ÅðéóôñïöÞ óôï Forum : Ready for the endurance season.
Ready for the endurance season.
BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS officially presented its team for the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
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Maxime Martin and Marco Wittmann, two of BMW Motorsport¢s current crop of DTM drivers, will support the Belgian team in the “Green Hell”. Martin and Wittmann will alternate at the wheel of the number 25 BMW Z4 GT3 with the experienced pair of Jörg Müller and Uwe Alzen. The second car, number 26, will be driven by Markus Palttala, Nick Catsburg, Bas Leinders and Dirk Adorf. The driver line-up for the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps will be announced at a later date.
“We¢ve learned a lot about the car and as a team in the last couple of years,” said team principal Leinders. “For this reason, we are as well prepared as ever for the challenges ahead. It is fantastic to once again be able to count on BMW Motorsport as a partner.” In preparation for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, which will be held for the 42nd time this year, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS will contest four rounds of the VLN Endurance Championship and the qualifying race on 5th/6th April.
VLN http://www.vln.de/en/index.html
Podium for BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert as season gets underway on the Nordschleife.
29.03.2014
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29th March 2014, VLN Langstreckenmeisterschaft Nürburgring, Round 1, Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE). Martin Tomczyk (DE), Jens ...
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Nürburgring (DE), 29th March 2014. Brilliant sunshine, action aplenty and three BMW Z4 GT3s in the top five: fans at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE) were treated to a thrilling opening round of the VLN Endurance Championship on Saturday. After 28 laps of the “Green Hell”, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, with drivers Martin Tomczyk (DE), Jens Klingmann (DE) and Dominik Baumann (AT), came home third at the 60th ADAC Westfalenfahrt. Their number 20 BMW Z4 GT3 crossed the finish line 2:27.254 minutes behind victorious Audi drivers Frank Stippler (DE), Marc Basseng (DE) and Laurens Vanthoor (BE).
Tomczyk and co were followed home by the two BMW Z4 GT3s run by BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS. Bas Leinders (BE) and Nick Catsburg (NL) finished fourth in the number 26 car, with team-mates Jörg Müller (DE) and Marco Wittmann (DE) fifth.
It looked for a long time as though the second BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert car, with Dirk Werner (DE), Lucas Luhr (DE) and Alexander Sims (GB) at the wheel, was also on course for a podium finish. However, the number 19 car was forced to retire shortly before the end of the race after Sims crashed in the Aremberg section of the circuit. Uwe Alzen (DE) and Philipp Wlazik (DE) were also running in the top three in the number 2 BMW Z4 GT3 until a puncture forced their retirement.
A number of new BMW M235i Racings, which were officially handed over to BMW customer racing teams at the Nürburgring this week, also made their competitive debuts at the opening round of the VLN season. Guido Wirtz (DE), Christopher Rink (DE) and Oleg Kvitka (DE) of the Adrenalin Motorsport team won the CUP5 category after four hours at the wheel of their number 668 car. The privateer BMW teams will battle it out for points in the BMW M235i Racing Cup class for the first time at the second VLN race of the year on 12th April. BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert and BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS will also be in action with the BMW Z4 GT3 at the 39th DMV 4-Hour Race. Before then, the qualifying race for the Nürburgring 24 Hours is scheduled for this coming weekend.
Martin Tomczyk (3rd place, Number 20 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert):
“It feels good to start the season with a podium. The focus for us was obviously on continuing our preparations for the 24-hour race. As a racing driver, however, you always want to get a good result, and we did exactly that today. The team did a great job and I now head to next week¢s DTM tests in Budapest with plenty of momentum.”
Dominik Baumann (3rd place, Number 20 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert):
“This third place shows both the team and drivers have done a good job so far. Knowing that you are in the frame right from the start of the season gives everyone in the team a lot of confidence. My stint went to plan, and there were not too many yellow flags. The final phase was far more complicated for Jens Klingmann. We are happy with this result – and will now continue to work hard.”
