BMW Motorsport News – Issue 35/13.

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: Win number three for Farfus – stage set for thrilling finale.

Augusto Farfus (BR) continued his impressive run in the DTM in Zandvoort (NL), winning the ninth race of the year. The win brings the Brazilian’s tally to three wins this season, and also marks the 50th victory by a BMW M3 in the DTM. While the drivers’ title has already been claimed by Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller (DE), the manufacturers’ and team competitions are heading for an exciting climax. BMW is well placed in both championships ahead of the finale. Meanwhile, Marco Wittmann (DE), who claimed his first pole position in Zandvoort, is guaranteed to end the season as the best-placed rookie. 

Three questions for… Augusto Farfus. 

Augusto, you won in Zandvoort, but the title goes to Mike Rockenfeller. How do you feel?

Augusto Farfus: “I am glad, as I did my absolute best - not only in Zandvoort, but at all the other eight races. Therefore, I have no regrets, so I don't look back with any regrets. I also want to say congratulations to Mike. He is a good guy and a fair driver. He has put together the best season and really deserves this win. I have a lot of respect for what he and his team have done.” 

How tough was the race in Zandvoort?

Farfus: “All DTM races are hard. That's why we love doing them and the fans love watching them. Today was quite easy at the start and I was able to pull away by the first corner. My fellow BMW driver Marco Wittmann was fair to me and I want to thank him for not making things difficult. This shows how well we work together as eight drivers with one goal. It was obvious I was struggling at the end of the first stint, as my lead of over three seconds had been reduced to just one. However, after that I was able to control things and the car and the strategy were superb.” 

What are your thoughts going into the final race in Hockenheim?

Farfus: “To be honest, I am quite relieved. Okay I would have loved to take the battle down to the final lap, but I do know nobody can take the second spot in the series away from me and I am very happy. This has been the most amazing two years for me in the DTM. Best rookie year one and then runner-up year two – it's a dream. Now I am going to have fun at the last race and do my best. There are still two titles up for grabs for BMW.”

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VLN: Martin and Catsburg triumph on the Nordschleife.

Maxime Martin (BE) and Nicky Catsburg (NL) won the seventh round of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE) for the Marc VDS Racing team. After four hours and a dramatic closing phase, the duo came home more than 53 seconds ahead of the second-placed Porsche. The win was the first on the Nordschleife for both Martin and Marc VDS Racing. Catsburg even pulled off the remarkable achievement of winning on his debut in the “Green Hell”. In total, eight BMW teams claimed class victories in the 45th ADAC Barbarossapreis race. Rolf Derscheid (DE) and Michael Flehmer (DE) are now third in the overall VLN standings after their sixth class victory of the season in the BMW 325i. 

GRAND-AM: Team title for Chip Ganassi Racing.

Memo Rojas (MX) and Scott Pruett (US) finished third in the number 01 BMW Riley at the season finale of the GRAND-AM Championship at Lime Rock Park (US). In doing so, they secured the seventh team title in a row for Chip Ganassi Racing. Victory in the final race of the season went to Max Angelelli (IT) and Jordan Taylor (US), who also claimed the title in the Drivers’ Championship. Rojas and Pruett ended the season second overall. In the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, there were podiums for two BMW 328i cars. Tyler Cooke (US) and Gregory Liefooghe (US) from Team BimmerWorld Racing finished runners-up, ahead of team-mates Connor Bloum (US) and Greg Strelzoff (US). 

ADAC GT Masters: Team Schubert misses out on Team title.

Team Schubert was still in contention for the titles in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ competitions, right down to the final race of the ADAC GT Masters season in Hockenheim (DE). Unfortunately there was to be no happy ending at the end of an impressive season, which featured three wins and nine podiums. Claudia Hürtgen (DE) and Dominik Baumann (AT), driving the number 19 BMW Z4 GT3, started the final race weekend with fourth in race one at the Hockenheimring. In the second race, Hürtgen was forced to retire after colliding with a rival car, through no fault of her own. Because of this, the opportunity to win the Teams’ competition went begging. Team Schubert ended the season third with 200 points. After a dramatic finale, the title went to Audi-Team Prosperia C. Abt Racing with 217 points. In the Drivers’ Championship, Hürtgen and Baumann finished tied in fifth place on 148 points. The Corvette duo of Daniel Keilwitz (DE) and Diego Alessi (IT, 179 points) was first. Simon Knap (NL) and Jeroen den Boer (NL) from the DB Motorsport team finished sixth to pick up points in race one and end the season eighth in the Drivers’ Championship. DB Motorsport finished seventh in the teams’ competition. 

FIA GT Series: Difficult race weekend for BMW teams.

The FIA GT Series travelled to Navarra (ES) for the penultimate race weekend of the year. In total, four BMW Z4 GT3s lined up in Spain. Allam Khodair (BR) and Cacá Bueno (BR) from BMW Sports Trophy Team Brazil were the best-placed BMW in the qualifying race, coming home tenth. In the afternoon’s main race, Khodair and Bueno were once again the best BMW drivers in 12th. BMW Sports Trophy Team Brazil is third in the Pro-Team competition with 94 points.  

BTCC: eBay Motors in the points in Silverstone.

The eBay Motors team added to its points tally on the penultimate race weekend of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in Silverstone (GB). Colin Turkington (GB) and Robert Collard (GB) finished fourth and fifth in their BMW 125i M Sports in race one. Turkington was also the best-placed BMW in race two, coming home fifth. The 2007 BMW Sports Trophy winner failed to finish the third race, so it was left to his team-mate Nick Foster (GB) to fly the flag for BMW in 11th. The BTCC season reaches its conclusion on 13th October at Brands Hatch (GB).