BMW Motorsport News – Issue 04/12.
Whether in the DTM, the American Le Mans Series, or countless other championships: week after week BMW teams and drivers around the world do battle for points, victories and titles. Away from the track too, members of the large BMW Motorsport family around the world are also creating headlines. The “BMW Motorsport News” now allows us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed.
Maiden win for Farfus in Valencia.
Augusto Farfus (BR) made history with his victory in the ninth DTM race in Valencia (ES). He is the first Brazilian to stand on the top step of the podium in this series. At the same time, Bruno Spengler (CA) finished sixth to close to within just three shots of the leader in the Drivers’ Championship, Gary Paffett (GB, Mercedes). Andy Priaulx (GB) and Dirk Werner (DE) also picked up points, finishing eighth and ninth respectively. DTM fans can now look forward to an exciting season finale in Hockenheim (DE) on 21st October.
Three questions for… Augusto Farfus.
Augusto, how does it feel to be the first Brazilian DTM race winner?
Augusto Farfus: “I am very proud of this. I think there have been so many emotions and thoughts going through my mind all weekend that it is almost too much to take in. I am proud of being Brazilian, so to be the first to win in the DTM is very special for me. There have been some great Brazilian racing drivers in every form of racing, and to think that I can find my place in the history books in the DTM is very special.”
What went through your mind when you crossed the line?
Farfus: “I could hardly believe what was happening to me and I was very emotional. I had some tears in my eyes but I wasn't crying. I thought it was like opening your presents on Christmas Day. I had received something I desperately wanted but perhaps never believed I would get so soon in my career. I also immediately thought of all the hard work that was behind this victory. It was not just mine. This belonged to everyone in BMW Team RBM and everyone at BMW Motorsport. The team and myself are rookies in this series and here we are celebrating on the top step of the podium. It doesn't get much better than this.”
How will you celebrate this victory?
Farfus: “Strange though it may seem, I am not your typical Brazilian and am not a real party person who likes going home late. I am the guy who will celebrate a bit with my team and enjoy the time with my family. Of course it is great to get the victory, but I have to look forward. Hockenheim is round the corner, so we have to focus on that. I would say a nice dinner is enough. I am sure I shall enjoy a nice paella with my wife Liri and daughter Victoria, who I am so happy were here to see my win and help me celebrate it.”
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Zanardi crossing his fingers for BMW at DTM finale.
The finale of the DTM season at the Hockenheimring (DE) on 21st October will have a prominent guest: former BMW driver Alessandro Zanardi (IT) will be at the track on Sunday to support the three BMW teams. The 45-year-old lost both his legs in a crash before making his racing comeback with BMW and going on to win four races in the FIA World Touring Car Championship for the Munich-based manufacturer. A few weeks ago, Zanardi won two gold medals and one silver with his handbike at the Paralympic Games in London (GB). “I am really looking forward to visiting the DTM finale in Hockenheim,” said the Italian. “BMW has had a fantastic season so far – and I will try to give the guys as much support as possible at the finale. Maybe I’ll be a lucky charm for Bruno Spengler.”
Schubert wins at the ADAC GT Masters finale.
The Schubert Motorsport Team enjoyed a dazzling end to the season in the ADAC GT Masters: in the penultimate race of the year at the Hockenheimring, Claudia Hürtgen (DE) and Dominik Schwager (DE) claimed their first victory in the black number 20 BMW Z4 GT3. Starting from second on the grid, the duo put the leading Porsche under pressure for large periods of the race until it eventually had to retire with a puncture just five laps before the end. That left the way free for the team from Oschersleben (DE) to triumph. Simon Knap (NL) and Jeroen den Boer also finished in the top ten, coming home in seventh place. Title hopefuls Dino Lunardi (FR) and Maxime Martin (BE) had to settle for 18th following a technical problem with their BMW Alpina B6 GT3. After 11th in race two, Lundardi and Martin eventually ended the season fourth in the standings. They are followed by Hürtgen and Schwager, who finished fourth on Sunday to claim another good result for Schubert.
Crash puts end to FIA GT1 title hopes for BMW Z4 GT3.
