BMW Motorsport News - Issue 04/2019.

Whether in the DTM, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the ABB FIA Formula E 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.

BMW Customer Racing: BMW M4 GT4 track days at Portimão.

Autódromo Internacional do Algarve (POR) was the venue for last week’s BMW M4 GT4 track days. During the two-day event, held in conjunction with the BMW and MINI Driving Experience, VLN winners Danny Brink, Philipp Leisen and Christopher Rink (all GER) were given the opportunity to put the GT4 car through its paces on Friday. As well as a healthy amount of prize money, the three BMW drivers were also presented with the test drive as a bonus for winning the 2017/18 BMW Sports Trophy Drivers’ Competition. More customer tests were held on Saturday. Racing driver and TV presenter Tim Schrick (GER) was keen not to miss out on the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the BMW M4 GT4 and take it for a spin at the Algarve circuit. The BMW M4 GT4 enjoyed an extremely successful rookie year in 2018. By the end of the season, the new car in the BMW Customer Racing portfolio had amassed 33 class wins and just short of 100 podium finishes. It was also named “Race Car of the Year” at the Professional MotorSport World Expo Awards.

For a good cause: Marco Wittmann presents the helmet from his DTM win at the Norisring to its new owner.

Last week, Marco Wittmann (GER) was at the BMW and MINI Driving Experience in Maisach (GER) to present the helmet from the race of his life to its new owner. The two-time DTM champion had a special helmet design produced for the fourth race weekend of the 2018 season, at the Norisring (GER). Wittmann was wearing that very helmet as he crossed the line to take victory at his home circuit in Nürnberg (GER) for the first time on the Sunday afternoon. In conjunction with the BMW and MINI Driving Experience, a draw was organised for the helmet, raising over 5,000 euros in donations. All profits went to the charity ‘Stiftung Kinderhilfe Fürstenfeldbruck’, which has been committed to integrating and supporting people with disabilities since 1969. On Tuesday, Wittmann presented the helmet, which features various images of the Norisring race and the BMW cars from his two championship-winning seasons in 2014 and 2016, to the lucky winner, whose name was drawn from all who had donated. After the presentation of the helmet, the new owner of the helmet was given a taste of what Wittmann is capable of behind the wheel. Driving exercises were organised on the grounds of the BMW and MINI Driving Academy. “It was a great day. It felt good to present the helmet to its new owner and to see how pleased he was with it,” said Wittmann. “I am sure the helmet is in good hands with him, and that it will be kept in a very special place. I would like to say another big thank you to him and all the other donors. I am delighted that we have raised such a large amount for charity. As well as the presentation of the helmet, the driving exercises were obviously another highlight of a wonderful day.” In keeping with tradition, the 2019 DTM season kicks off with the opening race at the Hockenheimring (GER) on 4^th May. The hard work begins this week for Wittmann. Together with his five fellow DTM drivers, he will be in Viareggio (ITA) for a fitness camp to fine-tune his physical condition ahead of the new season.

Martin Tomczyk nominated for German Sports Journalist award.

BMW works driver Martin Tomczyk (GER) has accounted for positive headlines off the track as well as on it. He has been nominated for the German Sports Journalist award, in acknowledgement of his work as a TV expert on SAT.1’s DTM coverage last season. His sound and entertaining analyses earned him a place in the final selection in the category “Newcomer of the Year”. “To even be considered for this award is obviously a great honour for me,” said Tomczyk. “To be honest, it came as a surprise. At the same time, it is something I am proud of.” The nominees for the awards for the top German sports journalists of the year were selected for the first time by a committee made up of prominent elite sportspeople and representatives of the media. The prize winners will be announced in Hamburg (GER) on 25^th March 2019. Like Tomczyk, BMW works driver Timo Scheider (GER) also worked as a TV expert for SAT.1.