BMW Motorsport News – Issue 45/15

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.

DTM: Four youngsters test the BMW M4 DTM in Jerez.

BMW Motorsport will offer test drives in the BMW M4 DTM at the DTM Young Driver Tests, from 1st to 3rd December in Jerez de la Frontera (ES). The two BMW Motorsport Juniors Jesse Krohn (FI) and Louis Delétraz (CH) will be in action, as well as BMW works driver Alexander Sims (GB) and talented British driver George Russell.

DTM: BMW stars at the “Essen Motor Show”.
Even during the break from racing, the BMW DTM drivers are still busy men. Marco Wittmann (DE) and Timo Glock (DE) both paid a visit to the Essen Motor Show. On Friday, Wittmann answered questions from media representatives at the pre-event press conference at the trade fair venue. Among other things, the 2014 DTM champion discussed winning the Manufacturers’ title for BMW last season, when he led home a top-seven lock-out for BMW on the Saturday in Zandvoort (NL) and claimed a further two podium finishes. He then took more questions as part of an ADAC panel discussion. “I always enjoy coming to Essen – privately too,” said Wittmann, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Tuesday. “The atmosphere is always very special for anyone involved in motorsport.” The 2015 Essen Motor Show takes place from 28th November to 6th December at the Messe Essen (DE). Over 500 exhibitors are presenting virtually everything you could imagine to do with fast cars, motorsport, tuning, classic cars and motorcycles. The DTM will have its own exhibition area. Last year, 352,000 people visited the motor show. On Friday evening, Glock attended the traditional Race Night, put on each year at the event by “Auto Bild Motorsport” and “Auto Bild Sportscars”. He received a readers’ award for “Touring Car Driver of the Year”.

Exciting debut season ahead for the BMW M6 GT3 and BMW M6 GTLM.
The final phase of preparations for the 2016 season began for the BMW M6 GT3 and BMW M6 GTLM with the first official tests in Daytona (US) the week before last. Both racing versions of the BMW M6 will make their race debuts at the 24 Hours of Daytona at the end of January 2016. One of the drivers involved in the development of the cars is Jens Klingmann (DE). In an interview, he speaks about the Daytona test and his expectations.

Three questions for ... Jens Klingmann.

Jens, you are one of the BMW works drivers to have tested the BMW M6 GT3 and BMW M6 GTLM in recent months. How is the development coming on?
Jens Klingmann: “A lot has happened since my first test with the BMW M6 GT3 almost a year ago. At first, everything about the car was new. There were hardly any reference values, which we could take from the BMW Z4 GT3. We have made huge progress and, in my opinion, have done an outstanding job of setting the car up so far. As a driver, I am delighted to see how well our suggestions have been put into practice. I am sure that even gentlemen drivers will feel right at home in this car.”

From a driver’s point of view, what are the main differences between the BMW M6 GT3 and the BMW M6 GTLM?
Klingmann: “The biggest difference is that the GTLM version does not have ABS. The fact that this driver aid is forbidden by the IMSA regulations means the handling of the BMW M6 GTLM is noticeably different to that of the BMW M6 GT3. Apart from that, the difference from a driver’s perspective is not as great as it was between the BMW Z4 GT3 and the BMW Z4 GTLM. When it comes to performance, both cars are very similar. The more streamlined aerodynamics of the BMW M6 GTLM, as specified in the regulations, is noticeable in the corners. At the same time, the tyres on the GTLM car generate considerably more grip. That is why the lap times are quicker with the BMW M6 GTLM.”

How did the recent tests in Daytona go?
Klingmann: “Together with Marco Wittmann and Maxime Martin, I concentrated on the set-up of the BMW M6 GT3 out on the track and the tyres, which are new to us. I was obviously also focussed on helping Turner Motorsport get to know the car. After all, they had not had any practical experience with the car prior to the test. It was also fascinating to meet our direct opponents for the first time. Although nobody reveals everything at a test like that one, it does give you an initial impression of roughly where you stand. On the whole, I am very happy with the results of the test and am looking forward to the first race. Only then will we see the real balance of power among the manufacturers on the GT racing scene. We will then be able to define our first goals for the debut season of the BMW M6 GT3 a little more accurately.”