BMW Motorsport News – Issue 07/13.
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.
Glock to determine fate of DFB Cup semi-finalists.
Motorsport is not the only love of Timo Glock (DE), who will line up for BMW Team MTEK in the DTM in 2013. The 30-year-old is also a big football fan. A special football-related honour was bestowed upon him on Sunday: as a guest on the ARD Sportschau programme, Glock performed the draw for the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. He also appeared on the “heimspiel!” sports programme on the Hessischer Rundfunk TV channel at the start of the week, when he discussed his decision to leave Formula One and return to the BMW family.
Three questions for… Timo Glock.
Timo, you drew the matches FC Bayern München v VfL Wolfsburg and VfB Stuttgart v SC Freiburg for the semi-finals of the DFB Cup. Are you happy with that?
Timo Glock: “Yes. They will definitely be exciting matches. As a rule, I always like to watch the big games if I have time. That obviously includes the DFB Cup Final. This year, however, the final will take place on the same weekend as we are in action in Spielberg in the DTM, so because of that I probably won’t have much time to follow the match closely.”
Do you play football, and what is your favourite club?
Glock: “I don’t play myself. I’m a professional racing driver, and can’t risk getting injured out on the football pitch. I know my former colleagues Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher see things differently, but I have to admit they were also far more talented footballers than me. As someone who grew up in the state of Hesse, my heart obviously beats for Eintracht Frankfurt. That is one thing I have in common with Sebastian.”
How have you settled into the BMW family?
Glock: “Very well. I have been made to feel very welcome by everyone right from day one – both by the management and my fellow drivers. They were all very open with me during the tests. The highlight was obviously the presentation of the DEUTSCHE POST BMW M3 DTM. Since having a car in my own colours, and knowing that I will be driving for BMW Team MTEK alongside Marco Wittmann, I really feel I have arrived at BMW. I am now looking forward to the fitness week in Viareggio. On the one hand, it will be interesting to see what condition I’m in compared to my colleagues. On the other hand, it will be great to get to know the other drivers a bit better.”
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Spengler visits ADAC and Dallmayr.
On Thursday, Bruno Spengler (CA) and BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt (DE) attended the ADAC gala, which was held under the slogan “Genuss trifft Leidenschaft” (enjoyment meets passion). The ADAC and Dallmayr, caterer for BMW Motorsport in the DTM, invited guests to the ADAC headquarters in Munich (DE) for an evening of good food and motorsport. During a panel discussion, Spengler spoke about winning the DTM title in 2012 and the new season. On display alongside the Canadian’s BMW Bank M3 DTM was a first generation BMW M3, with which Prince Leopold of Bavaria (DE) – himself a guest at the gala – drove in the DTM between 1989 and 1992.
The champion takes time out for the fans.
Up close and personal with the DTM champion: Bruno Spengler invited 20 of his most loyal fans to a private meeting in Frankfurt am Main (DE) on Friday. This was his way of thanking the long-serving members of his fan club for their amazing support. Some of his fans travel to every race, at which their idol is in action – and have done for several years. “That was a very nice evening”, Spengler said. “We have all known each other for ten years and used the dinner to tell funny stories from the past. My relationship to these fans is very special. They already supported me when I was driving in Formula 3 and a very close relationship has developed between us over the years. You could call them my motorsport family.”
GRAND-AM Series: Turner Motorsport wins in Austin.
BMW ALMS driver Bill Auberlen (US) and team mate Paul Dalla Lana (CA) drove to victory in their BMW M3 in both the GT and GS classes of the second race of the season in the GRAND-AM Series. The Turner Motorsport duo dominated in Austin (US) in the GS class. In the GT class Auberlen and Dalla Lana took advantage of a penalty for the Ferrari 458 of Alessandro Balzan (IT) and Pier Guidi (IT) for causing a collision. In the prototype class the BMW Riley of Team Chip Ganassi with Scott Pruett (US) and Memo Rojas (MX) at the wheel finished the race in third after having won the 24 Hours of Daytona (US) several weeks ago.