BMW Motorsport News – Issue 42/15.

Whether in the DTM, the United SportsCar 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.

Bruno Spengler thrills participants at “Drive like Bruno” event.

A matter of weeks after the end of the 2015 DTM season, Bruno Spengler (CA) was back out on the racetrack. As part of the “Drive like Bruno” driving events run by BMW Bank, Premium Partner of BMW Motorsport, he provided participants at the Lausitzring (DE) and in Hockenheim (DE) with action-packed days at the track. The focus was on driver safety exercises and fast-paced manoeuvres in the BMW M3, BMW M4 and Formula BMW FB02 racing car. “The events were hugely enjoyable – as always. It was awesome to meet the BMW fans and to give them a lot of fun with this promotion,” said Spengler. “I saw a lot of smiling faces. We all had a fantastic time together.” As well as gaining valuable experience at the wheel of the BMW cars, the “Drive like Bruno” winners were also taken on taxi rides. Numerous other BMW works drivers were also on hand to drive the BMW M4 DTM Race Taxi, as well as other things.

FIA Formula E Championship: Félix da Costa in the points in Malaysia.

António Félix da Costa (PT) narrowly missed out on a podium finish at the second race of the season in the FIA Formula E Championship, which took place in Putrajaya (MY). The BMW DTM driver, who races for the Aguri team in the FIA Formula E Championship, was running second with just seven laps remaining of the second race of the season in the world’s only single-seater series for electric cars. However, he then lost ground and places due to a mechanical problem. Félix da Costa ultimately crossed the finish line in sixth place to score his first points of the season. The Portuguese driver had clocked the fourth fastest time in qualifying. The BMW i8 Safety Car was employed during the 33-lap race when a stricken car had to be retrieved. Victory in Malaysia went to Lucas di Grassi (BR).

Asian Le Mans Series: AAI on the podium in Sepang.

The AAI team, with the help of BMW works driver Dirk Müller (DE), finished second in the GT class at race two of the Asian Le Mans Series in Sepang (MY), thus earning a place on the podium. Müller shared the cockpit of the number 91 BMW Z4 GT3 with Ollie Millroy (GB) and Junsan Chen (TW). The number 92 car came home sixth in the GT class. Victory went to McLaren.