BMW Motorsport News – Issue 35/16.

DTM: Successful weekend at the Nürburgring.

BMW Motorsport can draw a positive summary of the seventh race-weekend of the 2016 DTM season held at the Nürburgring (DE). In Saturday’s race, Marco Wittmann (DE / BMW Team RMG) and Tom Blomqvist (GB / BMW Team RBM) claimed a one-two result for the BMW M4 DTM, crossing the line in first and second respectively. On Sunday, Wittmann stepped onto the podium again, finishing third. In doing so, he rounded off the successful home round for BMW Team RMG that is based only a few kilometres away from the Nürburgring. After 14 of 18 races of the season, BMW is in front in all the championship standings. In the drivers’ championship, Wittmann established the overall lead with first and third places. He now has 170 points to his name and an advantage of 33 points over his closest rival. In the team standings, BMW Team RMG leads with 228 points and an advantage of nine points. In addition, BMW tops the manufacturers’ championship with 521 points and an advantage of 57 points. The 15th and 16th races of the season will be held on 24th and 25th September at the Hungaroring near Budapest (HU).

DTM: Skid stars get an exciting taste of motorsport .

The eight BMW DTM drivers received a visit from the world of winter sports at the Nürburgring (DE), in the form of skeleton racers Tina Hermann and Bob-Pilotin Anja Schneiderheinze (both DE). The World Champion in the individual and team skeleton, and reigning World, European and German Champion in bobsleighing gained their first impressions of the racetrack as BMW Motorsport fans. “This is my first time at a DTM race, and the atmosphere is absolutely fantastic. The Nürburgring is one of the most exciting racetracks in the world. Everyone knows that, even those who are not massive motorsport fans. That is what makes the atmosphere so special,” said Hermann. The two athletes experienced the Nürburgring from a driver’s viewpoint during their ride in the BMW M3 GT2 Race Taxi. They also chatted to the BMW DTM drivers – and found that they have quite a bit in common. “All three sports are about speed and top speed. Just like the guys in their BMW M4 DTMs, we have to have perfect control over our skeletons, in order to be able to push them to the limit. Good fitness and a well-trained body are obviously also important in both sports. As such, skeleton, bobsleigh and motorsport are not so dissimilar,” said Schneiderheinze. BMW Deutschland has been Technology Partner of the German Bobsleigh, Luge, and Skeleton Federation (BSD) since 2010.

DTM: Schoolchildren learn about occupations in motorsport.

Racing driver is a dream job for many people – and there are plenty of exciting jobs in motorsport outside the cockpit too. Thirty-two pupils from the Brohltalschule in Niederzissen (DE) had the chance to find out more, at the start of the Nürburgring (DE) DTM weekend. Thanks to an invitation from the ITR, the eighth-grade students, two teachers and a careers consultant were able to take a look behind the scenes of the touring car series. Their flying visit to the racetrack was part of the “DTM macht Schule” project. The aim of the event is to help schoolchildren as they decide which career path to follow. Bruno Spengler (CA) made time for the visitors from the school, as did the race engineers and physiotherapists. “I attended school as normal until I was 19,” said the driver from BMW Team MTEK. “Then I had to choose between motorsport and a traditional apprenticeship. I decided to stick with motorsport, but I still learn more every weekend.” The schoolchildren were then able to experience the unique working environment in motorsport at first hand during their tour of the pit lane. They had a look at the workshops and were up close as the mechanics prepared the DTM cars for the first free practice session. The delighted pupils rounded off their day with a photo shoot at the racetrack.

International GT Open: Double success for BMW Team Teo Martín.

It was a perfect race weekend for the BMW M6 GT3 at the Red Bull Ring (AT). BMW Team Teo Martín celebrated a double win by securing victory in both the Saturday and Sunday races. In Saturday’s encounter, Miguel Ramos (PT) and Pieter Schothorst (NL) were first at the finish in their BMW M6 GT3. This was the first win of the year for Schothorst, who joined the team during the season. For Ramos, it was the third victory of the season. Their team-mates Gustavo Yacamán (CO) and Fernando Monje (ES) ended Saturday’s race in fourth. For Sunday’s race, the team from Madrid (ES) and the BMW M6 GT3 laid claim to the entire front row. Ramos/Schothorst secured pole position in the number one car, their team-mates Yacamán/Monje lined up next to them in second on the grid. After the race, it was the Columbian/Spanish pairing who celebrated on the top step of the podium: Yacamán/Monje celebrated their first win of the season in Sunday’s race. Ramos/Schothorst crossed the line in seventh. With the double win, BMW Team Teo Martín extended the overall lead in the team standings of the International GT Open.

