BMW Motorsport News – Issue 26/13.
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.
DTM: Strong showing at the “Moscow City Racing” Event.
Two weeks before the DTM debut in Moscow (RU), Andy Priaulx (GB) was on duty for BMW Motorsport in the Russian capital. At the wheel of the BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM he went on the 3.7 kilometre track at the “Moscow City Racing” Event in front of the impressive backdrop of the Kremlin. Together with Mike Rockenfeller (DE, Audi), Ralf Schumacher (DE, Mercedes-Benz) and local hero Vitaly Petrov (RU), the BMW Team RMG driver represented the DTM in the heart of Moscow. Apart from doing demonstrations in the race car, Priaulx was driving the first generation BMW M3 that won races and titles in the 1980s and 1990s in the DTM and giving enthusiastic passengers a drive round the track with him.
Three questions for … Andy Priaulx.
Andy what did you think of the first performance in Moscow?
Andy Priaulx: “I am really enthusiastic about it - it was an impressive event. The fans gave us an amazing welcome. To drive in the middle of the city, in front of a backdrop such as the Kremlin, is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I love discovering new places and helping to make the spectators enthusiastic about the DTM. That worked great over here this weekend. We have put on a good show for them.”
You are a fan of street circuits, as we saw in Nürnberg a week ago…
Priaulx: “Yes, I just love street circuits. I felt very comfortable at the Norisring and was quick the entire weekend. That gives me a lot of confidence for the second half of the season. To be in Moscow was a nice change to what we usually do. As a driver, I enjoy every single kilometre in the BMW M3 DTM and, if it’s in front of such an amazing backdrop, it’s double fun.”
What are your plans for the race in two weeks?
Priaulx: “At least I know Moscow now, but the race track will be a new experience for all of us. Everyone is starting from scratch. That is why it will be very exciting to see how strong we all our in relation to each other at the Moscow Raceway. Naturally, I would like to have the put in the same performance in Russia as I had at the Norisring, and be up at the front in the results again. Certainly it will be an exciting weekend for both us and the Russian fans.”
VLN: Schubert on the podium with the “Juniorteam”.
The Schubert Motorsport drivers, Abdulaziz Al Faisal (SA), Dominik Baumann (AT) and Max Sandritter (DE), were able to celebrate their first time on the podium when they entered the SP9 class for the first time at the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE). In the number 20 BMW Z4 GT3 the trio came home second after four hours of racing. The victory went to Porsche drivers Klaus Abbelen (DE), Patrick Huisman (NL) and Patrick Pilet (FR). “That was a great job from everyone in the team”, said team manager Stefan Wendl. “We did not expect such a good result for the first race of our junior team.” In total, the BMW teams achieved eight class victories. However, Uwe Alzen (DE), Philipp Wlazik (DE) and Alexandros Margaritis (DE) did not have much luck: After Alzen took pole position with a time of 8:02.418 minutes, the number 2 BMW Z4 GT3 retired due to technical problems.
Italian GT Championship: Top-ten positions for ROAL.
As a guest entry in the Italian GT Championship at Imola (IT), ROAL Motorsport was able to increase its points with both the BMW Z4 GT3’s. Michela Cerruti (IT) ended the turbulent first race fourth, the car of Stefano Comandini (IT) and Stefano Colombo (IT) saw the chequered flag in eighth. In the second race, Comandini/Colombo were sixth, and the best-placed BMW. Cerruti was ninth.
Italian Superstars Championship: BMW teams collect points in Portugal.
For the fifth race weekend of the year, the Italian Superstars Championship visited Portimão (PT). In the first race, the BMW drivers narrowly missed the podium. Max Mugelli (IT) from Team BMW Dinamic was fourth in the BMW M3 and his teammate Giovanni Berton (IT) was fifth. Also the third driver from Team Dinamic, Mauro Trentin (IT), managed to finish in the top ten in eighth. In the second round, Berton, Mugelli and Trentin finished fifth, sixth and seventh. Both Scuderia Giudici drivers – Gianni Giudici (IT) and Marco Fumagalli (IT) – finished in 10th and 11th.