In the fight for the FIA GT1 World Championship title, it was clear as early as the qualification race on Saturday that Vita4One Racing would face a tough challenge in Sunday’s championship race. After a collision with a Mercedes, Yelmer Buurman (NL) and Michael Bartels (DE) fell back through the field in the number 18 BMW Z4 GT3 and eventually had to settle for ninth. At the same time, their rivals for the title, Marc Basseng (DE) and Marcus Winkelhock (DE) increased their lead to three points. A collision with serious consequences occurred during an attempted overtaking manoeuvre in Sunday’s championship race by Buurman, who at the time was considerably quicker than Winkelhock’s Mercedes in front of him: Winkelhock touched the Vita4One Racing Team’s BMW Z4 GT3 twice. The second contact led to a high-speed spin at about 170 km/h, which sent Buurman careering backwards into the crash barriers. The Dutchman briefly lost consciousness and was taken by helicopter to a nearby hospital where he is currently undergoing detailed examinations. This aggressive manoeuvre from the Mercedes driver ultimately decided who won the battle for the World Championship. In the overall standings, Buurmann and Bartels (both 144 points) came up just one point short of the leaders.
Online hit: Liri and Augusto Farfus on the Nordschleife.
What happens when the wife of a BMW works driver joins her husband on the legendary Nordschleife for a flying lap in a BMW M3? The answer to this question is revealed in BMW Motorsport’s ten-minute video entitled “A hell of a ride”. Fans can watch Liri, wife of BMW DTM driver Augusto Farfus, from an on-board perspective as she makes her debut in the “Green Hell”. Within five days, almost 900,000 YouTube users have watched Liri’s ride alongside “Ninho” – her nickname for Augusto.
You can find the video at:
Underwater in Valencia.
The DTM weekend in Spain started harmlessly for Augusto Farfus, Joey Hand, Andy Priaulx, Martin Tomczyk and Dirk Werner with a trip to “Oceanogràfic”, the largest aquarium in Europe. While his fellow BMW drivers were admiring the fascinating underwater world, diving enthusiast Tomczyk went for a dip in the shark tank. In contrast, the severe storms that battered large areas of Spain on Friday evening, resulting in some dramatic flooding – including some in and around Valencia – were anything but entertaining. The “Circuit de la Comunitat” avoided any major damage, allowing Saturday’s second free practice and qualifying to take place as scheduled.
BMW sports stars meet up at Oktoberfest.
On the Tuesday before the race in Valencia, Augusto Farfus, Andy Priaulx, Bruno Spengler, Martin Tomczyk and Dirk Werner were guests at BMW’s sporting get-together at Munich’s Oktoberfest. Whether on the dodgems with sports stars like Olympic figure skating champion Katarina Witt (DE) and luge legend Georg Hackl (DE) or on the giant “Münchner Rutschn” slide in a duel against bobsleigh world champion, Manuel Machata (DE), the BMW drivers enjoyed an entertaining day at the largest festival of its type in the world. They were able to chat and exchange experiences with fellow athletes from the worlds of winter sports, sailing, running and tennis before heading off to Valencia.
Super GT Championship visits Autopolis.
Nobuteru Taniguchi (JP) and Tatsuya Kataoka (JP) finished 11th in the seventh GT300 race of the Japanese Super GT Championship, making them the best-placed BMW. Taku Bamba (JP) and Masahiro Sasaki (JP) came home in 19th in the second BMW Z4 GT3.
Grand finale to British GT Championship in Great Britain.
At the season finale of the British GT Championship in Donington (GB), Alasdair McCaig (GB) and Oliver Bryant (GB) finished 11th in the BMW Z4 GT3 run by the Ecurie Ecosse team. In the final standings, McCaig was the best-placed BMW driver in fifth place on 115.5 points.
VLN season enters the finishing straight.
The large BMW contingent at the ninth round of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife – the ROWE 250 Mile Race – claimed a total of nine class victories. The best-placed BMW overall was the Bonk Motorsport BMW M3 GT4 – driven by Alexander Mies (DE) and Jens Moetefindt (DE) – which won the SP10 category and finished 21st overall. The finale of the VLN season will take place in the “Green Hell” on 27th October.