BMW M Motorsport News, 27th September 2022

IMSA / GTWC: Changed driver pairings for season finals.

This weekend, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta (USA) and the 3-hour race at Barcelona (ESP), which mark the season finals of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, are happening at the same time. This clash of dates means that the BMW M Motorsport teams will compete with slightly different driver line-ups.

BMW M Team RLL will take to the track at Road Atlanta in the MOTUL BMW M4 GT3 with the two regular drivers John Edwards and Connor De Phillippi (both USA), plus Jesse Krohn (FIN). ROWE Racing will be competing at Barcelona with the #50 BMW M4 GT3, with the BMW Junior Team as usual. In the #98 car, Philipp Eng (AUT) will be standing in for Nick Catsburg (NED), who is taking part in Petit Le Mans that same weekend. Eng will share the cockpit with Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR).

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ADAC GT Masters: Krohn and Green pick up points at the Sachsenring.

At the penultimate race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters, Jesse Krohn (FIN) and Ben Green (GBR) finished eighth in the Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 in Sunday’s race, which saw them finish in the points. The duo crossed the finish line in 13^th place in the first race. A conflicting schedule for Niklas Krütten (GER) meant that there was only one BMW M4 GT3 in the starting line-up for the Oschersleben (GER) team at this event.

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Japanese Super GT: BMW M Team Studie defies freak weather at Sugo.

The sixth round of the 2022 Japanese Super GT Championship was held at Sugo (JPN) in mid-September. In action for BMW M Team Studie once again were BMW M works driver Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Seiji Ara (JPN) in the #7 BMW M4 GT3. In Saturday’s qualifying session, which was held in dry conditions, the duo qualified in tenth on the grid. In the 300-kilometre race on Sunday, rain started to fall, triggering freak weather and difficult conditions but Farfus and Ara braved the elements, and even took the lead at one stage. A strong performance saw them cross the finish line in fifth place in the BMW M4 GT3 after 78 laps.

“The Sugo race was fantastic,” summed up Farfus. “My first stint was so much fun. I managed to work my way up through the field on slicks on a wet track to take the lead. And the fans in Sugo were amazing as well.”

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GT World Challenge Asia: Podium for PLUS with BMW Team Studie at Okayama.

Just one week after the Japanese Super GT race at Sugo (JPN), BMW M Team Studie was in action at Okayama (JPN), for the season finale of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia. Seiji Ara (JPN) shared the cockpit of the #5 BMW M4 GT3 of PLUS with BMW Team Studie with Tomohide Yamaguchi (JPN). The duo finished on the podium once again. Starting from third on the grid in the thrilling race on Sunday, they battled for the lead throughout the race, and crossed the finish line in second place. That saw them bounce back after a difficult race on Saturday, in which they finished in 14^th place.

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Italian GT Endurance: BMW Italia by Ceccato Racing unlucky at Vallelunga.

At Vallelunga, to the north of Rome (ITA), the third endurance race in the 2022 Italian GT Championship was held in mid-September. The #50 BMW M4 GT3 of BMW Italia by Ceccato Racing had Stefano Comandini, Giuseppe Fascicolo (both ITA) and Alfred Nilsson (SWE) at the wheel. Things looked promising for the trio as they started the race from second in the GT3 Pro-Am class, and from sixth place overall, however damage forced the BMW M4 GT3 to retire after it came into contact with a competitor after a safety car restart. The championship is still far from decided. The trio is currently in second place in the GT3 Pro-Am classification, and just two points off the top as they head into the final at Monza (ITA) at the beginning of October.

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DTM Trophy: Colin Caresani wins at the Red Bull Ring.

Colin Caresani (NED) won Saturday’s race at the Red Bull Ring (AUT) in the penultimate round of the DTM Trophy. He had a lead of around 2.5 seconds in his Project 1 BMW M4 GT4 on the Styria track. His team-mate Louis Henkefend – who, like Caresani, was promoted from the BMW M2 Cup to the GT4 category – finished fifth. In Sunday’s race, Henkefend was the best-placed BMW driver, crossing the finish line in sixth place. Caresani retired from that race. The Dutchman is currently in second place in the driver standings ahead of the season finale at Hockenheim (GER), however, there is a large gap between him and the top of the table. Project 1 leads the team standings.

Images © DTM Trophy

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BMW M2 Cup: Maxime Oosten wins thrilling race at Spielberg.