Eset V4 Cup: Double win for the BMW M6 GT3.

At the Brno round (CZ) of the Eset V4 Cup, Filip Sládečka (SK) celebrated victory both in the sprint and the endurance races. He had started both races from pole position in the Šenkýř Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 and then took unchallenged start-to-finish wins on both occasions. His team-mate Jakub Knoll (CZ) also secured a podium finish, claiming third place in the sprint race in the BMW Z4 GT3. In the sprint race for the 3.500 cc class, victory went to Daniel Skalický (CZ) in the BMW M3 GTR entered by the Duck Racing Team. In the 3.500 cc endurance race, Skalický was classified second. Another podium finish was secured by Rudolf Pesovič (CZ) in the Team ASK EKO Lein Racing BMW 320si: he was second in the 2.000 cc sprint race.

BMW Motorsport Juniors: Podium success for Delétraz and Eriksson.

BMW Motorsport Junior Joel Eriksson (SE) was also in action during the DTM weekend at the Nürburgring (DE) – but in a formula car instead of the BMW M4 DTM. The 18-year-old made it onto the podium in the Eifel, finishing third in the second race of the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. Eriksson joined the young talent programme from BMW Motorsport in June. He finished in sixth place, and then in seventh, in the other races on Saturday and Sunday. Louis Delétraz (CH), BMW Motorsport Junior of the Year in 2015, enjoyed more success. He secured his first pole position of the year in the 11th race of the Formula V8 at the Red Bull Ring (AT). He also set a new lap record with a time of 1:15.914 minutes. After 31 laps, Delétraz crossed the line in second. In the second race of the weekend he finished in fourth. BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard (GB) was also in action this weekend. At the final round of the 2016 British Formula 3 Championship in Donington (GB), he secured second place of the overall championship standings in only his first season in the series.

Blancpain GT Series: BMW strengthens ROWE Racing with top drivers.

When the Nürburgring (DE) hosts the final round of this season’s Endurance Cup in the Blancpain GT Series on 17th and 18th September, BMW will once again support the ROWE Racing team with a host of its top drivers. Stef Dusseldorp (NL) will share the number 98 car with DTM drivers Martin Tomczyk (DE) and Tom Blomqvist (GB) at the three-hour race in the Eifel Mountains. Tomczyk has already contested one race in this year’s Blancpain GT Series for BMW Team Italia at the end of July – the iconic 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BE), which also forms part of the Endurance Cup. Fellow DTM driver Blomqvist is well familiar with the BMW M6 GT3. He made his debut in the Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 at round two of the VLN Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in May, and also raced for the team in the 24-hour race in the “Green Hell”. Three winners of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps will take their places at the wheel of the second ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3. Alexander Sims (GB) and Philipp Eng (AT) won the prestigious endurance race in the BMW M6 GT3 this year. Nick Catsburg (NL) was victorious in 2015 in a BMW Z4 GT3.

DTM: “No Limits“ as film of the weekend on Spiegel TV.

Bruno Spengler (CA), Timo Glock (DE) and Alex Zanardi (IT) on the silver screen: the hour-long documentary “No Limits – Impossible is just a word“ is the film of the weekend on the Facebook channel of Spiegel TV. The documentary tells the story of BMW brand ambassador Zanardi as he faces one of the greatest challenges in motorsport, together with the BMW DTM drivers Glock and Spengler: the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps (BE). This was the first time that double-amputee Zanardi had shared a car with drivers who have no physical disability. The BMW Motorsport engineers had to make modifications to the BMW Z4 GT3 to allow the trio to compete. The detailed, breathtaking and emotional documentary was created by Tim und Nick Hahne (both DE), better known as STEREOSCREEN. “No Limits – Impossible is just a word“ has received numerous awards and you can view the film on Spiegel.de and the Spiegel TV internet portal here:  http://bit.ly/2cqZLMI.