BMW Motorsport News – Issue 36/13.
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.
Japanese Super GT: Second BMW victory in a row.
Following their triumph in Fuji (JP) at the start of September, Nobuteru Taniguchi (JP) and Tatsuya Kataoka (JP) of the “GSR & Studie with Team UKYO” team also won the seventh round of the Japanese Super GT Championship. The duo in the number 4 BMW Z4 GT3 was once again the dominant force in the GT300 class in Autopolis (JP). Taniguchi and Kataoka both travel to the season finale in Motegi (JP) in second place in the Drivers’ Championship with 62 points – just eight behind the leaders. The title will be decided on 3rd November. In the team competition, “GSR & Studie with Team UKYO” is currently fourth.
British GT: Ecurie Ecosse narrowly misses out on title.
The tenth and final race of the 2013 British GT Championship at Donington (GB) proved to be a thriller. Marco Attard (GB) and Oliver Bryant (GB) went into the finale just half a point behind the leading Aston Martin driver Andrew Howard (GB) – and started from a promising third place in their BMW Z4 GT3. After two hours and 76 laps, the duo came home fifth in the number 79 car. However, Howard and his team-mate Jonny Adam (GB) crossed the finish line just ahead of them in fourth. As a result, the title went to Howard. 888 Optimum Racing drivers Lee Mowle (GB) and Joe Osborne (GB) started from pole in their BMW Z4 GT3, but were forced to retire after 59 laps.
American Le Mans Series: Battle for GT title remains exciting.
BMW Team RLL and Dirk Müller (DE) are still in contention for the title in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) following the penultimate race of the season at the “Virginia International Raceway” (US). Müller finished fourth in the GT class alongside Joey Hand (US). The German heads to the finale at Road Atlanta (US) on 19th October second in the Drivers’ Championship and still in with a chance of winning his third GT title in the ALMS. Having previously achieved the third pole position in a row, Maxime Martin (BE) and Bill Auberlen (US) had to settle for fifth after making an additional stop for repairs.