BMW Motorsport News – Issue 07/12
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.
Zanardi and Melandri thrilled by DTM finale.
Two Italians provided some special moments shortly before the start of the tenth and final DTM race in Hockenheim (DE), which ended in triumph for BMW Motorsport and the new champion Bruno Spengler (CA). First, Superbike star Marco Melandri (IT) performed a demonstration in front of the packed grandstands in the Motodrom on his BMW S 1000 RR, with which he finished third in this year’s FIM Superbike World Championship. “That was my first ever visit to a DTM race,” said Melandri afterwards. “The impressions were overwhelming. The race was exciting and it was great to see BMW win the race and the title. Congratulations to Bruno and the entire BMW Motorsport team. Coming back to the DTM they had a really great season.” Just ahead of the DTM race, Alessandro Zanardi (IT) took to the track on his hand cycle, with which he won two gold medals and one silver medal at the Paralympic Games in September. He then followed the finale of the DTM live in the BMW Team Schnitzer garage.
Three questions for … Alessandro Zanardi.
Alessandro, how did you enjoy your trip to the DTM?
Alessandro Zanardi: “It was a really fantastic day. I only set off to Hockenheim late on Saturday and did not sleep particularly well during the night. However, what I then experienced certainly woke me up. To ride and present my medals in front of the many thousands of fans in the Motodrom was a very special moment. And the fact BMW Motorsport and Bruno Spengler then went out and won all the titles is simply unbelievable.”
You met a lot of old acquaintances …
Zanardi: “Yes, and that was great fun. Obviously I know Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus from our time together in the FIA WTCC. But I also met the other drivers. I actually had breakfast with Bruno Spengler. ‘Today is your day’ I told him. And so it turned out.”
What are your plans for the future?
Zanardi: “I think everyone knows the answer to the question of whether I would like to get behind the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM myself. I am very grateful to BMW that they are working to allow me to do a test drive. To get there, we must overcome a number of technical obstacles. After all, DTM cars are very complex vehicles. However, we’ll deal with that later. First, the whole team should celebrate today. That was a sensational performance.”
---
BMW Team RLL rounds off American Le Mans Series with podium.
Jörg Müller (DE), Bill Auberlen (US) and Jonathan Summerton (US) came home in third in the GT class at the wheel of the number 55 BMW M3 GT in Road Atlanta. After 1000 miles, the trio finished behind the number 1 Ferrari and number 3 Corvette at the “Petit Le Mans” classic. Dirk Müller (DE), Uwe Alzen (DE) and Summerton, who also raced in the second BMW M3 GT (number 56), were just behind in fourth. For Dirk Müller, this result means fourth place overall, while Jörg Müller and Auberlen end the season together in sixth. BMW secured third place in the Manufacturers’ Championship and BMW Team RLL finished runner-up in the team competition. “We were at the same level as Ferrari and Corvette, and when you come so close to winning, it is obviously disappointing to come up just short,” said Team Principal Bobby Rahal (US).
Biagi and Colombo win the Italian GT Championship.
BMW Motorsport’s title celebrations were not limited to the DTM. Team Principal Roberto Ravaglia’s ROAL Motorsport Team triumphed in the final round of the Italian GT Championship in Monza (IT), although Thomas Biagi (IT) and Stefano Colombo (IT) had to retire early on in the race due to a technical problem with their BMW Z4 GT3. As their main rival Andrea Sonvico (IT) was only tenth in his Audi, Biagi and Colombo ended the season just one point ahead on 143. The second BMW Team Italia duo of Michela Cerruti (IT) and Edoardo Liberati (IT) came home in seventh. Both finish tenth in the overall standings.
D’Aste wins second WTCC race in Suzuka.
Stefano d’Aste (IT) from the Wiechers Sport Team won race two of the third from last weekend of the WTCC season. Starting from pole position in Suzuka (JP), the Italian produced a magnificent performance for 26 laps, giving his pursuers Pepe Oriola (ES, SEAT) and Gabriele Tarquini (IT, Honda) no chance of overtaking him. It was his second success of the season. D’Aste was eighth in the opening race. Tom Coronel (NL) of Team ROAL Motorsport came home sixth in race one to secure fifth in the Drivers’ Championship (172 points). His closest rival, Norbert Michelisz (HU, 152 points) of Zengö Motorsport, left Suzuka empty-handed.