BMW Motorsport News – Issue 24/13.
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.
ALMS: Home win for BMW Team RLL at Lime Rock Park.
Pole position and the second victory for the new BMW Z4 GTE in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS): BMW Team RLL experienced a successful fourth race weekend of the 2013 season. Dirk Müller (DE) and John Edwards (US) celebrated their maiden victory of this year at Lime Rock Park (US), after Bill Auberlen (US) and Maxime Martin (BE) had triumphed at the second race of the season in Long Beach (US). This time Auberlen and Martin finished fourth in the GT class.
Three questions for … Dirk Müller.
Dirk, how does this victory feel?
Dirk Müller: “This has been a really tough race. Our whole package was working perfectly well, starting with John and myself. But our entire team has done a tremendous job. To cross the line as a race winner is a really special moment.”
Was it a surprise for you how strong John Edwards performed this weekend?
Müller: “No, not at all. It might be his first ALMS season, but John is simply a really quick guy. It was impressive how he claimed his maiden pole position and went on to put in a strong first stint in the race. This laid the foundation for our success.
You have consolidated your championship lead. Have you set your sights on the GT title already?
Müller: “Every racing driver wants to win titles. However, it’s still a long way to go this season. In ALMS you need a strong car, a great team, good tyres and a fast team-mate. Up to now, it has all worked very well in 2013.”
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General: BMW Group receives Bavarian Sports’ Award.
Since 2011, the “Bayerischer Sportpreis” – the Bavarian Sports Award – has been presented in Munich’s BMW Welt (DE) – and this year the host is one of the winners. Minister President of the state of Bavaria, Horst Seehofer, awarded the BMW Group the Bavarian Sports’ Award at a gala attended by approximately 800 guests. The award was given for the category of “Outstanding Sports Sponsor”. Seehofer and the 12 judges acknowledged the “exemplary contribution” of the company in sport. Harald Krüger, Member of the Board of BMW AG, received the award in the BMW Welt. “With the Bavarian Sports’ Award, we not only honour the special achievements of competing athletes, but also outstanding achievements that reveal the positive value of sport in society in a special way,” said Seehofer. “This is what the BMW Group’s commitment to sport is all about. The company is committed to sport in many ways – and on many different levels. From professional racing drivers in the DTM, to Bavarian hopes for gold in winter sports, down to enthusiastic amateur runners in the street race through Munich: BMW’s commitment appeals to a large range of athletes.” Harald Krüger thanked him, and added: “This award is an honour for our company. The most impressive thing about the Bavarian Sports’ Award is its many aspects: athletes of the younger’ generation are acknowledged in the same way as top athletes or sponsors in sport. The BMW Group is committed to both professional and amateur sports. Athletes are an example, especially to young people. Sport brings people together, connects them and provides enthusiasm.”
DTM: The Tomczyks and their trip in the mountains.
Before the 2013 DTM season goes to the fifth round at the Norisring (DE) next weekend, Martin Tomczyk (DE) and his wife, Christina, were involved in a film shoot. This was for Premium Partner BMW M Performance Parts. One of the locations for the shoot was on the hairpins of the Wendelstein. The spectacular Upper Bavarian mountain region provided the backdrop for Tomczyk’s dynamic driving manoeuvres. Both of the video clips will be available to watch on various Social Media channels at the end of July.
FIA GT Series: BMW Z4 GT3 looking strong at Zandvoort.
A very promising weekend at the FIA GT Series for BMW Sports Trophy Team Brasil: At the “Circuit Park Zandvoort” (NL), Cacá Bueno (BR) and Allam Khodair (BR) were fifth in the BMW Z4 GT3 on Saturday. In the championship race on Sunday, the pairing came seventh. Their team-mates, Ricardo Zonta (BR) and Sergio Jiménez (BR), finished 16th and sixth respectively. BMW Sports Trophy Team India also proved its improving form at the North Sea venue: Armaan Ebrahim (IN) and Melroy Heemskerk (NL) took ninth in both races (second and third in the Pro-Am category).
Italian GT-Championship: ROAL Motorsport collects podium finishes.
ROAL Motorsport was able to celebrate on the podium a couple of times at the Italian GT Championship’s third race meeting of the year in Mugello (IT). In Sunday’s first race, the BMW Z4 GT3 of Stefano Colombo (IT) and Stefano Comandini (IT) crossed the line in second, followed by third-placed Michela Cerruti (IT) in the team’s second car. The second race was also a success: Again Colombo/Comandini came second, Cerruti took the chequered flag in fourth.