Spectators were treated to more gripping racing at the penultimate event of the BMW M2 Cup season at Spielberg (AUT). In Saturday’s race, held in glorious weather, there was an exciting three-way battle for the lead. Maxime Oosten (NED / #54) emerged victorious, narrowly edging out Lorenz Stegmann (GER / #99) and championship leader Fabian Kreim (GER / #43). That saw the Dutchman, who is in second place overall, reduce the gap between him and Kreim.

“This race was so much fun,” summed up Oosten after the ninth round of the season. “I had no time to breathe. The battles were great, and most importantly they were fair. That’s what racing should be like!” Pole sitter Kreim maintained his advantage initially. A strong start saw him defend his lead, but it didn’t take Oosten long to hunt him down, and he snatched the lead after turn two. Following that, the number one spot changed hands many times, right down to the chequered flag. Stegmann observed this duel for a while, before seizing the opportunity to move past Kreim on lap 14.

The second race on Sunday was called off due to heavy rain. The season finale will be held at Hockenheim (GER) from 7th to 9th October.

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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Marco Zanasi and Gustavo Sandrucci win at Vallelunga.

The penultimate event of the season in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy was held at Vallelunga in mid-September. Marco Zanasi (ITA) won the first of the two races, finishing more than five seconds ahead of Gustavo Sandrucci (ITA) in second place. Third place went to Luigi Ferrara (ITA). Sandrucci and Zanasi were embroiled in a hotly contested duel for the lead in the second race on Sunday. After 18 laps, Sandrucci crossed the finish line with a lead of 0.2 seconds to claim his first win of the season. Zanasi finished second, and Ferrara was third once again. Going into the final, due to be held at Mugello (ITA) in October, Ferrara leads the driver standings with 168 points, followed by Sandrucci (138 points) and Zanasi (121 points).

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GTWC / GT / GT4 / TC America: Milestone and title for BimmerWorld.

The BimmerWorld team had two reasons to celebrate at the SRO race weekend at Sebring International Raceway (USA). They marked a milestone as Chandler Hull (USA) contested his 100^th race overall for BMW, and he added to this achievement by finishing in second place on the Pro-Am podium of the Fanatec GT World Challenge America in Sunday’s race. He shared the cockpit of the #94 BMW M4 GT3 with Bill Auberlen (USA). In the GT4 America it was James Clay and Charlie Postins (both USA) who were celebrating on the podium. They won the Am class with their BMW M4 GT4 on Saturday, which saw them clinch the title in that category.

In addition to BimmerWorld, other BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers also made it onto the podium. Robby Foley and Michael Dinan (both USA) finished second in the Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 in the GT World Challenge America race on Saturday. In the GT4 America, Austen Smith and Zack Anderson (both USA) in the BMW M4 GT4 of Auto Technic Racing finished in third place in the Silver category in both races. In the Am class, Paul Sparta and Al Carter (both USA) of Team Random Vandals Racing won Sunday’s race. Rooster Hall Racing duo Johan Schwartz (DEN)/Todd Brown (USA) finished in third place. Rob Walker (USA) and Alex Filsinger (CAN) finished third in their class on Saturday.

In TC America, both wins in the BMW M2 CS Racing went to Colin Garrett (USA) of Rooster Hall Racing. He prevailed over Lucas Catania and Jacob Ruud (both USA) in the first race; in the second race he pipped Stephen Cugliari (USA) to the post, with Catania finishing third.

In GT America, Marko Radisic (SRB) in the BMW M4 GT4 of SRQ Motorsports was the best-placed BMW starter, finishing fifth in Sunday’s race.

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BTCC: Jake Hill wins and is in within reach of the title.

At the penultimate event of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) season at Silverstone (GBR), Jake Hill (GBR) in the BMW 330e M Sport of ROKiT MB Motorsport sparkled with a win, a second place and a fourth place, which saw him move up into second place in the driver standings ahead of the season finale at Brands Hatch (GBR). With 340 points he is just five points off the top, giving him a good chance of winning the title. Colin Turkington (GBR) of Team BMW, who arrived at Silverstone as championship leader, had an unfortunate weekend – retiring from the first race, and finishing in 13^th and twelfth place in the other two races. That saw him drop down into fourth place in the driver standings, with 318 points, but he is still in with a chance of winning the title.

In addition to Hill, Adam Morgan (GBR) of Team Car Gods with Ciceley Motorsport also had a strong weekend. He finished on the podium in third place in the first race, and crossed the finish line in sixth place in the second race. He retired from the final race.