BMW Motorsport News – Issue 14/14.

Whether in the DTM, the United SportsCar Championship, 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.

VLN: Overall victory and eight class victories for BMW Sports Trophy teams.
The third round of the VLN Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring Nordschleife (DE) was a storming success for the BMW Sports Trophy teams. BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS secured overall victory in the BMW Z4 GT3 at the 56th ADAC ACAS H&R Cup. Dirk Adorf (DE) and Nick Catsburg (NL) were the first to cross the finish line after four hours. First place in the second round of the BMW M235i Racing Cup class went to Max Partl (DE) and Jörg Weidinger (DE) in the “Eifelblitz” of Scheid-Partl Motorsport. A total of eight class victories went to BMW vehicles on Saturday. Thanks to their success in the BMW 325i in the V4 class, Rolf Derscheid (DE) and Michael Flehmer (DE) maintained first place in the VLN overall standings, followed by Partl and Weidinger.

BMW drivers go from BMW Motorsport Launch to the VLN.
On Friday, the 2014 BMW Motorsport Launch in Munich (DE) gave a spectacular preview of the coming season. First at the BMW Plant and then at BMW Welt, the BMW drivers put on a spectacular show for the employees and fans, driving at top speeds in the BMW M4 DTM, the BMW Z4 GT3 and the BMW M235i Racing. Straight after the event, the two BMW DTM drivers Marco Wittmann (DE) and Maxime Martin (BE), and BMW Junior Alexander Mies (DE) travelled to the Nürburgring (DE), where they took part in the third round of the VLN Endurance Championship on Saturday.

ADAC GT Masters: Schubert Motorsport on the podium at home race.
Schubert Motorsport didn't take part in the VLN race on the Nordschleife as it was on the same weekend as the start of the ADAC GT Masters season. The team from Oschersleben (DE) finished on the podium in the second race on Sunday at their home event at the Motorsport Arena. Dominik Baumann (AT) and Claudia Hürtgen (DE) were third in the BMW Z4 GT3. The duo finished sixth in the first race on Saturday. Jens Klingmann (DE) and Max Sandritter (DE) had to leave without any points after collisions at the start in both races. On Sunday Klingmann survived a multiple car pile-up without serious injury. He walked away with only a few bruises.

Sorg Rennsport starts a “Mission Possible”.
In the week before Easter, BMW Sports Trophy Team Sorg Rennsport started something extra special. In Zandvoort (NL), the team from Wuppertal (DE) completed initial testing with a modified BMW M235i Racing. The goal: In January 2015, this car, which Sorg Rennsport also uses in the BMW M235i Racing Cup class of the VLN, is to be used by five paraplegic drivers to compete in the 24-hour race in Dubai (AE). Gustav Engljähriger (AT), Rainer Küschall (CH), Marc Dilger (DE), Mike Smit (NL) and Marek Wisniewski (PL) want to be the first paraplegics to take part in a 24-hour race. To make this possible, the BMW M235i Racing will be kitted out with a hand throttle system and a hand braking system. The five drivers will also use the automatic gear mode. In preparation, the quintet will compete in the Zandvoort 12 Hours at the end of May.

BMW Z4 GT3 of Walkenhorst Motorsport to be covered in children's names for charity.
BMW Sports Trophy Team Walkenhorst Motorsport has joined forces with the specialist magazine “Auto Bild Motorsport” to launch a design project for charity. Anyone who donates five euros can have their child's name and a colourful child's handprint immortalised on the black BMW Z4 GT3 of the Walkenhorst team. The vehicle will compete in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE) and in the other VLN races this season with this design. It's easy to get involved. Send an SMS with the keyword “CAR” and the name of your child to 81190 (5 euros per SMS). The proceeds will benefit charitable projects.