Podium success for Scheider, Jensen and BMW Team Schnitzer at ADAC GT Masters opener.

Oschersleben. BMW works driver Timo Scheider (GER) and BMW Motorsport Junior Mikkel Jensen (DEN) started the 2018 season of the ADAC GT Masters with podium success. The BMW Team Schnitzer duo initially crossed the finish line in fourth place at the wheel of the #42 BMW M6 GT3 in the race on Saturday in Oschersleben (GER). However, as the Lamborghini that finished ahead of them was later excluded from the classification after scrutineering, the Schnitzer duo moved up a place and celebrated third place on their maiden ADAC GT Masters appearance. It was the first ever race weekend in the GT series with a top-class field for both two-time DTM champion Scheider and the rapid talented youngster Jensen. They finished 16^th in the second race on Sunday.

BMW Team Schnitzer, on the other hand, is contesting their second season in the ADAC GT Masters and Oschersleben proved to be a good hunting ground for team principal Charly Lamm’s (GER) crew last year when the racing team from Freilassing (GER) won the Sunday race at the opening weekend last season. This year BMW Team Schnitzer is competing with two BMW M6 GT3s. In the #43 car, BMW Motorsport Junior Dennis Marschall (GER) and Victor Bouveng (SWE), who was part of the BMW Motorsport Junior programme in 2015, finished in 16^th place on Saturday. They finished the second race in 20^th place. Jens Klingmann (GER) and Christopher Zöchling (AUT) in the #14 MRS GT-Racing BMW M6 GT3 finished in 34^th and 19^th place.

Reactions to the season opener in Oschersleben.

Timo Scheider (#42 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Team Schnitzer, 3^rd & 16^th place): “I’m really looking forward to my first full season with BMW and in the ADAC GT Masters. We got off to a great start with third place in the first race. That’s what you want, since it makes the rest of the year a little bit easier from a sporting perspective. I have a strong team-mate at my side in Mikkel Jensen, and Dennis Marschall and Victor Bouveng are also doing a great job. And some of them even have more experience in a GT car than I do, which I can benefit from. The guys are very eager to learn. They have ambitious goals, want to be works drivers, earn money from motorsport. So not making mistakes due to nerves and pressure is a very special task. But the guys have come here professionally prepared, and have a lot of experience. BMW is doing a great job with the Junior programme. You can’t tell the difference between young and old. I have to say that I am having a lot of fun right now.”

Mikkel Jensen (#42 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Team Schnitzer, 3^rd and 16^th place): “I didn’t expect to finish on the podium on my debut. I felt we were more the underdogs, so the result is a great success and I am delighted with it. The way that BMW Team Schnitzer works is highly professional. Everything is structured clearly, with a fantastic flow of information and the team spirit gives you that extra motivation. Timo Scheider, with whom I share a car, has the same philosophy when it comes to the set-up which is perfect. We can both learn a lot from each other. Timo has incredible experience of racing. While perhaps I am a bit more familiar with the BMW M6 GT3 at the moment. My goal is to repeat the success at the opener and if we are able to fight for the title, that would be fantastic.”

Dennis Marschall (#43 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Team Schnitzer, 16^th & 20^th place): “I have never experienced professionalism like there is at BMW Team Schnitzer, everything is discussed in detail both before and after the session. We spend a lot of time in the briefing room and are constantly trying to improve the car. The team gives it their all to provide the driver with the best package. And even though the work is totally professional, we all get on really well. The atmosphere is very informal. As a driver, I feel the strong backing from the team. There is a top-class field in the ADAC GT Masters this year. You can’t afford to make a single mistake, you often have only one chance to put in a quick lap and you have to make use of it.”

Victor Bouveng (#43 BMW M6 GT3, BMW Team Schnitzer, 16^th & 20^th place): “It is great fun to be at a race weekend and know that you will be working with a team as top class as Schnitzer. The engineers and mechanics – everything is the best. And of course, Charly Lamm, my team principal is an absolute legend. It is a great honour for me to be allowed to represent the Schnitzer and BMW colours. The solidarity in the team is fantastic. We all benefit from Timo Scheider’s experience in particular; he has clocked up so many kilometres in a racing car. The ADAC GT Masters is an awesome series. I was the best BMW driver in qualifying on Sunday and had a few great duels on the track. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the season.”