BMW M Motorsport News, 7th September 2021.

DTM: Pole position and podium for Marco Wittmann in Spielberg.

Walkenhorst Motorsport driver Marco Wittmann (GER) continued his impressive run at the fifth race weekend of the DTM season. He has picked up points in each of the ten races so far. Wittmann was the best-placed BMW driver in the Saturday race at the Red Bull Ring (AUT), finishing seventh. He started Sunday in sparkling form, securing pole position in the #11 BMW M6 GT3. In the race, he was embroiled in a compelling battle with Ferrari driver Liam Lawson (NZL), behind whom he ultimately finished in second place. Following his third podium of the season, Wittmann now lies fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with 121 points, 26 points off the lead.

Wittmann: “The start from pole was very good at first. We were immediately able to open up a gap between Liam Lawson and the rest of the field. We basically had good pace in the race too. In the end, we lost first place in the pit stops, which is a big talking point this season. Nevertheless, we scored more valuable points towards the championship today.” Wittmann was referring to the fact that a number of manufacturers have an advantage during the tyre change this season, as the wheel nuts on their cars are fastened directly to the rims, saving time. However, this type of attachment is not possible on some of the cars, including the BMW M6 GT3.

Timo Glock (GER) twice finished tenth to score points for ROWE Racing in Spielberg. Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) was very unlucky on both days. After excellent qualifying results, with fourth on Saturday and third on Sunday, he failed to finish both races.

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DTM Trophy: One-two-three for the BMW M4 GT4.

The BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated a one-two-three in the DTM Trophy at the Red Bull Ring (AUT) and claimed five of a possible six podium places over the course of the two race days. Victory in Saturday’s race went to Ben Green (GBR) in the FK Performance BMW M4 GT4, ahead of his team-mate Yann Zimmer (SUI) and Theo Oeverhaus (GER) in a Walkenhorst Motorsport-run BMW M4 GT4. A total of six BMW drivers made it into the top ten. On Sunday, five BMW M4 GT4 finished in the points – two of them on the podium. That time, Michael Schrey (GER) came home second in the Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport car. He was followed over the finish line in third place by Green, whose second podium of the weekend was sufficient to regain the lead in the Drivers’ Championship. With 148 points, he now leads Sunday’s winner William Tregurtha (USA, Mercedes) by ten points. Schrey is third with 110 points and still within striking distance.

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BMW M2 Cup: Double success for Oeverhaus.

Theo Oeverhaus (GER) not only made it onto the podium in the DTM Trophy at the Red Bull Ring (AUT), but also dominated both races in the BMW M2 Cup. The 16-year-old secured pole position for both races at the wheel of his BMW M2 CS Racing. After good starts in both races, he went on to take commanding victories. In doing so, he was seemingly unaffected by the turbulent racing going on behind him, which featured some remarkable battles. “It was a dream weekend. Two wins, two poles – just perfect,” said a delighted Oeverhaus. “I barely noticed all the turmoil behind me. My re-starts after the safety car were really good. I was immediately able to open a gap and stay clear of it all.” Second and third place on Saturday went to Colin Caresani (NED) and Louis Henkefend (GER). On Sunday, Henkefend finished runner-up behind Oeverhaus and ahead of Nicolas Hancke (GER). In doing so, he extended his overall lead. Now with 133 points to his name, he only has a five-point lead over Fabian Kreim (GER), who finished fifth and fourth in Spielberg. More information on the BMW M2 Cup can be found on the official website bmwm2cup.com. Images and video material can be downloaded here in the ‘Media’ section.  

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GTWC: 3-hour race at the Nürburgring.

The scheduling clash with the DTM meant Walkenhorst Motorsport had to field a different driver line-up in race four of this season’s Fanatec GT World Challenge Endurance Cup at the Nürburgring (GER) at the weekend. In the #34 BMW M6 GT3, regular driver David Pittard and his new team-mates Jake Dennis and Nick Yelloly (all GBR) ended the three-hour race in 12^th place. Pittard had previously finished runner-up in the Pro category in the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series on Saturday, scoring valuable points for Walkenhorst Motorsport in the Team competition. Regular drivers Martin Tomczyk (GER) and Thomas Neubauer (FRA) were joined by Nick Catsburg (NED) in the #35 BMW M6 GT3, and the trio finished the race in 15^th place. Boutsen Ginion Racing and its drivers Jens Klingmann (GER), Karim Ojjeh (KSA) and Jens Liebhauser (GER) struggled with technical issues in the race. They eventually came home 12^th in the Pro-Am class.

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GT4 European Series: Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport on the Pro-Am podium.

Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport made it onto the podium in the Pro-Am class at the GT4 European Series event at the Nürburgring (GER). Hansan Tansu and Yagiz Gedik (both TUR) finished second in their class in the #11 BMW M4 GT4 on Saturday. Their team-mates Cem Bölükbasi and Berkay Besler (both TUR) were seventh overall in the best-placed BMW M4 GT4. Paolo Meloni (SMR) and Massimiliano Tresoldi (ITA) from the W&D Racing Team finished fourth in the AM class, narrowly missing out on a podium. The BMW M Motorsport teams did not produce any top results in the Sunday race.

