BMW Motorsport News – Issue 17/15.

Blancpain Sprint Series: Double podium for BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil in Brands Hatch.

A successful Sunday of racing for BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil in the Blancpain Sprint Series: At the second race of the season in Brands Hatch (GB), Átila Abreu (BR) and Valdeno Brito (BR) in the number 77 BMW Z4 GT3 celebrated a double podium with two second places. The Brazilian duo finished third in the one-hour qualifying race held early on Sunday afternoon. Abreu/Brito later moved up into second after a time penalty was awarded to the original team who finished second. Abreu was initially in third in the main race in the afternoon, but he and his team-mate made up a position during a pit stop. Brito refused to relinquish this second place during the second half of the race. “Two second places is a wonderful gift,” said Abreu, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Sunday. Brito added: “If someone had told me we would finish second after finishing sixth in qualifying yesterday, I wouldn’t have believed them. But we did a good job and the team was fantastic during the pit stops, which are crucial. I’m delighted.” Their team-mates Sergio Jimenez (BR) and Caca Bueno (BR) in the number 0 BMW Z4 GT3 finished in a strong fourth place in both races. Joe Osborne (GB) and Lee Mowle (GB) finished second and third in the Pro-Am class (15th and 16th overall) at their home race in the number 888 Triple Eight Racing BMW Z4 GT3 .

BTCC: Podium positions for Collard and Tordoff in Thruxton.

At the third race of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season in Thruxton, Rob Collard (GB) and Sam Tordoff (GB) saw two BMW drivers on the podium. Collard in the West Surrey Racing BMW 125i M Sport  was fighting for the win for much of the race in the second of a total of three races held on Sunday. He crossed the finish line in second with a deficit of 0.4 seconds after 16 laps. Collard finished in 13th and 14th in the two other races of the day. His team-mate Tordoff climbed onto the podium at the end of the day. After previously finishing in 11th and sixth, Tordoff put in a strong performance and finished third in his BMW 125i M Sport in the third race. Luck didn’t favour BMW works driver Andy Priaulx (GB). In qualifying and in the first race, Priaulx in fifth was the best-placed BMW driver. However, he retired from the second race early when his BMW 125i M Sport was spun by a rival on the first lap. This saw Priaulx start the third race in the evening from the back of the grid. He finished in 13th.

BMW M235i Racing Cup Belgium: Bouvy/Dermont win in Zolder.

The new BMW M235i Racing Cup Belgium held its second race of its inaugural season at the Belcar Trophy in Zolder (BE) this Sunday. The race saw fiercely fought battles for the top positions. After 68 laps, Fréderic Bouvy (BE) and David Dermont (BE) celebrated their first victory in their No Speed Limit BMW M2351 Racing. Second place went to Team Dreszer Motorsport with Maciej Dreszer (PL) and Stéphane Kox (NL). Michael Schrey (DE), the winner of the season-opener at Spa-Francorchamps (BE), crossed the line in third in his Team WSM – H&R Spezialfedern BMW M235i Racing. In the championship standings, Schrey and Bouvy share the lead with 41 points each, closely followed by Dreszer and Kox, who have both collected 40 points so far.

FIA Formula E Championship: BMW i8 Safety Car in action for the first time in Europe.

The FIA Formula E Championship made its European debut on a legendary street circuit: The innovative race series for electrically powered formula cars took its first trip to the “old continent” for the Monaco ePrix. As “Official Vehicle Partner”, BMW provides the BMW i8 Safety Car and the BMW i3 Medical Car. The race covered a total of 47 laps over sections of the Grand Prix track around Monte Carlo’s harbour. The BMW i8 Safety Car was in action almost immediately after a spectacular accident involving a number of cars on the first corner. BMW DTM driver António Félix da Costa (PT) finished ninth at the Monaco ePrix. Prince Albert presented the winner’s trophy to Sébastien Buemi (CH). The BMW i8 Safety Car and the BMW i3 Medical Car will be on home turf at the next event, the eighth race of the FIA Formula E Championship: The race series will be held in the German capital of Berlin on 23rd May.