BMW M Motorsport News, 23rd August 2022

ADAC GT Masters: Pole position and points at the Lausitzring.

The Schubert Motorsport team finished in the points at the Lausitzring (GER) in both ADAC GT Masters races at the weekend, yet missed out on the big prize on Sunday. Nick Catsburg (NED) secured pole position for the second race with slick tyres as the surface dried. Up to the scheduled pit stop, he defended the lead in a commanding fashion in the #20 BMW M4 GT3. However, radio issues then caused him and the team to miss the pit-stop window and the subsequent imposition of a stop & go penalty then pushed them out of the battle for points. Jesse Krohn (FIN) brought the car into the pits a short time later. On Saturday, the duo had finished twelfth in the rain.

Niklas Krütten (GER) and Ben Green (GBR) scored points twice, finishing eleventh and ninth in the #10 BMW M4 GT3, and are now in fifth position in the drivers’ standings with 91 points each. The duo had celebrated a double win at the Red Bull Ring (AUT) and still have a clear lead in the Junior standings.

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DTM: Guest appearance for youngster Theo Oeverhaus in the Walkenhorst BMW M4 GT3.

Next weekend will see the 17-year-old Theo Oeverhaus (GER) make his DTM debut at the Nürburgring (GER). He will be competing in a BMW M4 GT3 from Walkenhorst Motorsport as the team-mate of Marco Wittmann (GER) and Esteban Muth (BEL). Oeverhaus will be making history as the youngest driver ever to appear in the DTM. This season, Oeverhaus is driving for Walkenhorst Motorsport in the DTM Trophy.

“I am delighted with the opportunity and the trust placed in me by the DTM to allow me to compete as the youngest driver in the history of the competition”, said Oeverhaus. “It will be a tough weekend for me, as I will also be driving in the DTM Trophy. Nonetheless, I am really looking forward to showing how it is possible to make the step up to the top-quality DTM from the BMW M2 Cup and DTM Trophy youth series. Many thanks to Walkenhorst Motorsport for supporting me in the DTM Trophy and in the DTM.”

Walkenhorst Motorsport team manager explained: “As a team, we are proud and delighted to be able to support Theo throughout his journey from karting to the DTM. I am very excited to see how he does in his first GT3 sprint race, and of course I hope that we will also see more talented young drivers on the unique DTM platform, and that we can be part of the success story.”

The event at the Nürburgring marks the end of the summer break for the DTM. Both races will take place at 13:30 CEST, on Saturday and Sunday.

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BMW M2 Cup: Guest appearance for Matthias Killing at the Nürburgring.

Normally, Matthias Killing (GER) reports on events in the DTM from the pit lane and the paddock, but this weekend the TV presenter will swap his microphone for a steering wheel. Killing will be making a guest appearance in the BMW M2 Cup at the Nürburgring (GER). Killing secured the appropriate racing licence in the BMW M2 CS Racing at the Lausitzring (GER). The races in the BMW M2 Cup take place on Saturday at 11:25 CEST and on Sunday at 11:20 CEST.

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GT World Challenge America: Two podiums for BimmerWorld.

Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull (both USA) reached the podium in the Pro-Am category in both Fanatec GT World Challenge America races at Road America (USA) at the weekend. On Saturday, the two drivers in the BimmerWorld #94 BMW M4 GT3 secured second place in class – equating to fifth place overall. On Sunday, Hull made a great overtaking manoeuvre just before the end to claim third place in the Pro-Am standings, finishing fifth again in the overall standings. Turner Motorsport also competed on Saturday with the #96 BMW M4 GT3, however Michael Dinan (USA) fell victim to a not-at-fault collision at the start. The damage to the vehicle was so severe that he was unable to race on Sunday.

Images © 2022 SRO

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GT World Challenge Asia: Podiums for PLUS with BMW Team Studie.