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Italian GT: BMW Team Italia on the podium with the BMW M6 GT3.

Marius Zug (GER) and Stefano Comandini (ITA) impressed in both races in the Italian GT Sprint Championship at Imola (ITA) and were rewarded for their strong performances with a place on the podium. They came home fourth on Saturday, narrowly missing out on a podium with the BMW Team Italia BMW M6 GT3. However, they went one better on Sunday, finishing third to secure their place on the podium. Their team-mates Nicola Neri and Giuseppe Fascicolo (both ITA) were second in the GT4-AM class in their BMW M4 GT4 on Saturday, but failed to finish the Sunday race.

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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Luigi Ferrara bags a brace at Imola.

The fourth race weekend in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy was all about Luigi Ferrara (ITA). He won both races at Imola (ITA) and took a big step towards the top of the overall standings. Now with 101 points to his name, he trails the leader Gustavo Sandrucci (ITA) by just nine points. Sandrucci finished runner-up behind Ferrara in the opening race, but had to settle for sixth place in race two. Third place on Saturday went to Lorenzo Marcucci (ITA), while Marco Zanasi and Alessandro Brigatti (both ITA) joined Ferrara on the podium on Sunday.

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24h Barcelona: ST Racing claims GT4 class victory.

The ST Racing team celebrated victory in the GT4 class at the 24-hour race in Barcelona (ESP). After 638 laps of racing, Samantha Tan, Nick Wittmer (both CAN), Chandler Hull and Jon Miller (both USA) came home well ahead of their closest rivals to take the class win and finish an impressive 12^th overall. Daren Jorgensen, Brett Strom (both USA), Nathan Freke (GBR) and Danny van Dongen (NED) from the RHC Jorgensen-Strom by Century team finished runner-up in the GT4 class to complete a one-two for the BMW M4 GT4.

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GT World Challenge America: Victory for Turner Motorsport in the BMW M6 GT3.

Robby Foley and Michael Dinan (both USA) claimed the first win of the season for Turner Motorsport in race two of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America at Road America (USA). After 41 laps of racing, the duo in the #96 BMW M6 GT3 came home 4.6 seconds ahead of their closest rivals. Foley and Dinan had previously finished seventh overall, fourth in the Pro category, in the first race of the event, which took place on the last weekend in August. They now lie fourth in the Drivers’ Championship with 87 points.

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GT4/GT/TC America: Victories and podiums aplenty for BMW teams.

BMW M Motorsport teams claimed many victories and podiums across various series and classes at the Road America (USA) race weekend at the end of August. The BMW M4 GT4 was in action in both the GT4 America and GT America series at the iconic circuit. Meanwhile, the BMW M2 CS Racing and the BMW M240i Racing were out on track in TC America.

In GT4 America, the BMW M4 GT4 took five of the six places available on the podium. In race one, it was James Walker and Bill Auberlen (both USA) of the BimmerWorld Racing team who took victory, ahead of Tom Capizzi and John Capresto-Dubets (both USA) of Auto Technic Racing and the second BimmerWorld Racing duo of James Clay and Nick Galante (both USA). Tim Barber and Cole Ciraulo (both USA) finished runner-up in the Silver class for CCR Racing/Team TFB. The second race was won by Sean Quinlan and Gregory Liefooghe (both USA) in the Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M4 GT4, ahead of Capizzi and Capresto-Dubets, who again finished runner-up. Harry Gottsacker and Tyler Maxson (both USA) won the Silver class for ST Racing. In GT America, Quinlan took victory in the GT4 class in both races as an individual starter for Stephen Cameron Racing.

BMW M Motorsport achieved a top-five and a top-six lock out in TC America. Jacob Ruud (USA) won race one in A BMW M2 CS Racing for Classic BMW. He was followed home by a further three BMW M2 CS Racings. Fifth place went to Austen Smith (USA) in a BMW M240i Racing run by Auto Technic Racing. That earned Smith victory in the TC class. In race two, no fewer than six BMW M2 CS Racings led the field home. The race was won by Stephen Cugliari (USA) of Accelerating Performance, ahead of Hard Motorsport drivers Ruud and Steve Streimer (USA). This was the same trio that had celebrated on the podium after the opening race – only in a different order. Smith finished third in the TC class this time.

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BTCC: A win and four podiums for BMW teams in Thruxton.

The last weekend in August saw the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Thruxton (GBR) for the second time this season. There was more cause for celebration for those at the wheel of the BMW 330i M Sport – particularly Adam Morgan (GBR), who took victory for the Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport team in the third and final race on Sunday. He was followed home in second place by Colin Turkington (GBR). The Team BMW driver had finished 12th and sixth in the first two races and is the top BMW driver in the Drivers’ Championship in fifth place. Morgan is just below him in the standings in sixth place. He ended the first two races at Thruxton in seventh and eighth place. Tom Oliphant (GBR) made two appearances on the podium, finishing third for Team BMW in races one and two. He rounded the weekend off with 12^th place in the third race. BMW continues to lead the Manufacturers competition with 532 points.