BMW Motorsport News – Issue 15/2020.

Whether in the DTM, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the ABB FIA Formula E 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.

DTM Trophy: Ben Green finishes on the podium at the Nürburgring.

The Sprint circuit at the Nürburgring (GER) hosted round four of the DTM Trophy at the weekend – and there was another podium for the BMW M4 GT4. In Saturday’s race, Ben Green (GBR) from the FK Performance team finished third to take his place on the rostrum and secure victory in the Junior competition. He went on to finish eighth in Sunday’s second race. Ben Tuck (GBR) came home fifth and fourth in the Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M4 GT4.

Italian GT Championship: Third place for BMW Team Italia.

The Italian GT Endurance Championship was at Vallelunga (ITA) at the weekend. BMW Team Italia once again claimed a spot on the podium with the BMW M6 GT3. From seventh on the grid, the trio of Stefano Comandini (ITA), Marius Zug (GER) and Alexander Sims (GBR) produced an impressive comeback to finish third after 113 laps of racing. Their team-mates Francesco Guerra, Simone Riccitelli and Nicola Neri (all ITA), who are competing in the GT4 class in a BMW M4 GT4, failed to finish.

ADAC GT4 Germany: Podium for the BMW M4 GT4.

After two podiums at the opening round of ADAC GT4 Germany at the Nürburgring (GER), the Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport team enjoyed more success at the Hockenheimring (GER). In the first of the weekend’s two races, Michael Schrey (GER) and Gabriele Piana (ITA) finished runner-up to claim another podium in their BMW M4 GT4. The duo started race two from eighth place and came home fourth. The AVIA Sorg Rennsport team finished fourth and tenth with drivers Jan Marschalkowski and Hendrik Still (both GER). As well as Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and AVIA Sorg Rennsport, the MRS GT-Racing and Lillestoff teams also run the BMW M4 GT4 in ADAC GT4 Germany.

GT4/TC America: Class win for the BMW M4 GT4, while the BMW M240i Racing continues to dominate. 

Harry Gottsacker (USA) and Nick Wittmer (CAN) claimed another podium at the penultimate race weekend of GT4 America SprintX. In race two at ‘Circuit of The Americas’ (USA), the duo in the #28 ST Racing BMW M4 GT4 was second overall and first in the Silver class. They had previously finished 15^th in the opening race, while Bill Auberlen (USA) and James Walker Jr. (USA) were the best-placed BMW team in fifth place in the BimmerWorld Racing BMW M4 GT4. In total, six BMW M4 GT4s were in action.

The circuit in Texas also hosted the GT4 America Sprint. In the opening race, Sean Quinlan (USA) finished fifth overall – third in the AM class – in the #119 BMW M4 GT4 run by Stephen Cameron Racing. He then came home seventh in race two, but failed to finish the third and final race.

The BMW M240i Racing was once again the car to beat in TC America. Toby Grahovec (USA) from the Classic BMW team took victory in race one, ahead of James Clay (USA, BimmerWorld) and John Casto Dubets (USA, Auto Technic Racing). The latter won race two, with Clay and Grahovec completing the podium.

BTCC: Lead strengthened in the Manufacturer and Team standings.

Team BMW once again picked up plenty of points in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Thruxton (GBR), strengthening its grip on the lead in the Manufacturer and Team competitions in the process. Tom Oliphant (GBR) finished in the top ten in all three races; he ended the weekend with an eighth and two sixth places to his name. A technical issue forced team-mate Colin Turkington (GBR) out of race one. In race two, he fought his way through to 13^th place from the back of the grid. He then crossed the finish line in eighth place in the third and final race. BMW tops the Manufacturer standings with 457 points and a lead of 85. In the Team competition, Team BMW leads by 88 points with 345 points to its name.

BMW SIM 120 Cup: KOVA triumphs at Road Atlanta.

On Sunday, the virtual Road Atlanta circuit hosted race five of the BMW SIM 120 Cup – and a Finnish duo claimed its maiden victory with the BMW M8 GTE: Tuomas Tähtelä and Valtteri Alander (both FIN) took their first win in the BMW SIM 120 Cup with their KOVA team. In doing so, they also qualified for the BMW SIM LIVE Event on 5^th December 2020 in Munich (GER). Tähtelä had secured pole position with a time of 1:14.581 minutes and then managed to pull several seconds clear of the field during his first stint. Alander then defended the lead through to the end of the race, crossing the finish line 7.143 seconds ahead of the second-placed Coanda Simsport team, with drivers Dayne Warren (AUS) and Tommy Østgaard (NOR). MSi eSports drivers Salva Talens and Alejandro Sánchez (both ESP) finished third.

“My pole lap was good, but I was a little surprised to go fastest,” said Tähtelä. “However, that gave me the opportunity to open a lead after the start. That obviously helped.” Alander said: “Tuomas did an unbelievable job. I didn’t think we would make it to Munich. But we have. It will be a great experience. I’d like to thank the whole team.”

With one race remaining – on 8^th November 2020 at Interlagos – the following drivers have qualified for the BMW SIM 120 Cup Finale at BMW Welt: Maximilian Benecke (GER), Maximilian Wenig (GER), Joshua Rogers (AUS), Mitchell deJong (USA), Alexander Voß (GER), Laurin Heinrich (GER), Agustín Canapino (ARG), and Sami-Matti Trogen (FIN), as well as Tähtelä and Alander.