junior you are a GT driver now. How do you feel about this next step in your career?

Bouveng: "This is exactly the step that I dreamed of when I climbed into the BMW M235i Racing as a BMW Motorsport Junior for the first time last year. The entire season in the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme was unbelievable. I learned an incredible amount and towards the end was given the opportunity to prove myself in the BMW Z4 GT3. I am really grateful to all those responsible at BMW Motorsport and Walkenhorst Motorsport for this. I really like the team and can hardly wait for the new season to start. Everything has run perfectly for me since 2015. Now I'm hoping that there will also be plenty of reasons to celebrate in 2016."

--

Blancpain GT Series: Official test in Paul Ricard.
The BMW M6 GT3 also made its debut on the Blancpain GT Series stage last week. During the official test in Paul Ricard (FR), ROWE Racing was in action with two new cars. The two BMW works drivers Philipp Eng (AT) and Alexander Sims (GB), as well as Nick Catsburg (NL) and Stef Dusseldorp (NL) were in the cockpits. Boutsen Ginion Racing also completed their first laps in their BMW M6 GT3. BMW DTM driver Maxime Martin (BE) was on hand to support the Belgian team with the initial set-up work.

DTM: 360° video of Bruno Spengler in the BMW Bank M4 DTM.
A new video that BMW Motorsport Premium Partner BMW Bank filmed with Bruno Spengler (CA) in Hockenheim (DE) provides completely new perspectives from the cockpit of a BMW M4 DTM. The 2012 DTM champion is filmed by a 360° camera as he completes a lap in the BMW Bank M4 DTM. The resulting images enable viewers to change the camera's view with just a mouse click and enjoy Spengler's fast lap as a 360° VR experience with a panoramic view. Viewers have never been this close to a real driving experience in the BMW M4 DTM before.

Follow this link to watch the video: https://youtu.be/SqUpXV6zuu8.

FIA Formula E Championship makes its debut in Mexico.
Last weekend the FIA Formula E Championship held its inaugural race in Mexico. For BMW DTM driver António Félix da Costa (PT) the race on the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez was unlucky. After having technical problems in practice and having to change the gearbox he had to start the race from 17th position on the grid. During the race he was involved in a collision in the midfield. Félix da Costa tried to finish the race but eventually had to retire his car. Victory went to Jerome D’Ambrosio (BE), after Lucas di Grassi (BR), who had crossed the finish line first, had been excluded. The BMW i8 Safety Car wasn’t in action during a thrilling race in Mexico City.