BMW Motorsport News – Issue 19/16
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DTM: BMW wins both races in Spielberg.

The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (AT) proved to be an extremely successful hunting ground for the BMW M4 DTM: BMW won in both races that were held on the second weekend of the 2016 DTM season. A BMW Team RMG driver was on the top step of the podium on both days: Marco Wittmann (DE) won in the Red Bull BMW M4 DTM on Saturday, on Sunday it was his team-mate Timo Glock (DE) in the DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM. Tom Blomqvist (GB) of BMW Team RBM also made it onto the podium in Spielberg, finishing second in the race on Saturday. The BMW DTM teams also showed a united, strong team performance: On both days, no fewer than six BMW M4 DTMs crossed the finish line in the top ten. The best-placed BMW drivers in the overall standings are Glock in third and Maxime Martin (BE) in fourth, both with 37 points.

Three questions for... Timo Glock.

Timo, what does this win in Spielberg mean to you?

Timo Glock: “Naturally this success is greatly satisfying. I am just so happy. It was a very, very good weekend. The speed in the race was good yesterday, even though the splitter was damaged slightly. Then today was a real textbook race. If you had to write a perfect strategy on a blank piece of paper, it would be today's, and then it ends up with such a result. We improved our car step by step over the weekend, massive thanks go to BMW Team RMG for that too. On top of that, it was Jens Marquardt's birthday – and now we have given him the perfect gift with two wins and a lot of points.”

You can tell that you really feel at home at BMW Team RMG…

Glock: “Yes, we have a great harmony. I have known a few of the guys from the team for a very long time, including the team principal. Stefan Reinhold does a terrific job, and things are fantastic with my engineers too. They always give me a car that is great from the word go. Then usually only fine-tuning is required to improve in minor details. Everything just fits - and I feel totally at home.”

What are your goals for the next races?

Glock: “We have to take each race as it comes. We just want to enjoy racing, and we need to continue in the same way with this momentum. No doubt there will be tracks that won't suit us as well, which makes it even more important for us to make the most of every opportunity we are given. We definitely managed that here in Spielberg.”

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DTM: Flying lesson for Marco Wittmann.

Marco Wittmann (DE) took a detour to Vienna (AT) on his way to the DTM stop at the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (AT), to experience a very special action-packed highlight. The BMW DTM driver visited the Red Bull Skydive team and was given an exclusive training session in indoor skydiving. In a modern recreational wind tunnel, Wittmann made his dream of flying come true under professional guidance. "It was an incredible feeling," said Wittmann. "It was the first time that I was in a wind tunnel, and the support I received from the Red Bull Skydive team was outstanding. I had so much fun and no doubt that won't be the last time I am in a wind tunnel." Then the Red Bull Skydive team visited the DTM on Saturday, including a tour of the garage and a race taxi ride.

Endurance: Randstad to remain Official Partner.

The joint success story continues: Randstad will continue to have a prominent position in endurance racing in the future as the Official Partner of BMW Motorsport. With 57,000 employees and a turnover of almost two billion euros, Randstad Deutschland is not only successful off the racetrack, rather they have already had plenty of reason to celebrate alongside BMW Motorsport in the GT sector. The recruitment agency's logo can be seen on the doors of ROWE Racing's BMW M6 GT3 in the 2016 season. "It is fantastic that our successful collaboration with Randstad has entered the next stage," said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. "At the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring next weekend we will try to bring home top results together."

Australian GT: Spengler and Sims drive the BMW M6 GT3.

