BMW Motorsport News – Issue 22/13.
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” 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 & 24h Le Mans: Sadness at death of Wolf Silvester and Allan Simonsen.
The third race of this season’s VLN Endurance Championship was overshadowed by a tragic incident on Saturday: Wolf Silvester (DE), who won the VLN title in a Bonk Motorsport BMW in 2006 and 2010, died shortly after the halfway point of the 44th Adenauer ADAC Simfy Trophy. The action out on the track also took a back seat at the 24-hour race in Le Mans (FR): Allan Simonsen (DK) died of the injuries sustained in an accident. BMW Motorsport sends its condolences to the family and relatives of Wolf Silvester and Allan Simonsen.
DTM: Successful three-day test in Lausitz.
No sooner is one race over, than the next one begins: some of the BMW DTM drivers stayed behind after the fourth race weekend at the Lausitzring (DE). From Tuesday to Thursday, Bruno Spengler (CA), Joey Hand (US), Martin Tomczyk (DE) and Timo Glock (DE) joined drivers from the other manufacturers in the DTM for a series of tests. Unlike in last Sunday’s race, they were in action on the 4.534-kilometre version of the circuit, which features 14 corners and an 800-metre long straight. BMW Team Schnitzer and BMW Team MTEK completed an extensive programme in preparation for this season’s remaining six races. The extreme heat, with temperatures reaching well over 30 degrees Celsius, made the three days a tough test for the engines, brakes and drivers. “That is the first time I have tested in the BMW M3 DTM in such extreme conditions,” said Glock. “At my previous tests it was usually cool and raining. Sitting in a car in these tropical temperatures is a real challenge. It can get extremely hot very quickly in the cockpit, so you need to be fit. Despite this, we were able to complete our test programme. We analysed the race at the Lausitzring a week ago in great detail again, in order to learn as much as possible. It was a good test, which will allow us to hit the ground running when we line up at the Norisring for the first race back after the summer break.”
DTM: Tomczyk and Marquardt visit the BMW International Open.
Martin Tomczyk started the summer break in the DTM with a quick foray into the world of golf. The BMW Team RMG driver visited the BMW International Open on Saturday and Sunday. The only European Tour event in Germany was celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013. The 2011 DTM champion also attended the “Players’ Party” in the centre of Munich, where he met world-class pros like Ernie Els (ZA), Sergio García (ES) and Dustin Johnson (US). On Sunday, Tomczyk was watching on the 18th green when Els holed the winning putt to secure the title. “I play golf myself, but only really as a hobby,” said the DTM star. “The sport is just a great way to relax, and is a nice contrast to motor racing. It is fascinating to see the pros at work. Ernie Els played fantastically and was a deserved winner.” Tomczyk was joined at the anniversary tournament on Saturday and Sunday by BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt and his family.
DTM: Another three years at the Red Bull Ring.
The Red Bull Ring in Spielberg (AT) will continue to host the DTM up to and including 2016. Just three weeks after the race in Austria, a three-year contract extension was announced this week. The popular touring car series first appeared in the Steiermark region from 2001 to 2003. The DTM then took a break from visiting Austria while various modifications were made to the circuit, before the Red Bull Ring returned to the race calendar in 2011. The circuit has proven to be a happy stomping ground for the BMW drivers so far. In the manufacturer’s comeback season, BMW Team RMG driver Martin Tomczyk finished runner-up. This year, Bruno Spengler, Marco Wittmann (DE) and Timo Glock made history: they achieved the first one-two-three since BMW’s return to the DTM. “The Steiermark is a great host. Therefore, we are delighted the Red Bull Ring will remain on the DTM race calendar,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
BTCC: Incredible weekend for Turkington in Croft.
Colin Turkington (GB) of the ebay Motors Team proved virtually unbeatable on the fifth race weekend of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in Croft (GB). The 2009 champion first secured pole position in his BMW 125i M Sport at the 3.621-kilometre circuit. On Sunday he sensationally won two of the three races. His team-mates Rob Collard (GB) and Nick Foster (GB) also secured several top-ten finishes in the three rounds.
Italian Superstars Series: BMW drivers miss the podium.
At the fourth race weekend of the Italian Superstars Series at Zolder (BE) the BMW drivers managed to score valuable points, but missed out on a podium finish. Local hero Renaud Kuppens (BE) of Scuderia Giudici was the best-placed BMW representative in each of two rounds, finishing fourth and fifth, respectively. Team BMW Dinamic’s Giovani Berton (IT), who had travelled to Zolder in second place in the Drivers’ Championship, came eighth and sixth.