BMW M Motorsport News, 7th June 2022

Guest start at Imola: Timo Glock and Roberto Ravaglia set for their DTM comeback.

Two familiar names, Timo Glock (GER) and 1989 champion Roberto Ravaglia (ITA), will return to the DTM at the third race weekend of the 2022 season in Imola, Italy (17th to 19th June). Glock will make a guest appearance in the BMW M4 GT3 with Ravaglia’s Ceccato Racing team. The German BMW M Motorsport works driver was a regular in the DTM from 2013 to 2021, and this season races in the Italian GT Championship with the BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team, led by Ravaglia. He shares the cockpit of a BMW M4 GT3 with fellow BMW M Motorsport works driver Jens Klingmann (GER) in the Italian series.

“I am really looking forward to my DTM comeback in Italy, and to returning to the series together with the 1989 DTM champion, Roberto Ravaglia, and his team,” said Glock. “This is really very cool. It is also great to be at the wheel of the new BMW M4 GT3, which I have driven already in the first few races in Italy. The car really, really suits me, but I am intrigued to see how it goes in the DTM. One example is that we will be on a different brand of tyre which does not make it any easier. Another issue is the pit stops. In Italy, you are not up against the clock so much, as it is just a driver changeover without the tyre change. As a team, that is a bigger challenge for us. However, I am just really looking forward to competing with Roberto Ravaglia at Imola. It is going to be a great weekend.”

Ravaglia shares this anticipation: “It is really exciting to be back in the DTM after so many years,” said the Italian. “I remember the thrill of 1989, when I won the DTM as a driver. I am now fortunate enough to be a part of the DTM as team manager of Ceccato Racing at the iconic Imola racetrack – and in the year that marks the 50th anniversary of BMW M. I am aware that the DTM is one of the most spectacular and fiercely-competitive championships a driver or team can win. It will not be easy for our team to join part way into the season, and only for one race weekend. However, we are very highly motivated and will give it our all. I know I can count on a competitive car in the BMW M4 GT3 and a super motivated driver in Timo Glock.”

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Italian GT Championship: Podium for Timo Glock and Jens Klingmann.

In the Italian GT Championship, Timo Glock (GER) competes in the sprint races alongside Jens Klingmann (GER) for BMW Italia Ceccato Racing in the BMW M4 GT3. The duo won the opening race at the season-opener at Monza (ITA), and then finished runner-up in race two. Last weekend, they picked up another podium finish at Misano (ITA). Despite having to make longer pit stops as a result of the good results at Monza, Glock and Klingmann still managed to finish third in the Sunday race, courtesy of an impressive fightback with some remarkable overtaking manoeuvres. On Saturday, the two BMW M Motorsport works drivers had to settle for twelfth place after suffering a puncture. Despite that, Glock and Klingmann lead the Sprint standings in the Italian GT Championship with 47 points each after two of four events.

“The weekend was great fun again,” said Klingmann. “It was clear from the outset that it would be a case of damage limitation for us, given the extra 25 seconds of stationary time in the pit stops – 15 seconds on Saturday and ten on Sunday. We did a good job of that, particularly on Sunday, when we still made it onto the podium and picked up valuable points, despite the longer pit stop. Unfortunately, we suffered a puncture on Saturday following a collision. But that kind of thing can happen when the success handicap means you have to take a big risk. A big thank you goes to the BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team, who worked hard and, particularly for the Sunday race, improved the car so much that we were able to make it onto the podium.”

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IMSA: Paul Miller Racing on the podium in Detroit.

Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers (both USA) finished third in the GTD class at the wheel of the #1 BMW M4 GT3 for Paul Miller Racing in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in Detroit (USA). The duo came home just six seconds behind the winning car after 1:40 hours of racing. For Turner Motorsport, winners in Mid-Ohio, the race at the Belle Isle circuit did not go to plan. After issues in qualifying and a drive-through penalty in the race, Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley (both USA) had to settle for eighth place in the GTD category in the #96 BMW M4 GT3. However, the overall Sprint Cup standings make happy reading for the two BMW M Motorsport teams. After four of eight events, Snow and Sellers lead Auberlen and Foley in second place. The next IMSA race is part of the Endurance Cup. BMW M Team RLL will compete with the MOTUL BMW M4 GT3 in the GTD-PRO class at the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen (USA) on 26th June.

