BMW Motorsport News – Issue 06/12
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” allows us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed.
Blancpain Endurance Series: Rain makes for dramatic finale.
Bas Leinders (BE), Maxime Martin (BE) and Markus Palttala (FI) proved their fighting spirit at the wheel of their no. 3 BMW Z4 GT3 car at the Blancpain Endurance Series final race in Navarra (ES) on Sunday – but weren’t rewarded for this. Following a ten-place grid penalty from the previous race at the Nürburgring (DE), the Marc VDS Racing drivers had only started from 15th on the grid. However, when the race was red-flagged 4:25 minutes before the scheduled three-hour duration due to heavy rain, Martin was already running in fourth. Earlier on his fight back had been hampered by the safety-car for most of the final race hour. It had been deployed when the predicted rain had finally hit the Spanish circuit. Had Martin only got the chance to gain one more position, this could have put him and his team-mates first in the Drivers’ Championship.
Subject to the official confirmation of the results, Audi’s Christopher Mies (DE), Christopher Haase (DE) and Stéphane Ortelli (MC) sit on top of the overall standings each having 114 points. Leinders, Martin and Palttala stand second with 111 points each. After two wins in Monza (IT) and Silverstone (GB) the BMW drivers had taken the overall lead early in the season and successfully defended it throughout the year. Only in the dramatic final round Belgian Audi Club Team WRT was able to pass Leinders’ squad. Victory in Navarra was secured by the no. 7 McLaren. Vita4One Racing’s Gregory Franchi (BE), Mathias Lauda (AT) and Frank Kechele (DE) also secured a top-ten finish with their BMW Z4 GT3 by finishing seventh. DB Motorsports’ Michael Mallock (GB), Nikolaus Mayr-Melnhof (AT) and Jeroen den Boer (NL) took the chequered flag with their BMW Z4 GT3 in tenth.
DTM finale in Hockenheim: Two stars lend their support.
The finale of the DTM season is just around the corner. BMW can count on some prominent support at the finale of its comeback season in Hockenheim (DE). Joining former BMW driver and winner of two Paralympic gold medals Alessandro Zanardi (IT) at the iconic racetrack will be Zanardi’s compatriot Marco Melandri (IT), who finished third overall in this season’s FIM Superbike World Championship. Motorcycle star Melandri will show off his riding skills on Sunday, when he takes to the track for a demonstration ride on the BMW S 1000 RR. Shortly before the DTM start, the crowds in the packed grandstands at the Hockenheimring will be treated to another highlight, when Zanardi steers his hand bike through the Motodrom. Motorsport fans in Hockenheim have every reason to look forward to an exciting fringe programme – not to mention the potentially dramatic action in the tenth and final DTM race of the year.
“Drive like Bruno”: Driving lessons from Spengler.
Just a few weeks ago Bruno Spengler (CA) was celebrating his third DTM win of the season in Oschersleben (DE). Now the BMW Team Schnitzer driver returned to the scene of his most recent success – but in a rather unusual role: as a driving instructor. The unique, three-day BMW driving event saw the Canadian share the joy of motor racing with the winners of the BMW Bank “Drive like Bruno” competition and demonstrate the meaning of driving dynamics at first hand. Spengler joined the winners in testing the new BMW 1 Series and BMW 3 Series on the BMW Scenic Drive around the “Motorsport Arena” and on the racetrack itself. The DTM driver really put the tyres through their paces out on the track, performing countless donuts to the delight of the BMW fans. Another highlight for the winners was the opportunity to demonstrate their driving ability at the wheel of the Formula BMW FB02 racing car as part of the Formula BMW Racing Experience. You can find more information on this promotion at www.drivelikebruno.de.
Success for the BMW Z4 in the Belgian Rally Championship.
After numerous rallycross victories and a recent win on tarmac, Guino Kenis (BE) and his Team G&A Racing outfit have now made their mark on the world of rallying. Kenis and co-driver Filip Goddé (BE) won the title in the GT class of the Belgian Rally Championship in their BMW Z4 Coupé. Second place in the deciding round ultimately proved sufficient for Kenis and his team. “It has been very exciting between Tim Van Parijs and me the entire time,” said Kenis. “As such, I am obviously delighted to win this title. After all, that was only my second season of rallying and we are still in the process of developing. That goes both for the car and me as a driver.”