PressClub Middle East · Article.
BMW Motorsport News - Issue 09/17.
Sun Mar 05 18:16:00 CET 2017 Press Release
BMW DTM drivers prepare for start of season – Fun and race action at the DTM IceChallenge.
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Author.
Osama El-Sherif
BMW Group
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, 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. That way, you are always up
to speed.
DTM: BMW DTM drivers hone their fitness.
The six
BMW DTM drivers underwent an intense training regime this week. They
were in Viareggio (ITA) from Sunday to Wednesday for a four-day
fitness camp. Team doctor Riccardo Ceccarelli (ITA) and his Formula
Medicine team had put together an extensive and diverse training
schedule to ensure that the drivers are perfectly prepared for the
coming DTM season. The focus was on fitness, reaction and mental
training with the programme including workouts on various pieces of
equipment, CrossFit exercises, and outdoor activities like volleyball
and clay pigeon shooting. “The fitness camp is a very important part
of the pre-season preparations for us drivers,” said Bruno Spengler
(CAN). “Particularly the team building aspect. After the long winter
break, we all meet up and train together. It is always nice to come to
Viareggio to see Formula Medicine. Doctor Ceccarelli and his team
always come up with something new for us every year, and present us
with new challenges – both physically and mentally. You could hardly
have a better preparation for the new season.” The 2017 DTM season
opens with the first two races at the Hockenheimring (GER) on
6th and 7th May.
DTM: Race on Ice - Wittmann wins the DTM
IceChallenge.
Marco Wittmann (GER) and Augusto Farfus
(BRA) found themselves on unfamiliar terrain this weekend: the two BMW
drivers were in Sweden for the IceChallenge. The event, organised by
the ITR, saw Wittmann and Farfus take on the opposition in the three
premium manufacturers’ series cars on a frozen lake. Wittmann took on
Lucas Auer (AUT, Mercedes) in round one, while Farfus locked horns
with Jamie Green (GBR, Audi). Both BMW drivers emerged triumphant from
their opening duels. The reigning DTM champion Wittmann also impressed
in the second discipline – a two-lap time trial – to qualify for the
final. Wittmann then won two of three final-round duels against
Mercedes driver Maro Engel (GER) to claim the first unofficial title
of the DTM season: DTM IceChallenge Champion 2017. “It was a great
experience and we had a lot of fun. However, it was obviously a real
challenge and the opposition was very strong. To win the first title
before the start of the season – even if it was on ice – feels great,
and is definitely a good start to the season,” said Wittmann.
Japanese Super GT Championship: Müller back in the BMW M6
GT3.
BMW works driver Jörg Müller (GER) will race for
BMW Team Studie again in the Japanese Super GT Championship this year.
Together with team-mate Seiji Ara (JPN), Müller returns to compete in
the strong GT300 class. The same duo started all eight races in the
BMW M6 GT3’s debut year in 2016 and finished third at the opening
round in Okayama (JPN) to claim the first podium for the new GT Car in
Asia. As well as BMW Team Studie, Autobacs Racing Team Aguri will also
race in the GT300 class in a second BMW M6 GT3. The opening round of
the season takes place at the Okayama International Circuit (JPN) on
8th and 9th April 2017.