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Japanese Super GT: BMW M Team Studie wins with the BMW M4 GT3 at Suzuka.

The Japanese Super GT Championship was at Suzuka (JPN) for the third race of the season at the end of May – and it was a perfect weekend for BMW M Team Studie. Seiji Ara and Tsubasa Kondo (both JPN) took pole position in the GT300 class with the BMW M4 GT3 in Saturday’s qualifying. Ara then made a perfect start to the race on Sunday, consistently extending his lead after an early safety car period. After 20 laps, he handed the car over to his team-mate Kondo. He continued to race clear of the opposition, until another safety car brought the field back together. However, when the race resumed, Kondo again pulled away from his rivals – and BMW M Team Studie claimed the first victory for the new BMW M4 GT3 in Japan. The success was the perfect way to mark a big anniversary for BMW M, which celebrated its 50th birthday in this week.

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British GT Championship: Century Motorsport on the GT4 podium.

Century Motorsport claimed another podium in the GT4 class in the British GT Championship endurance race at Donington Park (GBR). Will Burns and Jack Brown (both GBR) brought the #90 BMW M4 GT4 home in second place after an eventful and hard-fought three-hour race. Their team-mates Tom Rawlings and Chris Salkeld (both GBR) were ninth in the GT4 class in the #9 BMW M4 GT4. Betty Chen (TPE) and Angus Fender (GBR) again drove in the GT3 class for Century Motorsport in the new BMW M4 GT3. After three hours of racing, they crossed the finish line in 14th place.

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GT4 European Series: Le Castellet hosts second event of the season.

Round two of this season’s GT4 European Series took place at the weekend at Le Castellet in the south of France. The Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport team fielded two BMW M4 GT4. In the Silver class, Will Burns (GBR), who had been in action in the British GT Championship the weekend before, and Berkay Besler (TUR) finished sixth in race two, having previously failed to finish the opening race. Their team-mates Yağız Gedik and Jason Tahincioglu (both TUR) ended race one in 14th place in the Pro-Am class, but did not finish race two. The W&D Racing team competed with one BMW M4 GT4 in the AM class. Paolo Meloni (SMR) and Massimiliano Tresoldi (ITA) came home seventh in that class in both races.

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ESET Cup Series: Successful weekend for BMW M Motorsport teams at the Red Bull Ring.

The BMW M Motorsport teams enjoyed a successful second race weekend in the 2022 ESET Cup Series at the Red Bull Ring (AUT). The Trevor Racing team finished on the GT3 podium in all three races with the new BMW M4 GT3. Gregor Zsigo (SVK) was runner-up in both sprint races. In the endurance race, Zsigo shared the cockpit of the BMW M4 GT3 with Dennis Waszek (CZE). The duo again finished second in their class.

The Šenkýř Motorsport team fielded two BMW M4 GT4s at the Red Bull Ring. In the opening sprint race, Samuel Vetrák and Marian Bíž (both SVK) took victory in the GT4 class. Their team-mate Petr Švantner (CZE) failed to finish race one. Švantner and Vetrák then finished second and third in the second sprint. Vetrák/Bíž and Švantner also made it onto the podium in the endurance race, in second and third place.

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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Marco Zanasi and Lorenzo Marcucci win at Misano.

The BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy was at Misano (ITA) at the weekend for round two of the season. Victory in Saturday’s opening race went to Marco Zanasi (ITA), followed by Gustavo Sandrucci (ITA) and Luigi Ferrara (ITA) in second and third place. Race two on Sunday was won by Lorenzo Marcucci (ITA). Ferrara came home second that time, with Sandrucci third. After two race weekends, Ferrara leads the Drivers’ Championship with 69 points, ahead of Sandrucci (59 points).