Strong BMW driver line-up for ROWE Racing in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup.

Munich. ROWE Racing is approaching the start of the 2018 GT season in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup. The team will compete in the season’s five races with two BMW M6 GT3s and a strong BMW driver line-up. The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) promises to be the highlight of the year.

The new Blancpain GT Series season starts with the first race this weekend at Monza (ITA). Just as last year, ROWE Racing will compete there again. The St. Ingbert (GER) based team is competing in the Endurance Cup with two BMW M6 GT3s. The season consists of five races: Monza, Silverstone (GBR), Le Castellet (FRA), Barcelona (ESP) and of course the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps, which ROWE Racing won in 2016. BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard (GBR) and the BMW works drivers Jens Klingmann (GER) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) will be involved in every race,in one of the BMW M6 GT3s. A number of top-class BMW drivers will share driving duties in the second car throughout the season. At the “Autodromo Nazionale di Monza” two-time DTM champion Marco Wittmann (GER), BMW WEC driver Nick Catsburg (NED) and BMW IMSA driver Alexander Sims (GBR) will be at the wheel of the second BMW M6 GT3.

“BMW Motorsport and ROWE Racing – this combination has proved to be very successful over the last two years,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “In 2016, ROWE Racing won the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps with the BMW M6 GT3. We reached the podium together at the Nürburgring in 2017 so I am really looking forward to the new season in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup, where we will be supporting the team with a great driver line-up. I am particularly pleased that we can give our BMW Motorsport Junior Ricky Collard the chance to gather valuable experience in a very professional team environment, in one of the world’s most competitive GT racing series.”

“We are looking forward to the start of the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and with our traditional strength in endurance races are hoping to be up there fighting for the title in this series with a top-class field,” said ROWE Team Principal Hans-Peter Naundorf. “We are also proud of now becoming part of the legendary and successful BMW Motorsport Juniors development programme. Ricky Collard made a very good impression last year on his two GT4 outings for our team. Jesse Krohn also came through the BMW development school, so is no doubt a good role model for Collard. I am really excited that it finally worked out getting Jens Klingmann on board. He knows the BMW M6 GT3 better than other drivers and is very fast. With this trio, we have three young drivers in the #98 who really enjoy GT racing and who have the right attitude. In Monza, a two-time DTM champion in Marco Wittmann will reinforce our team, who alongside Nick Catsburg and Alex Sims, will no doubt form a strong trio.”