Prominent support for the BMW teams in the Australian GT Championship: BMW works driver Alexander Sims (GB) was in action for BMW Team SRM at the beginning of the week, as he took part in testing in preparation for the races on Phillip Island (AU). The 28-year-old worked together with regular drivers Steve Richards (AU) and Max Twigg (AU) to fine-tune the set-up of the BMW M6 GT3. Sims then headed to Queensland (AU) for more testing. He met up with the MARC GT team, which will make its debut with the BMW M6 GT3 in the Australian GT Championship this weekend. Among those who will be at the wheel for MARC GT is another familiar BMW works driver: Bruno Spengler (CA). The Canadian cannot wait for his first race in Australia. “I am really looking forward to it,” he said. “It is like in the old days, when I used to race karts: DTM in Spielberg, then GT in Australia, then back to the DTM at the Lausitzring. I love it like that. It certainly won’t be easy, as the other guys on Phillip Island will obviously have a lot more experience. Despite this, it will be a fantastic challenge.”

International GT Open: Victory for the BMW M6 GT3.

BMW Team Teo Martín celebrated its first win with the BMW M6 GT3 at the second race weekend of the International GT Open in Spa-Francorchamps (BE). In the first race on Saturday, defending champions Miguel Ramos (ES) and Roldan Rodriguez (ES) were victorious in the number 1 BMW M6 GT3. However, the team of team principal Teo Martín had to endure a terrifying moment. The number 2 sister car had a serious accident on the third lap; fortunately, the driver Fernando Monje (ES) was unhurt. However, it was not possible to repair the BMW M6 GT3 for the second race on Sunday. Ramos and Rodriguez finished this second race, held in adverse weather conditions, in eighth place.

Pirelli World Challenge: Toby Grahovec wins in Mosport.

The BMW drivers were also successful in the Pirelli World Challenge races in Canadian Tire Motorsport Park this weekend. Toby Grahovec (US / Classic BMW Motorsport) celebrated his first win of the season in the TC class in the BMW M235i Racing. He won the second of the two races on Sunday, after climbing onto the podium in second place in race one on Friday. In the first race of the GT categories, Bret Curtis (US) in the Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 finished in third place in the GTA class. The second race was not over at the time of writing.

FIA Formula E Championship: Home race in the FIA Formula E BMW i Berlin ePrix.

The official vehicle fleet of the FIA Formula E Championship surrounding the BMW i8 Safety Car contested its home race at the weekend: The race series for Formula racing cars powered purely by electricity headed to the German capital of Berlin. BMW i also supported the event as the Title Sponsor for the first time. The track of the 2016 FIA Formula E BMW i Berlin ePrix 2016 went through the centre of the city, right next to attractions such as the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, and Alexanderplatz. Sébastien Buemi (CH) took the win at the BMW i Berlin ePrix. BMW DTM works driver António Félix da Costa, who has also competed in the FIA Formula E Championship since its debut season last year, did not take part this time since he was contesting the DTM races in Spielberg (AT). The BMW i Berlin ePrix was the penultimate event of the 2015/16 season. The finale, which will consist of two races, will take place in London (GB) on 2nd and 3rd July. 

BMW M235i Racing Cup China: Start of the first season in the Far East.

The BMW M235i Racing is now conquering the Far East: The new BMW M235i Racing Cup China made its debut at the weekend. The first races of the new series were held as part of the Boss GP Series at the Shanghai International Circuit (CN). In this series, there is a separate BMW M235i Racing Cup classification within the Boss GT class. Both races of the season opener were won by Uli Sanne (DE). Bian Ye (CN was second in the first heat, while Steven Yin (US) took this position in race two. Terbo Yu (CN) finished third on both occasions. The new BMW M235i Racing Cup China is organised by Unique Motorsport, owners and the organisers of the Boss GP Series, and held in accordance with the technical regulations of the cup, which are provided by BMW Motorsport. Sixteen BMW M235i Racing Cup cars that were specially built for China were delivered for the start of the season, with further cars to follow. Interested customers can get the cars through the organisers, Unique Motorsport. The debut season consists of four events, each with two 30-minute sprint events, all of which will be held in Shanghai. One of the highlights will be the weekend of 5th and 6th November, when the BMW M235i Racing Cup China will make a guest appearance in the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC.