DTM 2012 [Αρχείο] - BMW-Motorsport.gr

BMW Power

30-04-12, 11:16

A 1-2 for Mercedes-Benz in 2012 DTM season opener
The motorsport fans have the DTM fever and built a record crowd for the season opener: 142,000 spectators wanted to be there for the start into the new era of the DTM during the race weekend at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. On the Sunday of the race alone, 71,000 spectators celebrated the three-way battle between the premium manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz and race winner Gary Paffett (GB). The 31-year old Mercedes-Benz driver survived the turmoil after the start and after great duels, he crossed the finish line to finish first from his fellow Mercedes-Benz drivers and compatriot Jamie Green. Paffett said about his 18th race win in the DTM: “Last year was really bad for me. Nevertheless, I didn’t lose my self-confidence. Great, the way it has started now. At the start, I managed to stay out of traffic and the duel with Jamie was really fair.” Mercedes-Benz scored its sixth consecutive race win at Hockenheim.

Third place at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg went to Swede Mattias Ekström with the Audi A5 DTM. The 33-year old started from first place, but lost two positions after locking up under braking and wasn’t able to make up for this. “Of course, it is disappointing. Today, we simply weren’t quick enough and I have made a mistake. The result hurts a little bit, but surely, we will get chances to win”, said Ekström.

At the comeback, British driver Andy Priaulx was the best-placed BMW driver in sixth position. With his BMW M3 DTM, he finished behind the two Germans Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) and Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) after 40 laps. “When somebody would have offered me sixth place before the weekend, I would gladly have accepted it. It was great fun, we had a fantastic crowd and we have seen that BMW is on the right way”, the 38-year old said. The other drivers to score points were Ralf Schumacher (D) and David Coulthard from Scotland, both with a DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, aw well as Spaniard Miguel Molina and Portuguese Filipe Albuquerque (both Audi).

After the great joy for BMW because of the good qualifying result on Saturday, they were quite unfortunate after the start on Sunday. Werner, who had started thurd, initially lost three places, spun after a collision with Ralf Schumacher and dropped back to the end of the field. Werner finished the race in 17th place. Defending champion Martin Tomczyk (D) and BMW’s new signing Bruno Spengler (CDN) retired after various collisions on the first four laps.

In the DTM, a new points’ scheme has come into force for this season, equal to that of Formula 1. Accordingly, Paffett is leading the drivers’ standings after the opening round with 25 points, followed by Green (18 points) and Ekström (16 points). The second DTM weekend of the year already takes place in one week’s time at the Lausitzring near Dresden from May 4th till 6th.

Head of motorsport Mercedes-Benz Norbert Haug: “A great result. Our team has done the best job. The result in qualifying wasn’t fantastic, but in the race, we were able to show a great performance. Victory is the best reward one can get. The duels by Jamie Green and Gary Paffett were motor racing at its best. It was a very good race.”

Head of motorsport Audi Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “Congratulations to the winner. Mattias Ekström has made the most of the race. We had a very good qualifying, but unfortunately, our race wasn’t perfect. However, the race was exciting and was worthy for the start of the new era. Now, we want to strike back at Lausitzring.”

Motorsport director BMW Jens Marquardt: “The DTM is not a pony farm. Of course, it is annoying when you are losing cars at such an early stage or end up at the back of the field. But the pace is there and the car is good on a race distance. Qualifying was definitely better than expected and therefore, the overall verdict of the first race weekend is very positive.”

BMW Power

09-05-12, 14:01

Spengler claims BMW’s 50th victory in the DTM.
Just two races into its comeback season, BMW is back on the top step of the DTM podium: 19 years, six months and 25 days after the last triumph, Bruno Spengler, at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, crossed the finish line at the Lausitzring in first place.

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In a thrilling second race of the season, Spengler held off the challenge of Mercedes driver Gary Paffett, who finished runner-up. Augusto Farfus came third in the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM to complete a fantastic team result for BMW.

Spengler follows in the footsteps of Roberto Ravaglia, who claimed the brand’s 49th victory in the DTM on 11th October 1992 in Hockenheim. Back then, BMW Team Schnitzer, with Team Principal Charly Lamm on the pit wall, was responsible for the BMW M3. Almost 20 years later, the team from Freilassing once again made DTM history with BMW’s 50th victory and the first win since the company’s return to the series. The victory also represents a milestone for Spengler: the 28-year-old secured the tenth victory of this DTM career at the 3.478-kilometre Lausitzring. Spengler’s maiden win came at the Norisring on 23rd July 2006.

Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk (BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM) finished seventh to score six points for BMW Team RMG. His team-mate Joey Hand crossed the line 14th in his SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM. Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) came home 17th and 19th respectively. The action was watched by 72,000 motorsport fans at the Lausitzring over the course of the weekend.

Right from the first lap, BMW drivers Spengler and Farfus were involved in a thrilling duel with Mercedes’ Paffett and Jamie Green. Spengler defended his lead at the start and then held onto his position at the front of the field, thanks largely to excellent work by BMW Team Schnitzer during the two pit stops. Although Farfus was passed by Paffett on lap one, the Brazilian brilliantly withstood pressure from the fourth-placed Green for lap after lap. His reward came in the form of his first podium finish in the DTM.

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BMW Power

09-05-12, 14:03

Thoughts after qualifying.
Find out, what our six BMW Drivers and BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt say after qualifying at Lausitzring.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“Bruno Spengler on pole with Augusto Farfus alongside him on the front row as the second fastest qualifier: that is quite simply a phenomenal result for BMW. That qualifying session was a real thriller. It is an indescribable feeling. I am very proud that we came out on top. Last week was very tough for everyone in the team. After the many crashes in Hockenheim, our first goal was to get the six BMW M3 DTM cars up and running optimally again so they could line up here. We are all surprised that we now have two cars on the front row. Bruno and Augusto are not the only ones who deserve a huge compliment, however. We have three BMW M3 DTM cars in the top ten and each of our three teams has a car on the first five rows of the grid. That shows what a great all-round team performance we have produced again here. And we were justly rewarded for that effort today. Tomorrow's race will be a completely different challenge again. However, this qualifying result means we will approach this challenge with a lot of momentum and the wind in our sails.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“I am delighted. Qualifying was a real emotional rollercoaster ride. With one minute of the second session remaining, Bruno had not even made it into Q3. A short while later he is on pole. He really dug in – and is one hell of a guy. It is simply unbelievable how coolly he claimed this pole position. Thank you to BMW for this fantastic car, and thank you to the whole team.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 1st place):
“I can hardly believe what has happened here. After 20 years, I am the first driver to celebrate a pole position for BMW in the DTM. This is a very special day for me. It is great that my fellow BMW driver Augusto Farfus will line up alongside me on the front row tomorrow. That completes this dream result for us. I would never have expected us to be on pole position at just the second race of our debut season. My BMW Bank M3 DTM was fantastic today. We will have to wait and see how it performs in the race tomorrow, and whether we can keep pace with the opposition over the longer race distance. For now, however, I am going to enjoy this amazing feeling. When the race gets underway tomorrow, I will be doing everything in my power to stay out of the turmoil. With so many cars on the track, the first three corners will be very tight.”

Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 2nd place):
“It is a great result and I had great speed all through qualifying. After the bad weekend in Hockenheim, I was really looking forward to coming to the Lausitzring and proving how fast the BMWs and I really are. Qualifying was really intense. I was really pleased to be in Q4. Second place along with Bruno’s pole position is sensational. I want to thank everyone at BMW Motorsport and in my BMW Team RBM.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 7th place):
“Firstly, I’d like to congratulate my team-mates. It is great to see two BMWs on the front row. I am not entirely satisfied with my own personal result in qualifying. There was more in it for us today. Bruno and Augusto showed what the BMW M3 DTM is capable of. Our car has the pace to compete at the front of the field. I will now be working hard with my BMW Team RMG to find the optimal set-up for the race. If we manage that then P7 is not such a bad grid position from which to attack the opposition tomorrow.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 13th place):
“That was a tough one for me. Hockenheim was much easier. The BMW M3 DTM is strong and I think we have seen this from the great result today. I can still have a good result from 13th on the grid, but I just didn’t quite get the set-up I wanted today.”

Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 14th place):
“My SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM was good today. The problem for me was that I got stuck in traffic and lost valuable time. However, I promise the fans that I will be trying my hardest to move forward in tomorrow's race. It will not be easy, as the DTM is possibly the toughest racing series in the world. It is unbelievable how closely matched everyone is here.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 21st place):
“The whole weekend has been far from ideal for me, and I have struggled to find the perfect rhythm. My first flying lap in Q1 was okay. I would have had to improve on my second lap, but then I got stuck in traffic. Tomorrow I will do my best to make up ground in the race.”

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BMW Power

09-05-12, 14:04

Reactions after the race at the Lausitzring.
BMW returned to the podium in only the second race of its DTM comeback, thanks to Bruno Spengler's victory and third place for Augusto Farfus. Read here what BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt, the three BMW team principals and the six drivers had to say after the thrilling race.

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
"This is a very special moment – beyond our wildest dreams. Bruno Spengler’s magnificent victory is the icing on the cake at the end of an incredible week. First came our impressive comeback weekend in Hockenheim, then the first pole position yesterday and now – in only our second race – our first victory in the new DTM era. That is really fantastic, simply unbelievable. Bruno produced an outstanding performance and took full advantage of his pole position. He has added another important chapter to BMW’s success story in motorsport. On the 40th anniversary of BMW M, we have taken the number of wins achieved by the BMW M3 in the DTM to 41. That makes me extremely proud, particularly bearing in mind the hard work that everyone in the team has put in over the last few weeks and months. Despite this, we would be well advised to keep both feet firmly on the ground. We have enjoyed an almost perfect start to our comeback season. However, we still have to go to a lot of races at circuits where we have not completed a single kilometre in testing. Furthermore, the 2012 DTM is so close that the pack is reshuffled at every track. This means that form and trends can change very quickly. We wanted to be in a position to achieve a good result when the opportunity came along. That is precisely what happened today, and we grasped our chance with both hands."
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
"This is simply fantastic. The DTM is so challenging and the bar has been set so high. Despite this, however, we first claimed pole and then clinched the first victory in only our second race – that is indescribable. It was an unbelievably exciting race. Bruno was consistently under pressure and could not afford to make a single mistake. It is sensational what he did out there. He has nerves of steel. I said in the past that it would come down to stability, strategy and pit stops. That was the case today, and it all worked perfectly for us. Thanks not only to Bruno, but also to every single person in the team. This success is the reward for the hard work they have put in in recent months."
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
"Congratulations to BMW on a fantastic first and third. We had a really great race with Augusto, who had to defend very hard against Jamie Green. We had two good pit stops and managed to get ahead of him after the second tyre change. Augusto drove brilliantly all weekend. At the end of the day, I think narrowly missing pole position yesterday is what cost us the victory. Bruno did a great job. Congratulations to Schnitzer and BMW."
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
"Firstly, congratulations to my two colleagues Charly Lamm and Bart Mampaey. Both have done magnificently with their teams. However, our two drivers Martin Tomczyk and Joey Hand were also able to get the maximum out of this close race. That was only our second race in the DTM. When you bear that in mind, we have done a super job so far and have picked up our first points. BMW’s return to the DTM is a fantastic project. It is simply unbelievable what we have achieved in just one year."

Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 1st place):
“Today is a dream come true for me. I am so happy I just want to give everyone at BMW Team Schnitzer a big hug. That was a perfect weekend for me: the first DTM pole position for BMW for 20 years, then the first victory since 1992. This is one of the best days of my life. The race was unbelievable. We had a really tough battle with the Mercedes drivers, and did everything in our power to stay in front of them. Thankfully it worked. The final lap was the longest of my career. My team and I did not put a foot wrong today. That was definitely the crucial factor. One thing is certain: it is time for a celebration.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 3rd place):
“Congratulations to BMW for doing a great job and giving us this car. This is only my second DTM race and we are a very young team in the series. That makes it all the more amazing to finish on the podium at the second race. I feel really great. I had a difficult time in Hockenheim, but we have recovered brilliantly. One week later, this was a very different performance. I am very happy to be able to bring the car to the finish without any mistakes even though I had Jamie Green pushing me for a lot of laps. But I just made sure I stayed calm and made no mistakes. Thanks also to BMW Team RBM for two fantastic pit stops.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 7th place):
“The race did not go entirely to plan for me. The basic pace of my car was ok. Maybe our pit stops and strategy cost us a better position in the race. I was able to maintain my position from qualifying, however. That gives me confidence ahead of the race in Brands Hatch. We will push on again there. Congratulations to Bruno and Augusto. This is a fantastic result.”

Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 14th place):
“In actual fact, that did not go so badly. I had a difficult start, as I had Andy directly in front of me. I had to hold back, in order to avoid risking contact. In the race, the balance of my SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM was absolutely fine. That was only my second race in the DTM, and I must continue to work on my performance. I will improve and learn a lot from race to race.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 17th place):
“Congratulations to BMW. What a great result. Sadly my weekend just never went right. I just got boxed in at the start and never seemed to be able to move forward from there. I would rather forget about it and now I am already looking forward to a better race in Brands Hatch.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 19th place):
“This is a fantastic day for BMW. Congratulations to Bruno and Augusto on their great performances here. For me personally it was not a great weekend. Qualifying was difficult, and I had no chance of improving my position in the race itself. It was just a matter of finishing the race and gaining some more kilometres of race experience. I am now concentrating on the next race, and look forward to going on the attack again at Brands Hatch.”

BMW Power

09-05-12, 14:14

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BMW Power

09-05-12, 14:15

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BMW Power

09-05-12, 14:15

BMW Power

09-05-12, 14:16

Bruno Spengler: “I had to give 100 percent on every lap.”
Bruno Spengler and BMW Team Schnitzer made history with the victory at the Lausitzring, and claimed BMW’s 50th win in the DTM. In an interview, Spengler describes his feelings after the thrilling race and the tenth triumph of his DTM career.

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Bruno, how does it feel to have achieved the first BMW victory of the new DTM era?
Bruno Spengler: “When I crossed the finishing line, this fact came straight to my mind. It is unbelievable: I am the first driver to stand on the top of the podium since BMW’s return to the series after 20 years away. Lifting the trophy was a very special moment for me, particularly as my parents and girlfriend were at the podium ceremony to see what was a historic moment for BMW and me. It still sends a shiver down my spine thinking about it.”
How tough was the race at the Lausitzring?
Spengler: “I had to give 100 percent on every lap and could not afford to make even the slightest of errors. The Mercedes behind me was piling on the pressure and just kept on attacking me. The key to the success was that BMW Team Schnitzer selected the perfect race strategy and the pit stops were spot on. The guys did a fantastic job. You can only succeed as a team in the DTM.”
How were the final stages of the race for you at the wheel of your BMW Bank M3 DTM?
Spengler: “When my race engineer came on the radio to tell me that I still had another 15 laps to go, I thought: ‘Wow, there is still a lot of hard work to be done’. I had to push pretty hard, because I was constantly under pressure. On the last lap I tried not to risk anything and end up off the track. Thankfully I managed to avoid making any mistakes. I was quite relieved when I saw the chequered flag. Then I wanted to get to my team as quickly as possible and thank each and every one of them.”
How have you celebrated your win?
Spengler: “On the Sunday morning I checked out of the hotel as usual. I just wanted to wait and see what the day had in store for me. Then I claimed the 50th victory for BMW in the DTM. I ended up back at the hotel again after the party. First the BMW team put on a big party for me in the hospitality at the Lausitzring. A lot of people from the other manufacturers also stopped by. It was great fun – especially dancing on the table with Charly Lamm. Then the guys had to get back to work at some point. After all, the next race at Brands Hatch is just around the corner.”
Did you think you would be climbing onto the top step of the podium so soon?
Spengler: “Right from the outset I had great faith in BMW. A lot of engineers with an immense amount of know-how work there. I always felt that I would be able to challenge at the front of the field this season. But I would never have dreamt that I would claim pole position and pick up my first win with BMW at just the second race. That was a big surprise to me.”
What else can we expect from you in 2012?
Spengler: “It is hard to say. We simply don't have any experience with the BMW M3 DTM at many DTM circuits. As such, it is almost impossible to make a prediction for the rest of the season. As a racing driver, my own personal goal is obviously to claim pole, stand on the podium and win races as often as possible. However, I cannot predict how often I will achieve these things this season. For the moment, I am just enjoying my first victory with BMW.”

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BMW Power

09-05-12, 14:19

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BMW Power

13-05-12, 08:50

BMW enters uncharted territory at Brands Hatch.
Following the first victory of its comeback season, BMW Motorsport now heads to Brands Hatch for the third DTM race of the year on 20th May 2012.

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Bruno Spengler, at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, claimed BMW’s 50th triumph in the DTM at the Lausitzring. Augusto Farfus finished the thrilling race in third place to become the first Brazilian in the history of the DTM to step onto the podium.
After two events in Germany, the DTM now moves on to Great Britain. The “Brands Hatch Circuit” is synonymous with the long tradition of British motor racing. At just 1.929 kilometres, the Indy variant of the circuit, located south-east of London, may be the shortest track on the race calendar, but it still represents a major challenge to the drivers. The winding roller-coaster demands great courage and is unforgiving of even the slightest mistake. The spectacular Paddock Hill corner is the circuit’s showpiece. Coming at the end of the start-finish straight, the drivers swing right into a dip at great speed.
One BMW DTM driver in particular cannot wait for the race at Brands Hatch: Andy Priaulx of BMW Team RBM. The three-time World Champion currently has eight points to his name. After a difficult race at the Lausitzring, the driver from the Channel Island of Guernsey is keen to go back on the attack in front of his home crowd. Brands Hatch is located near the town of Dartford, which is home to 60,000 residents, and Priaulx knows the circuit like the back of his hand: he won on the “Grand Prix Circuit” for BMW in the World Touring Car Championship in both 2007 and 2010. Farfus has also tasted victory there with the BMW 320si WTCC. The two BMW Team RBM drivers now return to the scene of their successes with the BMW M3 DTM.
Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk also has good memories of Brands Hatch. He climbed onto the top step of the podium after last year’s 98-lap race, taking his total to three podium finishes at the circuit. Spengler finished sixth in 2011, having crossed the line in second place the year before.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt says: “The DTM does not allow us to take a break – and that is a good thing. After the historic weekend for BMW Motorsport at the Lausitzring, everyone in the team is highly motivated to get to know Brands Hatch and celebrate a successful debut there with the BMW M3 DTM. We are well aware that we are entering uncharted territory at this circuit. However, the team is brimming with confidence and we are really looking forward to facing this challenge. The first two races have shown us that our BMW M3 DTM is competitive. In Brands Hatch, however, the balance of power may once again look completely different. After all, we are yet to drive a single metre there with a DTM car and still have no set-up data available. At the same time as our outing in Great Britain, we are also represented by a strong contingent at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Schubert and Vita4One between them are running four works-supported BMW Z4 GT3 cars, while many more BMW Customer Racing cars will also line up in a wide range of classes. Apart from myself, those responsible at BMW Motorsport will be on-site for this important race. Unfortunately it won’t be possible for me to follow the endurance classic in person due to logistical reasons, but I will obviously be following the action in the Eifel Mountains very closely from Brands Hatch. I will have my mobile phone switched on for all of the 24 hours.”

BMW Power

13-05-12, 08:52

Thoughts ahead of the race.
Find out here what the three BMW team principals and our six drivers had to say about the forthcoming DTM race at Brands Hatch, England.

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“After Bruno Spengler’s win at the Lausitzring, our team is obviously very motivated. We now know what potential the BMW M3 DTM really has. That is an enormous boost for the whole team. How we perform in qualifying will be crucial at Brands Hatch. We want to improve our qualifying. A good position on the grid is key to a good result in the race.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“The win at the Lausitzring has given us extra motivation. It was a great reward for the team’s hard work over the past few months. However, we are under no illusion: we are pretty much starting from scratch again at Brands Hatch. Unlike our competitors, we do not have any experience at all on this track with a DTM car. We found our feet quickly in Hockenheim and at the Lausitzring – thanks in part to previous tests there. I hope that will also be the case in Great Britain.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“Brands Hatch is the first circuit in this DTM season on which our team has already gained a lot of racing experience in the past. Previously, however, we have always raced on the Grand Prix Circuit. Furthermore, the BMW M3 DTM obviously requires a completely different set-up. That will be a challenge, and is part of the learning process we are currently going through in the DTM. Brands Hatch is a demanding and hilly circuit. It will be a very special race for Andy Priaulx, as he will be racing in front of his home crowd.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG):
“I really like the track at Brands Hatch. It is an extremely short circuit. This means that qualifying will be even closer than at the first two race weekends. The grid positions will determine whether or not you can challenge at the front of the field during the race. Overtaking opportunities are few and far between in Brands Hatch. My goal is obviously to move forward with the BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM. We have already seen that the car is competitive.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG):
“My team and I are making good progress. I am feeling more and more comfortable with my SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM. With that in mind, I hope to be able to attack at Brands Hatch. I am always optimistic and have a good feeling about the trip to Great Britain. A good qualifying will be key. The cards will be re-shuffled once again in the race. I am ready for Brands Hatch.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“This circuit has its very own character. It is constantly undulating, like a roller-coaster. At just under two kilometres in length, a lap of Brands Hatch is very short. We have never driven there with the BMW M3 DTM, so it will be important to get as many kilometres as possible under our belt during the free practice, in order to be prepared for the qualifying. Qualifying is very important at Brands Hatch, as it is very difficult to overtake during the race. It goes without saying, however, that we are full of confidence following the victory at the Lausitzring.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“Brands Hatch is one of the circuits, at which I have never driven before, so the race in England will be a big challenge for me. As the track is so short, the times in qualifying will be very close. For this reason, I cannot afford to make a single mistake on my flying lap. Although I did not get the greatest result at the Lausitzring, I have a good feeling ahead of Brands Hatch. My team-mate Bruno Spengler’s win has put the wind in my sails. Our car is capable of winning – and that gives me an enormous boost.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM):
“I can’t wait to drive Brands Hatch for the first time in my Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM. As we are racing on the Indy circuit it will be a really intense sort of lap. There are going to be a lot of laps in the race so there is not going to be much space between the cars. The circuit at Brands Hatch is obviously fantastic for the fans, as they get to see the cars a lot during the race. It will be fun. It is going to be interesting with the pit lane being so small and tight. As I know from experience, there is always a high chance of rain at Brands Hatch, so we will have to get our wet lines ready.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM):
“I am looking forward to going to the UK and obviously it will be the first time for me racing in the DTM outside Germany. I think the race there will be a lot of fun, but also very tough for us drivers. I have had some very good results at this track in the World Touring Car Championship, but I only know the GP circuit and not the Indy one. It will be a nice challenge so let’s hope for good weather – Brazilian weather rather than British weather!”

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BMW Power

13-05-12, 08:53

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BMW Power

30-05-12, 12:10

Bruno Spengler starts from the second row for BMW.
The DTM qualifying at Brands Hatch lived up to its expectations and saw Bruno Spengler of BMW Team Schnitzer secure a place on the second row of the grid.

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The 28-year-old, at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, clocked a time of 41.462 seconds to qualify third. Spengler was just 0.194 seconds behind Mercedes driver Gary Paffett, who starts Sunday’s third race of the season from pole position.
Martin Tomczyk and Augusto Farfus also made it into the top ten at the 1.929-kilometre “Brands Hatch Circuit”. Having set the fastest time in his BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM in the second qualifying session, Tomczyk set exactly the same time as Christian Vietoris in fourth place. This would have been sufficient for the BMW driver to progress to the final session, had Vietoris not been the first to set his time. As such, the Mercedes driver went through to the top-4 shootout in place of the reigning DTM champion. Farfus also impressed with excellent times in Q1 and Q2, eventually ending the third session in ninth in his Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM.
Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) and local favourite Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) were unable to progress beyond the second qualifying session, and will start the race from 13th and 14th on the grid. Dirk Werner had to settle for 19th in the E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM.

BMW Power

30-05-12, 12:11

Thoughts after qualifying.
Find out, what our six BMW Drivers and BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt say after qualifying at Brands Hatch, England.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“That was a good qualifying on a circuit, which we did not know at all before this weekend. We once again have three drivers in the top ten. We are very happy with Bruno’s third place. It was still looking very good for us towards the end of Q2. However, we have seen over the course of the weekend that it is very close here, and absolutely everything has to fall into place. Unfortunately that was not the case for us in the end. Despite this, Bruno put in a good performance on used tyres in Q4. Congratulations to the entire team.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 3rd place):
“I can live with third place. It was very close here again. My lap in the fourth qualifying session was okay. My tyres already had one more lap under their belt, which made it a bit difficult. Qualifying was tough, but great fun. I think third place is a nice present for Charly and Dieter Lamm, whose birthday it is today. I am looking forward to the race now. I had Gary Paffett breathing down my neck the whole time at the Lausitzring. Hopefully I can annoy him a bit tomorrow and put him under pressure.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 5th place):
“I am not a hundred per cent happy with my qualifying. My BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM was really quick and perfectly set up. I’d like to thank my BMW Team RMG. The crew has worked brilliantly. The free practice sessions and the first qualifying sessions went really well. Unfortunately I did not manage to produce a better time at the crucial moment. There was more in it for us today.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 9th place):
“I had a chance to be further ahead, but unfortunately we could not squeeze the maximum out of the car in qualifying. I had a little bit too much oversteer and it cost me a few hundredths of a second, which means P4. In Brands everything is so tight so a small amount of time can make the difference, and here it did. I think we have a good car and the race pace is definitely good, so I am looking forward to tomorrow. Ninety eight laps here are definitely a lot, but with a good strategy and good race pace we can climb up the field.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 13th place):
“I set my fastest time of the weekend in qualifying. The car felt great. Unfortunately I still didn’t manage to get a better grid position. I just have to get to know the track better. It will be extremely important to get off to a good start in tomorrow’s race, in order to make up a few places.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 14th place):
“We have good performance in the BMW package and so I hoped to be higher up the grid. I had a few issues in qualifying and you can’t afford to have a single one. It is obvious the car has great potential. But I am really optimistic about the performance as a very small amount would have put me right in the top ten. We have got to learn from this and will try something more radical for me in warm-up. Maybe that can bring the performance I am looking for.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 19th place):
“I am disappointed with my qualifying. Everything looked very good on the first set of tyres. I was in 14th and would have made it into Q2. Then I got stuck in traffic on my flying lap. It was difficult to find a gap and that cost me a better place. Tomorrow’s race will not be easy from this position on the grid. It is almost impossible to overtake here.”

BMW Power

30-05-12, 12:11

Another podium for BMW at Brands Hatch.
BMW Motorsport continues to enjoy success in the DTM: following his victory at the Lausitzring a fortnight ago, Bruno Spengler of BMW Team Schnitzer was once again celebrating on the podium at the end of the race in Brands Hatch.

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After 97 laps, the 28-year-old crossed the finish line in second place at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM. Victory in the third race of ten this season went to Mercedes driver Gary Paffett, who took the chequered flag 2.7 seconds ahead of Spengler.
Spengler was not the only BMW driver to add to his points tally at the 1.929-kilometre “Brands Hatch Circuit”. Martin Tomczyk (BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM) finished fourth – his best result of the season – and leaves Great Britain with another 12 points to his name. Tomczyk also clocked the fastest lap of the race (42.138 seconds) on lap 57.
Augusto Farfus, at the wheel of the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM, came home in 11th. Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) was 13th and Dirk Werner followed in 16th in his E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM. Andy Priaulx, racing in front of his home crowd in the Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM, was forced to retire early on in the race.
Spengler got off to a flyer from third place on the grid and immediately moved into second, before settling in to be within striking distance of Paffett throughout the entire race. With the race drawing to a close, however, the Canadian was forced to start looking over his shoulder. The front splitter of the BMW Bank M3 DTM was damaged on the kerb in turn one, preventing Spengler from pushing his car to the limit over the final few laps. Third-placed Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller was closing the gap with every lap, but Spengler was able to hold on to second. Tomczyk dropped two positions at the start, but quickly moved back into fifth thanks to overtaking manoeuvres against Mattias Ekström and Adrien Tambay. The BMW Team RMG driver gained another position over the course of the race, courtesy of a good strategy and quick pit stops.
The result sees Spengler climb to second place in the DTM drivers’ standings on 43 points, behind Gary Paffett (68). Tomczyk now has 18 points in seventh, followed in eighth and ninth by Farfus (15) and Priaulx (8).

BMW Power

30-05-12, 12:12

Thoughts on the race.
Read here what the six BMW drivers, three Team Principals and BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt had to say after the race at Brands Hatch.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“I am very happy again with our third outing of the 2012 season. This is the first time we have brought a DTM car to Brands Hatch, and we found our feet very quickly. Our drivers were immediately able to compete with the front-runners. Second and fourth achieved by Bruno and Martin are fantastic results. Bruno once again showed nerves of steel and Martin was also extremely quick and produced a flawless drive. The last few laps were particularly nerve-wracking, but our drivers andteams did a super job and all deserve a huge compliment. We have a very good record so far, with three podium finishes from three races. We barely have time to catch our breath now before the next race in Spielberg in 14 days. We have found a good rhythm in the DTM, so I hope that we will be as quick in Austria as we were here. However, the first few races have already shown that the 2012 DTM pack is reshuffled at every circuit. The three manufacturers are on a par with each other, making it all but impossible to predict the race weekends. This is the best possible scenario for the fans, as motor racing can hardly get any more exciting and evenly balanced than in the DTM.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“That was another really impressive race from Bruno. We were a bit nervous towards the end when the front splitter on his car was damaged. After that he was lacking downforce, particularly in the right-handers, meaning he could not maintain his good pace. From this point on, it was all about defending his position against the cars pursuing him. It all worked out in the end though. For Dirk, it was important to get a solid race under his belt and again gain a lot more DTM experience, which he did. It is unbelievable that we have finished on the podium in two of the three races. BMW has built a really fantastic car. I think today’s podium finish also makes a great birthday present for Jens Marquardt.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“What happened to Andy at his home race was very disappointing. He had an incident on the first lap that broke a part on the front of the car and, unfortunately, we could not continue. That was race over. With Augusto it was really difficult for him as we were trapped behind Adrien Tambay. We were clearly faster than him. We tried to overtake at the pit stop, but it was not possible today. In the end Augusto made a nice move when both him and Bruno passed Tambay, but basically we were slowed down in the first two thirds of the race and then it was over for us. In the end we learned a lot again, which was the goal for our first year. We now need to analyse this and we are looking forward to Austria.”
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“We took another step forward at this race. Martin’s fourth place is a great result for us. Joey also put in a good performance. He is feeling more and more at home in the DTM. This good result means we will now travel to Spielberg with a lot of momentum.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 2nd place):
“I am very happy with this second place. Gary Paffett was very quick, particularly in the first stint. Despite this, I was able to hang on to his coattails. It reminded me of my win at the Lausitzring, but with the roles reversed. It was a tough race. You do not have much time to take a breather in the cockpit. The team was brilliant again. The second stop was particularly good. My front-left splitter broke towards the end of the race, which made things a bit exciting. But we did enough. The season has been great so far. The three manufacturers are extremely evenly matched, which makes it fun for us drivers as well as the fans.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 4th place):
“Generally speaking, fourth place in Brands Hatch is a good result for me and my BMW Team RMG. The pace of my car was very good today. I made a little mistake at the start, and my pit stops were not quite perfect. Maybe we could have had an even better result today. However, my team and I are getting better with every race. With that in mind, I am full of confidence for the challenges ahead.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 11th place):
“It is quite disappointing somehow, because we had a better pace than 11th. Unfortunately we could not use the strategy in our favour, however. We did two stops ahead of the others and came out in traffic each time. I never had a free track to try to get the guy in front of me. Car wise I think the balance was very good. Spielberg in two weeks gives us the opportunity to take better advantage of the car’s potential.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 13th place):
“I got off to quite a good start. I think that was my best start so far in the DTM. After that, I got stuck in traffic and took a couple of hits. This is a really tough series, but I am getting better with every lap. My goal is to get in the top ten as soon as possible.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 16th place):
“As expected, it was not easy to move through the field from 19th on the grid. A lot went wrong at the start, resulting in me dropping even further back. However, a good strategy and my team’s pit stops meant we were actually able to improve our position a bit. I am obviously not satisfied with my weekend, but I learned a lot again this time. I will try to use the experience I gained as much as possible in the next races. Congratulations to Bruno and everyone at BMW Team Schnitzer. They did a super job.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, DNF):
“I just had some contact on the first lap, the whole front splitter was damaged and that was the end of the race. It was very unlucky and a disappointing weekend for me overall. That is motor racing and you just have to take it on the chin and move on. Overall I haven’t felt really comfortable from the first laps this weekend, and I just have to understand what is going on. We will come back next year and make amends.”

BMW Power

30-05-12, 12:14

From the island to the mountains.
The DTM season enters its next round on 3rd June 2012. The venue for the fourth round of the season is the Red Bull Ring near Spielberg. Unlike the last race in Brands Hatch, the BMW M3 DTM has already been driven on the 4.326-kilometre circuit.

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However, the test took place in the summer of last year, when the car was in the early stages of its development, meaning only a certain amount of the data gathered back then can be used to prepare for this race.
After finishing runner-up at Brands Hatch, Bruno Spengler is the best-placed BMW driver in second in the DTM drivers’ standings. Martin Tomczyk, Augusto Farfus and Andy Priaulx occupy seventh to ninth in the standings. In the team competition, BMW Team Schnitzer lies in second ahead of the race in Austria. BMW is currently third in the manufacturers’ standings with 84 points to its name.
Tradition meets the present day in Spielberg. Races were held there as early as 1969, when it was originally known as the Österreichring. The Steiermark region of Austria welcomed Formula 1 for the first time in 1970, just one year after the circuit was opened. The current layout came from the pen of racetrack designer Hermann Tilke. He was at the helm the first time the Österreichring was modified and renamed the A1-Ring, and was also responsible for the second renovation, after which it was called the Red Bull Ring.
The DTM raced at the A1-Ring between 2001 and 2003, and returned to Spielberg in 2011 when reigning DTM champion and current BMW Team RMG driver Tomczyk emerged victorious. The drivers cover 4.326 kilometres per lap. Up and downhill sectors alternate, taking in imposing sections like the Lauda and Rindt corners. The Castrol EDGE and Remus corners also pose a real challenge to the drivers.
“Following our positive results in the first three races, we now move on to Spielberg full of confidence", says BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. "The fans have many good reasons to look forward to the race weekend in Austria. The three DTM manufacturers are very evenly matched. Fractions of a second are making the difference between a driver qualifying at the very front of the field or back in the pack. It could hardly be more exciting. The 2012 DTM season is very enjoyable – not just for the spectators, but also for every single one of us in the team.”

BMW Power

30-05-12, 12:14

Thoughts ahead of the race at Spielberg.
Find out here what our six drivers and three BMW team principals had to say about the forthcoming DTM race in Austria.

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Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG):
“I only have good memories of Spielberg. I won at the reopened Ring last year. That was a fantastic weekend. Spielberg offers everything that makes a racetrack interesting and exciting: a long straight, fast corners and big differences in elevation. On top of that you have the beautiful scenery. In Brands Hatch, my team and I showed that we can compete at the front of the field. We want to follow on from that fine performance in Spielberg.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG):
“I have not driven on the track in Spielberg yet, but I have heard only good things about the circuit from my BMW team-mates. My preparations for the weekend will initially be about memorising the circuit. To do this, I am watching videos of last year’s race and practicing driving the circuit on my games console. I only have three DTM starts to my name and still have a lot to learn, but I am confident I will make it into the top ten very soon – maybe even in Spielberg.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“I cannot complain about the season so far, but you just cannot afford to take the DTM for granted. We will have to gain valuable experience with every lap we complete with the BMW M3 DTM in Spielberg. This has worked very well and effectively at all the races so far, and I obviously hope that this will be the case again this time. I really like the circuit. I set the fastest race lap in Spielberg in 2011. If the BMW M3 DTM is as good there as it has been recently, then I should be able to attack at the front of the field again.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“I drove in Spielberg once back in 2003, so I am vaguely familiar with the circuit. The layout looks very interesting. The last two race weekends did not go to plan for me, so I will try again in Austria. I am not happy with the results so far, but am learning from race to race. It is important to take full advantage of the experience gained so far, so that we can set our sights higher up the field. My third place on the grid in Hockenheim showed me what we are capable of.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM):
“Thanks to our test there, I know what to expect at this track. Racing there is a different matter altogether though. It will definitely be exciting, as the circuit offers many overtaking opportunities, such as the hairpin. Our overall package has huge potential. I am determined to improve, particularly in qualifying. A good grid position will be very important again in Spielberg.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM):
“We were in Spielberg in July 2011 to test the first version of our DTM car. The data we gathered there might not turn out to be all that valuable, however, as it was raining at the time. I like the track, and it was great fun driving there. The region is beautiful. I hope to have a strong weekend. Our car was good enough to finish higher than 11th at Brands Hatch.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“We are entering uncharted waters again in Spielberg. It is many months since we tested at this circuit, back then we were still in the early stages of developing our car. Furthermore, it was wet back then. Our form is improving dramatically, as proven by Martin Tomczyk’s fourth place in Brands Hatch. The fact that he also set the fastest lap of the race is evidence that we are moving in the right direction at BMW Team RMG. Here’s hoping it stays that way in Austria.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“Races in Austria always feel like a home race for us, and I am certain that we will once again be greeted by countless BMW enthusiasts and BMW Team Schnitzer fans in Spielberg. We can be more than satisfied with the season so far. Bruno Spengler’s victory at the Lausitzring and second in Brands Hatch showed just how good our package is. BMW has done a fantastic job of developing the BMW M3 DTM. Now it is important to back up this initial positive impression in Spielberg.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“We tested in Spielberg last year, so the circuit is not entirely new to us. Austria is one of my favourite countries and I am personally looking forward to the Alps and the lovely surroundings there. It will be an interesting weekend. It is a nice track and I expect there to be big crowds. We will be faced with another new challenge there, but one that we are looking forward to.”

BMW Power

30-05-12, 12:17

Brands-Hatch: Starting grid (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/20120520/Brands-Hatch/Results/Starting-grid.html)

Brands-Hatch: Race (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/20120520/Brands-Hatch/Results/Race.html)

Standings (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/Standings.html)

BMW Power

04-06-12, 12:20

Four BMW M3 DTMs start in the top ten.
BMW Motorsport will start the fourth race of the season in Spielberg from promising positions on the grid. In qualifying at the 4.326-kilometre circuit, Martin Tomczyk of BMW Team RMG progressed to the top-four shoot-out for the first time this year, and will start from fourth on Sunday.

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The reigning DTM champion clocked a “Q4” time of 1:26.408 minutes at the wheel of his BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM, just 0.237 seconds behind Audi driver Edoardo Mortara on pole.
As at the season-opener in Hockenheim, BMW once again landed four of its six cars in the top ten in Spielberg. As well as Tomczyk, Joey Hand also achieved his best qualifying result of the 2012 DTM season, finishing fifth. Bruno Spengler (BMW Bank M3 DTM) will start alongside the American on the grid, having qualified sixth, while Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) was ninth fastest.
Augusto Farfus (Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM) did not progress beyond the second qualifying session and will start the 47-lap race from 11th on the grid. The 28-year-old set the same time as Spengler in “Q2”. However, the man currently second in the drivers’ standings clocked his time ahead of Farfus, and so got the coveted tenth spot to take him through to Q3. Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) will start from 18th on Sunday, following a difficult qualifying for the man from Guernsey.

BMW Power

04-06-12, 12:21

Thoughts after qualifying.
Find out, what our six BMW Drivers and BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt say after qualifying at Red Bull Ring, Austria.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“That was a really impressive team performance from our three teams. Five of our six cars qualified in the top 11, with four drivers making it into the third qualifying session. We continued our run of getting at least one car in Q4 at every qualifying this season. Martin Tomczyk could actually have done even better today, but fourth is still a very good grid position. I am particularly pleased for Joey Hand, who made it into the top ten in fifth and only missed out on Q4 by a hundredth of a second. A big compliment to the whole team and congratulations to Audi on the pole position.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 4th):
“On the one hand I am pleased with fourth place. On the other, however, I could have achieved an even better grid position. Unfortunately I made a slight mistake in the first corner of my flying lap in Q4. That cost me crucial fractions of a second. Whatever happens, I proved again today just how competitive our car is. Congratulations to Joey Hand. I am delighted he was able to show what he is capable of today. Thanks to BMW Team RMG. We have been in great shape here so far.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 5th):
“I am overjoyed to have made it into the top ten for the first time. Fifth on the grid for tomorrow’s race is a fantastic starting position. The track in Spielberg suits my style of driving. After the first practice was far from perfect for us, everyone in BMW Team RMG worked hard to improve the situation, and we did that brilliantly. I’d like to thank the entire crew, who always believed in me and give me a lot of confidence.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 6th):
“We took a bit longer to get going here than at the three previous races. It took a while to find a good set-up in the free practice sessions. It is nothing out of the ordinary to have a more difficult weekend, however. With this in mind, sixth is a good result. A lot is possible from the third row of the grid. I will certainly be on the attack.”

Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 9th):
“I can be very happy with my race weekend in Spielberg so far. We made good progress in the free practices sessions, and ninth in qualifying is a very promising result. Our car was actually capable of more than that, so I am also a little bit disappointed. Despite that, I now hope to score my first points in the race.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 11th):
“That’s DTM. Everything is super close. I did the same lap time as Bruno (Spengler) so it shows the time is there. I think we improved the car during qualifying, which was positive. Eleventh is not dramatic and I think our performance is not that far away, as we have the package to be in the top six. Here everything can happen so let’s focus now on tomorrow. We have to remember it is our first season, we are trying to find the right balance and when we do then our results will come.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 18th):
“Obviously I am disappointed as this is the first time I haven’t made it through to the next qualifying session. My first new tyre run was great, but I locked the rear wheels going into the last corner so I lost about four tenths of a second. The car felt great, so I can’t complain about its balance. My quickest lap was good, but it just wasn’t enough and I missed out by a small amount. That is the way it is, if you make the smallest mistake you are out.”

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BMW Power

04-06-12, 12:22

Martin Tomczyk finishes runner-up in Spielberg.
Thrilling duels, excitement right down to the final lap, and another podium for BMW: the fourth DTM race of the year was a thriller. Martin Tomczyk of BMW Team RMG crossed the line in Spielberg in second place.

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Driving the BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM, the German finished just a second behind Audi driver Edoardo Mortara, who achieved his first win in the DTM.

This was BMW’s fourth podium finish of the season, while BMW Team RMG made its debut on the podium. Tomczyk’s team-mate Joey Hand, at the wheel of the SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM, finished ninth to score his first DTM points. Augusto Farfus (Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM) also added another point to his tally, ending the race in tenth.

In contrast, the remaining BMW Motorsport drivers leave Austria empty-handed. Both Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) were involved in incidents shortly after the start of the race, and had to give up early on in the proceedings. Bruno Spengler (BMW Bank M3 DTM) was also hit by a rival on the first lap, resulting in damage to the front of his car. The BMW Team Schnitzer driver was initially able to continue. However, numerous attacks by other drivers meant he was ultimately forced to retire during his second pit stop, while running 11th.

Tomczyk’s second place sees him climb to fifth in the drivers’ standings on 36 points. Spengler remains on 43 points in fourth. Farfus (16), Priaulx (8) and Hand (2) follow in positions nine, 11 and 16. Over the course of the race weekend, 48,500 spectators followed the action in Spielberg.

BMW Power

04-06-12, 12:23

Reactions after the fourth DTM race of 2012 in Spielberg.
Read here what the team principals and drivers had to say after the thrilling race in Austria.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“The fourth race of the season has once again proven that the 2012 DTM is hard to beat when it comes to excitement. The drivers pulled off a lot of overtaking manoeuvres, including some pretty fierce attacks. I am delighted for BMW Team RMG, who put on an impressive show with both drivers today. Martin Tomczyk claimed his first podium of the year, while Joey hand finished ninth to score his best DTM result. Augusto Farfus also picked up a point in tenth – and all that against a magnificent backdrop. The many Austrian fans created a fantastic atmosphere. The Steiermark region has been a great host, and we are pleased to have the Red Bull Ring on the DTM calendar. We now go into a longer break for the first time this season. That will give everyone the opportunity to take a bit of a breather after the tiring weeks and months they have been through of late. We will recharge our batteries and concentrate fully on preparing for the next highlight at the Norisring. We are already looking forward to our first outing at this circuit since 1992.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“I am very proud of my whole team. Our crew had done a sensational job. Martin implemented the strategy perfectly and climbed from fourth to second. He showed everyone that he is a true champion today. Second place here is fantastic. We practiced countless pit stops this week to ensure that it would work in today’s race. This effort paid dividends. Joey also put in a great performance. Today is a good day for BMW Team RMG.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“It has been an eventful weekend. We had a difficult qualifying, but a better race. I think we had a good race pace with Augusto, and especially at the end. He made up a position from the start so we have scored a point. The first pit stop was okay, but at the second one we had a problem with the equipment, so we will have to look into that. For Andy it was another disappointing weekend. We need to give him mileage in this car. He was involved in an accident, which was nothing to do with him. That has stopped him from driving this car, which is important as we need to learn as a team and get as much data as possible. Congratulations to our colleagues from BMW Team RMG and Martin Tomczyk.”

Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“We are obviously disappointed after that race. Our drivers bid farewell to any chance of a good result on the first lap. Dirk Werner was hit at the start, resulting in damage to the suspension on the rear-left wheel. Bruno Spengler was sandwiched by two of the opposition, as a result of which the front of his car was also damaged. The aerodynamics did not work anymore, so Bruno was forced fight on with blunt weapons. We tried to fix the damage using tape, but it was ultimately a pointless exercise. It is great that BMW Team RMG was able to pull the chestnuts out of the fire for BMW. Congratulations to Martin Tomczyk on his second place.”

Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 2nd):
“That was a close and exciting race. Even at the start I really had to push hard in order to hold my ground. After that I was able to pull off a few nice overtaking manoeuvres and move into second. The race strategy employed by my BMW Team RMG really bore fruit and our pit stops were simply perfect. They helped me to move up through the field. With a little bit of luck we could even have scored a victory. After the Safety Car phase I had to fight for lap after lap, but it worked out excellently. My team-mate Joey Hand also picked up valuable points for BMW and our team. It was another fantastic weekend at the Red Bull Ring for me. Right from the outset, everything came together perfectly. Long may it last.”

Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 9th):
“That was a tough race, but the thing that makes me feel better is that we had a great turnaround and it was a real team effort. In free practice one I was 21st and then the very next morning third! I feel really good in BMW Team RMG as these guys always stick with me. We sort of expected this as I am new to everything. It is not where I want to be, however, as I plan on being a serious contender soon and I think we have really turned a corner this weekend. We had both our cars in the points and that is a great improvement for our new team.”

Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 10th):
“Unfortunately again the result doesn’t show the true potential of our package. We had a problem with my second stop when the equipment wouldn’t work properly to let the car down. We have to be strong at this point to learn our lessons from this weekend. I think the lesson has been positive again and I had a good race car. I am not worried about the overall performance as I am sure it will come soon. Of course it is disappointing, because we know what we are capable of. I have to congratulate the team, as we managed to improve the car a lot, especially from the warm up to the race.”

Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, DNF):
“I have to erase this race from my memory quickly. I was hit hard in the second corner and was pushed into another car. That damaged the front of my car, meaning I was no longer able to push myself to the limit. I kept falling further and further back through the field, until it eventually made no point in continuing towards the end of the race. This result is a great shame for the team, which has worked hard. I will now turn my attention to the Norisring.”

Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, DNF):
“I am very disappointed. Starting from ninth, I was determined to pick up points here today. Unfortunately the collision just after the start soon undid all my hopes. I was hit on my rear left and could do nothing more than return to the garage. Despite that, I will take a lot of positives out of the weekend in Spielberg. Our pace was good, so I can move on to the Norisring with a new sense of self-confidence.”

Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, DNF):
“The start was okay, but I had a very good first two corners and was pushing right up into the middle of the field. Then I was involved in someone else’s accident. Unfortunately Christian Vietoris came from the grass, flat out on the power and hit me. I don’t know how that happened, maybe he was nudged, but certainly there is less grip on the grass than on the track! It was a crazy first lap and sadly I came off worst this weekend. I need to be positive, keep pushing and I certainly want to do more races as so far I have only completed two.”

BMW Power

04-06-12, 13:19

BMW back on the DTM grid in 2012. +++New special exhibitions and live DTM broadcasts at the BMW Museum.
04.06.2012
Munich. 50 wins and countless podium places – after an absence of 20 years, BMW this year resumes its success story in the German Touring Car Masters. Three highly-motivated racing teams are fielding a total of six cars in the most popular national touring car series, with their sights set on the coveted championship trophy. Already they have clocked up their first win and several podiums.

To celebrate the comeback, the BMW Museum is staging a special exhibition that opens on 5 June. Around 14 rare one-off models spanning five decades of BMW motor sport will be on display. Stoking up a thrilling high-octane atmosphere, meanwhile, will be live transmissions of the races shown in the Museum’s touring car room. Against this historic backdrop, BMW fans can sweat it out with the race teams in the exciting battle for the big win. The highlight of the season will be a major Show Event on the weekend of 14/15 July in Munich’s Olympic Stadium. Admission to the BMW Museum is free on Sunday, 15 July.

Special exhibition: From Glas to BMW
The exceptional cars made by Glas GmbH were distinguished by their unusual design and intriguing technology. A new special exhibition at the BMW Museum – which continues until 30 July – showcases eight exhibits reflecting the output of the Dingolfing-based carmakers who eventually merged with BMW in 1967. BMW’s takeover of Glas marked the union of two major enterprises: BMW, a high-flying auto manufacturer, and Glas GmbH, a company facing the threat of closure. The range of exhibits also includes Glas’ final top-selling model, the Goggomobil, which boasted up to 20,000 deliveries a year in the late 1950s. Further highlights of the exhibition are the nippy Goggo scooter as well as the Isar 600 C and Glas 1700 cars.

Special Motor Sport Exhibition
When: from 5 June 2012
Where: BMW Museum
Admission: 9 euros / concessions: 6 euros

DTM Live Public Viewing
When:
3 June, 13.15 to 15.00 hrs: Red Bull Ring Spielberg
1 July, 13.15 to 15.00 hrs: Norisring
14 to 15 July, 14.15 to 16.15 hrs: Show event at the Olympic Stadium, Munich
19 August, 13.45 to 15.30 hrs: Nürburgring
26 August, 13.45 to 15.30 hrs: Circuit Park Zandvoort
16 September, 13.45 to 15.30 hrs: Motorsport Arena
Oschersleben
30 September, 13.45 to 15.30 hrs: Valencia
21 October, 13.40 to 15.45 hrs: Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg
Where: BMW Museum, touring car room
Admission: 6 euros reduced fee on race days
Special Exhibition in the Foyer: From Glas to BMW
When: until 30 July 2012
Where: BMW Museum, Foyer
Admission: free

For more information please see: http://www.bmw-welt.com

BMW Power

05-06-12, 15:27

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BMW Power

20-06-12, 14:11

Back in the stadium.

Bruno Spengler made a welcome return to Munich’s Olympic Stadium on Tuesday: the BMW works driver took to the track there for the first time since his victory at the DTM event in 2011.

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Each of the manufacturers represented in the DTM had the opportunity to put the specially laid asphalt surface in the iconic Olympic Stadium to the test with one of their cars. Spengler was in action for BMW Motorsport and completed many laps at the wheel of his BMW Bank M3 DTM. He was able to gain valuable impressions of the layout, which has changed since last year’s event.
“It was great fun being back here,” said the Canadian afterwards. “Last year I won in the Olympic Stadium. That was a special moment. Now I am returning with BMW. It is a real home race, so I am extremely motivated to get a good result at this event again this season. The laps we completed today were interesting and insightful. After all, BMW was not here in 2011.”
The event on 15th July will be the DTM’s second visit to the Olympic Stadium, which is located close to the BMW headquarters – the BMW “Four-Cylinder” building. As well as the exciting individual competition, this year’s programme also includes a unique relay format.

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BMW Power

25-06-12, 14:57

On the road again in Nürnberg: The Norisring plays host to BMW and the DTM.
After a four-week break from racing – the longest of the 2012 DTM season so far – the three BMW teams return to action on 1st July: the only street circuit on the race calendar awaits BMW Motorsport at the Norisring in Nürnberg.

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The DTM event at the Norisring casts a spell over fans and drivers alike with its unique atmosphere. Right in the heart of Nürnberg, the public streets around the concrete stands and the Dutzendteich lake are converted into a racetrack. Every millimetre of the 2.3-kilometre circuit is crucial. The DTM cars get closer to the crash barriers here than anywhere else on the calendar. The different road surfaces, which offer little grip, are an additional challenge.
Bruno Spengler’s name appears three times in the list of winners at the Norisring. He claimed his first DTM victory at his favourite circuit in 2006. BMW has emerged victorious there on five occasions. The last winner at the wheel of a BMW M3 at the Dutzendteich lake was Joachim Winkelhock, who triumphed for BMW Team Schnitzer on 28th June 1992.
“The race at the Norisring is traditionally one of the absolute highlights of the DTM season“, says BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. „We have strong links with this circuit, having claimed five DTM victories here in the 1980s and 1990s. Now we are returning to the Norisring with the new BMW M3 DTM. This circuit is special for a number of reasons. We have absolutely no past data and the track’s characteristics and low level of grip will present our teams and drivers with a completely new challenge. The DTM fans traditionally flock to Nürnberg, where they create a very special atmosphere. Every one of us is looking forward to doing his best to produce another great result against this impressive backdrop.“

BMW Power

29-06-12, 13:45

Charly Lamm: “The Norisring is so easy – and yet so difficult.”
The DTM will make its traditional visit to the Norisring this weekend. One of the three BMW teams has excellent memories of the street circuit in Nürnberg (DE): BMW Team Schnitzer won a DTM race there with Joachim Winkelhock (DE) at the wheel of the BMW M3 back on 28th June 1992 – and the team now returns to the scene of this success almost 20 years to the day.

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Just as he was back then, Team Principal Charly Lamm will be on the pit wall this weekend, and speaks in an interview about the 2012 season so far, the “Bavarian Grand Prix” and “Jockel” Winkelhock’s victory in 1992.

Mr Lamm, for many DTM fans it is almost as though BMW Team Schnitzer had never been away. Do you feel that way too?
Twenty years is a long time. It is fantastic how many fans still have fond memories of us, despite our break from the DTM. The fact that the BMW M3 DTM has been competitive from the outset has obviously made our return far easier. Bruno Spengler’s victory at the Lausitzring so early in the season gave us another huge boost. We really enjoy every race weekend – and we are learning a lot every day. Having the first four races within such a short time was a tough, but profitable training camp.

What goals has your team set itself for the rest of the season?
If someone had told us a few months ago we would have a win, a second place and a pole position to our name after just four races, I would have told them they were mad. As such, we are more than happy with the way the return of BMW to the DTM has started. The package of car, drivers and team is strong and is always improving. We obviously want to make the most of our opportunities in every race. Unfortunately we were unable to do that in Spielberg, due to two early incidents with both cars, so we had to learn the hard way. We have made it our goal to exhaust our full potential on every circuit. We know that set-backs can also occur.

Did you expect the DTM to be so close in 2012?
The DTM has always been a fiercely competitive series. However, what is happening this year is really impressive. At times, 22 cars have been within one second of each other. A hundredth of a second seems like half a lifetime. Any tiny mistake is resulting in the driver dropping way back.

Your team won on its last outing at the Norisring in 1992. What are your memories of this season?
That was not an easy race weekend for Joachim Winkelhock back then. After a poor qualifying he had to go through the qualification race, which he won. He then claimed victory in the first race, having started from 13th on the grid. Race two then produced a BMW hat-trick, with Steve Soper finishing ahead of Winkelhock and Roberto Ravaglia. It was a fantastic weekend. The last time we raced at the Norisring was in the STW in 1998. Johnny Cecotto finished fourth and went on to win the title at the end of the year with the BMW 320i.

What makes the Norisring so special?
The Norisring is so easy – and yet so difficult. Two hairpins, one S bend and a bumpy surface. The drivers are required to brake really hard from high speeds on two occasions. You wouldn’t imagine this to be so hard for a racing driver, but it is. Hitting the braking points just right, getting on the gas early and getting through the S bends in good shape is anything but simple at the Norisring. The atmosphere at the Dutzendteich is unique.

Bruno Spengler feels very at home on the Norisring …
Bruno goes into the race weekend at the Norisring with a lot of confidence following his good results at this circuit in the past. His DTM experience is of great help to us, particularly at this track. After his promising performance in qualifying in Spielberg, Dirk Werner is also extremely motivated ahead of his fifth DTM weekend. I hope our team will have a little more luck in this race and we can add to our points tally.

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BMW Power

01-07-12, 09:45

Quotes from the BMW drivers after qualifying
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 3rd): “It’s my first time driving the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM on a street circuit, so this third place feels more like pole position. We were always running at the front, bud didn’t quite have the pace of the Mercedes guys, so third was the best we could really hope for. Even though I had a lock up in turn one it didn’t compromise my lap. I am happy and taking everything as a learning process. It always feels great to be challenging for a top position in the DTM – especially on such a unique circuit.”

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Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 6th): “I would have hoped for a bit better than sixth place on the grid. In the practice sessions we proved we can compete with the front-runners here. The high temperatures did not make it easy for us today, but the conditions were the same for everyone. BMW hasn’t race at the Norisring for 20 years. With that in mind, our overall result is a decent one. I am pleased for Augusto, who did a super job. My sixth place is a good position, from which to build on. I will go all out on the attack on Sunday.”

Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 7th): “Qualifying did not run to plan. My wheels locked on several occasions and I had problems with my braking, which is particularly important on this circuit. We will now work hard to overcome these problems in time for the race. On Sunday I hope to finally get through the first few corners unscathed again. Then we will see what is possible.”

Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 9th): “I am really happy. I have never been here before and it is good for me to be up there in the top ten, especially as free practice wasn’t good for me and I lost a lot of time in the last session. I said to myself that if I could break back into the top ten this weekend it would be a good step forward. We achieved that in qualifying. It is really close out there and I just couldn’t put that last lap together as I had a lot of locking in the hairpin. Despite that I am happy with the result.”

Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 15th): “It has been rather a difficult weekend so far and I am yet to find the perfect set-up. Then I kept getting stuck in traffic on my flying laps in qualifying. But that kind of thing can happen on a circuit as narrow as this one. It will obviously be difficult to fight my way to the front from 15th on the grid, but I will do my best. The Norisring is a fantastic track. I love these street circuits. They remind me of back home in America.”

Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 16th): “I am very disappointed how qualifying panned out. Sixteenth is not what I was hoping for. We will now have to close look at what went wrong in Q2. I did not have enough grip and kept on sliding. However, anything can happen on this circuit tomorrow. It will be crucial to get through the first few corners unscathed.”

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “I am very happy with the results of qualifying here on our return to the Norisring. As expected, it was unbelievably close today. In the first two qualifying sessions, the first ten cars were separated by just two tenths of a second. Despite this, we once again managed to land four cars in the top ten. The qualifying was a textbook struggle against the heat. As a DTM and Norisring rookie, Augusto Farfus produced an outstanding performance. Andy Priaulx was also back in the top ten after a number of difficult qualifyings. The crowds created a magnificent and truly unique atmosphere today. We are definitely in for an extremely exciting race tomorrow.”

BMW Power

01-07-12, 09:50

Good team result for BMW at the Norisring
Four BMW M3 DTMs in the top ten, all BMW drivers in Q2 and a happy Augusto Farfus in third place on the grid: in temperatures reaching 34 degrees Celsius, the BMW DTM teams kept cool heads during qualifying at the Norisring to secure promising starting positions ahead of the fifth race of the season.

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Just as he did at the Lausitzring, Farfus progressed nicely into the fourth qualifying session at the wheel of his Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM, and went on to clock the third fastest time of 49.255 seconds. The 28-year-old was just 0.116 seconds behind Mercedes driver Gary Paffett who claimed pole position.
For the first time, all six BMW drivers made it through to the second qualifying session. While Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) had to settle for 15th and 16th, the battle for fractions of a second went into a third qualifying session for a quartet of BMW drivers. Martin Tomczyk will start the race from the third row of the grid having qualified sixth, while Bruno Spengler (BMW Bank M3 DTM) was just behind the reigning DTM champion in seventh.
Andy Priaulx’s ninth place was his second best qualifying result in the DTM, having previously started the race in Hockenheim from seventh in his Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM.
The race (Sunday, 13:15-14:55) will be broadcast live on ARD.

BMW Power

02-07-12, 10:13

Tomczyk and Spengler on the podium at the Norisring.
A dramatic race at the Norisring saw Martin Tomczyk and Bruno Spengler celebrate another two podium finishes for BMW in the 2012 DTM season.

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In front of the very enthusiastic fans who numbered 135,000 over the weekend, Tomczyk crossed the finish line after 78 laps and the maximum race time of 75 minutes as runner-up his BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM, just 0.687 seconds behind winning Mercedes driver Jamie Green. Spengler followed in third place at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM. This is the second time this season BMW has had two of its drivers on the podium, with the first being the race at the Lausitzring. Tomczyk repeated his excellent result from Spielberg, where he finished second four weeks ago.
Rain started to fall heavily just before the start of the race. The surface did dry out for a while before another shower soaked it again shortly before the halfway mark. Tomczyk led the fifth race of the season on a wet track right until the final lap. However, the reigning DTM champion was ultimately unable to hold off the challenge of Green, who had moved into second place by overtaking Spengler on lap 76. Green launched the decisive attack on Tomczyk in the Dutzendteich corner on the 78th lap and secured victory just metres from the finish. Although the two BMW drivers narrowly missed out on the second triumph for BMW this year, they were able to increase the number of podium finishes claimed by the BMW teams to six.
Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) also enjoyed a successful race, despite the difficult conditions on the iconic circuit in Nürnberg: Priaulx finished seventh to pick up his first points since the season-opener in Hockenheim. Werner was pleased to score his first point in the DTM having crossed the line in tenth. Four BMW drivers finished in the points for the first time since the manufacturer’s return to the series.
Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) finished 14th in BMW’s first appearance at the Norisring for 20 years. Augusto Farfus, who started the race from third on the grid in his Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM, had to retire after just 15 laps following a collision shortly after the start.

BMW Power

02-07-12, 10:13

Reactions after the race.
The race at the Norisring saw four of the six BMW DTM drivers finish in the points for the first time this season. Martin Tomczyk and Bruno Spengler both claimed podium finishes. Read here what the three team principals and the drivers had to say after the race in Nürnberg.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“I am very happy with our first outing at the Norisring for 20 years. Despite extremely difficult conditions, we had two drivers on the podium and four cars in the points this time. We would obviously have liked to celebrate our second win this year with Martin Tomczyk – especially in this unique atmosphere – but that is just how it goes sometimes in motor racing. Jamie Green was simply quicker in the closing stages. All the same, second and third for Martin and Bruno is a very good result. I am also pleased for Andy Priaulx and Dirk Werner: Andy had a few difficult races and returned to the points thanks to a good performance here in Nürnberg. Dirk broke the spell and scored his first DTM point in the fifth race. This round showed once again that we have a very good squad of drivers. We are now really looking forward to our home event in Munich’s Olympic Stadium.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“I have mixed feelings about this result. We produced a fantastic race and claimed another great result for BMW. On the other hand, Martin and the team would obviously have liked to have won. However, the whole team can be proud of the second place. The mechanics and Martin put in a fantastic performance.”

Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“After our mediocre qualifying, we came away from our return to the Norisring with a good result. That is the first time both drivers have finished in the points. Bruno Spengler has stood on the podium every time he has completed a race. I am very happy about this. After the congestion in the first corner, Dirk Werner fought back brilliantly and was rewarded with his first DTM point. The team also deserves praise. All four pit stops were really good today.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“Another mixed result. We had a superb qualifying yesterday from both cars, and especially Augusto Farfus. Unfortunately he was unlucky in the famous first corner, where he was pushed into another car. We tried to continue, but we didn’t have the potential in the car due to the damage to the front right so decided to retire. Andy had a good race and kept out of trouble at the start. This was a good race for him and, after the races he missed in Spielberg and Brands Hatch, it was important to get a full race for him. Thank you to the team and congratulations to BMW for another double podium finish.”

Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 2nd):
“It is obviously no fun for a racing driver to miss out on a possible victory on the final lap. I had already noticed that Jamie Green had been catching me consistently in the closing stages. He then managed to overtake me shortly before the finish. Immediately after the race I was extremely disappointed to have thrown the victory away. I am quite happy now though: that is my second podium in a row. I finished runner-up here in difficult conditions, just as I did in Spielberg. Today we proved we are also competitive in the rain. That is very encouraging for the rest of the season.”

Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 3rd):
“It was a long and tough race. After qualifying seventh I am very happy with third place in the race. On the other side, it is obviously bitterly disappointing to miss out on a BMW one-two on the final lap. As early as the warm-up I noticed we could also be very quick in the rain. The track conditions were extreme. The fans created a great atmosphere. For them it was exciting – for us drivers it was also very tiring. Overall we have produced another fantastic result that we can be proud of for BMW this weekend.”

Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 7th):
“I had a good to average start. In the first corner I was up there having picked up some places, but then in the exit of turn four I spun, maybe with a little help or maybe just due to zero traction. For me to finish seventh is great. I think it could have been slightly higher up, but I will take that as a good positive performance. The team was flawless. We had two brilliant stops, a really good strategy, I can’t fault anything, so a big thank you.”

Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 10th):
“That is a huge load off my mind, as it is the first time I have finished in the points this season. I got off to a good start – the best I have had so far in the DTM. Then came the inevitable chaos in turn one. A car suddenly came to a stop across the track, right in my path, and I was unable to avoid it. As a result, I dropped a long way back. After the safety car phase and the restart I pushed too hard at first. As a result I took one corner too wide and lost more ground. After that, however, my car went like a rocket and I was able to fight my way through the field. The race was a strange one, but it was quite good fun. Overall, BMW has achieved a super result this weekend, with four cars in the top ten.”

Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 14th):
“Today wasn’t that great for me. I am definitely not happy with the result, as it was a struggle all day, and in fact it has been a struggle all weekend. My biggest thing was just to try and find traction. The start was a mess but I got through and then tried to hunt for some grip. The rear tyres started to go off. We put another set on I thought were better, but I still couldn’t go very fast. The same thing happened with the final set. It is not the result I am looking for. I race to win and racing for 14th is very difficult for me. However, I am still learning every weekend.”

Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, DNF):
“There was a domino effect before the collision in the first corner, in which my Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM was damaged. I was pushed by another driver. I was completely locked up but couldn’t stop the car and collided with the car in front. It is a shame I could not do any better from third on the grid.”

BMW Power

02-07-12, 10:17

DTM Norisring
Norisring, length 2300 m
29.6. - 01.07.2012

Result race, 01.07.2012 (http://www.dtm.com/ergebnisse/pdf/2012-07-01g.pdf)

Standings (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/Standings.html)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2rAAluALEU&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjus5KdMWwY

BMW Power

05-07-12, 10:28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny53vFlgYMI&feature=em-subs_digest

BMW Power

06-07-12, 11:27

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r92lo-vJ-wk&feature=g-all-u

BMW Power

06-07-12, 15:44

Home race: BMW Motorsport makes its debut at Munich’s Olympic Stadium.
Two weeks after the dramatic race at the Norisring street circuit, things are set to get even tighter for the BMW DTM drivers: they will be going flat out round a short, winding circuit in the Olympic Stadium in Munich on 14th and 15th July.

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The DTM made its debut in the stadium in 2011 and was well received by thousands of thrilled fans. The event was won by Bruno Spengler, who now drives for BMW Team Schnitzer. Now the series is returning to the home of BMW.
A good year ago – on 15th July 2011 – the BMW M3 DTM Concept Car was presented to the public for the first time at the Show Event. Back then, Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus were among the crowds at the Olympic Stadium. Like the other four BMW drivers, the BMW Team RBM pairing is now looking forward to taking the BMW M3 DTM out onto the track at this unique venue. Even before the presentation ceremony in the stadium, there will already be a lot to celebrate: Munich’s Olympic Park is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2012, as is BMW M.
The drivers will go head to head in duels, which will see them battling for tenths of seconds and taking on the crash barriers not far from the BMW headquarters and BMW Welt. The three BMW teams will also have to demonstrate their class by means of pit stops during the races, while team spirit will be the order of the day in the new relay competition.
BMW is putting on an exciting fringe programme in the Olympic Park. As well as the action in and around the Olympic Stadium, BMW Welt will also be at the centre of the activities. This is where visitors will be able to show off their driving skills in the BMW M3 Race Simulator, leave a personal message on the BMW Greeting Wall, or start the informative “QR Code Rally”. Anyone who makes it to all the sites around BMW Welt and the BMW Museum is in with a chance of winning attractive prizes and the opportunity to sign one of six BMW M3 DTM rear wings – provided there is still space. These original parts will then be used at the season finale at the Hockenheimring.
One special highlight is the BMW Motorsport Fashion Show, which will witness the meeting of fashion and motorsport on Saturday and Sunday. A special exhibition featuring 14 fascinating racing cars from the long and glorious history of BMW Motorsport awaits visitors to the BMW Museum.
Motorsport enthusiasts will also be able to enjoy the same varied programme around the stadium that some fans will already know from the five DTM races so far. They can try their hand at changing a tyre in the BMW Pit Stop Challenge at the BMW Experience World on Coubertinplatz. Fans will also have the opportunity to meet the drivers during autograph sessions and demonstrate their DTM knowledge in the BMW Motorsport Quiz.

BMW Power

07-07-12, 11:43

MUNICH.
15th July 2012.
Two weeks after the street race on the Norisring, things get even tighter for the DTM drivers: for two days they will put the pedal to the metal around a short but demanding course in Munich's Olympic Stadium. The DTM cars made their debut in the stadium in 2011, and were greeted more than enthusiastically by the fans.

Circuit profile

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Bruno Spengler, now a BMW driver, won the final to secure the first victory in Munich.
The touring car series returns to the Bavarian capital in 2012. The drivers will go head to head in a knock-out format, which will see them battling for vital fractions of a second not far from the BMW company headquarters and BMW Welt – or from the crash barriers, for that matter. Qualifying is scheduled for the Saturday, with the final taking place on Sunday.
Not only can you look forward to an exciting race, but also an entire weekend full of pure atmosphere and adrenalin. BMW Motorsport has a treat in store for fans of all ages, with an extensive programme of attractions on the Olympic site and in and around BMW Welt.

In and around BMW Welt:
The BMW M3 Race Simulator. Climb in, put your foot down and win exclusive fan items – located in BMW Welt.
The RC Race. Go head to head against other fans with radio-controlled cars. There are some great prizes up for grabs here too.
The QR Code Race. Find all the QR codes for your chance to win exclusive prizes. As an additional highlight, you can sign an original BMW DTM rear wing.
Motorsport Meets Fashion in BMW Welt at the BMW Motorsport Fashion Show on 14th and 15th July.
Special Exhibition. 14 racing cars from 50 years of BMW racing history can be found in the BMW Museum. Admission is free, of course.
The BMW Greeting Wall. BMW is embracing the DTM. Why not send us a greeting in return – on our large greeting board at BMW Welt or digitally by iPad.
Around the stadium:
The BMW Pit Stop Challenge. Join the team and change a tyre – against the clock, of course. Exclusive fan merchandise is up for grabs for the fastest times. Located at the BMW Experience World at Coubertin Platz.
BMW Experience World: Dive into the world of BMW Motorsport and get to know our drivers better during an autograph session. A live DJ and the BMW Motorsport Quiz – with great prizes – also await you.

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BMW Power

14-07-12, 07:42

BMW DTM drivers check out the view from the roof of the Olympic Stadium.
Before they took to the track to complete their first practice laps in the Olympic Stadium, the BMW DTM drivers experienced the circuit within the stadium and the Bavarian scenery from a completely different perspective.

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Together with BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, Martin Tomczyk, Bruno Spengler, Dirk Werner, Joey Hand, Augusto Farfus and Andy Priaulx were given a tour over the canopy roof of the stadium and were rewarded with a magnificent view of the circuit and BMW headquarters.
Courage, safety hooks and rope: that is all the BMW drivers needed for their expedition. Starting out from the North Stand, they climbed along the unique, listed roof construction 40 metres above the ground. The stadium, which was built for the 1972 Olympic Games, and the racetrack constructed specially for this weekend’s DTM event were quite literally at their feet. “I am now in my 12th DTM season and know all the circuits back to front. However, I had never seen a track from this perspective before,” said reigning DTM champion Tomczyk, who has already scored 54 points for BMW Team RMG this season.
BMW Team Schnitzer driver Bruno Spengler said: “I already get goosebumps just thinking about the thousands of spectators cheering us on from the stands I can see below me now on Saturday and Sunday. I won on the Sunday here last year, and just really like this event. Following our excursion on the roof, I am even keener to get out on the track and get started.”
During the tour, guides from Olympiapark München GmbH described the unmistakable architecture of the Olympic site to the six BMW drivers. German architect Frei Otto developed the canopy roof construction, which remains as spectacular today as it was back then. The structure, which covers an area of 74,800 m², is suspended on 58 steel masts and made of translucent acrylic glass, spans the Olympic Stadium, Olympic Hall and Olympic Swimming Pool. “Although the stadium already has a few years under its belt, it still looks very modern,” said BMW Team RBM driver Farfus. “I have never driven in a stadium, so to make my debut in such an iconic arena in the centre of Munich is fantastic. The tour was great fun.”

BMW Power

14-07-12, 07:43

Tour de Munich.
The serious business has already begun for Martin Tomczyk, Bruno Spengler and Dirk Werner in the run-up to the DTM Show Event in Munich: the trio took to the road in three spectacular BMW M models in the home of BMW.

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The BMW M1, a first-generation BMW M3 and the current BMW M3 DTM Safety Car: these were the cars, in which the three BMW DTM drivers completed a very special city tour. The trio paid a visit to four Munich-based newspapers to learn a thing or two about the daily routine in an editorial office.
Tomczyk, Spengler and Werner stopped in at Munich’s iconic Hofbräuhaus in the city centre for lunch. "This tour was great fun,” said Spengler. “It was fascinating to see at close hand what goes into producing a newspaper. At the weekend, it will be the turn of the journalists to watch us live as we go to work."
The BMW DTM drivers will complete their first practice laps in the Olympic Stadium on Friday. This is followed on Saturday by the team competition, while it is every man for himself on Sunday.

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BMW Power

14-07-12, 07:44

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BMW Power

17-07-12, 15:01

Ekström wins in front of spectacular backdrop in Olympiastadion

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The DTM drivers staged spectacular racing action in Munich’s Olympiastadion. In a thrilling final on Sunday, Audi driver Mattias Ekström beat Jamie Green in the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé to win the individual competition at the two 614 metres long parallel tracks. Canadian Bruno Spengler (BMW) and Brit Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), who were both beaten in the semi-finals, ended up third. As a unique event in motorsport, a relay competition with two cars per manufacturer was held on Saturday, with victory for Mercedes-Benz with Ralf Schumacher and Jamie Green in the final. During the weekend, 45,000 spectators trekked to the Olympiapark to watch the premium brands Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz in the sporting competition.

The knock-out races on Sunday, each featuring two drivers at one of the two parallel tracks within the narrow confines of the stadium, provided thrilling action for the spectators on the grandstands. Risky driving manoeuvres along the concrete walls, spectacular powerslides and thrilling head-to-head duels made Munich to a unique experience.

The weather played its role on Sunday as well, with rain showers and a damp track adding to the excitement. In the quarter finals, 90 thousandths of a second separated the Audi A5 DTM of Swedish driver Mattias Ekström and the BMW M3 DTM of reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk from Germany, who was defeated in front of his home crowd. In the semi-final, Ekström beat British drivers Paffett while Green made his way into the final with a tiny margin over Bruno Spengler (BMW). “A slight error cost me victory,” Spengler explained.

In two final heats, each one on different sides of the stadium, Ekström won after an incredible recovery. Problems during the pit stop were the reason that the Swede was behind after the first heat, but the 34-year old battled through the rain in a determined way in the second heat and was within a whisker of Green, when the latter was beaten due to a delay in the pit stop and eventually crossed the finish line 1.5 seconds down. “I can always particularly enjoy such winning moments, even though there are no championship points to be won. At the end of the day, I always want to win and we had a hot race,” a happy Ekström said. “We both wanted to win, but I was unfortunate during the pit stop,” Green summarised his defeat.

Numerous prominent guests came to the stadium on Sunday as well: German national football player Thomas Müller watched the DTM, just like FC Bayern Munich supremo Karl-Heinz Rummenige. Kai Pflaume, anchorman of German TV channel ARD had already been at DTM races more often and singer Stefanie Heinzmann always likes to come to the DTM as well. On Sunday, the Swiss performed on the ARD Chartshow stage in the Olympiastadion. The presenting duo of Christina Surer and Armin Assinger, the latter being the regular anchorman of “Who wants to be a millionaire” in Austrian TV, provided information and entertainment for the spectators in the stadium.

After 2011, the DTM event, during which no points for the championship standings are at stake, already was held for the second time in Munich. The DTM continues in four weeks’ time: the sixth round of the season will take place at the Nürburgring, August 19th.

Norbert Haug, head of motorsport Mercedes-Benz: “In Munich, we have seen a nice balance between the brands. The opposition is absolutely at the same level. From my point of view, the biggest winners are the spectators, who even stayed in the pouring rain. I have seen the fascination in the eyes of many people. On Saturday, we have won, on Sunday, Audi did. The results show that we are competitive at the front.”

Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport director: “The figure of 45,000 spectators has indicated that there is a huge interest. We were able to provide them with a great sporting show. On Saturday, we had to lean the hard way, but today, we can be happy. The competitiveness is there. Eventually, Mattias Ekström has won in difficult conditions in the rain. Congratulations to him!”

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich, head of motorsport Audi: “We didn’t ask for the rain, but the challenging conditions will certainly mean that the spectators will remember this event. For the team, a win is always the best reward and Mattias has given himself a great belated birthday present. Here, the competition was as strong as during a DTM race weekend.”

BMW Power

17-07-12, 15:02

A thrilling relay competition: Schumacher and Green claim victory in Munich

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The DTM provided an extraordinary motoring show in Munich’s Olympiastadion on Saturday. In an action-packed relay competition of the three manufacturers Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, Ralf Schumacher and Norisring winner Jamie Green with the DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé beat two times’ DTM champion Timo Scheider and Adrien Tambay with the Audi A5 DTM in a very close final. After twelve laps in the final heat, the Audi drivers were only two tenths of a second behind the winners. “Of course, I am happy with our first place. This was a perfect day for me. I could get used to this”, said a buoyant Schumacher. “The team competition was a very special thing, it was great fun”, was the verdict of French DTM rookie Adrien Tambay after his successful day.

Successful drivers on the podium
In the race for third place, Gary Paffett and Christian Vietoris (Mercedes-Benz) finished ahead of Dirk Werner and Joey Hand (BMW). In front of a good crowd in the impressive surroundings of the Olympiapark, the drivers presented themselves in optimal shape. “Driving in the stadium is a special feeling. On the short track, you have to be extremely concentrated”, said Vietoris. In the battle of the brands, BMW was defeated in front of its home crowd, but Bruno Spengler showed his competitive spirit for the races on Sunday: “Things didn’t run optimally in the relay, but the individual competition is a totally new affair.”

The Munich event isn’t counting towards the official DTM standings, but that didn’t affect the drivers’ ambitions at the narrow stadium track. The unusual team competition, during which two drivers per team completed distances ranging from three to five laps after each other, required the right mix of driving precision and speed. Two times’ DTM champion Mattias Ekström (Audi) had bad luck, retiring in the quarter finals on his 34th birthday.

An extraordinary effort was completed before the event: 45 dump trucks were used to transport 21,000 tons of gravel. Workers installed 4,800 tons of asphalt for the two courses of 614 metres each. To make the competitions even more thrilling for the spectators, the drivers were simultaneously on two identical track lay-outs, making it clear immediately which car was in front.

The attractive side event programme with sport, music and show enthused the crowd on Saturday. Autograph sessions with the DTM drivers were just as popular as photo sessions with the grid girls and numerous concerts in the paddock area.

BMW Power

17-07-12, 15:09

Bruno Spengler finishes third in the BMW Bank M3 DTM.
The DTM’s second visit to Munich saw Bruno Spengler prove once again that he is right at home on the tight, winding circuit in the Olympic Stadium: the BMW Team Schnitzer driver finished third in Sunday’s individual competition.

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Last year’s winner, this time at the wheel of his BMW Bank M3 DTM, came up against Jamie Green in the semi-final and led until just before the end of the race, when he locked his wheels and allowed the Mercedes driver to snatch victory. Mattias Ekström went on to defeat Green in the final.
Three BMW drivers were in action in the first round. Dirk Werner in the E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM lost out to Audi driver Rahel Frey. Andy Priaulx drew the short straw against Felipe Albuquerque. Both Werner and Priaulx were allocated the first of the two symmetrical 0.614-kilometre circuits, which had standing water on the exit of one of the corners following last night’s rain. Joey Hand also lined up on this track at the wheel of his SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM and crossed the finish line behind his opponent Roberto Mehri. However, Mehri was given a time penalty after the race, meaning Hand progressed into the last sixteen.
In the next round, the 33-year-old faced Ekström. After four laps, Hand came home 1.559 seconds behind the Audi driver to bid farewell to the competition. Prior to Hand’s race, defending DTM champion Martin Tomczyk in the BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM had seen his first action in the individual competition and came through his second-round contest with Robert Wickens. Augusto Farfus defeated Christian Vietoris, while Spengler progressed to the quarter-finals courtesy of his win over Adrien Tambay as the rain started to fall.
With the competition down to the last eight drivers, it was time for the teams to enter the fray: after three laps on a wet track, each driver had to complete a pit stop before returning to the track for three more laps. Spengler and Farfus, who had driven together in Saturday’s team competition, found themselves going head to head, with Spengler gaining the upper hand. Tomczyk was involved in a thrilling duel with Ekström and missed out on a place in the semi-finals by just 0.090 seconds.
With the Show Event in the Olympic Stadium over, the BMW teams now have a short summer break before they return to action at the Nürburgring on 19th August, when points will once again be up for grabs in the drivers’, team and manufacturers’ competitions.

BMW Power

19-07-12, 08:50

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XgIPfPmaVg&feature=em-subs_digest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11rr2cMSO1Y&feature=em-subs_digest

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1OY3_thtYg&feature=em-subs_digest

BMW Power

30-08-12, 11:24

Result overview Nuerburgring

Qualifying (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/20120819/Nuerburgring/Results/Qualifying.html)

Race (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/20120819/Nuerburgring/Results/Race.html)

BMW Power

30-08-12, 11:26

Result overview Circuit-Park-Zandvoort

Qualifying (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/20120826/Circuit-Park-Zandvoort/Results/Qualifying.html)

Race (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/20120826/Circuit-Park-Zandvoort/Results/Race.html)

Standings (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/Standings.html)

BMW Power

30-08-12, 11:29

Reactions after the seventh DTM race of 2012 in Zandvoort.
Ups and downs on the North Sea coast: After a difficult qualifying on Saturday, the BMW DTM drivers worked their way towards the front of the field in Sunday’s race at the “Circuit Park Zandvoort”.

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Read here what BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, the BMW team principals and the six drivers had to say after the seventh DTM race of the year.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“That was an unbelievably intense race with a lot of incidents. With three drivers in the top ten, we managed more than damage limitation following the difficult qualifying on Saturday. Bruno Spengler made up 12 positions, in Augusto Farfus’s case it was 11. Dirk Werner also produced a flawless race. One of the key incidents was the contact between Martin Tomczyk and Gary Paffett. Martin’s wheels locked as the rain started to fall and he slid into Gary’s car. While Gary was able to continue, Martin was forced to retire. He has apologised to Mercedes-Benz and Gary. We accept the harsh penalty for Martin and will take it as a marker for the future. We are now looking forward to Oschersleben.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“We can be more than happy with sixth for Bruno Spengler after starting from 18th on the grid – especially when you consider he was not 100 per cent fit today due to stomach problems. To come from so far back to finish in the top six is simply fantastic. I am also pleased with Dirk Werner’s showing. He produced a plucky race in extremely difficult conditions. Dirk scored valuable points for himself and BMW Team Schnitzer. After the victory at the Nürburgring, we had a rather mixed weekend here. Despite this, we can certainly live with the result.”
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“It was an exciting weekend and today we showed a strong team performance from everyone in these difficult conditions. Martin Tomczyk’s retirement is a shame as we were working our way up strongly and we would have scored a good number of points. With Joey Hand, we waited for the rain before putting him on wet tyres at the second stop. However, it didn’t rain so we had to put him back on slicks. We tried, but ultimately left pointless.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“It was a difficult race with challenging weather conditions. It is always difficult in these circumstances to make the right calls, but we had the right tyres on at the right times. I think when, like Augusto Farfus, you start 20th on the grid and finish with points you have had a good race. Both drivers struggled a little at the start, but then we found a good rhythm and they were able to maintain their pace. Mid race there was another shower, which mixed up the positions again and both drivers coped well with the circumstances. Then we got some exciting racing at the end, but were able to defend our positions.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 6th):
“After the difficult qualifying, the race could hardly have gone better for me. Sixth feels like a podium. We got as much as we could out of the race, having started from 18th on the grid. My good start was key to this. I made up a lot of positions in the first few corners. Overall it was a tough race for me. The rain did not make it any easier. I had to take big risks. However, my team helped me move right up through the field with a great pit strategy. Before the race I would have been happy to somehow finish in the points. To come away with sixth place is fantastic.”

Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 8th):
“That was a very exciting DTM race with a lot of different track conditions – dry, damp and rain in just a couple of corners – making it very difficult just to keep the car on the track in some situations. It was difficult to make a good start as it was damp. I survived the tangling in the first corner. It was a little bit calmer in the middle of the race and my pit stops were very good, so I was able to overtake some cars in the pit lane. Towards the end it got pretty exciting again fighting with Ralf Schumacher, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green. I think I learned a lot driving against these guys today. I am happy I got points for eighth place and I think the trend shows we are on the up.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 9th):
“I had a brilliant race in difficult conditions so I think we had our own little victory in just keeping the car on the road. I had a good pace and believe we could have had an even better result, but then I had the battles with Ralf Schumacher and Gary Paffett and there was nothing more I could do.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 13th):
“I carried damage for the whole race and in the end it acted like a parachute and slowed the car down. I made a good start and felt very confident in the wet and greasy conditions. I was also feeling good in the race and drove my heart out despite having a wounded car, but it was just unfortunate in the end the damage cost us our race as I think we could have scored some points. The team’s pit stops were brilliant and they kept me in contention in the race.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 14th):
“Again definitely not what I was hoping for from a results standpoint. We went for a no compromise dry set-up. As a result it was really slippery when it was wet at the start, but as it dried we were better. At our second pit stop we decided to take wet tyres as we were expecting some rain in a few laps. Unfortunately, the one time we wanted it it didn’t come! As soon as the track started to dry my tyres went off badly so we had to pit again.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, DNF):
“My wheel locked as I braked into the corner. I wanted to go round Gary Paffett but didn’t manage it. This incident came about as a result of the conditions. There had already been a few excursions from the wet track shortly beforehand. I had to retire after the crash. I feel sorry for Gary. I am a fair sportsman and immediately apologised to Norbert Haug, who accepted the apology. Afterwards I also went to see Gary. Personally I think the penalty is too harsh, but I accept it. Now I’m getting ready for the Oschersleben race.”

BMW Power

30-08-12, 11:30

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BMW Power

17-09-12, 13:16

Reactions after qualifying.
In Oschersleben Bruno Spengler claimed his third pole position of the the season. Read here what BMW Motorsport Direktor Jens Marquardt, the BMW team principals and drivers had to say.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“We are obviously very happy with this qualifying result. It is the third pole position for Bruno and BMW, we have two cars in the top four and four drivers in the top ten: it could hardly have gone better for us today. Dirk Werner also clocked the fastest time of the weekend so far in the third qualifying session. Congratulations to BMW Team Schnitzer too. The team has produced the best qualifying of the year. The other two BMW teams also made it into the top ten. Unfortunately Martin Tomczyk has to drop back five places on the grid. We are now looking forward to tomorrow. It will be a long race, but we start from a good position.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“This is obviously a dream result for BMW Team Schnitzer. Both cars in the top-four qualifying and our third pole position of the year: that is fantastic. Bruno Spengler has once again surpassed himself. He sneaked into the final qualifying session as the fourth fastest driver, and then put together another unbelievable lap. However, Dirk Werner also deserves a huge compliment. He led the field in Q3 to make it into Q4 for the second time after Hockenheim. He is improving from race to race and is now right at home in the DTM. I am just very proud of the drivers and our entire team.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, Pole):
“I am very happy with that. Today has been sensational again. I am obviously very proud of my third pole position of the season. My car was really quick and I drove a flawless lap. That gives us a great base on which to build tomorrow. However, you certainly cannot take the race for granted. In claiming pole I have only done half of the job. My rivals will be doing everything in their power to make my life as difficult as possible. The first corner is sure to be a tight affair. I expect a tough race, but it is looking very good at the moment.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 4th):
“I am incredibly happy and very satisfied with my fourth place in qualifying. Maybe I could have done even better in Q4, but unfortunately I made a small mistake that cost me crucial fractions of a second. I’d like to thank BMW Team Schnitzer. My car has been super quick all weekend. Congratulations to my team-mate Bruno Spengler on his pole position. We must now take advantage of the good starting position and score as many points as possible in the race.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 6th):
“I am a bit annoyed that it was only sixth place in the end. I was on top after Q1 and felt very comfortable in the car. Then it was not quite to be in Q3. Despite that, I’d like to thank my team. After an incident in free practice, everyone worked very hard to get my car up and running again. Everything worked brilliantly. My penalty means I will start from 11th tomorrow. It will obviously be difficult to fight my way to the front. First and foremost I will try to get through the opening laps undamaged. We’ll see what happens then.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 10th):
“I am very disappointed because we had a problem with the car in Q3 and I could not get a lap in. When I left the pit lane I knew there was something wrong with the car. It is very frustrating not to get a lap in as, although we were not the fastest car, I think fifth or sixth was possible. It is difficult to overtake here so now we have to rely on a good strategy for the race.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 12th):
“I am much happier with my performance today after my recent qualifying sessions. I feel I have come from a long way back so am happy. Twelfth place is a position you can build on. It is incredible what a difference just a tenth of a second can make in this series. My speed was good and the pace was strong. Now I believe I can do a good race from this position on the grid and hopefully come home with some points at the end of the weekend.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 20th):
“I really cannot say what went wrong today. Even in the free practice I could not find the necessary pace. I am sorry for everyone in my team. The guys do their very best to provide me with a perfect car, and they were not rewarded for all their hard work today.”

BMW Power

17-09-12, 13:16

Spengler wins from pole in the BMW Bank M3 DTM.
The battle for the title in the DTM remains exciting: Bruno Spengler, at the wheel of his BMW Bank M3 DTM, was first across the finish line at the “Motorsport Arena Oschersleben” to claim his third victory of the season in the eighth race of the year.

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After 51 laps of racing, the BMW Team Schnitzer driver, who started from pole, came home 0.629 seconds ahead of Mercedes driver Gary Paffett.
Dirk Werner finished fourth in the E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM to record his best result in the DTM. He was followed over the line by Augusto Farfus (Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM) in fifth, with the Brazilian also scoring valuable points. In total, BMW picked up 47 points in Oschersleben – more than in any other DTM race in 2012.
Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) narrowly missed out on a place in the top ten after finishing 11th. However, Hand can still be happy with the way he fought his way back through the field having started from 20th on the grid. The race was less successful for Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Martin Tomczyk (BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM), who both had to retire before the end of the race.
In the drivers’ standings, Spengler now has 116 points to his name and has reduced the gap to leader Paffett to just 11 points. Tomczyk is sixth on 69 points. Farfus (29) has moved up to eighth place, while Werner (17) climbed to 11th. Priaulx (14) and Hand (2) are currently 13th and 19th respectively.
Over the course of the race weekend, 71,000 fans followed the action at the “Motorsport Arena” and witnessed the 52nd win since 1984 for BMW in the DTM. Spengler had previously tasted victory at the Lausitzring and the Nürburgring this season. This was the first time BMW had finished the race with three cars in the top five. BMW Team Schnitzer celebrated a milestone: Spengler’s success in Oschersleben was the 20th victory in the DTM for Team Principal Charly Lamm’s outfit.
The stage is now set for a thrilling finish to the 2012 DTM. The ninth race will take place in Valencia in just two weeks, before the season draws to a close with the finale at the Hockenheimring on 21st October.

BMW Power

17-09-12, 13:51

Reactions after the eighth DTM race of 2012 in Oschersleben.
Third pole position, third win and 47 points: BMW Motorsport enjoyed another successful race weekend in Oschersleben. Bruno Spengler led from start to finish in the BMW Bank M3 DTM to further reduce Mercedes driver Gary Paffett’s lead in the championship.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“That was an absolutely sensational weekend for us. Bruno Spengler claimed his third win of the season, while Dirk Werner and Augusto Farfus also scored excellent results. Joey Hand also produced a great race and just missed out on finishing in the points. On top of all that, we have scored more points this weekend than at any previous race. Our BMW M3 DTM completed its first test here in Oschersleben just over a year ago. If anyone had told us back then that we would have three pole positions and three victories to our name within a year, we probably would not have believed it possible. As such, this is a very emotional success for us.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“We have had a perfect weekend here in Oschersleben. It is unbelievable – the dream goes on. Compliments to both my drivers. Bruno Spengler and Dirk Werner were flawless and produced a sensational race. The strategy our engineers came up with also worked perfectly and the pit crew did a fantastic job. The triumph in Oschersleben is a bit of a milestone for us. Bruno has presented us with the 20th Schnitzer victory in the DTM. I can hardly find the words to express how happy I am. This season has been fantastic so far.”
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“This weekend has been more difficult than we expected because in the end we were in a good position with Martin Tomczyk to score some decent points. But he had an accident at the start and then he lost some water and had to stop. The penalty for Martin certainly harmed us, but for the 00next weekend we start from zero again and he will be able to start where he would normally be. I am happy with Joey Hand, because he had struggled all weekend. However, Joey never gives up – and he almost finished in the points thanks to a great fight back."
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“All in all I have mixed feelings again. Both our cars had a good start and Augusto Farfus made it through the first few corners cleanly. Andy Priaulx, on the other hand, was extremely unlucky to be blocked on the outside of turn one and suffer damage to the car. This meant he was not able to get a result. For Augusto it was a great race. We did well with our pit stop strategy. First, fourth and fifth for BMW in Oschersleben is fantastic.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 1st):
“Today is a great day for BMW. We produced a fantastic team result. I have often been on the podium in Oschersleben, and now I have finally managed to win here. It was really close again at the end. Gary Paffett was getting closer and closer and really put me under pressure. However, my car was fantastic. I could not afford to make any mistakes – and thankfully I didn’t. Thanks to my team. They gave me an unbelievable car again.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 4th):
“I am really chuffed with my fourth place. That is my best DTM result so far. Unfortunately I did not quite make it onto the podium. I got off to a great start and tried to put the cars in front of me under pressure. However, it was not quite possible to catch Jamie Green today. Despite that, I think I have had a great weekend. Congratulations to my team-mate Bruno Spengler. He drove an outstanding race and fully deserved to win.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 5th):
“My start was the key to the result, but I also had a very strong pace, which definitely helped. Unfortunately we only found such a good set-up in time for the race. I think we have to learn from that. We were able to match the pace of the front runners. This gives me a lot of confidence. It was a great race.“
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 11th):
“The race for me was just a ton better than the rest of the weekend. I had a good start and a good clean couple of laps. I fought hard and managed not to get hit. In the last couple of races I have had aerodynamic parts knocked off the car in dog fights at the back of the field. The BMW Team RMG guys have really worked hard for me. I never thought I would be so happy with 11th, but I will take it today. I learnt a lot and have still finished every lap of the DTM this year.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 17th):
“I made a fantastic start and was up with Augusto Farfus and Martin Tomczyk, but then I got hit and fired off on the first corner. That immediately damaged my car with the splitter and the side taking the brunt of it. Then the car just wasn't quick enough and I was a sitting duck. It was such a shame as I was up for a big race today. It is annoying as up to then the pace of the car had been good. Anyway, the good news is that BMW has won, so congratulations to Bruno Spengler.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, DNF):
“That just wasn’t my weekend. First the penalty for the incident in Zandvoort, then I hit the kerbs too hard in practice and damaged my car. In the race we had a problem with the cooling. In the end I just couldn’t match the pace of the others. It did not make sense to continue. We must now determine exactly what caused the fault.”

BMW Power

19-09-12, 15:09

BMW Motorsport to run eight cars in the DTM as of 2013
As the 2012 DTM season enters the finishing straight, BMW Motorsport is already on course for next year: As of 2013, four BMW teams will do battle for points and victories in the popular touring car series. Like BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG, newly-formed BMW Team MTEK will also run two BMW M3 DTMs.

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By increasing its contingent to eight cars, BMW Motorsport is intensifying its commitment to the DTM and will now compete on a par with the other two manufacturers represented in the DTM. Dutchman Ernest Knoors will take the reigns as Team Principal of BMW Team MTEK, which is based in Garching near Munich. Now that BMW Team MTEK has officially been given the starting signal, the build-up process can take place over the coming weeks and months.

“Our concept of running three teams on equal footing has proven to be ideal for our debut season,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “The very good results are confirming our decision to continue along the lines of equality across all the teams. Establishing the fourth team is another important step as we look to guarantee that BMW remains competitive over the coming years. Our competitors are already running eight cars this season. Greater strength across the board is definitely an advantage in a fiercely-competitive series like the DTM. The new BMW Team MTEK means we are able to bridge this gap. The location on the outskirts of Munich allows BMW Motorsport to cooperate effectively with Ernest Knoors’ team. We are confident the synergies and efficiency gained will take the overall level of our DTM project to a new level.”

"I’m really looking forward to my new task: to guide BMW Team MTEK to DTM success,” said Knoors, who most recently has been working with Ferrari as Head of customer powertrain support in Formula One. “Over the course of my career I have experienced most forms of motor racing, and I know the high level of operation in the DTM. BMW Motorsport is currently contesting a fantastic debut season. We are also set to have our share in giving the BMW fans reason to celebrate regularly in 2013. It’s obvious there will be a lot for us to learn as a new team. I’m convinced we will have a steep learning curve. The current 2012 season has given impressive proof of the general competitiveness of the BMW M3 DTM.”

This year’s teams – BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG – have so far produced a very successful comeback season for BMW, after 20 years away from the DTM. After eight of ten races, BMW has three wins, three pole positions, nine podiums and 247 points in the manufacturers’ standings to its name.

BMW Power

19-09-12, 15:15

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSiXKk-EASg

BMW Power

24-09-12, 10:13

BMW out to impress again in Valencia.
After Bruno Spengler’s triumph and the highest yield of points this year so far in Oschersleben, BMW Motorsport heads into the ninth DTM weekend of the year full of confidence.

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Going into the race at the “Circuit de la Comunitat” near Valencia, the fourth and final overseas stop in the 2012 series, Spengler has scored 116 points in his BMW Bank M3 DTM and is currently second in the overall standings, just eleven points behind leader Gary Paffett (Mercedes).
Just as Spengler did in finishing runner-up when Valencia made its debut on the DTM calendar in 2010, Martin Tomczyk has also featured on the podium there. Last year, third place was enough to secure his first title in the DTM. The remaining BMW drivers, Augusto Farfus, Joey Hand, Andy Priaulx and Dirk Werner are also well-acquainted with the 4.005-kilometre circuit, having completed tests there. Farfus also claimed a victory for BMW in Valencia in the 2009 World Touring Car Championship.
With a population of over 800,000, Valencia is the third largest city in Spain after Madrid and Barcelona. While the Formula One race is held on a street circuit around the harbour area, the DTM holds its event on the permanent racetrack located about 20 kilometres to the west of the city. This is the only track on the calendar that is driven in an anti-clockwise direction, which poses its own unique challenges to the drivers’ fitness. Another key factor in Valencia is the weather. The summery temperatures still present in autumn need only change slightly to have a dramatic effect on the amount of grip offered by the track. This makes it even more difficult for the teams to find the perfect set-up for qualifying and the race.
However, Valencia was the scene of some pre-season testing, meaning all the teams are familiar with the properties of the circuit. The race at the “Circuit de la Comunitat” is a real highlight, particularly for the crowds: the winding layout and grandstands surrounding the track make for a real stadium atmosphere.

BMW Power

28-09-12, 10:27

BMW DTM stars visit Oktoberfest.
Since Saturday, the 179th Oktoberfest has been attracting millions of visitors to the Theresienwiese in Munich. As is tradition, BMW once again extended an invitation to its sports table at the largest and most famous beer festival in the world. On Tuesday 20 top athletes from the world of motorsport, winter sports, sailing, running and tennis met up with representatives of the media and officials. They looked back on the 2012 season and enjoyed the unique Oktoberfest vibe.

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It goes without saying that the BMW stars on four wheels were also present at this who’s who of top sportsmen and women: BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt and the five BMW DTM drivers Augusto Farfus, Andy Priaulx, Bruno Spengler, reigning champion Martin Tomczyk and Dirk Werner had time to relax at the popular festival before turning their attention to the ninth race of the season, which takes place in Valencia this weekend.
The sports stars could hardly have come from a wider range of disciplines. The world of winter sports was well represented by a large contingent of athletes, including BMW Group Olympic Ambassador Katarina Witt, luge legend Georg Hackl, four-time Olympic biathlon champion Sven Fischer, Rosi Mittermaier, Christian Neureuther and Erich Kühnhackl. Bob stars Manuel Machata, Andreas Bredau and Georg Bermbach were also among the illustrious party, as well as double skeleton world champion, Anja Huber. BMW Yachtsport Ambassador Markus Wieser, European champion in the Dragon class, joined London 2012 Olympians Tobias Schadewaldt and Kathrin Kadelbach, German Davis Cup captain Patrik Kühnen and BMW Running Ambassador Ingalena Heuck for a taste of the legendary Oktoberfest atmosphere. Two-time Superbike World Champion and BMW Motorrad Ambassador Troy Corser from Australia also enjoyed an entertaining day.
The morning saw the stellar line-up assemble for a photo shoot in front of the “Bavaria” monument, which was built under the order of King Ludwig I in the mid-19th century and is a true Munich landmark. After a ride on the dodgems and the “Münchner Rutschn” slide, the athletes moved on to the more relaxing part of the Oktoberfest get-together. The sport stars tucked into tasty Bavarian delicacies and the odd nice cold beer.
Although missing from Munich, BMW Team RMG driver Joey Hand also got into the Oktoberfest mood: he visited the annual Oktoberfest organised by the BMW Car Club of America at the “Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course” near Lexington. While there he took to the track in a BMW M3 GTR and at the wheel of the new BMW M6.

Quotes from the BMW Wiesn Sports Table 2012:

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“I have been to Oktoberfest a couple of times this year. There is just a great party vibe here. The atmosphere at the BMW sporting get-together is also unique. What I particularly like is that the athletes meet each other outside of their usual environment here. Our DTM drivers also really enjoy spending a day at Oktoberfest. It is good to be able to switch off for a bit before we turn our attention tomorrow to the task awaiting us in Valencia. We are all highly motivated and have our sights set on another great result at the ninth race of the season. First of all, however, we all want to enjoy our time here with the BMW family at Oktoberfest.”

Augusto Farfus (BMW Team RBM):
“This is my second visit to Oktoberfest with BMW, and it is amazing. I think it is a great event, especially when the weather is so nice. It is a kind of carnival like in Brazil, but Bavarian style. Although I am not a big fan of beer, I am still enjoying a pretzel or two. Back in Brazil, I am always very proud to show my friends my Lederhosen. I also like the mixture of big names from different sports here.”

Andy Priaulx (BMW Team RBM):
“I love Oktoberfest. It’s really nice to be part of the tradition. When you arrive in Munich and turn the TV on, you realise that it is a long tradition. To get the opportunity to come here thanks to BMW is great. I am enjoying the culture. It’s nice to spend some time off the track here as a team. From tomorrow on I will be totally focused on Valencia, but to have a chill-out day before is great.”

Bruno Spengler (BMW Team Schnitzer):
“This year is my first visit to Oktoberfest. This sporting get-together gives you the chance to experience the fascination of Munich and BMW at close hand. For me, it is an honour to be here – and on such a gorgeous day with a glorious blue sky. I can switch off here ahead of the coming race weekend in Valencia. I have been on the move a lot over the past few days. Now I am just enjoying my time at Oktoberfest before I turn my focus to the penultimate race of the DTM season. I really like this festival, particularly all the nice girls in their Dirndls.”

Martin Tomczyk (BMW Team RMG):
“Coming from Rosenheim and being a born-and-bred Bavarian, a trip to Oktoberfest is a must. I come here at least twice a year, always in traditional costume of course. I have a few pairs of Lederhosen in my wardrobe, some of which are a bit greasy, but that is part and parcel of Oktoberfest. It is just nice to have a chat with the other sportsmen and women in the big BMW family over a shandy and in such a relaxed atmosphere. This sociable get-together is typical of Oktoberfest. That is why I always enjoy coming here so much”

Dirk Werner (BMW Team Schnitzer):
“This is my first visit to Oktoberfest and I’m impressed by how many people are here and just how large the beer tents are. Everyone is in local costume and it is a special atmosphere. I had a pair of Lederhosen when I was a kid. Now I have my second pair. You feel at home in them here at Oktoberfest. I really like all the fun rides here, they are part of the Wiesn experience. It was good fun to compete with the others on the dodgems. On the ‘Münchner Rutschn’, however, the winter sports stars were on their home turf.”

BMW Power

30-09-12, 11:19

Qualifying (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/20120930/Valencia/Results/Qualifying.html)

Quotes from the BMW drivers after qualifying

Augusto Farfus
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, Pole): “I am speechless. This is amazing to have a pole position in my first season in DTM. This was also where I had my first pole position in touring cars in 2004, so I have a special connection to this track. I have always felt very comfortable here and everything felt good with the car from the opening laps yesterday. Today, the car was the key. The balance was really important: it suited my driving style and, more than anywhere else we have seen, fitted me like a glove! This pole position is the result of the hard work put in by BMW Team RBM. They have really been pushing. We have been working closely together during the bad times and this is the result of the teamwork. I also want to say a big thank you to everyone at BMW Motorsport. I want to enjoy this moment, but I know tomorrow’s race will be tough as there are an awful lot of fast drivers right behind me.”

Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 6th): “I am really happy to be back up the grid again. A big thank you to everyone at BMW Team RBM as we brought everything together as a team and are making process. I have had a difficult period, but this proves we can improve and I hope we can keep up this momentum. I hope my start can be as good as they have been in the past few races. I hope to go forward at the start and stay up there.”

Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 9th): “The track conditions changed over the course of the day, so it was not easy to find the right set-up for qualifying and time the outings perfectly. My team managed to do that well in the first two sessions, but we did not get it 100 per cent right in Q3. Generally speaking, however, I am very happy with ninth on the grid. Maybe we could have done better, but we have given ourselves a great chance for tomorrow’s race.”

Martin Tomczyk
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 11th): “That was a difficult qualifying for me. I did not have the pace required to be any further up the field. It is frustrating to miss out on progressing to the next session by just one thousandths of a second. That is motor racing though. I am still looking forward to tomorrow’s race. BMW Team RMG and I will go on the attack.”

Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 12th): “I am obviously disappointed by my qualifying result. I didn’t actually make any mistakes on my flying lap, so I still don’t know what was wrong. Generally speaking, my car did not feel as good on the track as it has done in recent qualifyings. I did not have the right level of grip on the new asphalt and was sliding a bit in places. However, on Sunday a lot is still possible from 12th.”

Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 13th): “Thirteenth on the grid is not exactly what I had hoped for. However, the DTM is an unbelievably close series. I only missed out on Q3 by a fraction of a second, which is a shame. I was familiar with the track from our tests there. However, the surface has been relayed since then, so the conditions were a bit different. That did not exactly make things easier.”

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “That was a fantastic qualifying from Augusto Farfus. He was consistently quick and deservedly earned his first pole position in the DTM. Compliments to everyone in BMW Team RBM: Gustl’s team-mate Andy Priaulx also achieved his best qualifying result in the DTM with sixth place. Dirk Werner finished ninth to ensure it was another strong overall showing from BMW. We would obviously have liked to see Bruno Spengler further up the field. He missed out on Q3 by just six thousandths of a second and must now try to pick up as many points as possible from 12th on the grid. This shows once again just how tight and unpredictable the DTM is. The fans can look forward to an exciting race.”

BMW Power

30-09-12, 15:35

Valencia Race (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/20120930/Valencia/Results/Race.html)
Standings (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/Standings.html)

Μόνο 3 βαθμοί χωρίζουν τον Gary Paffett (Mercedes) από τον Bruno Spengler (BMW) με 1 αγώνα να υπολείπεται για το τέλος του πρωταθλήματος στις 21.10.2012 στο HOCKENHEIMRING

BMW Power

02-10-12, 08:48

Farfus claims fourth win of the season for BMW Motorsport in Valencia.
BMW Team RBM’s Augusto Farfus has won his first DTM race at the “Circuit de la Comunitat”.

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The 29-year-old, at the wheel of the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM, crossed the finish line 8.406 seconds ahead of Adrien Tambay (Audi) to become the first Brazilian in the history of the DTM to celebrate on the top step of the podium. He had previously claimed his first pole position in the series on Saturday.
Farfus was not the only BMW driver who could be happy with the result after 46 laps of thrilling racing in Valencia. Having completed a drive-through penalty on lap six for a jump start, Bruno Spengler worked his way through the field from 12th to sixth. Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) also picked up points, coming home in eighth and ninth respectively. This was the first time since the race at the Norisring that BMW Motorsport had ended the race with four drivers in the top ten. Spengler also set the fastest lap of the race with a time of 1:27.116 minutes.
BMW Team RMG had a disappointing race: Martin Tomczyk had to retire immediately after the start when his BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM was damaged, through no fault of his own, in the turmoil of the first few corners. His team-mate Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) retired on lap 44, having also been hit and damaged by a rival car during the opening stages of the race.
Farfus’s triumph in Spain underlined emphatically the speed with which he has found his feet in the DTM. Going into the season finale in Hockenheim he is already assured of ending the year as the most successful rookie. Farfus first stepped onto the podium courtesy of a second place at the Lausitzring. BMW has now claimed four victories in the 2012 season and now has 53 DTM triumphs to its name. Having previously won three titles and countless races in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, BMW Team RBM can now celebrate its first triumph in the DTM.
Despite the difficult race, Spengler (124 points) has reduced Gary Paffett’s (Mercedes) lead in the drivers’ standings to just three points. The race for the drivers’ title will now be decided at the finale on 21st October. Tomczyk is seventh with 69 points. Farfus remains eighth with 54 points. Werner (19), Priaulx (18) and Hand (2) follow in 12th, 14th and 20th respectively.

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BMW Power

02-10-12, 08:50

Reactions after the ninth DTM race of 2012 in Valencia.
Read here what the BMW team principals and the six drivers had to say after the ninth DTM race of the year.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“That was an unbelievably exciting and intense race. Augusto Farfus was consistently quick all weekend and brought home his first DTM victory. He was able to dominate the race from pole position and, as a DTM rookie, fully deserved the win. Compliments to him and BMW Team RBM, as Augusto’s team-mate Andy Priaulx also produced a strong performance to finish eighth and pick up points for the third time. Unfortunately BMW Team RMG was unlucky, as both drivers were involved in accidents through no faults of their own. Conditions had changed dramatically since the first practice session on Friday. It was hotter in the race than it had been all the rest of the weekend. Despite this we still managed to land four cars in the top ten – and that in spite of having to contend with tyres that were wearing fast. Bruno Spengler set the fastest lap time and did not let the early drive-through penalty put him out of his stride. He dropped down to P15 during the race, but fought his way back to sixth, and in the process reduced the gap to the leader in the overall standings to just three points. The fans at the season finale in Hockenheim in three weeks can look forward to a really exciting weekend.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“It is fantastic. That was a great victory in a race, in which Augusto Farfus was impressively quick. He got off to a great start, had a wonderful first lap, and then controlled the entire race. Our strategy was right. However, that is relatively easy when a car has that much pace. I would like to thank everyone in BMW Team RBM for the hard work. This was only our ninth DTM race – and, unbelievably, we won it. Andy Priaulx also did a very good job. He drove a strong race, fought right to the end, and finished in the points. That is a great team result.”
Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“We are obviously happy with the result of this exciting race. Bruno Spengler did not allow the drive-through penalty to knock him out of his stride and showed fantastic fighting spirit. Our team’s pit stops and our strategy were perfect, which allowed him to fight his way into sixth over the course of the race. Dirk Werner had problems with the balance of his car from the middle of the race. The fact that he still finished in the points is a nice reward for the team’s hard work. It will be really exciting in Hockenheim now. Congratulations obviously to Augusto Farfus and BMW Team RBM.”
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“We have a difficult weekend with two retirements behind us. That is the third time in a row Martin Tomczyk has had to park up before the end of the race. The footage shows Martin was knocked out of the race by Robert Wickens, through no fault of his own. This obvious move, in which no body else was involved, went unpunished. It is all the more frustrating for Martin, as he was severely punished for a similar incident in Zandvoort. Joey Hand’s race also came to an end ahead of schedule after Gary Paffett drove into his car. It was still a successful day for BMW, thanks to Augusto Farfus’s win. Congratulations to BMW Team RBM.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 1st):
“A win in my first DTM season. That is just awesome! However, this is not just my triumph. This success belongs to BMW Team RBM and BMW Motorsport. Thank you very much. I had a super car in qualifying yesterday, so I was confident ahead of today’s race. We all know, however, that races are sometimes not as easy as they look in the DTM. I had some quick Audis behind me, but a good start and an ideal first stint meant I had done the hard work. I decided to apply pressure right from the outset. The final lap was very emotional. I have to admit I had tears in my eyes as I crossed the finish line and almost cried. We have had a tough season.”

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Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 6th):
“The fact that I still finished sixth despite the drive-through penalty is absolutely sensational. After the penalty I thought briefly my race was basically over. However, my team encouraged me and really stepped on it in the pit stops. That was one of the keys to my good result. It was important I left the last stop until quite late. That meant I had good tyres right to the end of the race and was able to attack again late on.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 8th):
“After a very good start I had a bit of contact with another car in turn one. Apart from that I quickly found a good rhythm. On the exit from turn six on the 42nd lap I was attacked by Rahel Frey, who tried to overtake me on the outside. Bruno Spengler was able to take advantage of this duel and pass on the inside. Despite this, I am very happy to have finished in the points. I am pleased for Augusto Farfus and the team. BMW Team RBM deserved that win after all the hard work it has put in this year.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 9th):
“It is nice I was also able to pick up points in Valencia. I had a few problems with the tyres, particularly after my first pit stop. From that point on I could no longer drive at the pace required to try to move up through the field. Then I made a mistake in turn 12, went too wide and had to fight hard to keep the car under control. That cost me places, but it was ultimately good enough to finish in the points.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 15th):
“Gary Paffett hit me hard after the start and damaged my car. The car was off balance after that and I was unable to attack. The problems intensified over the course of the race. In the interest of safety I parked up in the garage shortly before the end of the race. It was a real shame, as up to that point I had been having one of my better weekends this year.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, DNF):
“Unfortunately Robert Wickens drove into my car straight after the start. As a result of this collision, I skidded into the gravel bed and could not continue. That is frustrating, particularly as this is my third retirement in a row.”

BMW Power

09-10-12, 12:51

Q&A with Valencia winner Augusto Farfus
It took Augusto Farfus just nine races to secure his first DTM win. With his BMW M3 DTM, the Brazilian dominated both the qualifying session and the race at Valencia and with the last and 46th lap completed, he took the chequered flag as the winner. Afterwards, he gave vent to his emotions. In our Q&A, Farfus reveals what this triumph means to him and how he celebrated, afterwards.

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Augusto Farfus: First win with the BMW M3 DTM
Augusto, how does it feel to be the first Brazilian DTM winner?
I’m very proud! Throughout the weekend, a lot of emotional thoughts crossed my mind. It was just overwhelming. I’m proud of being Brazilian and therefore, this win is even more special. There have been numerous outstanding Brazilian racing drivers and the fact that I made history by being the first DTM winner from Brazil means a lot to me.

What have you been thinking while crossing the finish line?
I just couldn’t believe what was happening. I had tears in my eyes and came very close to crying. It was like the gift-giving on Christmas. I achieved a goal I had set myself months ago. But I hadn’t expected to be able to do so that early in my career. And I also thought about all the hard work that had been necessary for enabling me to clinch this win. This is not only my win… first of all, it’s a success of all those working for BMW Team RBM and BMW Motorsport. The team and I are newcomers in this series – and now we’ve made it to the highest step on the podium. It couldn’t come any better, could it?

How did you celebrate, following this win?
I‘m not a typical Brazilian, in this area, and I also don’t belong to the party-goers who come home late at night. I partied a little bit with the team and enjoyed the time with my family. Yes, having won the race is great but on the other hand, there’s not much time to go to the season finale at Hockenheim. Therefore, we have to focus on the tasks to come.

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BMW Power

11-10-12, 14:01

Standings (http://www.dtm.com/en/Races/Standings.html)

Showdown at Hockenheim
The battle for the DTM title is approaching its crucial phase: in the 10th and final round of the 2012 DTM season, held at the Hockenheimring from 19th to 21st October, you will find out who will be the 2012 DTM Champion. The top favourites are Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) and Bruno Spengler (BMW) but theoretically, Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz) also could secure the DTM crown.

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The gap between Paffett and Spengler amounts to three points
Prior to the season finale at Hockenheim, Gary Paffett holds the lead with 127 points on his tally, with Bruno Spengler following just three points behind in second position. Both Paffett and Spengler could clinch the title by just winning the race at Hockenheim while Green must secure the race win while having to hope for poor results of Paffett and Spengler at the same time. And finishing second definitely wouldn’t be enough for the Mercedes-Benz driver.

The two top-placed drivers would be tied for points if Spengler finished second and Paffett third. In this case, Spengler would be the new DTM Champion as he secured more race wins, this year. The same would be the case if Spengler finished third and Paffett fourth as the gap between these to positions also adds up to three points.

The Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg traditionally represents the venue of the DTM season finale – with a single exception: in 2011, the final round of the season was held at Shanghai, China. Since the DTM revival, the battle for the title was taken down to the season finale at Hockenheim five times and in the other six seasons, the title was secured at an earlier point in time.

Bernd Schneider (2003, Mercedes-Benz), Gary Paffett (2005), Mattias Ekström (2007, Audi) and Timo Scheider (2008 and 2009, Audi) were the champions who clinched their titles in the season finale. And the statistics speak for Gary Paffett: in all these cases, the future champions travelled to Hockenheim as championship leaders.

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BMW Power

11-10-12, 14:06

“May the best man win.”
Speaking in an interview ahead of the season finale in Hockenheim on 21st October, BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt sums up the year so far and reveals what the BMW teams are out to achieve on the final race weekend of the year.

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Mr. Marquardt, the 2012 DTM season is drawing to a close. Are you happy with what BMW Motorsport has achieved in the past nine races?
Jens Marquardt: “Of course I am absolutely delighted with the way our comeback season has panned out. If anyone had seriously told us before the start of the season we would still be in with a realistic chance of winning the title come the final race of the year, I would have told them they were mad. Prior to the opening race in Hockenheim, our goal was to ensure we were competitive as soon as possible. As it turned out, this was the case very quickly indeed – and we celebrated our first victory in just the second race at the Lausitzring, courtesy of Bruno Spengler. Subsequent successes confirmed this triumph was no flash in the pan.”
BMW drivers have stood on the top step of the podium on four occasions …
Marquardt: “I doubt very many people would truly have believed we would win four of the first nine races and achieve a total of ten podiums. Even I often catch myself looking at these remarkable statistics with eyes wide open: even in your wildest dreams you’d have struggled to come up with such impressive results for BMW. However, it was not just Bruno Spengler with his three wins or Augusto Farfus with his victory in Valencia who provided us with highlights this year. All our six drivers have been able to produce strong and impressive performances. The newcomers in our contingent have found their feet very quickly and have all picked up points. Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk has also had three podium finishes. That just goes to show what a sensational job BMW Motorsport, the three BMW teams and our drivers have all done. I am unbelievably proud of my team.”
What are the chances of us seeing the fourth BMW driver in the history of the DTM crowned champion?
Marquardt: “The 2012 season will already go down in BMW Motorsport history as a huge success. The DTM is a fiercely-competitive series, in which three premium automobile manufacturers go head to head at the highest level. We were new to the series in 2012 and our rivals had far more experience than us. However, we have learned very quickly and, armed with the BMW M3 DTM, found ourselves almost on a par with the opposition from the onset. As such, I see the team as a winner regardless of the outcome of the race in Hockenheim. It is sensational to still be in with a chance of the title going into the final race.”
But you do want to win, don’t you?
Marquardt: “Of course. We have nothing but real racers in our team. Anyone involved in motorsport wants to win races and, ideally, titles. I am just trying to emphasise the fact that we have nothing to lose going into the season finale. We have more than lived up to our expectations in 2012. The title race in Hockenheim is the icing on the cake. We will be doing our very best to allow Bruno to leapfrog Gary Paffett with another good result. When the chequered flag is shown in Hockenheim for the last time this year, we will know just how successful we have been.”
What are you hoping for from the season finale?
Marquardt: “Bruno and Gary, and Jamie too, have shown what great racing drivers they are over the course of the season. Although Bruno has ended up pointless on two occasions this season due to collisions that were no fault of his own, there is no point now in speculating about what position he would be in if the opposition had not taken him out in Hockenheim and at the Red Bull Ring. Our approach is to look forward, not back. One thing is certain: we accept the standings exactly as they are. All three fully deserve to be at the top come the end of the season. May the best man win in Hockenheim – in a fair finale.”
Are you satisfied with the performance of the three BMW teams?
Marquardt: “The wins and podiums achieved by BMW Team Schnitzer and BMW Team RBM, as well as the top three finishes for BMW Team RMG in Spielberg, at the Norisring and the Nürburgring, speak for themselves. We have also seen very good performances from the crews during pit stops. It is no coincidence, for example, that BMW Team Schnitzer has regularly been recognised as the fastest pit crew by tyre manufacturer Hankook. All three teams have entered the DTM willing to throw themselves into a new adventure together with BMW Motorsport, and ready to learn at record speed. The fact that we were able to reach a competitive level so quickly is a credit to every single member of the BMW squad.”
And, in the BMW M3 DTM, your development department has clearly enjoyed great success …
Marquardt: “Yes, without a doubt. We have not had any retirements caused by technical problems with the BMW M3 DTM – and that despite being newcomers. The car was excellent at almost all the DTM circuits, and this allowed our teams and drivers to attack. However, this does not mean we have already exhausted the full potential of the BMW M3 DTM. We are still finding ways to improve with every lap. The detailed work will continue undiminished. It was obviously very helpful and proof of the great work put in by the engineers that the basis was right from the onset. The BMW M3 DTM has proven it is a real winner.”

BMW Power

15-10-12, 13:00

The DTM grand finale.
The stage is set for a grand finale: BMW Motorsport travels to the tenth and final round of the 2012 DTM season full of confidence having already picked up four wins and ten podiums.

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Ahead of the race at the Hockenheimring, the best-placed BMW driver is Bruno Spengler, who is second in the drivers’ standings on 124 points, three behind overall leader Gary Paffett (Mercedes). Also within touching distance of the top of the standings is BMW Team Schnitzer. The team from Freilassing has 143 points to its name in the team competition and trails the leading Mercedes crew by just eight points.
It is almost six months since BMW returned to the DTM at the opening race of the season in Hockenheim after an absence of 20 years from the series. The surprise package back then was Dirk Werner, who qualified third for his first DTM race. It was ultimately three-time World Touring Car Champion Andy Priaulx who scored the first eight points for BMW, crossing the finish line in sixth.
Martin Tomczyk also arrives at the 4.574-kilometre circuit highly motivated. Retirements in the last three races mean the 2011 DTM champion will no longer play a role in the race for the top spot in the overall standings. Despite this, Tomczyk is determined to add another success to the three podiums he has already achieved in BMW colours this season.
Augusto Farfus will take a huge amount of momentum into the race weekend in Hockenheim. After his victory in Valencia, the Brazilian is looking for one more big result before the teams head into the winter break. The same goes for Joey Hand. The American is the only BMW driver to have been classified in every race this season.
The three BMW teams can count on well-known supporters at the big DTM finale: former BMW driver and recent winner of two Paralympic gold medals Alessandro Zanardi will be at the circuit and is certain to have his fingers crossed for the six BMW drivers. Shortly before the start of the race on Sunday, Zanardi will take to the track in the Motodrom on his hand bike, where he is sure to receive a warm welcome from the enthusiastic crowd.
Marco Melandri will also give a demonstration on the BMW S 1000 RR on Sunday. The 30-year-old claimed six victories for Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport in this year’s FIM Superbike World Championship, ending the season in third place overall. BMW Motorrad finished runner-up in the Manufacturers’ Championship.

BMW Power

17-10-12, 12:14

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BMW Power

19-10-12, 10:43

The three title contenders travel to the DTM season finale in relaxed mood
Just one more race to go – but there still are three drivers who may hope for securing the title: the DTM season finale held this weekend at Hockenheim promises to be a true thriller. Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz/127points), Bruno Spengler (BMW/124) and Jamie Green (Mercedes-Benz/109) all could clinch the title, in the final round – but travelled to Hockenheim in relaxed mood, nevertheless.

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“Our season to date was good and I’m holding the championship lead. That feels great,” said Gary Paffett, the 2005 DTM Champion, this Thursday at Hockenheim. Valencia was the first race venue the Briton had to leave empty-handed, this year, but for him, the Valencia weekend already is forgotten. “Valencia was an exception,” he added. “In the previous round, at Oschersleben, we had one of the fastest cars and I expect this to also be the case here at Hockenheim. Consequently, we should be able to battle it out for the title and the easiest way to win the championship would be to win this race.”

Just as the Mercedes-Benz driver, his former team-mate Bruno Spengler also has got the chance of securing the title without having to hope for poor results of his rivals – what would be an amazing achievement, in the comeback season of BMW. “I’m truly looking forward to the season finale at Hockenheim. Even talking about it gives me the goose bumps right now,” said the Canadian who was one of the title contenders in five of the past seven DTM seasons but never succeeded in the clinching the title. “It was a sensational season so far and in the end, the title possibly will be won by the driver who will be slightly luckier. For us, there is no reason to change anything. When things are running well, you shouldn’t make any changes.”

Paffett and Spengler would love to fight for the title in a head-to-head battle. “We often have been racing close together, this year, and this also could be the case here at Hockenheim,” they said. For Jamie Green, however, winning the race won’t be enough. He also has to hope for mistakes of his opponents. “It has been a good year for us. Both of us still have the chance of winning the title,” Green said about himself and his compatriot Paffett. “But I have to admit that I’m the dark horse, in this battle.”

BMW Power

19-10-12, 13:36

David Coulthard to bow out at DTM season finale in Hockenheim
David Coulthard will line up on the grid for the final time as a DTM driver at the DTM season finale in Hockenheim (19th to 21st October 2012). The former Formula 1 driver is ending his DTM career after three seasons and 33 races in order to concentrate more on his role as a Formula1 expert and commentator for the BBC, the British Broadcasting Corporation, in addition to his other personal and business interests. The 41-year-old Scot has been employed in that capacity at Formula 1 races since 2009 and his opinions are valued by TV audiences and fellow pundits.
Coulthard will remain part of the Mercedes-Benz family as an AMG brand ambassador. He has been busy in this role at press and customer events since 2011, answering queries and chatting with guests. In addition, he has supported AMG’s development team in certain test activities.

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DC will start one more time in the DHL Paket Mercedes AMG C-Coupé
Formula 1 World Championship runner-up in 2001, Coulthard moved to the DTM for the 2010 season and was immediately a big hit with fans. He secured his first DTM point at the 2010 season finale competing at Shanghai’s street circuit, where he posted the fastest lap. In the 32 DTM races that the Scot has contested so far, he has secured 16 points and twice posted fastest race lap. He was in third place on the second row of the grid in Valencia last year. Coulthard achieved his best DTM result of the season with fifth place in the season’s showpiece event at the Norisring.

From 1994-2008, Coulthard contested 246 Formula 1 races prior to joining the world’s most popular touring car series. He achieved twelve of his 13 Grand Prix wins in a McLaren Mercedes, including the first victory in the new Silver Arrow era on the 9th March 1997 in Melbourne, Australia. Coulthard, along with team-mate Mika Häkkinen, won the Constructors’ Championship for McLaren Mercedes in 1998, and was runner-up in the world championship in 2001.

For years now, Coulthard has campaigned unstintingly for the Wings for Life Foundation. In his capacity as ambassador, he is a major force in driving the initiative forward worldwide, generating funds for research projects with his hard work. The nationally recognised, not-for-profit foundation was set up in 2004 by Heinz Kinigadner and Dietrich Mateschitz and promotes research into finding a cure for paraplegia caused by spinal cord injuries.

David Coulthard: “I am looking forward to the final race of what has been an exciting season in the DTM. The weekend will be my final opportunity to compete at this level as I will stop racing in the DTM to concentrate on my developing off-track businesses and of course my family. I will continue to be part of the Mercedes family through my role as an AMG brand ambassador. I would like to thank first of all Norbert Haug and his team at Mercedes Motorsport for providing the opportunity, Deutsche Post for their support and their willingness to allow the Wings for Life Foundation to have promotional space on the car, which has helped raise awareness and funding for the research into spinal cord injuries. Thank you, as well, to the HWA and Mücke teams for patiently helping me with the transition from single-seaters to touring cars, and of course to the people who make professional sport sustainable, the fans. I have enjoyed the last three years and I wish the organizers and competitors in DTM continued growth and success with the championship.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “David is our first F1 winner of the modern era and that victory on 9th March 1997 in Melbourne ensures his place in our motorsport history. David drove successfully for us and our partner McLaren during nine Formula 1 seasons, and still today he is one of the most popular racing drivers in the world. David’s involvement in the DTM has been good for him and for the championship – he is skilled on the race track, and eloquent and analytical in his TV work and as an AMG brand ambassador. He has been a successful member of the Mercedes family for over a decade and a half, and will remain so after his retirement from active racing. An abbreviation from the racing world best summarises what I want to say to David on behalf of everybody: TD – but this time, it stands for ‘Thanks, David’.”

BMW Power

19-10-12, 13:37

Final DTM race for Susie Wolff at the Hockenheim season finale
Susie Wolff (29, Scotland, TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé) will contest her last race in the world’s most popular touring car series in the DTM season finale (21st October 2012). Over the past seven years, the Scottish driver has contested 73 DTM races for Mercedes-Benz to date. Her best results were two seventh places during the 2010 season.

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Wolff made her DTM debut in 2006 with Mücke Motorsport and earned respect straightaway in her first race in the AMG Mercedes C-Class at Hockenheim, where she achieved a top-ten finish. At the end of her debut DTM season, she moved to Team Persson, which has also prepared her TV Spielfilm Mercedes AMG C-Coupé this season.

The 29-year-old earned her first points with a seventh place finish at the Lausitzring in 2010. She went on to repeat that result at Hockenheim in the October of the same year. With a total of four points, Wolff finished in 13th place in the 2010 standings after enjoying the most successful of her seven seasons in the DTM.

In addition to working with Mercedes-Benz in the DTM, Wolff has been a development driver for the Williams F1 team since the start of 2012. She completed her first Formula 1 test for the team earlier this week.

Susie Wolff: “Driving for Mercedes-Benz AMG in the DTM, one of the best championships in the world, has been an incredible journey that started seven years ago for me and I am very proud to have been part of such a great team. Along the way I have enjoyed some really exciting racing, had some tough fights and met some brilliant people. I am very grateful and feel lucky to have achieved this and will always be thankful for the opportunity Mercedes-Benz AMG and HWA gave me.

The DTM has been a challenge and it’s disappointing to not have achieved my best results this season. I always pushed hard, however, and I'm proud of what I've achieved in my racing career at the highest level. It’s been an amazing period of my life, not only will I take with me great memories, but also the most special prize - my husband. Most importantly, thank you to all of my fans who have supported me. Be assured I am by no means ready to hang up my helmet yet and am looking forward to exciting new opportunities in the future.”

Norbert Haug, Vice President Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: “It will be a poignant moment for us all to see Susie drive in her final DTM race and conclude her DTM career. For seven seasons, Susie has been an important part of this closely fought championship and every one of her colleagues and rivals will tell you how well, tough and fair she drives. Susie may not have achieved spectacular results in the DTM, but she gave us some highlights in mixed conditions, in the wet and racing wheel to wheel; and her race pace was always better than her starting positions suggested. She earned her place in the DTM against the toughest of competition and Susie is, and remains, a wonderfully skilled and likeable representative of our brand. Thank you Susie, on behalf of us all.”

BMW Power

19-10-12, 13:37

Bruno Spengler: “From now on, I’m in racing mode”
During the 2012 DTM season, Bruno Spengler gave everyone a surprise on more than one occasion. Few would have expected him to get another chance to fight for the drivers’ title in the final race at Hockenheim in his BMW Bank M3 DTM. After having had three pole position starts and three victories, he had already exceeded all expectations. In an interview, the Canadian spoke about his preparations for the last racing weekend of the year, about his experiences with difficult title deciders in the past, and about the differences between the start of the season and the final in Hockenheim.

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Bruno, what do you and BMW Team Schnitzer know today that you didn’t know before the opening race in Hockenheim?
Because the cars were homologated before the start of the season, the possible range of technical changes was limited. But it’s, of course, a different matter altogether when it comes to the set-up of the car. In this respect, we quite simply have a lot more experience than we did half a year ago. That’s a really important factor. We can now react much better and more flexibly to the conditions. That’s definitely the biggest difference between Hockenheim I and Hockenheim II. Obviously I hope not to be taken out of the race by a competitor like last time. I would have liked to have the points I lost in Hockenheim and later on in Spielberg in the bag. However, that’s racing.

How are you coping with having the chance of winning the title for BMW?
I’m always a little nervous before a race, and it’s no different this weekend. Nerves are simply a part of motorsport. I’ve also prepared myself like I do for any other race, and right now I’m just very happy that we’re finally ready to get started. The stands are going to be full of spectators again. It’s going to be another great goose-pimple-inducing atmosphere.

What did your preparations look like?
Last week, I was in Oschersleben at the Drive like Bruno event. It was great fun because I had the chance to properly meet some of the fans. The days after that were somewhat quieter, and I’ve done a lot of fitness training. Then, on Thursday, I came to Hockenheim. From now on, I’m in racing mode.

What rituals do you have on a race weekend?
Before qualifying I do a lap of the track in my head with my eyes closed. People watching on TV will probably have seen me doing this from time to time. Apart from that, I always put my left racing shoe on before my right. I do that before every race.

You’re fighting for the title in the last race for the third time in your career. What are your memories of the season finals in 2007 and 2010?
They were two completely different situations. In 2007, I dropped out of the race twice at the start of the season and then continually worked to catch up with Mattias Ekström. In 2010, I had been in the lead for a long time and then had a great deal of bad luck in the last race. In total, this is the fifth time in my career I’ve had a chance at winning the title. All of these past experiences have been pure motivation for me. They give me a positive feeling going into this weekend.

Do you prefer to be the hunter or the hunted?
I like both roles. This time I’m the hunter – and I feel ready for it. I’m not thinking about how the past races went at all. I’m going into the final in neutral and—as always—I’ll give the best performance I can together with BMW Team Schnitzer. Then we’ll see what comes out of it at the end. We can all be very happy with what we’ve already achieved in 2012.

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:23

BMW legends impressed by comeback season.
BMW legends Harald Grohs, Eric van de Poele and Roberto Ravaglia talk about Bruno Spengler's chances before the DTM season finale in Hockenheim.

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The six BMW drivers have made a lasting impression on the DTM thanks to a succession of strong performances over the course of the 2012 season. In doing so, they follow in the footsteps of the legendary drivers who caused a stir at the wheel of BMW racing cars in this series between 1984 and 1992. Among these were Harald Grohs and 1987 and 1989 champions Eric van de Poele and Roberto Ravaglia. Between them, the trio notched up countless wins in the DTM. Another thing they have in common is that all three were only mildly surprised by the level of BMW’s success at the past nine races.
Grohs, who won the inaugural DTM race in a BMW 635 CSi back in 1984 and was the first winner in a BMW M3 in 1987, was already confident BMW would be a force to be reckoned with ahead of the season-opener at the end of April. He saw the combination of BMW Team Schnitzer and Bruno Spengler as particularly promising – and was ultimately proven right. “When I discovered that Bruno would be driving for BMW Team Schnitzer, it was clear to me this would be a successful partnership. The team’s experience coupled with the DTM know-how Bruno has built up over the years – it simply had to work,” said Grohs. “The same goes for Martin Tomczyk, who also knows his way around the DTM as well as anyone. As it turned out, these two, together with the very impressive Augusto Farfus, were the most successful drivers. However, the other newcomers also did a very good job.”
Ravaglia wrote the last big chapter in the success story of the BMW M3 in the DTM when he won the title back in 1989. Spengler could now replicate this feat in Hockenheim, should he overtake Gary Paffett (Mercedes) in the drivers’ standings. “Of course Bruno can do it,” said Ravaglia. “However, the final race of the season is something of a lottery. It all comes down to three factors: the driver, the car, and luck. If all three work out, then Bruno has an excellent chance.”
Van de Poele knows from experience that anything can happen in the last race of the season. He was crowned champion in 1987 despite suffering a puncture, as his rivals were also struck by misfortune in a dramatic final race. “Ahead of the DTM finale in 1987 we had a very good plan. However, the puncture changed all that,” said the 51-year-old. “I can only advise Bruno to take a relaxed approach to the race and trust his instincts. Anytime you go out of your way to avoid any surprises, they are guaranteed to occur.”
Whatever the outcome of Sunday’s race, the three legends all agree BMW has already enjoyed a sensational comeback. “Even if Bruno finishes runner-up, that is still far more than anyone could have expected from BMW this year,” said Grohs. “The comeback has been good for the DTM and thrilled the fans. The 2012 season has made very enjoyable watching.”

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:25

Keep it up!
There is a real feeling of anticipation among the BMW fans, drivers and Team Principals in Hockenheim, where Bruno Spengler showed he means business with the fastest time of the first practice session.

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The final DTM race in Hockenheim is always a special occasion. This time, however, the atmosphere in the Motodrom is particularly electric. Having already claimed four victories this year, BMW has set its sights on a successful end to its comeback season.
On a sunny Friday, BMW fans had their fingers firmly crossed for Bruno Spengler and the other drivers. And it seems to have worked. Spengler was the star performer in the first practice session, clocking a fastest time of 1:34.971 minutes. There was no sign of nerves – even though all eyes are on the title contender.
Spengler’s fellow BMW drivers provided further encouragement for the Canadian, who enters the final race weekend second in the Drivers’ Championship. Martin Tomczyk showed just what good shape the BMW M3 is in in Hockenheim with the second fastest time of the day. Augusto Farfus, Dirk Werner and Andy Priaulx could also be happy with fifth, sixth and ninth, while Joey Hand rounded off an impressive start to the deciding weekend with twelfth place. Keep it up guys!

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:26

The road to Hockenheim.
Ahead of the finale in Hockenheim, BMW Motorsport can look back on a wholly successful first season in the DTM. After an absence of 20 years, BMW has returned in style, picking up four victories and four pole positions from its first nine races.

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Going into the final race on 21st October, Bruno Spengler has 124 points to his name – just three less than leader Gary Paffett (Mercedes). Jamie Green (Mercedes) also arrives at the Hockenheimring for the finale with a chance of winning the drivers’ title.
We take a look at the season so far from the viewpoint of BMW Motorsport and the three title contenders.
Hockenheim, 29th April 2012.
BMW makes its DTM comeback after 20 years away from the series. There are still a lot of unanswered questions ahead of the first race. How will the BMW M3 DTM compare to the opposition? Will the DTM newcomers find their feet in this series? When will BMW claim its first points and podiums? The opening weekend provides a lot of promising answers. Dirk Werner immediately produces a strong performance to qualify third. In the race, Andy Priaulx finishes sixth at the first attempt to score eight points. Experienced DTM drivers Bruno Spengler and Martin Tomczyk are forced to retire after collisions that were no fault of their own. Werner is hit by a rival at the start of the race and drops well back through the field. Gary Paffett wins ahead of Jamie Green and Mattias Ekström (Audi).
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 25 – Green 18 – Spengler 0
Lausitzring, 6th May 2012.
BMW announces its arrival in the series with a bang in just the second race of the comeback season. Bruno Spengler first puts his BMW Bank M3 DTM on pole position, before guiding it to victory in the race. Gary Paffett pushes him all the way and finishes runner-up. Augusto Farfus is the surprise package, coming home third in just his second DTM race, having received a lot of attention by qualifying second. He fends off the attacks of Jamie Green throughout the entire race. Martin Tomczyk comes seventh to score his first points in BMW colours.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 43 – Green 30 – Spengler 25
Brands Hatch, 20th May 2012.
As at the Lausitzring, Bruno Spengler and Gary Paffett are embroiled in another thrilling duel, but in reverse order. This time Paffett is able to withstand Spengler’s pressure to win his home race in England. Spengler crosses the line in second. Martin Tomczyk is fourth behind Mike Rockenfeller (Audi) and sets the fastest lap time. Jamie Green comes home in eighth.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 68 – Spengler 43 – Green 34
Spielberg, 3rd June 2012.
The fourth round sees Martin Tomczyk claim his first podium for BMW. He finishes second behind Edoardo Mortara (Audi) and in front of Gary Paffett in an exciting three-way battle. Bruno Spengler is involved in a collision on the very first lap. He is initially able to continue, but subsequently retires. Joey Hand finishes ninth to score his maiden DTM points. Jamie Green crosses the finish line in fifth.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 83 – Green 44 – Spengler 43
Norisring, 1st July 2012.
Dramatic finish in Nürnberg. Martin Tomczyk can already taste his first victory for BMW when the charging Jamie Green passes him in the very last corner to deny him his moment of glory. Bruno Spengler finishes third in difficult weather conditions. Starting from pole position, Gary Paffett is the first to arrive at turn one but is then caught up in a pile-up that sees him drop to the back of the field and also counts Augusto Farfus among its victims. Despite this, Paffett still fights his way back to fourth. Dirk Werner comes home tenth to pick up his first DTM point.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 95 – Green 69 – Spengler 58
Munich, 15th July 2012.
Bruno Spengler is unable to repeat last year’s victory at the Show Event in the Olympic Stadium, but still crowns a successful home event for BMW by finishing third in the individual competition. Victory goes to Mattias Ekström. Jamie Green and Ralf Schumacher (both Mercedes) win the team competition with Dirk Werner and Joey Hand fourth. No points are up for grabs at the spectacle in Munich.
Nürburgring, 19th August 2012.
Bruno Spengler and BMW Team Schnitzer make a perfect return from the summer break, converting their second pole position of the season into win number two. Martin Tomczyk finishes third behind Edoardo Mortara to crown the 40th anniversary celebrations of BMW M in the Eifel Mountains. Augusto Farfus also picks up a point in tenth place. Jamie Green and Gary Paffett come home in fourth and sixth respectively.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 103 – Spengler 83 – Green 81
Zandvoort, 26th August 2012.
BMW struggles during qualifying in the Dutch dunes. Only Dirk Werner is able to secure a good starting position, qualifying seventh. In the race, however, the other BMW drivers work their way back towards the front of the field. This is particularly true of Martin Tomczyk, who is challenging Mattias Ekström and Gary Paffett for third place when the rain starts to fall and Tomczyk can do nothing to prevent his car sliding into that of Paffett. The German is forced to retire, while Paffett loses ground and eventually comes home in seventh, behind Bruno Spengler. Jamie Green is fourth behind a trio of Audis. As well as Spengler, Dirk Werner and Augusto Farfus also score points for BMW.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 109 – Green 93 – Spengler 91
Oschersleben, 16th September 2012.
For the third time this season, Bruno Spengler and Gary Paffett go head to head for the victory – and for the second time, it is Spengler who just gets his nose in front. He claims his third win of the season, just 0.6 seconds ahead of Paffett. The pair is joined on the podium by fellow title contender Jamie Green. Dirk Werner crosses the line in fourth to secure his best DTM result to date, with Augusto Farfus in fifth.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 127 – Spengler 116 – Green 108
Valencia, 30th September 2012.
Maiden win for DTM rookie Augusto Farfus. Starting from pole position in only his ninth race, Farfus powers to a dominant victory. The title race is full of dramatic twists: Bruno Spengler jumps the start from 12th on the grid. The Canadian is handed a drive-through penalty and drops back down the field before fighting back to finish sixth. While Jamie Green finishes tenth behind Andy Priaulx and Dirk Werner, Paffett is forced to retire.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 127 – Spengler 124 – Green 109

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:26

Goodbye number 1.
Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk will bid farewell to the number 1 on his car this weekend That much is clear. The question is: who will he hand it over to? Martin obviously has his fingers crossed for fellow BMW driver Bruno Spengler.

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Martin Tomczyk will not find it easy to give up the coveted number 1. The BMW Team RMG driver has mixed emotions, however: “Having the number 1 on my car was obviously a privilege. However, it also means that you have to fight hard to do it justice. Unfortunately I have not had the luck I would have hoped for since the midway point of the season. As such, I will enjoy the final race with the number 1 on my car in Hockenheim all the more.”
Tomczyk knows how it feels to line up at a race with the possibility of winning a title. He secured his title in Valencia last year. “It is an indescribable feeling. You can have no idea how it feels unless you have actually experienced it yourself. After eleven years of racing in the DTM, I had finally achieved my goal.”
And how do you approach such a crucial weekend? “You just have to focus on yourself and take the tenth race exactly as you did the first nine,” said Tomczyk. “I obviously hope that Bruno Spengler will come out on top for BMW. Then I will fight to win my title back in 2013.”

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:27

Four BMWs in the top ten.
The tension is mounting in Hockenheim. Saturday morning’s free practice session gave the BMW drivers another opportunity to prepare for qualifying, with four BMW M3 DTMs landing in the top ten.
It is now just a few hours until the grid positions for the final race in Hockenheim will be determined. In a sun-drenched free practice session, the six BMW drivers gave the BMW fans a taste of potentially good things to come.

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Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) was fourth fastest, demonstrating that he could be a good bet for another good qualifying result in Hockenheim this time. At the season-opener, the BMW Team Schnitzer driver qualified in third for his first DTM race. At the end of the two 45-minute sessions, Augusto Farfus (Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM) was sixth fastest.
In eighth place was Martin Tomczyk (BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM), while Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) also appears to be feeling more and more at home in Hockenheim. The American continued in the good rhythm he showed yesterday to claim the last place in the top ten. Title contender Bruno Spengler (BMW Bank M3 DTM) took a more relaxed approach. The BMW Team Schnitzer driver was twelfth fastest this morning. Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) ended the free practice in 19th.

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:28

BMW driver Farfus claims second pole in a row.

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Augusto Farfus secured his second pole position of the season at the DTM season finale in Hockenheim.
Just as he did three weeks ago in Valencia, Farfus left the opposition trailing in the wake of his Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM in the final qualifying of the year, clocking the fastest time of 1:34.140 minutes. This was BMW’s fifth pole position on the tenth race weekend of the season.
Behind Farfus, the duel for the 2012 Drivers’ Championship is reaching an exciting climax. Bruno Spengler qualified third at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, just seven thousandths of a second behind the overall leader, Mercedes driver Gary Paffett. This is the third time, after the Lausitzring and Oschersleben, that BMW has had two drivers in the all-important top-four qualifying.
For the first time this season, five BMW drivers qualified in the top ten. Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM), Martin Tomczyk (BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM) and Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) will start from fifth, sixth and seventh respectively on the grid, rounding off BMW’s best qualifying result of the season. Andy Priaulx went out in “Q2” and will start the race from 14th in the Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM. All six BMW drivers progressed through “Q1” for the third time, after previously achieving this feat at the Norisring and in Valencia.

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:29

Reactions after qualifying.
Read here what BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, BMW Team RBM team principal Bart Mampaey and the drivers had to say after an exciting qualifying in Hockenheim.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“Once again, qualifying could hardly have been more exciting – Augusto Farfus and Bruno Spengler both produced another sensational performance. This is Augusto’s second pole position in a row and means we have started from the front of the grid on five occasions over the course of our comeback season. We have made it into the top ten with five BMW M3 DTMs. This is the first time we’ve achieved that. It was unbelievably close between Bruno and Gary Paffett, which means the fans can look forward to a thrilling finale on Sunday. We cannot wait for the final race of what has been a sensational season for us.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“Q4 was a real thriller. All four drivers produced very good laps, and Augusto Farfus managed to come out on top, just as he did in Valencia. It is great for BMW Team RBM, that we are in such good form at the end of the season. Augusto was very impressive in the third part of qualifying, which meant we had a small advantage with our tyres. That definitely helped a bit. However, he still had to go faster than Gary Paffett, Bruno Spengler and Mattias Ekström here in Hockenheim. That was a very impressive performance. I am proud of Augusto and the whole team.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 1st):
“I have to admit I didn’t expect to be on pole and believed a top five would be good. Then, when I made it to Q4, I realised we could try for pole, and it worked out. Many thanks to the team because we changed the car a little bit during qualifying and it worked well. This was good because we had a car that was difficult to drive yesterday, but we kept on working on it and this is the result. I feel after the first race here in April, when I was 19th on the grid, it is a big step forward.”
Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 3rd):
“First of all congratulations to my fellow BMW driver Augusto Farfus on his pole position. He showed everyone what potential he has and how quick he is. I am very happy with my third place. We had a few minor problems in practice this morning, but quickly managed to get on top of them. BMW Team Schnitzer did a great job. We can now look forward to a real showdown in the final race. It cannot get any better for the fans.”

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Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 5th):
“I am very happy with the final qualifying of the season, particularly after the difficult period I’ve gone through in recent weeks. However, BMW Team RMG has always supported and encouraged me. That was extremely important for me. I am proud to have bounced back with such a good result. My aim now is simply to enjoy tomorrow’s race and put on a good show for the many BMW fans.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 6th):
“I am not entirely happy with sixth, especially when I see that two of my team-mates made it into the final part of qualifying. Congratulations to Augusto Farfus on his second pole in a row. I’m now looking forward to an exciting race on Sunday.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 7th):
“My car was good enough to get a better result than seventh. Unfortunately my first flying lap was scratched because I left the track. That was a shame. However, seventh is a good starting position from which to score some good points again tomorrow. My team-mate Bruno Spengler is up there with the front-runners in third. It will be really exciting tomorrow.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 14th):
“The car had potential to be in the top ten and so did I, but I didn't bring the middle sectors together and you only need to make a small mistake or be slightly off in this game to be out. I did my best and there is a big race ahead of us so I shall do my best in that and see where we end up.”

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:30

BMW caps dream comeback with three titles: Spengler wins in Hockenheim.
A dream come true: A fourth win of the season at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM in the tenth and final DTM race of the year saw Bruno Spengler win the drivers’ title and cap an outstanding comeback season for BMW Motorsport.

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BMW also won the manufacturers’ title in Hockenheim, while BMW Team Schnitzer ended the season at the top of the team standings after a dramatic finale. Augusto Farfus, who started from pole position, came home in third to finish the season on the podium. Gary Paffett (Mercedes), who was leading the standings coming into the race, crossed the finish line in second.
Alongside Spengler, Dirk Werner (E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM) finished fifth to score a further ten valuable points for Team Principal Charly Lamm’s outfit. Andy Priaulx (Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) and Joey Hand (SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) also picked up points in seventh and eighth respectively. In doing so, they played a big role in BMW climbing from third to first in the manufacturers’ standings. Martin Tomczyk (BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM) came home in 14th having suffered damage to his car in the opening phase of the race.

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In a remarkable finale, Spengler was able to leapfrog Paffett at the top of the overall standings. A magnificent start allowed the Canadian to move into the lead on lap one, and he then set about pulling away from the chasing pack– a task made far easier thanks to the excellent pit stops performed by BMW Team Schnitzer. Paffett closed the gap to Spengler consistently after the second round of pit stops, but was unable to catch and overtake the champion, who showed nerves of steel in a dramatic climax to the season. Spengler ends the year on 149 points, just four more than Paffett in second.
After Volker Strycek (1984), Eric van de Poele (1987) and Roberto Ravaglia (1989), Spengler is now the fourth driver to clinch the DTM title in a BMW. BMW Team Schnitzer came through at the end of the season to win the team competition with 178 points.
In the manufacturers’ competition, BMW ended its comeback season in the DTM at the top of the championship on 346 points. Spengler, Farfus, Werner, Priaulx and Hand all finished in the points in Hockenheim – the first time five BMW drivers had come home in the top ten. Together, they picked up 60 points – enough to clinch the manufacturers’ title, despite BMW lining up with just six drivers, while its two rivals fielded eight cars at each race.
BMW Motorsport can look back on a DTM season, in which the three teams and six drivers exceeded all expectations with the BMW M3 DTM. As well as Spengler, who had previously won at the Lausitzring, Nürburgring and in Oschersleben, Farfus also joined the list of BMW DTM winners in Valencia. BMW also scored a further seven podiums, five pole positions and two fastest laps. All six BMW drivers finished in the points at least twice over the course of the season, with all three teams achieving podium finishes. BMW Team Schnitzer recorded six podiums, while BMW Team RMG and BMW Team RBM both claimed three each.

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Spengler was the most efficient driver of the season, scoring an average of 18.6 points per race finished. With 57.7 points per race, the six BMW drivers scored an average of sixteen points more than the eight Mercedes and the eight Audi drivers.
In winning the 2012 title, the BMW M3 has once again proven that it is at home in the DTM. To date, the most successful touring car of all time has 46 DTM wins to its name. Like Spengler this season, van de Poele 1987 and Ravaglia 1989 were also at the wheel of this BMW model when they claimed their DTM titles.

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:32

Reactions after the race in Hockenheim.
BMW Motorsport has capped its comeback season in the DTM in sensational style with Bruno Spengler winning the drivers’ title, BMW Team Schnitzer triumphing in the team competition and BMW finishing on top of Manufacturers’ Championship. Here you read the reactions.

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Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“The finale in Hockenheim was the crowning moment in what has been a perfect season for us. With his fourth win of the season, Bruno Spengler actually managed to win the Drivers’ title in BMW’s first year back in the DTM for 20 years. That is a sensational success, on which on behalf of BMW Motorsport I would like to congratulate Bruno and, of course, BMW Team Schnitzer. The fact Charly Lamm’s crew also finished top of the team competition and BMW won the Manufacturers’ Championship is the icing on the cake. BMW Team Schnitzer was also behind our last DTM title back in 1989. It is an absolutely unbelievable story that Charly and his boys are back on top almost a quarter of a century later. However, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG also have every reason to be happy with this season. Together, the three teams have achieved five wins, five pole positions and 12 podiums. All six of our drivers have scored points in 2012 and have left their mark on the season on more than one occasion. To be honest: we would not have dared to dream of a season like this. We have gone up against two ambitious and unbelievably strong opponents with a wealth of DTM experience. Our goal for the opening year was to learn and become competitive as soon as possible. That we have achieved far more than this and won three titles is testimony to the outstanding job done by the whole team – whether at BMW Motorsport in Munich, among our three teams, or in the cockpit by our drivers. A huge thank you to our partners, who have embraced the DTM adventure with us and given us fantastic support. I would obviously also like to thank the ITR and our competition at Audi and Mercedes-Benz. We have been made to feel very welcome in this series. Together we have treated the fans to ten exciting races and maximum tension right down to the final race. That just goes to show the concept of the new DTM has been a complete success. However, the biggest winners this year are the fans. It will take a while to realise exactly what has happened here in Hockenheim on this Sunday. The entire team has certainly earned a big party today. We can all be very proud of the 2012 season. We have all written another chapter in motorsport history."

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Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):
“I am speechless. This is a very big moment in the motorsport history of BMW Team Schnitzer. To win the title in a final race like that – in such a close battle that came down to Bruno’s nerves and perfect pit stops – fills me with an incredible amount of pride. It still hasn’t sunk in what just happened here.”
Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):
“What a fantastic result. I am happy for Bruno, for BMW for winning the manufacturers' championship and, of course, for BMW Team Schnitzer. I am also happy for BMW Team RBM because in the end I think we played an important role in the way this race unfolded. Unfortunately we didn't have the top pace to stay up front. It was very close in the pit stop with Gary (Paffett) but it was fair. I am happy with Augusto's podium and also with Andy's seventh from 13th on the grid. I am now looking forwards to the winter and next season.”
Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):
“We were all able to reap the rewards of the work we have put in all year long. BMW sent the best car out onto the track this season. This title belongs to us all. The incidents in the second half of the season have seen our team drop out of the race for the title, and we saw again today we still have some work to do before next season – particularly on our pit stops. Generally speaking, however, I would like to congratulate the team on our first season in the DTM. My team did a great job. I would obviously also like to congratulate Bruno Spengler, BMW Team Schnitzer and BMW Motorsport.”

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Bruno Spengler (car number 7, BMW Team Schnitzer, 1st):
“I can hardly believe we have won the title with BMW in our first year back in the DTM. Congratulations to my rival Gary Paffett, who performed brilliantly throughout the entire season and put up a fair fight. He would also have been a worthy champion. He is a great sportsman. He put me under a lot of pressure in the final race today. I spent a lot of time looking in the rear-view mirror and he just kept getting closer. However, I was able to maintain my pace and close the race out. My pulse was really racing. Thank you to BMW Team Schnitzer. My team did a great job all season. Once again, everything went exactly to plan today. In a race, in which we were under extreme pressure, the team did another amazing job on the pit stops. You never win on your own – only as part of a team. I am totally confused and have no idea how I should be feeling. Standing on the top step of the podium, raising the trophy to the sky and seeing all the many fans cheering for me is an amazing experience. I have waited for this for so many years. It is simply sensational.”
Augusto Farfus (car number 16, BMW Team RBM, 3rd):
“Congratulations to Bruno Spengler on winning the title. BMW’s return to the DTM has been awesome. Having five cars in the top ten in today’s race was crucial to winning the Manufacturers’ title. And to top it all off I was the best DTM rookie. Everything is perfect today. Ending the season on the podium is just fantastic.”
Dirk Werner (car number 8, BMW Team Schnitzer, 5th):
“What happened today is simply unbelievable. It feels great to be part of this magnificent project. The whole year has just been a dream for me. I can hardly believe my team-mate Bruno Spengler has been crowned champion in BMW’s first year back in the DTM. I am particularly proud to have played a role in BMW Team Schnitzer winning the team competition. We made motorsport history today. I will never forget this day.”
Andy Priaulx (car number 15, BMW Team RBM, 7th):
“I have to say well done to Bruno and to BMW Motorsport for the fantastic job they have done. I am proud to be a part of this amazing programme. As for me, I was confident of a good race after a great warm-up. I had a great start, but a really awkward first lap. I am happy to have finished in one piece. The car was very good.”
Joey Hand (car number 2, BMW Team RMG, 8th):
“Well done Bruno and everyone at BMW Motorsport. This was the way I wanted my season to end. I equalled my best qualifying session and then had my best finish. In the race it was the best car I have had this year. Unfortunately we had something happen on the first pit stop which cost us a lot of time. There was also a little issue in the second pit stop, which cost more time, then we were just in traffic and it is tough to race past those guys. This new team has stayed tough and bounced back from all our problems. I am pretty proud of what we have done this year.”
Martin Tomczyk (car number 1, BMW Team RMG, 14th):
“Congratulations to Bruno, BMW Team Schnitzer and everyone at BMW Motorsport. I know exactly how Bruno is feeling now. It is the best feeling you can have as a racing driver. To win the title with BMW in the very first year is simply sensational. I am pleased my start number ‘1’ will remain in the BMW family. Unfortunately my own season has been rather mediocre. The second half of the season, particularly with the four retirements, was very depressing. However, that is not important today.”

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:33

Pipped to the post four times, but finally reached his goal with BMW: A profile of DTM Champion Bruno Spengler.
Bruno Spengler has fulfilled his dream of winning the DTM title in Hockenheim. On the final straight of a thrilling season, the 29-year-old was able to fend off Gary Paffett (Mercedes), therefore continuing BMW’s success story in the DTM.

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Spengler had already fought for the title on four previous occasions in his successful DTM career – and lost by a close margin each time. The Canadian took on a new challenge in the 2012 season, and switched over to drive with BMW. After joining the legendary BMW Team Schnitzer, he immediately caused a sensation in his matt black BMW Bank M3 DTM sporting number 7.
However, he was first in a black BMW M3 a long time ago, so his first foray in the car didn’t occur in his test for BMW in Monteblanco at the end of 2011, or at the opening race of the 2012 DTM season in Hockenheim. “My dad had a black BMW M3 Coupé for a long time. I was still a small boy”, the new DTM Champion remembered. “The sound of the engine alone fascinated me. My dad often had to rev it for me.” Spengler is now a successful BMW racing driver and—with his four wins this season and his title victory—has taken up a lasting position as part of the impressive history of successes the brand continues to enjoy. “I’m proud to represent BMW. The fact we won the title together is just sensational,” he said.
Spenger spent his first years in the DTM with Mercedes. He began his career with the manufacturer in 2005 in the previous season’s car and was impressive from the very first race. The following year, Spengler catapulted himself forward with four victories in the DTM’s leading group and was second in the drivers’ rankings behind his team mate and DTM record-winning champion Bernd Schneider. In 2007, he fought for the title in the final race for the first time, but had to accept that the crown ultimately went to Mattias Ekström (Audi). In the end, just three points separated him from victory.
In 2008 and 2009, the new champion was ranked among the top five drivers each time at the end of the season, before making a renewed attack on the title in 2010. In a dramatic final in Shanghai, he lost the overall lead and had to congratulate Paul di Resta on his title win.
Last season, Spengler was leading the drivers’ rankings after six of the ten races, before his current BMW colleague Martin Tomczyk embarked on a brilliant final sprint to overtake him and snatch first place, a position he defended to the end. Spengler had to be content with third place, as he had been in 2010.
This year, his big moment finally came – and the number 1 was transferred within the BMW family from Tomczyk to Spengler, the racer who was born in Alsace, but who grew up in Montreal. Spengler settled into this new family quickly, and not only because of his sporting prowess. “I feel very happy with BMW, everyone has been very welcoming right from the first second I arrived”, he says. To be allowed to drive for BMW Team Schnitzer with all its tradition is a special honour to him: “It’s a pure piece of motorsport history. That I’ve been able to continue the success story of BMW Team Schnitzer means a great deal to me.”
Team Principal Charly Lamm, who was in the pit during Roberto Ravaglia’s title win in 1989, returned the praise early in the season. He quickly noticed that, in Spengler, he had found not just a practically flawless racing driver, but had also added a very straightforward man to his ranks who was admired by his teammates, fans and colleagues alike. “Bruno brings a lot of DTM experience to the team, which has undoubtedly done us good”, said Lamm. “At the same time, he is able to motivate the team, is always ready to listen, takes a lot of time for the fans, and doesn’t let anything upset him.”
After the festivities surrounding his title win, it will be up to Spengler to take some time out during the winter months to regain his calm and to get to grips with what he has achieved over the past ten DTM races. His favourite place to relax is in his Canadian homeland, in the woods far away from the hustle and bustle of the racetrack.
You’ll most likely find him also on a golf course or going down trails on cross-country skiing trips. The multitalented Spengler can’t have a holiday without sport. He knows from experience that it won’t take long until the itch sets in again and he’ll want to get back to preparing for the 2013 DTM season.
In 2013, the aim is to defend the title. And Spengler admits: “I’m even itching to start right now.”

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:33

Back at the top: A profile of BMW Team Schnitzer.
BMW Team Schnitzer specialises in achieving firsts at the DTM. In 1989, the Team from Freilassing made its debut in the “old” DTM, immediately taking the title with Roberto Ravaglia behind the wheel of a first generation BMW M3. In 2012, history repeated itself.

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together with BMW Motorsport, Team Principal Charly Lamm and his team returned to the DTM and carried on right where they had left off with Ravaglia’s two race wins at the end of the 1992 season in Hockenheim. Even the most loyal fans of BMW, however, would not have thought it possible that BMW Team Schnitzer would have the 2012 drivers’ and team titles to its name at the end of the comeback season.
BMW and Schnitzer has always been a successful combination. In 1963, Herbert Schnitzer founded the team together with his brother Josef. A year later, the team celebrated its debut in hillclimbing at Bad Neuenahr in a BMW 1800Ti. After numerous successes at the start of the team’s history, however, the family was shaken by the death of Josef Schnitzer in a fatal accident on his way to a race in Zolder. Ever since, Herbert Schnitzer has continued to steer the destiny of Schnitzer Motorsport with his half brothers Karl – called “Charly” – and Dieter Lamm.
In total, BMW Team Schnitzer has won 17 Championships with BMW in a career spanning nearly half a century. Its victories include the World Touring Car Championship in 1987, the DTM in 1989 and 2012, three European Touring Car Championships and further Championships in Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, North America and South East Asia. In 1999, it took outright victory at the Le Mans 24 Hour race in an open-top BMW V12 LMR prototype. The team has also been able to win the 24 Hour Races on the Nürburgring and in Spa Francorchamps five times each – in a BMW racing car, of course.
With his 2012 title win, Bruno Spengler can count himself among the illustrious list of drivers who have achieved victories and titles driving for BMW Team Schnitzer. This list reads like a “Who’s Who” of Motorsport. Thirty nine former Formula 1 drivers have taken the wheel for Schnitzer, including World Champions Keke Rosberg and Nelson Piquet. Spengler felt part of the team from day one, saying: “It is, and will remain, an honour for me to drive for BMW Team Schnitzer. When I was a kid, my dad raved about Schnitzer. It’s a pure piece of motorsport history.”
Anyone who, like BMW Team Schnitzer, has had regular success at the top of their game over such a long period of time can’t just say they’ve been lucky. Instead, it’s all about their know-how, intelligence and a great deal of hard work. Team Principal Charly Lamm brings all of these attributes to every race, dedicating himself body and soul when he’s controlling the fate of the team from the pit. “Charly is a great Team Principal”, confirmed Spengler. “You can feel his experience, and he remains infinitely cool, even in high-pressure situations. That continues to impress me more and more.”
Ravaglia, Spengler’s predecessor as DTM Champion with BMW Team Schnitzer, has even gone a step further, saying: “Charly Lamm is the best team boss that a driver could wish for. I am just surprised he’s never gone to Formula 1. He would have been successful in any series worldwide.”
Lamm has never cared much for glamour, however. The trophy cabinets in the “Hall of Fame” on Görlitzer Street in Freilassing are full to bursting. But the team is also used to making space for new trophies – like that won after the 2012 DTM season, and it goes without saying this latest trophy will not be their last. “At BMW Team Schnitzer, we’re proud of our tradition and of the past success we’ve enjoyed with BMW”, said Lamm. “But we’re not just going to stand there and dream about the past – we’re going to work hard every day to get more victories.”
Two thousand and thirteen is a new year, a year in which it will be seeking to defend number 1 on Bruno Spengler’s BMW M3 DTM.

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:34

DTM Champion Bruno Spengler: “This is a dream come true for me.”
Four wins, three pole positions and finally the long-awaited title: Bruno Spengler made DTM history in 2012. In an interview, the freshly crowned champion and BMW Team Schnitzer driver speaks about his emotions, the final laps in Hockenheim and his plans for the coming weeks.

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Bruno, how does it feel to be the DTM champion?
Bruno Spengler: “To be honest, I still really don’t know how or what I should feel. I am still at sixes and sevens and can hardly believe what has happened. I am just proud to be the first DTM champion for BMW after the big comeback. This is a dream come true for me. I have come close to winning the Drivers’ Championship a few times already, but it never worked out. And then I win the title in my first season with BMW. That is simply unbelievable. We have made motorsport history with this triumph. It will probably take me a few days to fully grasp what BMW Team Schnitzer and the entire BMW Motorsport team have achieved this season.”
How were the final laps in Hockenheim for you?
Spengler: “Honestly, I was really nervous. My heart was going mad and my pulse was up at 180. I kept looking in my rear-view mirror to see where Gary Paffett was, and just hoped I would finally see the chequered flag. Never in my career have I been so desperate for a race to end as I was in the finale in Hockenheim. When I did then cross the finish line, all the tension was released. I was totally happy and so overjoyed that I sang ‘We are the Champions’.”
What role did BMW Team Schnitzer play in your success?
Spengler: “In motorsport, you never win alone. A championship win is always a success for the entire team. Even out on the track, when I am sat in the car, I never have the feeling I am by myself. I can feel the support of the whole team. Everyone at BMW Motorsport has made a significant contribution to the success we have enjoyed this season. Even in the final race, when everything was at stake, we had a perfect car again. BMW Team Schnitzer did a sensational job again – and in a race in which we were obviously feeling the pressure. We wanted to make the most of our opportunity to win the title. We did not make any mistakes, and that is why we deserved to win in the end.”
Can you imagine what awaits you now as champion?
Spengler: “It will certainly be an exciting time. However, I do not see that as stress. What could be nicer than to be asked to do something as the champion. I have already received a lot of requests for interviews and to appear on TV programmes over the coming weeks. On top of that, I will also spend another three days in Maisach with the winners of the ‘Drive like Bruno’ promotion. I want everyone to see how enjoyable motor racing is and show how a professional drives. Then I have a few other appointments lined up in Munich. I am looking forward to everything, as I have worked long and hard to be celebrated as the champion at the end of a series. The fact that this happened in my first year with BMW is really sensational.”

BMW Power

22-10-12, 13:37

Bruno Spengler claims DTM championship crown with victory
Bruno Spengler (BMW) is the 2012 DTM champion: in a thrilling season finale at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg, he claimed victory in the race after 42 laps and thus claimed the DTM championship crown for the first time in his career. Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz), who had led the drivers’ standings prior to the finale, finished second behind Spengler and is runner-up. Eventually, Paffett (145 points) was four points down on the Franco-Canadian (149 points). Augusto Farfus (BMW), who started the race from pole position, finished third at Hockenheim.

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Race at glance
Air temperature: 16.5 °C  
Asphalt temperature: 24.4 °C 
Spectators during the race weekend: 128,000

Start Farfus takes the lead, Spengler slots into second. Paffett has problems getting away. He is fourth.
Lap 1 Hand has also overtaken Paffett. Under braking for the hairpin, Paffett gets through on the inside and is third again. Spengler has overtaken Farfus and is now leading. Tambay into the pits, he retires with damaged right rear suspension.
Lap 2 Spengler is leading from Farfus, Paffett, Ekström, Hand, Green, Mortara, Werner, Tomczyk. Rockenfeller, Frey into the pits. Frey continues, Rockenfeller retires.
Lap 6 Spengler's advantage over Farfus is 1.5 seconds, Paffett is 0.9 seconds behind Farfus. Tomczyk and Schumacher battling for tenth.
Lap 8 Wickens under investigation for pushing another car.
Lap 9 Coulthard and Vietoris tangle while battling for twelfth.
Lap 11 Spengler has extended his lead to 2.7 seconds. Farfus and Paffett both into the pits for their first mandatory stops. Ekström also into the pits.
Lap 12 Paffett exits the pit lane ahead of Farfus. Ekström is stuck along the track, the right front wheel has come off. Spengler, Green, Mortara, Vietoris, Molina into the pits.
Lap 13 Hand, Werner, Schumacher, Coulthard into the pits.
Lap 14 Wolff into the pits.
Lap 15 Paffett under investigation because of unsafe release. Scheider, Wickens into the pits. Debris from Schumacher's car on the main straight.
Lap 17 The gap between Spengler and Paffett is 3.6 seconds. Molina into the pits.
Lap 18 Priaulx, Coulthard, Albuquerque into the pits.
Lap 19 No further action against Paffett.
Lap 20 Wickens into the pits - he retires.
Lap 21 Mortara and Priaulx into the pits.
Lap 22 Schumacher into the pits. Coulthard and Scheider collide, Coulthard spins. Comes into the pits at the end of the lap. Wolff into the pits.
Lap 23 Farfus, Vietoris, Merhi into the pits. Scheider under investigation. Coulthard into the pits, retires.
Lap 24 Paffett into the pits.
Lap 25 Spengler, Green, Tomczyk into the pits.
Lap 26 Werner into the pits. Drive through for Timo Scheider because of pushing another car.
Lap 27 Molina off the track, stuck in the gravel trap at Sachs corner. Scheider comes in for his penalty.
Lap 28 Hand into the pits.
Lap 29 All drivers having completed their pit stops, Spengler is leading from Paffett, Farfus, Green, Werner, Mortara, Priaulx, Hand, Schumacher, Vietoris. Merhi into the pits.
Lap 32 1.8 seconds between Spengler and Paffett.
Lap 33 1.3 seconds between Spengler and Paffett.
Lap 34 Warning for Paffett because of leaving the track.
Lap 35 Warning for Merhi because of leaving the track.
Lap 36 1.2 seconds between Spengler and Paffett.
Lap 40 1.6 seconds between Spengler and Paffett.
Lap 41 Merhi under investigation. Merhi has to change position with Tomczyk, irregular overtaking.
Lap 42 Final lap.
Finish Bruno Spengler has won the race and is the 2012 DTM champion! Finish order: Spengler wins from Paffett, Farfus, Green, Werner, Mortara, Priaulx, Hand, Schumacher, Vietoris.

BMW Power

22-10-12, 14:02

DTM TV (http://www.dtm.tv/Index/Start/EN/1689#)

montoya

23-10-12, 08:55

A dream comeback....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt4b77A7o6g

BMW Power

24-10-12, 13:30

“Bruno Spengler has done unbelievably well”.
In an interview, team principal Charly Lamm spoke of Bruno Spengler's and BMW Team Schnitzer’s triumph in Hockenheim, how he felt the season had gone overall, and about both of his drivers.

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History has repeated itself: BMW Team Schnitzer has won the DTM in its first year back, echoing its first generation’s success in 1989, when Roberto Ravaglia was crowned champion behind the wheel of a BMW M3. The 2012 team, led as it was back then by Team Principal Charly Lamm, proved to be made of the right stuff, celebrating four victories and both the Drivers' and Team championships with Bruno Spengler. DTM newcomer Dirk Werner was also impressive over the course of the season’s ten races.
In an interview, Lamm spoke of BMW Team Schnitzer’s triumph in Hockenheim, how he felt the season had gone overall, and about both of his drivers.
Mr. Lamm, 23 years after your last DTM title, BMW Team Schnitzer has shot to the top once again. Have you managed to get to grips yet with what happened on Sunday?
Charly Lamm: “I’m simply very proud of BMW Team Schnitzer. The season final’s three-way battle between Bruno Spengler, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green was everything a motorsport fan could have wished for. Bruno’s good start was key. The team was also able to contribute to his success with some excellent pit stops, which helped Bruno stay ahead of Gary at the end and win the title. It was just unbelievable.”
Did you think such success was possible at the start of the season?
Lamm: “You never think about that. Half a year ago before the season-opener in Hockenheim, we asked ourselves what we could expect in the DTM. You naturally have ideas, goals and hopes going into a season. We set out to have a respectable start. And now Bruno is the champion, BMW has won the manufacturers' prize and we’re at the top of the team standings. It’s unbelievable. I’m also very happy for the team because it won the pit stop competition. This success shows how well we’ve found our bearings in the DTM after two decades away.”
The last time you won a title – in the American Le Mans Series – was 11 years ago…
Lamm: “Yes, although we have had other great successes in the meantime, including our victories in the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring. But winning one of the great titles is naturally always something very special. In the European Touring Car Championship, and also in the World Championship, we’ve always fought hard for the title and have sometimes lost by only a small margin. But we never doubted ourselves. It’s hardly possible to express the feeling now that we’ve managed to win the DTM title in our first year back. The demands of the new DTM are always immense. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have set the bar very high here over the years. We wanted to reach this bar as quickly as possible and then jump over it at some point in the future, and now we’ve even managed to set it a little bit higher ourselves.”
BMW Team Schnitzer was always one of the favourites in the past. This time it was seen more as an underdog. Was this role okay for you?
Lamm: “Our victory at the Lausitzring showed we were among the very best very early on in the season. We hadn’t expected to be doing quite so well. In the end we were able to improve with each race. We also continually built up our level of experience, which allowed us to progress even further. The whole team commanded a lot of respect at the start, and our earlier success spurred us on. Any place on the podium was seen as a bonus at that point, and as the season entered the final straight, we began to realise that we actually had a chance of winning the title. From that moment on, we all had the will to fight for this opportunity and to make the most of it. But we did this without feeling any pressure.”
Your drivers started from different positions. Dirk Werner was a DTM rookie and Bruno Spengler was an experienced DTM star. How did you find the performance of your drivers?
Lamm: “Dirk had a similar experience to us. He had to learn a lot and to realise that you quite simply have to do everything right in the DTM if you want to get by. After the strong start in Hockenheim, he had a couple of problems, but he then gradually managed to work back up to the front of the pack. We wanted to win his first points at the Norisring – and it worked. And from that moment on, his position kept on improving. Dirk got better with each race and has every reason to be proud of his performance – just like everyone else in the team.”
And the same goes for Bruno Spengler…
Lamm: “In the past, BMW Team Schnitzer has often had exactly the right driver at exactly the right moment. This was the case again with Bruno this year. We didn’t know each other before the season. We had only previously observed him in the DTM. We met each other for the first time at the first communal test. BMW’s decision to get Bruno and Dirk to drive for us was definitely a very lucky one. Bruno’s experience has done us a power of good. He has swept the team along and passed on his experience.”
How proud does it make you that Bruno Spengler has finally managed to win the title with BMW Team Schnitzer after so many attempts elsewhere?
Lamm: “In our team, the driver is always the hero. He sets the level of performance. For us, success is not just down to preparing the driver’s car perfectly, but also to having a good personal connection with the man himself. You can only achieve your goals if you work together. Bruno recognises this philosophy, and in this context he’s been able to prove he has nerves of steel. He’s done unbelievably well. And I am, of course, very happy we were able to help him win his first DTM title.”

