BMW Motorsport News – Issue 35/15.

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.

IAA: first glimpse of the BMW M6 GT3 in racing livery – Tomczyk visits BMW M Performance Parts.

The BMW M6 GT3, developed by BMW Motorsport, made its big appearance at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt am Main (DE) on Tuesday: the racing car was presented to a specialist public in its racing livery for the first time – and thrilled visitors to the trade fair and fans around the world alike. Among those present was BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk (DE), who took time out between the race weekends in Oschersleben (DE) and the Nürburgring (DE) to visit the IAA. He was a guest of BMW M Performance Parts, premium partner of BMW Motorsport in the DTM, where he signed countless autographs.

Three questions for... Martin Tomczyk.

Martin, how did you enjoy your visit to the IAA?

Martin Tomczyk: “It was fantastic. At first, I watched the reactions of the IAA visitors to the new BMW M6 GT3. And I have to say: the car was a real magnet. However, I was obviously also interested in the BMW Group’s other attractions and highlights in Frankfurt. I found it particularly exciting to visit the folks at BMW M Performance Parts. We have been working together in the DTM since 2012, during which time this partnership has become a very close one.”

What do you, personally, find so exciting about the BMW M6 GT3?

Tomczyk: “You can feel that all the experience BMW Motorsport gained with its successful predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3, has been incorporated in the development of the BMW M6 GT3. The new car is all about thoroughbred racing technology. I am sure that BMW teams around the world will be able to challenge for top results with it from the word go in 2016. As a racing driver, that is always the most important thing with a new car. And the car looks fantastic too.”

What makes your relationship with BMW M Performance so special?

Tomczyk: “I can identify 100 per cent with BMW M Performance Parts. I was actually involved in the development of some components, such as the limited-slip differential. That is great fun. And it goes without saying that I want to see the parts on my own BMW M – as does my trip to the IAA.”

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United SportsCar Championship: Win and podium finish for BMW.

BMW Team RLL survived a very hot and humid afternoon at Circuit of the Americas (US) to finish first and seventh in the GTLM class in the penultimate round of the 2015 United SportsCar Championship. Bill Auberlen (US) and Dirk Werner (DE) took the victory in the number 25 BMW Z4 GTLM for the duo’s second win of the season. They completed 72 laps of the 3.4-mile, 20-turn circuit during the race, finishing 1.993 seconds ahead of the number 62 Ferrari. The third victory for the team this season moves BMW to second place in GTLM Manufacturer points standings.

Auberlen and Werner now stand second in the GTLM driver points standings, only three behind the leader Patrick Pilet (FR). John Edwards (US) and Lucas Luhr (DE) finished seventh in the number 24 car. BMW drivers also made it onto the podium in the GTD class. Markus Palttala (FI) and Michael Marsal (US) finished second in the BMW Z4 GTD run by the Turner Motorsport team.

ADAC GT Masters: Fourth win of the season for Schubert Motorsport.

BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert claimed win number four of the season at the penultimate race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters in Zandvoort (NL). In doing so, it kept its hopes of winning the title in the Drivers’ and Team competitions alive. Dominik Baumann (AT) and Jens Klingmann (DE) were initially only the second car across the finish line in the number 80 BMW Z4 GT3 on Sunday, having finished tenth in Saturday’s race. However, a 30-second penalty handed to the only car in front of them, that of Jaap van Lagen (NL)/Tomas Enge (CZ), gave the team from Oschersleben (DE) every cause for celebration. Following their fourth appearance on the top step of the podium, Baumann/Klingmann go into the season finale in Hockenheim (DE) on 3rd and 4th October trailing overall leaders Sebastian Asch (DE)/Luca Ludwig (DE), who won on Saturday, by 31 points. 50 points are up for grabs in the final two races of the season. In the Team competition, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert is twelve points off the lead.

Blancpain Endurance Series: BMW teams miss out on the top ten.

The BMW teams missed out on the top ten in the overall classification at the final round of the Blancpain Endurance Series at the Nürburgring (DE). BMW Sports Trophy Team Brazil was the best-placed crew, finishing 21st overall in the number 0 BMW Z4 GT3. Ecurie Ecosse came home tenth in the Pro-Am class with the #79 BMW Z4 GT3. The Boutsen Ginion team was runner-up in the Amateur class. In total, eight BMW Z4 GT3s lined up at the 1000km race on the Grand Prix circuit in the Eifel Mountains.

BMW Motorsport Junior programme: Cassidy tests the BMW M6 GT3.

BMW Motorsport Junior Nick Cassidy (NZ) was given the opportunity to drive the BMW M6 GT3 for the first time last week. Cassidy completed his first laps in such a technically advanced GT car alongside BMW works drivers Tom Blomqvist (GB) and Alexander Sims (GB) in Miramas (FR). “That was a very exciting experience for me, as I have spent almost my entire career so far in single-seater cars,” said Cassidy. “The BMW M6 GT3 is a sensational car, although I did have to get used to a few things at first – particularly the electronics. I learned an incredible amount in a very short time, primarily through the intensive cooperation with the BMW Motorsport works team. I would like to thank BMW for this opportunity.” Cassidy and the other BMW Motorsport Juniors will line up together in a BMW M235i Racing at the 12 Hours of Brno (CZ) on 10th October.

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge: P7 for Hindman/Freiberg at COTA.

BMW Motorsport Junior driver Trent Hindman (US) and Ashley Freiberg (US), driving the Grand Sport class number 46 Fall-Line Motorsports BMW M3, finished seventh in Friday’s two-hour-and-thirty-minute Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge race at Circuit of the Americas (US), in Austin, Texas. They finished 33.6 seconds behind the winning Chevrolet Camaro of Andrew Davis (US) and Robin Lidell (GB). In the Street Tuner class, the top-finishing BMW drivers were Terry Borcheller (US) and Mike LaMarra (US), driving the number 23 Burton Racing BMW 128i, who finished sixth.

Japanese Super GT Championship: BMW Z4 GT3 in action in Sugo.

The BMW teams were unable to make it onto the podium in the GT300 class in the sixth race of the Japanese Super GT Championship in Sugo (JP). Morio Nitta (JP) and Shigekazu Wakisaka (JP) of the LMcorsa team came home ninth after 75 laps. Jörg Müller (DE) and Seiji Ara (JP) had to settle for 19th place in the BMW Z4 GT3 fielded by BMW Sports Trophy Team Studie. Victory went to Toyota.