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Goodbye, legend! DTM Champion Bruno Spengler leaves BMW M Motorsport after 13 years together.
Wed Dec 11 13:57:39 CET 2024 Press Release
After the 2024 season, an era comes to an end at BMW M Motorsport with Bruno Spengler (CAN) leaving after 13 years as a BMW M works driver, at his own request, to face new professional challenges.
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Munich. After the 2024 season, an era comes to an end at BMW M Motorsport with Bruno Spengler (CAN) leaving after 13 years as a BMW M works driver, at his own request, to face new professional challenges. By winning the DTM title in the comeback year in 2012, he secured his place in BMW M Motorsport history books. With Spengler's departure, a true fan favourite and a great ambassador for the BMW brand is leaving .
At the end of 2011, Bruno Spengler joined BMW M Motorsport to play a key role in the brand's return to the DTM for the 2012 season. He celebrated his first victory in just the second race at the Lausitzring (GER) in his matte black BMW M3 DTM. Spengler won a total of four races in 2012 and was crowned champion in a thrilling season finale at Hockenheim (GER). At the same time, BMW M Team Schnitzer and BMW M Motorsport celebrated winning the team and manufacturer championships. The “Black Beast” became his trademark in the following years. Between 2012 and 2019, Spengler competed in 122 DTM races for BMW M Motorsport, achieving seven victories and 24 podium finishes.
Spengler was also successful in GT racing. He achieved podium finishes at both the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA) and the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA). In 2015, he formed a trio with Alessandro Zanardi (ITA) and Timo Glock (GER) at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), driving the now legendary BMW Z4 GT3 in Michel Vaillant design. In 2023, alongside Jens Klingmann (GER), Spengler won the title in the Italian GT Sprint Championship driving the BMW M4 GT3. Outside the cockpit, Spengler served, inter alia, as an ambassador for BMW M Motorsport Automotive Gaming.
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “In Bruno Spengler, a legend in the history of BMW M Motorsport is leaving us. I remember well competing against him in the DTM when I was with my previous employer, Audi. Since I've been at BMW M Motorsport, I've come to know him as an extremely pleasant and valuable member of the BMW M Motorsport family, far beyond just racing. His sporting achievements speak for themselves, but his positive nature has also made him a big fan favourite to this day. I wish Bruno all the best for his professional and private future and hope to still see him at the racetrack from time to time.”
Bruno Spengler: “I would like to sincerely thank the entire BMW M Motorsport family, all the engineers, and all the mechanics for the past 13 years. I had the privilege of driving incredibly fantastic racing cars all over the world – it was a great time. My special thanks go to the former BMW Board Member, Dr. Klaus Draeger, who particularly supported me in my early years at BMW M Motorsport, as well as to Charly Lamm and the entire Schnitzer family, with whom I won the DTM title in 2012 and experienced many fantastic years together. It was not an easy decision for me to leave the BMW M Motorsport family, but I am at a point in my career where a new challenge with a long-term perspective was important to me. That's why I decided to take this step.“