PLUS with BMW Team Studie completed a successful race weekend in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia at Sportsland SUGO (JPN). In Saturday’s race, Seiji Ara and Tomohide Yamaguchi (both JPN) finished fourth overall and third in the Pro-Am class to reach the podium. Sunday went even better for the #5 BMW M4 GT3. Final driver Yamaguchi remained in second place overall until the final corner, ahead of an Aston Martin, only to slip back during the final metres. The annoyance was only increased by the fact that the leading Ferrari suddenly slowed down and had to let the two chasing cars pass. Had this event not irritated Yamaguchi and forced him to slow down a little, he would even have been able to win the race. However, second place represented a great performance by the duo.

Images © SRO

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ESET Cup Series: Victory and podium for Trevor Racing.

The penultimate round of the ESET Cup Series took place last weekend at the Slovakia Ring near Bratislava (SVK). There was another win and a podium finish for Trevor Racing and the #16 BMW M4 GT3. On Saturday, Gregor Zsigo (SVK) and Dennis Waszek (CZE) won the D4 GT3 class in the endurance race. They crossed the line with a lead of over six seconds. Zsigo had earlier claimed third place in the first of two sprint races. He then retired early from the second race.

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GT4/TC America: BMW M Motorsport Teams celebrate more wins.

As part of the supporting programme for the Fanatec GT World Challenge America at Road America (USA), BMW M Motorsport teams were back in action in the GT4 America and the TC America at the weekend. They secured further successes in the individual classes. In the GT4 America, Rob Walker and Alex Filsinger (both USA) claimed victory in the Am class in race two in the #53 BMW M4 GT4 from Auto Technic Racing. Charlie Postins and James Clay (both USA) finished both races in the BimmerWorld Racing #36 BMW M4 GT4 in second position in class. Austen Smith and Zac Anderson (both USA) also secured a podium in the #51 BMW M4 GT4 from Auto Technic Racing when they finished third in the Silver category in the second race. Their team-mates Tom Capizzi and John Capestro-Dubets (both USA) produced the best result in the Pro-Am class with fifth place in race one.

The BMW M Motorsport teams once again dominated the top positions in the TC America. They claimed a top-seven lock-out in race one, and even managed to fill the top nine slots in the second race. Reigning champion Jacob Ruud (USA) in the #1 BMW M2 CS Racing from Fast Track Racing was the dominant winner of both races. Lucas Catania (USA / #26 Rigid Speed) crossed the line in second place on both occasions. In the first race, Ruud’s team-mate Garrett Adams (USA / #54) finished third to complete the podium. In race two, third place went to Colin Garrett (USA / #44 Rooster Hall Racing).

Images © SRO

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24 Hours of Zolder: Class wins for the BMW M Motorsport teams.

The historic 24 Hours of Zolder (BEL) took place in the Belcar Endurance Championship in mid-August. The BMW M Motorsport teams recorded successful results in their classes. In the TA class, JJ Motorsport won with the #14 BMW M2 CS Racing. Hamofa Motorsport and BMS Motorsport secured second and third places on the class podium with their BMW M2 CS Racing. In the TB category, the Convents Racing Team won with the #50 BMW E90 325i. Xwift Racing Events and QSR Racing also reached the podium by finishing in second and third positions.

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BTCC: Pair of one-two results at Snetterton.

In the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), BMW drivers celebrated a pair of one-two results at the seventh round of the season at Snetterton (GBR). Colin Turkington (GBR) in the #50 BMW 330e M Sport from Team BMW won the first and second races. Jake Hill (GBR) from the ROKiT MB Motorsport team finished second behind Turkington both times. Hill was the best BMW driver in the third race in fifth place, while Turkington followed in sixth. Adam Morgan (GBR) from the Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport team claimed two fourth-place finishes and an eighth position. Stephen Jelley (GBR) from Team BMW finished fifth twice and completed the final race in 21st position.

With two events remaining, Turkington tops the drivers’ standings with 282 points and a lead of 15. Hill now has 258 points in third place. BMW extended the lead to 99 points in the manufacturers’ standings, and now boasts a total of 584 points. Team BMW has now also moved into the lead in the team standings with 403 points.