BMW Motorsport News – Issue 38/13.

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: Glock follows in Hakkinen´s footsteps.

One week has now passed since Timo Glock (DE) claimed his first win in the DTM. The BMW Team MTEK driver triumphed at the wheel of the DEUTSCHE POST BMW M3 DTM in the final race of his rookie season in Hockenheim. In doing so, he became the first former Formula One driver to win a DTM race since Mika Hakkinen (FI) in Mugello (IT) in 2007. 

3 questions for ... Timo Glock. 

Timo, can you remember where and when you last climbed onto the top step of the podium prior to the DTM finale in Hockenheim? 

Timo Glock: "It must have been the final race of the 2007 GP2 season in Valencia - so quite a while ago. That just makes me even happier to have won in my very first season in the DTM, which had not always panned out entirely as I had planned." 

You are the first ex Formula One driver since Mika Hakkinen to win in the DTM. What does that mean to you?  

Glock: "It is very nice, and an honour, that people are making this comparison. I am just incredibly happy that my victory in Hockenheim has, to a certain degree, lifted the curse of the F1 drivers." 

Do you think you made the breakthrough in the DTM at the end of your debut season with BMW Team MTEK? 

Glock: "I think we made big improvements in all areas by the end of the season, but we are also aware of our weaknesses, which we are working on. It is nice for the entire team to head into the winter break on the back of a win. That gives you a real boost! 2014 is a new year, in which we want to be consistently in the points right from the word go." 

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VLN: Alzen/Wlazik/Kentenich on the podium at finale.

The number 2 BMW Z4 GT3, driven by Uwe Alzen (DE), Philipp Wlazik (DE) and Niclas Kentenich (DE), ended the VLN Endurance Championship with a podium finishes in the final race of the season at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE). After four hours of racing, the trio came home third in the 38th DMW Münsterlandpokal race. Henry Walkenhorst (DE), Ralf Oeverhaus (DE) and Stefan Aust (DE) finished seventh in the number 125 BMW Z4 GT3. The BMW Sports Trophy brought the season to a successful close with another eight class victories. Rolf Derscheid (DE) and Michael Flehmer (DE) secured the title in the "VLN Produktionswagen Trophäe", driving a BMW 325i. 

BMW Motorsport congratulates Sebastian Vettel on his World Championship title.

The Indian Grand Prix saw Sebastian Vettel (DE) secure his fourth FIA Formula One World Championship in a row. He joins Juan Manuel Fangio (AR) and Michael Schumacher (DE) as one of only three men to have achieved this feat. Like many of the current crop of Formula One drivers, Vettel began his motorsport career as a BMW Junior and won the German Formula BMW series in 2004. BMW is still training successful young racing drivers today through its Formula BMW Talent Cup. Vettel made his Formula One debut for the BMW Sauber F1 Team in Indianapolis (US) back in 2007, and finished in the points at the first attempt. "Congratulations to Sebastian Vettel on his fourth World Championship title in a row. He continues to take his place as one of the greats of the sport," said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. "Even as a BMW Junior, his immense talent was clear to see. His record of 18 wins from 20 races during the 2004 Formula BMW season remains unbeaten. We are pleased to have been able to support Vettel on his way to being Formula One World Champion. He still enjoys a good relationship with BMW Motorsport." 

Farfus finishes BMW Frankfurt Marathon successfully.

Just one week after the end of the DTM season, Augusto Farfus (BR) proved that racing drivers have to be extraordinarily fit. The BMW Team RBM driver, who won three races and finished runner-up in the Drivers´ Championship in the 2013 DTM season, completed the BMW Frankfurt Marathon in a time of 3:47.18 hours.