BMW M Motorsport News, 30th May 2023

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

“The new season in the DTM and its supporting series began last weekend. Even though things did not go perfectly for the BMW M4 GT3 at Oschersleben, there was plenty for BMW M Motorsport to be pleased about as the new BMW M4 GT4 made a superb start to the season in the very competitive ADAC GT4 Germany, chalking up four podiums in two races for Walkenhorst Motorsport and Project 1. Century Motorsport celebrated more podium finishes in the British GT, this time in the GT4 class, and fifth place in the overall standings with the BMW M4 GT3 also delivered some important championship points. The previous weekend had all been about the Nürburgring 24-hour race, where privateer BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated a total of six class wins – including FK Performance Motorsport with the new BMW M4 GT4 in the hotly contested SP10 category. At the same time, the car also triumphed in GT4 America, while the BMW M2 CS Racing was victorious in the TC America. In the Italian GT Championship, Ceccato Racing reached the podium for BMW M Motorsport. Another fantastic set of results that I am delighted with. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers!”

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ADAC GT4 Germany: Four podiums for BMW M4 GT4 teams.

The start of the ADAC GT4 Germany season also marked the debut of the new BMW M4 GT4 in the DTM support programme – and it was a great success. At Oschersleben (GER), the car immediately claimed four podium finishes in the hotly contested race series. Three of these went to Walkenhorst Motorsport. In the first race on Saturday, Sami-Matti Trogen (FIN) and Enzo Joulié (FRA) finished second, ahead of their Walkenhorst team-mates Nico Hantke (GER) and Mex Jansen (NED). Second place in Sunday’s race went to the reigning BMW M2 Cup champion Maxime Oosten (NED) and Michal Makes (CZE) from the Project 1 team. Hantke and Jansen finished in third position once more. The other BMW M Motorsport teams, Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and FK Performance Motorsport, both recorded top-five and top-ten results. The BMW M4 GT4 claimed second, third, fourth and fifth positions on Sunday.

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BMW M2 Cup: Double win for Denny Berndt.

The first races of the season in the BMW M2 Cup also took place at Oschersleben (GER). The brand trophy features a competitive 16-car field but Denny Berndt (GER) proved unbeatable on both days, securing two wins in the #8 BMW M2 CS Racing. On Saturday, he was followed by Max Rosam (GER) and Leyton Fourie (RSA) in second and third positions. Rosam finished second again on Sunday, while third place went to Bart Horsten (AUS). The BMW M2 Cup is part of the support programme on six out of eight DTM race weekends. The next stop is the Norisring (GER).

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British GT Championship: Century Motorsport on the GT4 podium.

The British GT Championship race weekend at Donington Park (GBR) ended with fifth place in the overall standings for BMW M works drivers Dan Harper and Darren Leung (both GBR). The Century Motorsport duo followed victory at Silverstone with more valuable points in the overall standings. However, it was the GT4 crews who secured the spots on the podium this time. After two hours of racing, Carl Cavers and Lewis Plato (both GBR) claimed third place in the GT4 overall standings, and second place in the Pro-Am category, in the #22 BMW M4 GT4. Third position in the Pro-Am standings went to Michael Johntson and Chris Salkeld (both GBR) in the team’s #14 car. This equated to fifth position in the GT4 overall ranking. Harper and Leung are in third place in the drivers’ standings with 68.5 points.

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GT World Challenge America: Third round of the season at the COTA in Austin.

The third round of the season in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS took place at the Circuit Of The Americas near Austin (USA). The event featured BimmerWorld and ST Racing, each competing with one BMW M4 GT3.

In the Pro class, Chandler Hull and Bill Auberlen (both USA) claimed fourth place in the second race in the BimmerWorld #94 BMW M4 GT3. They retired early from race one. The ST Racing #38 BMW M4 GT3 was competing in the Pro-Am class. Samantha Tan (CAN) and BMW M works driver John Edwards (USA) finished the two races in eleventh and fifth places in their class.

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GT4 / GT / TC America: Wins and podiums for the BMW racers in Texas.

The GT4 America, the GT America and the TC America also took place at COTA near Austin (USA) and BMW racers enjoyed more success in the various championships. 

In the #51 BMW M4 GT4 from Auto Technic Racing, John Dubets and Zac Anderson (both USA) claimed the overall win and victory in the Silver class in the first of the two GT4 America races. Chandler Hull and Jon Miller (both USA) finished third in the #88 BMW M4 GT4 from STR38 Motorsport to reach the overall and Silver podiums. Kevin Boehm and Kenton Koch (both USA) were right behind them in the #92 BMW M4 GT4 from Random Vandals Racing. Rooster Hall Racing secured second place in the Pro-Am class with the #44 car, driven by  Johan Schwartz and Colin Garrett (both USA). All three podium spots in the Am class went to the BMW M4 GT4. STR38 Motorsport claimed victory with Chris Allen and Robert Mau (both USA) in the #438 car, ahead of James Clay and Charlie Postins (both USA) from Team BimmerWorld and Auto Technic Racing with Satakal Khalsa and Rob Walker (both USA).

In the second GT4 America race, Dubets and Anderson claimed third place overall and second in the Silver standings. James Walker Junior and Tyler McQuarrie (both USA) crossed the line in fourth position overall in the #82 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 to claim second in the Pro-Am standings. The BMW M4 GT4s secured a one-two result this time in the Am standings: Clay and Postins won ahead of Allen and Mau. John Roberts (USA) was racing in the GT America with the BMW M4 GT4 from Fast Track Racing. He finished ninth and eighth in the GT4 class.

In the two TC America races, BMW drivers claimed five out of a possible six podium spots with the BMW M2 CS Racing. In race one,  Lucas Catania (USA) from the Rigid Speed Company team won ahead of Colin Garrett (USA) from Rooster Hall Racing and Maddie Aust (USA) from the Fast Track Racing team. Garrett won race two, with Aust in second. 

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Italian GT Championship: Podium and class win for Ceccato Racing.

At the opening event in the Italian GT Championship Endurance Cup, the Ceccato Racing Team claimed a podium and a class win with the #7 BMW M4 GT3. Stefano Comandini, Marco Cassarà (both ITA) and Alfred Nilsson (SWE) defied the rain during the two-hour race at Pergusa (ITA), crossing the finishing line in third place. That also equated to victory in the Pro-Am class.

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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux: Race weekend at Spielberg.

The BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux visited the Red Bull Ring (AUT) on 21st/22nd May. Senna van Soelen (NED) and Leyton Fourie (RSA) won the first race on Saturday, ahead of Lorenzo van Riet and the duo Sen Roodeburg/Gianni van der Craats (all NED). In the second race, van Soelen and Fourie completed their double win and van Riet repeated his second-place finish. Dirk Warmerdam and Dante Rappange (both NED) secured the third spot on the podium. 

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BTCC: Hill and Turkington on the podium in Snetterton.

While the 24-hour race was taking place at the Nürburgring (GER), the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) was at Snetterton (GBR). Jake Hill and Colin Turkington (both GBR) each claimed two podium finishes in the BMW 330e M Sport. In both races, Hill claimed second place for the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport team. Turkington finished third in those races for Team BMW. Adam Morgan and Stephen Jelley (both GBR) crossed the line in fifth and sixth positions in races one and two. The third and final race saw all four BMW drivers in the top ten, with Jelley the best of the bunch in sixth place.