BMW M Motorsport News, 1st October 2024.

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

“In the motorsport series worldwide, the weeks of truth are beginning, where titles will be decided. Last weekend, the British GT Championship held its season finale. Century Motorsport gave a strong performance with two podium finishes. After the fantastic title win in 2023, this season was more challenging, but we are proud to have our cars so well represented in British GT. I am especially happy for CarBahn Motorsports, who claimed their first victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with the BMW M4 GT4. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers who have been successful in recent weeks. October will be extremely exciting – and hopefully, we will have many titles to celebrate with our BMW M Motorsport teams. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for everyone!”

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Italian GT Championship: Raffaele Marciello to compete in Sprint finale.

At the season finale of the Italian GT Sprint Championship next weekend in Monza (ITA), there will be a driver change in the #7 BMW M4 GT3 of the BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team. Instead of Max Hesse (GER), who will be racing at the Indianapolis 8 Hour (USA) at the same time, Raffaele Marciello (SUI) will join Jens Klingmann (GER) to contest the two races. Klingmann will be aiming to successfully defend his driver title from the previous year. Both BMW M works drivers were recently successful at the royal park. Klingmann sensationally won the 3-hour race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS alongside Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) and Sam De Haan (GBR) in a Bronze Cup car. Marciello, racing with Maxime Martin (BEL) and Valentino Rossi (ITA), finished fifth. BMW Italia Ceccato Racing also participated in that race. “I’m very happy to return to Monza to support BMW Italia Ceccato Racing and my fellow BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann next weekend at the season finale,” Marciello said. “For him, the fight for the title defense is on, and I will do my best to help him achieve this goal.”

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British GT Championship (28.-29.9.): Season finale with podium finishes.

The 2024 season of the British GT Championship concluded last weekend at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit (GBR). Century Motorsport secured podium finishes in two classes during the final race. Carl Cavers and Lewis Plato (both GBR) took third place in the GT3 Silver-Am category in the #22 BMW M4 GT3. Their teammates Ian Gough and Tom Wrigley (both GBR) were successful in the GT4 Pro-Am class, finishing second in the #29 BMW M4 GT4.

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IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (21.-22.9.): CarBahn Motorsports celebrates long-awaited victory.

At the IMSA weekend at Indianapolis (USA), not only did BMW M Team RLL celebrate a 1-2 finish with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, but there was also plenty of reason to celebrate in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC), with a win and a third-place finish for the BMW M4 GT4.

CarBahn Motorsports made it to the top step of the podium. Sean McAlister and Jeff Westphal (both USA) secured the team’s first IMPC victory in nearly four years in the #39 BMW M4 GT4. Starting from sixth, the duo worked their way to the front in the second half of the race, with Westphal defending the lead until the finish.

“The team deserved this. They worked so hard and meticulously. We always had the potential. It was just about putting it all together. It’s great for everyone,” said Westphal. Teammate McAlister cheered: “I’ve been racing in this series for almost three full years and hadn’t been on the podium yet. It’s fantastic to finally achieve that – and to stand on the top, especially at Indy.”

They shared the champagne shower with their fellow BMW drivers Dillon Machavern and Robert Megennis (USA), who secured third place in the #95 BMW M4 GT4 for Turner Motorsport.

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GT4 European Series (21.-22.9.): Thrilling races in the royal park.

The GT4 European Series hosted its final round on European soil in the royal park at Monza (ITA). Six BMW M4 GT4s competed in the exciting races across various classes.

Berkay Besler (TUR) and Gabriele Piana (ITA) in the #12 BMW M4 GT4 from Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport narrowly missed another podium finish, placing fourth in Sunday’s second race. They finished seventh in the first race. Ricardo van der Ende (NED) and Benjamin Lessennes (BEL) in the #17 BMW M4 GT4 from L’Espace Bienvenue took 11th and 7th positions. In the Pro-Am class, Joakim Walde and Viktor Bouveng (both SWE) in the #98 BMW M4 GT4 from Lestrup Racing Team secured their second podium of the season, finishing third in class in the first race and fourth in the second. Their teammates Stefan Nilsson and Mats Olsson (both SWE / #97 BMW M4 GT4) finished fifth in the Am category in both races.

The season finale of the GT4 European Series will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the end of November.

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24H Series (14.-15.9.): BMW M4 GT3 finishes on the podium at the 24H Barcelona.

The 2024 season of the 24H Series concluded in mid-September with the 24-hour race in Barcelona (ESP). Poulsen Motorsport delivered a strong finish. BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER) and his teammates Kristian Poulsen, Roland Poulsen (both DEN), and Alfred Nilsson (SWE) drove the #14 BMW M4 GT3 to third place overall and second in the Pro-Am class. In the GT4 category, BMW M works driver Neil Verhagen (USA), Samantha Tan (CAN), Jon Miller (USA), Pippa Mann (GBR), and Fabian Duffieux (BEL) secured second place in the #428 BMW M4 GT4 from ST Racing after 24 hours of racing.

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GT4 France (14.-15.9.): Successes for the BMW M4 GT4 at Dijon.

The fifth of six events in the GT4 France season was held in mid-September at Dijon (FRA). BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated further successes for the BMW M4 GT4 in various classes.

VSF Sports – Amplitude automobiles won the first race in the Am category, with Gregory Curson Faessel and Florian Teillais (both FRA) driving the #41 BMW M4 GT4. They finished third in their class in the second race, securing another podium finish. Carla Debard and Simon Gachet (both FRA) in the #21 BMW M4 GT4 from Debard Automobiles by Racetivity took third in their class in the first race.

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GT World Challenge Asia (14.-15.9.): Double class podium in Shanghai.

The season finale of the GT World Challenge Asia powered by AWS took place in Shanghai, China, in mid-September. Maxime Oosten (NED) and Cunfan Ruan (CHN) in the #89 BMW M4 GT3 from Team KRC finished on the podium of the Silver-Am class in both races. They took third in their class in the first race and improved to second in the second. In the overall classification, the duo finished in the top ten in both races, placing 10th and 7th respectively.

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BTCC (20.-22.9.): Jake Hill celebrates his seventh victory of the season.

The 2024 season of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) is heading towards an exciting finale. After a successful penultimate round at Silverstone (GBR), BMW driver Jake Hill (GBR) leads the drivers’ championship, tied on points with Hyundai driver Tom Ingram (GBR).

Hill celebrated his seventh win of the season at Silverstone, winning the second of three races after finishing second in the first. He crossed the line fourth in the third race. Colin Turkington (GBR / #20 Team BMW) completed a 1-2 finish for BMW in the second race, finishing behind Hill.

In the manufacturers’ standings, BMW currently holds second place, just four points behind the leader. The season finale will take place on 5th and 6th October at Brands Hatch (GBR).