BMW Motorsport News – Issue 37/13.
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: Successful debut for Glock at the Stock Car Crash Challenge.
On Saturday night, BMW Team MTEK’s Timo Glock (DE) took part in the popular TV Total Stock Car Crash Challenge for the first time. German TV host Stefan Raab (DE) had once again invited a host of prominent faces from the world of entertainment and sport to join the action in the Schalke 04 football stadium in Gelsenkirchen (DE). Glock was racing in the 1,900cc class and claimed a strong second place – despite being forced to follow almost the entire second half of the encounter from the pit lane, after his car had been heavily damaged in the early stages. However, only TV chef Steffen Henssler (DE) scored more points than the DTM driver.
Three questions for… Timo Glock.
Timo, how did you like your excursion in the stock cars?
Timo Glock: “It was great fun. Usually in motor racing it’s important to avoid any contact with other cars. This time, however, it was the other way round. Every collision was rewarded with points. I had to get used to this. Second place is a good result, especially considering that I was sitting in the pit lane during the second half of the race, as my car had been damaged. But this didn’t matter too much. It was all about having fun.”
How was the atmosphere in the TV Total team?
Glock: “I got along really well with Charlotte Roche and Stefan Raab. Stefan is phenomenal, a multi-talented guy. He’s tremendously competitive, for him it’s all about winning. With this attitude he would definitely be well-suited to the real racetrack too. Charlotte also showed here fighting spirit, especially in the Rodeo towards the end, from which she emerged as the winner. If Stefan asked me to take part next year as well, I would certainly go for it.”
What do you take into the DTM season finale from this event?
Glock: “Hopefully not too much. With this driving style, the race in Hockenheim would be over very quickly. I’m fired up to conclude my maiden DTM season with a strong result. That’s what we will be fighting for next weekend.”
VLN: BMW Z4 GT3 on the podium again in the “Green Hell”.
A fortnight after Marc VDS Racing’s victory in the seventh round of the VLN Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE), the BMW Z4 GT3 once again recorded a top-three finish in the eighth round of the season. Uwe Alzen (DE), Philipp Wlazik (DE) and Niclas Kentenich (DE) finished third in the no. 2 car at the ROWE DMV 250-Mile Race. Audi’s Dennis and Marc Busch (DE) secured victory. The BMW Z4 GT3 fielded by Walkenhorst Motorsport powered by Dunlop also scored a top-ten result, crossing the line in eighth. In total, the BMW teams notched up nine class wins in the penultimate round of the VLN season.
Bathurst 1000: Priaulx claims top-ten finish down under.
Andy Priaulx (GB) of BMW Team RMG made a successful guest appearance in the Australian V8 Supercars Championship: along with his team-mate Mattias Ekström (SE), who is normally his rival in the DTM, the triple World Touring Car Champion finished tenth at the Supercheap Auto Bathurst 1000 for the Xbox One Racing Team. Priaulx had at times led the classic161-lap event at Mount Panorama. “I am very happy,” he commented. “It was a solid job and we were able to run with the top guys. This is a tough race and to be there at the finish is what we certainly wanted to achieve. I have had a fantastic experience here at Mount Panorama and leading the race was a very special experience for me. To be leading such an iconic race, on one of the best tracks in the world, was unbelievable."
BTCC: Bad luck for Turkington in Brands Hatch.
Colin Turkington (GB) headed into the final race meeting of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) still in with a chance of winning his second drivers’ title. However, an early accident at the wheel of his BMW 125i M Sport dashed any hopes in Brands Hatch (GB). In wet conditions, Turkington was forced to retire shortly after the start. In races two and three he finished 12th and fourth respectively. In a dramatic finale, Honda’s Andrew Jordan (GB) secured the title.