BMW Power

25-10-12, 13:52

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yTbseuvi0w&feature=em-subs_digest-newavtr&list=TLVjlpV4yv8_k

BMW Power

01-11-12, 10:03

Alex Zanardi gets to drive a BMW M3 DTM.
Alex Zanardi will take to the track at the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM for the first time at the Nürburgring on Thursday 8th November.

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Thanks to the support of BMW, Alessandro Zanardi will add another chapter to his already remarkable sporting career: on Thursday 8th November the Italian will take to the track at the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM at the Nürburgring. The winner of two Paralympic gold medals and one silver in London was a guest in Munich on Wednesday, where he and the BMW Motorsport engineers went through all the points that need clarifying before this kind of outing – both from a technical point of view and with regard to safety. As a result of these discussions and tests on the car, the decision was made to start organising this drive. Zanardi lost both legs following a crash in 2001 and will be the first leg amputee to drive a DTM car.
“We are delighted to offer Alessandro Zanardi this outing in the BMW M3 DTM,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “He has been a member of the BMW Motorsport family for many years, so we are very keen to offer him this chance to drive the BMW M3 DTM. We will obviously have to make a few modifications to the car. A DTM car is considerably more complex than the BMW 320si WTCC, with which Alex won on four occasions for us in the FIA World Touring Car Championship. However, our engineers happily accepted this challenge. Alex once again made sporting history in London. He thrilled the fans with his appearance at the race in Hockenheim, and was there in person when we sensationally completed the clean sweep of the 2012 DTM titles. He is simply a fantastic person.”
Zanardi is looking forward to another adventure with BMW. “I would like to thank Jens Marquardt and all my friends at BMW Motorsport here and now for this unique opportunity. I always feel like coming back to my family when I’m here at BMW Motorsport. When I saw the BMW M3 DTM up close for the first time in Hockenheim, I found myself feeling like a racing driver again after all those months as a handcyclist. It is a great honour for any driver to get behind the wheel of such a fantastic car. I will enjoy every lap.”
The BMW M Power grandstand will be opened for interested spectators on 8th November, from 13:00hrs (start/finish straight, access between Ring-Boulevard and Ring-Werk).

BMW Power

01-11-12, 10:08

The 2012 DTM season – a success story
New vehicles, an ‘old’ new manufacturer and new regulations – the pleasant anticipation of the 2012 DTM season was huge. With their comeback following a 20-year break, BMW turned the duel between Audi and Mercedes-Benz into a three-way fight of the German premium-car manufacturers. In addition, the new regulations made for an extremely competitive field and the racing was as close as witnessed rarely, in the history of the most popular international touring-car series.

Gary Paffett and Jamie Green finished 1-2 for Mercedes-Benz at the season opener at Hockenheim:
142,000 fans just couldn’t wait for the latest sequel of ‘Three’s Company’ and made for a new attendance record, at the season opener in Hockenheim. And with a one-two of the British Mercedes-Benz aces Gary Paffett and Jamie Green, followed by Sweden’s Audi driver Mattias Ekström, the season began exactly as it had been expected by the majority of the pundits.

At the Lausitzring, however, the DTM enthusiasts and the pundits realised that the 2012 season possibly could turn out to be a very special one. As early as in the second race of the season, BMW was able to match the pace of their opponents. On the day after having given the DTM returnee from Munich their first pole position, Franco-Canadian Bruno Spengler made for a true sensation by also winning the race. And in addition, the new technical regulations also proved to be a success: In the qualifying session, the gap between the pole-sitter and the third-fastest driver amounted to just 0.043 seconds.

Round three at Brands Hatch was won by local hero Gary Paffett and in the fourth race, held at Austria’s Red Bull Ring, Audi was back on the highest step on the podium, with Italian Edoardo Mortara celebrating his maiden DTM win, at the wheel of the Audi A5 DTM. Paffett extended his championship lead by finishing third behind Martin Tomczyk (BMW).

Next stop Nuremberg: in the closing stages of round five, at the Norisring, Jamie Green wowed the crowds with a fantastic and successful chase to celebrate his first win of the season. With just three more laps to go, the 30-year old was only third but then, he passed Spengler for second position and in the final corner of the race, he stole the lead from 2011 DTM Champion Martin Tomczyk. For Green, it was the fourth Norisring win in the past five years.

Best season performance for Audi at Zandvoort: Mortara won ahead of Rockenfeller an Ekström
Following the successful stadium event in Munich, the 22 DTM drivers started into the second half of the season and the battle for the title got close and closer. At the Nürburgring, Bruno Spengler celebrated his second win in the season, thus establishing as toughest challenger of championship leader Gary Paffett. Nonetheless, the BMW driver still was 20 points behind. At Zandvoort – the season highlight for Audi, thanks to a one-two-three, courtesy of Edoardo Mortara, Mike Rockenfeller and Mattias Ekström – Paffett’s lead was reduced to 18 points as Spengler finished sixth and Paffett seventh. The race with two safety-car periods and numerous overtaking manoeuvres was one of the most thrilling ones in the season.

With his third win, secured in round eight in Oschersleben, Spengler definitely underlined his title ambitions. Once again he finished ahead of Paffett. The next stop on the calendar was Valencia – the final abroad race of the 2012 DTM season and the only race venue of the year Paffett had to leave empty-handed. Green scored just one point by finishing 10th while Spengler – who had hat to settle for having secured the poor 12th position on the grid – made the best of it by finishing sixth and reducing the gap to Paffett to just three points while his fellow BMW driver Augusto Farfus celebrated the first DTM win of a Brazilian in the history of the sport.

For the final showdown, the DTM fraternity travelled to the circuit that also staged the first round of the new era: the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg. Gary Paffett displayed a lot of fighting spirit and finished second in the qualifying session, right ahead of his title rival Bruno Spengler. But the BMW driver made the better start, passed Paffett right away and a little later, he also overtook Farfus, pole-sitter for the second consecutive time. Afterwards, however, Paffett drove a spectacular race, with his DTM Mercedes AMG C-Coupé, and pressurised Spengler to the max. But the Canadian and his BMW M3 DTM kept Paffett at bay throughout the race and at the end of the 42-lap race, Spengler crossed the finish line – accompanied by spectacular fireworks – as race winner and new DTM Champion.

In the end, a 2.2-second proved to be crucial in the battle for the DTM title, with Spengler getting the upper hand and winning the title with a four-point lead over Paffett. Altogether, 20 of the 22 drivers on the grid succeeded in scoring points, in this memorable season.

BMW Power

01-11-12, 10:08

BMW Power

01-11-12, 10:09

2013 DTM calendar - Debut appearance in Moscow

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11 races, one debut: in its 14th season since the revival back in 2000, DTM will enter virgin soil. For the first time in its history, the most popular international touring-car series is going to contest a race in Russia, next year. On 4th August, 2013, reigning DTM Champion Bruno Spengler and his fellow BMW drivers as well as his opponents representing the Audi and Mercedes-Benz camps will start into the race held at the new circuit located just outside of Moscow. With this new race at Russia’s capital, DTM keeps on pressing ahead with its internationalisation - just a week after the signing of a cooperation deal with the Japanese Super GT for the years from 2014.

“For DTM, the race in Moscow is an important step on the way to breaking into new markets,” says Hans Werner Aufrecht, Chairman of DTM rights holder and promoter ITR e.V. “For the series and our manufacturers - Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz - racing in a country such as Moscow represents a big chance of presenting themselves internationally in front of a new crowd.”

Nonetheless, DTM will remain rooted in Germany, with six of the eleven races of the 2013 season being held on German soil. Traditionally, the season will be kicked off at the Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg - on 5th May. The other German races will be held at the Lausitzring (16th June), Nuremberg’s Norisring (7th July), the Nürburgring in the Eifel region (18th August), the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (15th September) - and for the big season finale (20th October) DTM will return to Hockenheim.

In addition to the race at Moscow, the 2013 calendar comprises another four abroad races. On 19th May, DTM will race at Brands Hatch/UK and two weeks later (2nd June), the DTM teams and drivers will battle it out for championship points at Austria’s Red Bull Ring. On 21st July, Zandvoort, Netherlands, will be the venue of the next abroad race and on 29th September, DTM will be racing in Spain - with the venue still having to be determined.

At the same time, the event in Munich’s Olympic Stadium has lost its position on the DTM calendar. Following the two successful appearances in 2011 and 2012, ITR e.V. and Olympiapark GmbH jointly opted for not exercising the option for a third DTM appearance in the tradition-rich stadium. The reason: the wish to award points in this extraordinary event just couldn’t be realised.

“We had two great years in Munich’s Olympic Stadium and we thank all those involved for this opportunity to entertain the DTM enthusiasts in an unfamiliar environment and virtually right at their doorsteps,” says Hans Werner Aufrecht. “Meanwhile, we weren’t able to make the next step - turning the event into a championship round - as ensuring absolute equality of opportunities is just impossible, on a parallel racetrack.”

“We always made clear that there was only one way to establishing the DTM event in the Olympic Stadium as constant on the DTM calendar - by turning it into a championship round,” added Ralph Huber, the Olympiapark GmbH CEO. “That’s what we owe to the Munich crowds that are true sports enthusiasts. Nonetheless, we have to thank ITR for the extraordinary cooperation in the past two years.”

The 2013 DTM calendar at a glance*

5th May Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)
19th May Brands Hatch (GB)
2nd June Red Bull Ring Spielberg (A)
16th June Lausitzring (D)
7th July Norisring (D)
21st July Circuit Park Zandvoort (NL)
4th August Moscow (RUS)
18th August Nürburgring (D)
15th September Motorsport Arena Oschersleben (D)
29th September TBA
20th October Hockenheimring Baden-Württemberg (D)

* Subject to approval by FIA

BMW Power

05-11-12, 15:43

Charly Lamm: “Bruno Spengler has done unbelievably well”

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History has repeated itself: BMW Team Schnitzer has won the DTM in its first year back, echoing its first generation’s success in 1989, when Roberto Ravaglia was crowned champion behind the wheel of a BMW M3. The 2012 team, led as it was back then by Team Principal Charly Lamm, proved to be made of the right stuff, celebrating four victories and both the Drivers' and Team championships with Bruno Spengler. DTM newcomer Dirk Werner was also impressive over the course of the season’s ten races. In an interview, Lamm spoke of BMW Team Schnitzer’s triumph in Hockenheim, how he felt the season had gone overall, and about both of his drivers.

Mr. Lamm, 23 years after your last DTM title, BMW Team Schnitzer has shot to the top once again. Have you managed to get to grips yet with what happened on Sunday?
I’m simply very proud of BMW Team Schnitzer. The season final’s three-way battle between Bruno Spengler, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green was everything a motorsport fan could have wished for. Bruno’s good start was key. The team was also able to contribute to his success with some excellent pit stops, which helped Bruno stay ahead of Gary at the end and win the title. It was just unbelievable.

Did you think such success was possible at the start of the season?
You never think about that. Half a year ago before the season-opener in Hockenheim, we asked ourselves what we could expect in the DTM. You naturally have ideas, goals and hopes going into a season. We set out to have a respectable start. And now Bruno is the champion, BMW has won the manufacturers' prize and we’re at the top of the team standings. It’s unbelievable. I’m also very happy for the team because it won the pit stop competition. This success shows how well we’ve found our bearings in the DTM after two decades away.

The last time you won a title – in the American Le Mans Series – was 11 years ago…
Yes, although we have had other great successes in the meantime, including our victories in the 24-hour races at the Nürburgring. But winning one of the great titles is naturally always something very special. In the European Touring Car Championship, and also in the World Championship, we’ve always fought hard for the title and have sometimes lost by only a small margin. But we never doubted ourselves. It’s hardly possible to express the feeling now that we’ve managed to win the DTM title in our first year back. The demands of the new DTM are always immense. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have set the bar very high here over the years. We wanted to reach this bar as quickly as possible and then jump over it at some point in the future, and now we’ve even managed to set it a little bit higher ourselves.

BMW Team Schnitzer was always one of the favourites in the past. This time it was seen more as an underdog. Was this role okay for you?
Our victory at the Lausitzring showed we were among the very best very early on in the season. We hadn’t expected to be doing quite so well. In the end we were able to improve with each race. We also continually built up our level of experience, which allowed us to progress even further. The whole team commanded a lot of respect at the start, and our earlier success spurred us on. Any place on the podium was seen as a bonus at that point, and as the season entered the final straight, we began to realise that we actually had a chance of winning the title. From that moment on, we all had the will to fight for this opportunity and to make the most of it. But we did this without feeling any pressure.

Your drivers started from different positions. Dirk Werner was a DTM rookie and Bruno Spengler was an experienced DTM star. How did you find the performance of your drivers?
Dirk had a similar experience to us. He had to learn a lot and to realise that you quite simply have to do everything right in the DTM if you want to get by. After the strong start in Hockenheim, he had a couple of problems, but he then gradually managed to work back up to the front of the pack. We wanted to win his first points at the Norisring – and it worked. And from that moment on, his position kept on improving. Dirk got better with each race and has every reason to be proud of his performance – just like everyone else in the team.

And the same goes for Bruno Spengler…
In the past, BMW Team Schnitzer has often had exactly the right driver at exactly the right moment. This was the case again with Bruno this year. We didn’t know each other before the season. We had only previously observed him in the DTM. We met each other for the first time at the first communal test. BMW’s decision to get Bruno and Dirk to drive for us was definitely a very lucky one. Bruno’s experience has done us a power of good. He has swept the team along and passed on his experience.

How proud does it make you that Bruno Spengler has finally managed to win the title with BMW Team Schnitzer after so many attempts elsewhere?
In our team, the driver is always the hero. He sets the level of performance. For us, success is not just down to preparing the driver’s car perfectly, but also to having a good personal connection with the man himself. You can only achieve your goals if you work together. Bruno recognises this philosophy, and in this context he’s been able to prove he has nerves of steel. He’s done unbelievably well. And I am, of course, very happy we were able to help him win his first DTM title.

BMW Power

11-11-12, 08:54

Zanardi drives golden BMW M3 DTM.
While the DTM stars of BMW Motorsport are in action at the Nürburgring to celebrate “40 Years of BMW M”, Alex Zanardi makes his dream come true by driving a golden BMW M3 DTM.

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At 14:22hrs came the moment many people had been waiting for: in typically autumn weather in the Eifel region of Germany, Alessandro Zanardi left the pit lane at the Nürburgring and headed out onto the iconic track at the wheel of the BMW M3 DTM for the first time. Within just a few laps the 46-year-old had slotted seamlessly back into racing driver mode and looked more at home in the car with each of his 32 laps.
This unique opportunity was BMW Motorsport’s way of acknowledging the outstanding sporting achievements of Zanardi, who won two gold and one silver medal on his handbike at the Paralympic Games in London. In keeping with the occasion, the BMW M3 DTM sported a gold livery, specially designed for Zanardi. As well as the Italian’s image on the bonnet, the roof of the car also featured the three medals, which Zanardi won at this summer’s Paralympic Games having lost both legs in an accident in 2001.
“I am delighted we have taken on this adventure successfully with Alessandro Zanardi,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “For years he has been a valued member of the BMW Motorsport family and is a great role model for us all. Despite his handicap, he approaches every challenge with great optimism and passes every test with flying colours. His medals at the Paralympic Games in London are fine examples of this, as are the four race victories he achieved in the FIA World Touring Car Championship for BMW Motorsport. As we have seen today, the challenge of driving the technically complex BMW M3 DTM also proved to be no obstacle for him.”
“I am overjoyed to have been given the opportunity to drive the BMW M3 DTM today,” said Zanardi. “This is a very special day for me, and one I will always remember fondly. I would like to thank everyone at BMW who has helped make this special moment possible for me. It was a challenge to modify the car to meet my requirements and I am surprised just how quickly the BMW Motorsport engineers managed to complete the necessary modifications. However, the guys have done a great job. I had great fun out on the track. When I first saw the golden car I was overwhelmed. I still have a passion for racing. However, I’m not sure whether our demonstration drive will be anything more than just that, as the level in the DTM may possibly prove to be too high for someone of my age. As such, my main focus is on something completely different after today’s drive: I felt that the BMW family is still behind me and loves me. They showed that once again today.”
After the final race of the DTM season in Hockenheim, at which BMW sensationally won the drivers’, team and manufacturers’ titles, the BMW Motorsport engineers turned their attention to the preparations for this very special drive. While the modifications made to the BMW M3 DTM would not be suitable to be used under race conditions, they did allow Zanardi to complete this unique demonstration drive at the Nürburgring. Accelerator and clutch pedals were removed and the brake pedal was shifted to the right in order to allow Zanardi to brake with his prosthetic right leg. He operated the accelerator with his left hand on the steering wheel, while he was able to change gear by pushing and pulling the shift paddle. The application for the pneumatic-hydraulic clutch was located on the shift panel.
Zanardi’s outing in the BMW M3 DTM was one of the highlights of the three-day celebrations to mark the 40th anniversary of BMW M. Countless international media representatives were at the Nürburgring, where they were able to experience the history of BMW M at close hand and to meet the current crop of BMW DTM drivers – for interviews and in direct competition out on the track. The journalists went up against DTM champion Bruno Spengler and his fellow BMW drivers Martin Tomczyk, Dirk Werner, Andy Priaulx, Augusto Farfus and test and development driver Marco Wittmann in kart races and a competition to see who could perform the fastest tyre change. They were also given driving lessons in a Formula BMW racing car and experienced taxi rides and demonstrations with various BMW race cars.
At the “M Night” evening event, it was the turn of the original orchestrators of BMW M’s success, as well as former and current drivers and management, to have their say. They entertained guests with fascinating stories from throughout the 40-year history of the most powerful letter in the world.

InsaneDriver

12-11-12, 13:29

Mια καταπληκτική φωτογραφία από το DTM με e30 και e92...

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BMW Power

23-11-12, 13:39

European champion!
What an honour: the DTM has been named "European Racing Series of the Year 2012".

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This special accolade was awarded by a jury consisting of international motorsport experts and journalists at the Professional Motorsport World Expo in Colonge. BMW's return to the series resulted in an extraordinary year for the fans and a hat-trick of titles for the manufacturer in its first season back after an absence of 20 years. Works driver Bruno Spengler won the Drivers' Championship at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, while the manufacturer and team titles also went to BMW.

BMW Power

03-12-12, 11:56

Number seven.
BMW Motorsport celebrates magnificent 2012 and presents plans for the 2013 season. Marco Wittmann joins DTM driver line-up.

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BMW Motorsport celebrated the sensationally successful 2012 season with a glittering party in the hangar of the BMW Driving Academy in Maisach, during which it also presented its plans for the coming year. Under the slogan “Magic Moments”, the 300 guests from all areas of motorsport took another look back at BMW’s return to the DTM, which culminated in a hat-trick of titles, the many successes in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) and the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series in North America, and other racing series around the world, and the 2012 Formula BMW Talent Cup.
“We really have a sensational season behind us,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “In the DTM we went head to head against our competitors in the premium segment, and emerged triumphant. Furthermore, BMW drivers won races and titles in a whole host of different championships, emphatically demonstrating the sportiness and performance of our cars in the process. It all just goes to show that BMW and motorsport belong together.”
Thoughts also turned to the future, however. Marquardt used the celebrations to announce further details of BMW Motorsport’s programme for the 2013 season. BMW will line up with eight cars instead of six in next season’s DTM. New to the outfit is BMW Team MTEK with Team Principal Ernest Knoors. BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG will also represent the brand again. The six successful DTM drivers – champion Bruno Spengler, Augusto Farfus, Joey Hand, Andy Priaulx, Martin Tomczyk and Dirk Werner – also return in 2013. “All six of our drivers produced very good performances last season and contributed to BMW Motorsport winning the Manufacturers’ Championship,” said Marquardt. “For that reason, it is a logical step to put our faith in our sextet again in 2013.”
Marquardt also announced that current BMW Motorsport test and development driver Marco Wittmann would join the ranks as the seventh driver. “Marco spent the 2012 season preparing intensively for this opportunity,” he said. “He was a permanent part of the team throughout the entire year and was present in every meeting. He knows the processes just as well as the other drivers. Furthermore, his tests in the BMW M3 DTM showed he is more than capable of coping with the DTM. As such, he fully deserves a DTM seat in 2013.” The driver to occupy the cockpit in the eighth DTM next season will be announced at a later date.
The same goes for the BMW driver line-up in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). BMW will again compete in this series next year. However, they will no longer be using the BMW M3 GT. Instead, BMW Motorsport and BMW of North America will turn to the new GTE version of the BMW Z4 GT3. “This change in model shows that we are focussing fully on the BMW Z4 as an all-encompassing GT car,” said Marquardt. “The BMW Z4 GT3 has been very successful on the GT3 scene in recent years, and has proven its ability to win races. I am confident this car will also play a major role as a GTE car in the ALMS.” The BMW M3 GT has been in action in the ALMS since 2009. It was with this car that BMW and BMW Team RLL won the team and manufacturer titles in the GT class in 2010, and then completed the hat-trick – driver, team and manufacturer titles – in 2011. In total, the car won seven races in four seasons.
The BMW Z4 GT3 also proved to be a successful model last season. BMW Sports Trophy winner Biagi and Stefano Colombo won the Italian GT Championship for BMW Team Italia. BMW drivers also celebrated victories in many other national championships at the wheel of the most prominent member of the product range at BMW Motorsport Distribution. BMW privateers were equally successful in hard-fought international series held in accordance with GT3 regulations: in the FIA GT1 World Championship, the Vita4One Racing team won four races and took the title race right down to the wire. The Marc VDS Racing team narrowly missed out on the title after a dramatic season finale in the Blancpain Endurance Series. BMW Motorsport will line up with the BMW Z4 GT3 again in all these series in 2013. The same applies for the 24-hour classics at the Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps and in Dubai. In the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), the privateers will continue to put their faith in the BMW 320 TC, with which Norbert Michelisz won the Independents' Trophy in 2012. “There are no better ambassadors for the BMW brand than all the racing drivers who do battle for victories at the wheel of a whole host of BMW cars in a wide range of series,” said Marquardt. “Providing privateer teams and drivers with competitive cars and seeing them at the front of the field is in BMW Motorsport’s DNA.”
The next round of BMW’s promotion of junior drivers will continue with the Formula BMW Talent Cup. Marvin Dienst was crowned as the most successful driver on the junior programme in 2012 and is now enjoying financial support from BMW as he takes the next step in his career. Next season, aspiring young drivers will once again attempt to follow in the footsteps of famous Formula BMW graduates like Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg and Nico Hülkenberg. “The promotion of junior drivers has always been an important component of BMW’s motorsport programme,” said Marquardt. “The Formula BMW Talent Cup has continued in this tradition since 2011. It allows talented youngsters, having started out in karting, to take the next step and uses a well-thought-out training programme to guide them towards a career in motor racing. The last two seasons have shown this concept is bearing fruit.”

EVANGELOS

08-12-12, 14:27

και πίσω πολύ πίσω το κασόνι !!! αφιερωμένο στους φανς των ταξί

BMW Power

23-01-13, 09:51

DTM-Champion Bruno Spengler decorated at the ‘DMSB Gala’

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At the DMSB’s (German Motor Sport Association) ‘Gala der Meister’, Bruno Spengler was decorated for having won the 2012 DTM title. The BMW works driver, perfectly relaxed after a multi-week holiday in his home country Canada, was presented his trophy in a hotel in Frankfurt by DMSB President Hans-Joachim Stuck. In addition to Spengler, Charly Lamm, the Team Principal of the Schnitzer Team, and BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt also were decorated for having won the team and manufacturer titles respectively. Gary Paffett (Mercedes-Benz) and his former team-mate Jamie Green – who switched to Audi, this winter – received the trophies for having finished second and third in the drivers’ championship.

“My personal Christmas took place on 21st October when we secured the title,” revealed Spengler. “So, I didn’t need another Christmas present on 24th December. The championship triumph represented a dream come true for all of us.” In the season finale, held on 21st October at Hockenheim, Spengler succeeded in stealing the title from the previous championship leader Paffett. “I also have to thank the DTM organisers,” added Spengler. “Three manufacturers on the same level – that’s sensational motor racing. Thank you that we have got such a great championship series.”

Meanwhile, Gary Paffett and Jamie Green promised to give Spengler an extremely hard time, in 2013. “We didn’t make a lot of mistakes, in 2012,” said Paffett. “But I’m going to work harder than ever, this year, and want to make another step forward.” His compatriot Jamie Green regards his switch to Audi as a new challenge: “I’m proud of my years in the Mercedes camp but this year will represent a new beginning, for me. That’s good for me and my career,” underlined the Briton.

According to Jens Marquardt, BMW is going to opt for the same approach for the title-defence campaign as the one used by the Bavarians in their successful comeback season. “We will plan exactly as we did last year,” he said. “I hope that we will be able to provide the fans and crowds a season that will be just as thrilling as the previous one.” Charly Lamm still gets the goose bumps when thinking of last year’s successes. In the run-up to the BMW comeback in DTM he was ‘Shaking in his boots, at times,” admitted the Team Principal. “But BMW provided us with an outstanding car and we fell in love with Bruno right away.”