BMW Motorsport News – Issue 15/16.

Whether in the DTM, the IMSA WeatherTech 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.

DTM: Bruno Spengler drives the BMW M2 Coupé in South Africa.

BMW DTM driver Bruno Spengler (CA) made a guest appearance at the press preview of the BMW M2 Coupé in South Africa shortly before the DTM season gets underway in Hockenheim (DE) on 6th May. The 2012 DTM champion took 60 journalists who were present for taxi rides to show just how dynamically you can drive the new BMW M2 Coupé. The presentation was held at a racetrack on the premises of the Motor Museum in Franschhoek (ZA).

ADAC GT Masters: Race debut for Louis Delétraz at the Sachsenring.

The second race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters season at the Sachsenring (DE, 29th April – 1st May) sees the two BMW Motorsport Juniors Jesse Krohn (FI) and Louis Delétraz (CH) make their first joint appearance in the BMW M6 GT3. Delétraz will make his race debut in the Schubert Motorsport car. The man from Switzerland who turned 19 just a few days ago was unable to compete in the first race weekend in Oschersleben (DE) due to a scheduling conflict with his parallel activities in Formula racing. However, Delétraz has already completed some tests in the BMW M6 GT3, making him well-prepared for the two races next weekend. He will compete in a total of four GT Masters events in 2016. Krohn will contest the entire season, which got underway with fifth and eighth for him and BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk (DE) in Oschersleben. Before Krohn and Delétraz head to the Sachsenring, they will attend the Welcome Event for the 2016 BMW Motorsport Junior Programme in Munich (DE) on Monday and Tuesday, where the new class of Juniors will be presented.

Three questions for... Louis Delétraz.

Louis, your second year as a BMW Motorsport Junior officially gets underway this week. Just how excited are you?

Louis Delétraz: "Very excited. The Welcome Event at the start of the coming week is a fantastic start to the new season of the programme. It will be fun to get to know the new Juniors and to no longer be the rookie in the programme (he laughs). I am also really looking forward to the following trip to the Sachsenring. I'm about to contest my first ever GT race and no doubt still have a lot to learn. However, I'm certain it will be an incredible experience. I can hardly wait to get started."

You will switch between the BMW M6 GT3 and a Formula car quite often this season. Have you already got used to this adjustment?

Delétraz: "I don't find it a problem. The adjustment is mainly in my head, and I learned to deal with that very well in the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme last year."

You got off to an outstanding start of your Formula racing season with your first win in the first race. What is your goal for your debut in the BMW M6 GT3?

Delétraz: "Yes, I really did have a dream debut in Formula V8 3.5. We'll have to wait and see whether things go as well at the Sachsenring. We'll see how the BMW M6 GT3 works on this very special track, and will hopefully finish in the points again in the race. If it turns out that we can do even better, naturally we will give it our all to make the most of the opportunity. But the competition in the ADAC GT Masters is of a very high calibre."

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Blancpain GT Series: Four BMW M6 GT3s race in Monza.

Four BMW M6 GT3s were on the starting grid at the opener of the Blancpain Endurance Cup in Monza (IT). ROWE Racing fielded two cars in the race and, in addition to their regular drivers, opted for support from the experienced BMW works drivers Dirk Werner (DE) and Lucas Luhr (DE) in the three-hour race. However, both cars were forced to end the race early. The best-placed BMW M6 GT3 was the car of Boutsen Ginion Racing in 15th place in the Pro-Am Cup. The BMW M6 GT3 of BMW Team Italia headed by team boss Roberto Ravaglia (IT) retired early. The win went to McLaren.

International GT Open: BMW Team Teo Martín on the podium.

The International GT Open season started with a podium position for BMW Team Teo Martín and the new BMW M6 GT3. Gustavo Yacamán (CO) and Fernando Monje (ES) finished in a strong second place in the first race in Estoril (PT). The sister car driven by defending champion Miguel Ramos (PT) and Roldan Rodriguez (ES) crossed the finish line in seventh. Yacamán and Monje finished the second race on Sunday in sixth. The second BMW M6 GT3 retired before the end of the race.

European GT4 Series: Two BMW M4s on the podium.

Racing Team Holland by Ekris Motorsport celebrated a strong start to the season of the European GT4 Series in Monza (IT). In the first race on Saturday, Ricardo van der Ende and Bernhard van Oranje (both NL) finished second in their BMW M4. Their team-mates Simon Knap und Rob Severs (both NL) finished right behind them in third. In the race on Sunday, van der Ende and van Oranje were the best-placed BMW team in sixth.

FIA Formula E Championship: Spectacular debut in Paris.

The FIA Formula E Championship made a spectacular debut in Paris (FR). In front of the impressive backdrop of the French capital and with 20,000 spectators in sold out stands, BMW DTM driver António Félix da Costa (PT) picked up points for finishing eighth. Victory went to Lucas di Grassi (BR). The race ended behind the BMW i8 Safety Car, after Félix da Costa's team-mate Ma Qing Hua (CN) had an accident five laps before the end. The next stop on the race calendar of the FIA Formula E Championship will be held in the German capital of Berlin on 21st May.