Gwiazdy BMW Motorsport świętują koniec sezonu 2016 – nagrody dla najlepszych kierowców i zespołów.

Munich. BMW Motorsport celebrated the end of the racing year with a varied and entertaining programme at its annual Season Review on Friday. Some of the year’s key protagonists assembled at the new home of BMW Group Classic on Moosacher Straße in Munich (DE), where they spent an enjoyable evening among the BMW Motorsport family. During the evening, the drivers and teams who made history and produced fascinating stories in 2016 were honoured.

Among the prize winners was Marco Wittmann (DE), who was responsible for one of the many sporting highlights of the 2016 season from a BMW Motorsport point of view, winning his second title in the DTM. After receiving the “Victory of the Year” award from BMW Brand Ambassador and works driver Alessandro Zanardi (IT), it was Wittmann’s turn to present awards to the year’s most successful BMW privateers. First place in the BMW Sports Trophy went to VLN champion Michael Schrey (DE), while Pixum Team Adrenalin Motorsport won the Team competition for the third time in a row.

Zanardi, who was presented with the “Achievement of the Year” award by BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, was given a standing ovation once again. He had not only added to his medal collection on the handbike in Rio de Janeiro (BR), but also claimed victory on his debut with the BMW M6 GT3 on his guest appearance in the Italian GT Championship. Marquardt also thanked all the teams and drivers whose successes ensured that the new BMW M6 GT3 enjoyed such an impressive debut season. These included ROWE Racing, who won the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BE) with the BMW M6 GT3 and drivers Maxime Martin (BE), Alexander Sims (GB) and Philipp Eng (AT). The inaugural “Supplier of the Year” award went to the company Leimeister Modell- & Prototypenbau.

The evening was officially opened by Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. Marquardt then gave a positive review of what was an eventful and thrilling 2016 motorsport season. “We have every cause to celebrate again. An emotional year of racing with countless highlights lies behind us. Marco Wittmann’s triumph in the DTM and victory for ROWE Racing with the newly-developed BMW M6 GT3 at Spa-Francorchamps are obviously worthy of particular mention. In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the new BMW M6 GTLM challenged for podium finishes from the outset. The BMW Sports Trophy also produced many victories for our privateer teams and drivers again in 2016.”

The event concluded with Marquardt giving a detailed look at what to expect in the 2017 season and revealing changes within the framework of the strategic alignment of BMW Motorsport, which will be even more diverse in the future.

An overview of the winners of the 2016 BMW Motorsport awards.

BMW Sports Trophy Driver of the Year:

Michael Schrey (DE)

BMW Sports Trophy Team of the Year:

Pixum Team Adrenalin Motorsport

BMW Motorsport Achievement of the Year:

Alessandro Zanardi (IT)

BMW Motorsport Victory of the Year:

Marco Wittmann (DE)

BMW M235i Racing Cup Team of the Year:

Bonk Motorsport

BMW M235i Racing Cup Drivers of the Year:

Alexander Mies, Michael Schrey (both DE)

BMW Motorsport Supplier of the Year:

Leimeister Modell- & Prototypenbau