Jens Klingmann (3rd place, Number 20 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert):
“Personally, I did not find it very easy to get a good rhythm at the end. There was one yellow flag after another, and it would have been easy to lose track of what was going on. With that in mind, we can be very happy with the result. Our car is running well and we covered the distance without any technical problems. There was also a good chemistry between the drivers. It all fills me with optimism for the challenges ahead.”
Nick Catsburg (4th place, Number 26 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS):
“I just love this circuit. I drove a VLN race on the Nordschleife in 2013 – and we won. Now we have made a good start to the season, finishing fourth.The Nürburgring seems to suit the BMW Z4 GT3, and thankfully I also enjoy it here. However, I am well aware that I still have a lot to learn.”
Marco Wittmann (5th place, Number 25 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS):
“It was good to be back racing on the Nordschleife after two years. The atmosphere here is awesome. Third place in qualifying was a good start, but we were a bit unlucky in the race. Despite a stop-and-go penalty we were still running in the top three when we suffered a set-back with a puncture. The fact that we had climbed back to fifth place by the end just goes to show what fighting spirit we have.”
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Innovative Laserlight.
Endurance fans at the qualifying race for the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife will be witness to a world first on Sunday.
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After BMW announced the first-ever use worldwide of laser light technology in a production vehicle, BMW Motorsport is now also the first manufacturer to compete at a race with this innovation. The four BMW Z4 GT3s run by BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert and BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS are being equipped with innovative headlamps, similar to those which will also be available for the BMW i8 from the autumn of 2014. With this, the BMW Z4 GT3 heralds a new era in headlamp technology in motorsport.
“It is no coincidence that the first time we use the new laser light technology in a race will be on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “As a demanding test laboratory, this circuit has always played a key role in the development of BMW cars and our racing cars. For this reason, I am delighted we can now achieve another milestone there with the first use of laser light at a racing event. Highly-efficient laser headlamps are an important safety factor, particularly at the 24-hour race on the Nordschleife. Qualifying on Saturday gives our BMW Sports Trophy Teams – Schubert and Marc VDS – the ideal opportunity to run the new technology under competition conditions for the first time before the big race at the end of June.”
The idea of developing a new generation of headlamps based on laser technology dates back to 2009 at BMW. Series development of the BMW Laser Light commenced two years later, making it possible to launch the BMW i8 Concept with laser headlamps at the 2011 IAA in Frankfurt. BMW Laser Light technology experts have been working hand in hand with BMW Motorsport engineers since mid-2013, in order to allow the new technology to be used on the racetrack.
High-performance and high-efficiency: equipping the BMW i8 with BMW Laser Light increases its high beam range to about 600 metres, while at the same time reducing electricity consumption by about 30 per cent. However, the main benefits for the drivers out on the racetrack in the BMW Z4 GT3 are the perfect illumination of the track and the ability to adjust the headlamps to suit the driver¢s preferences – and all without blinding other traffic.
Laser diodes are ten times smaller than conventional light diodes. They help to save not only available installation space inside the headlamp, but also weight. This is made possible by the brighter light from the newly developed laser light sources, thus making it possible to reduce the size of the reflector surface by a factor of up to ten compared to LED light. The reflector is only three centimetres high.
Several high-performance diodes emit a strongly bundled beam via special lenses onto a fluorescent phosphorus substance inside the headlamp. This substance transforms the beam into an exceptionally bright white light, which is similar to daylight. This in turn improves the driver¢s visibility in the dark, thus having a positive effect on safety at endurance races. The brightness has been increased by more than 40 percent compared to the xenon headlamps used up to now in the BMW Z4 GT3.
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Succesful Sunday at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
The BMW Sports Trophy Teams Marc VDS and Schubert finished the qualifying race for the Nürburgring 24 Hours in the top four spots. Victory went to Maxime Martin, Marco Wittmann and Uwe Alzen.
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The trio in the number 25 BMW Z4 GT3 relegated the car of BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, driven by Jens Klingmann, Dominik Baumann and Claudia Hürtgen, into second place. Their team-mates, Dirk Werner, Dirk Müller, Lucas Luhr and Alexander Sims, in the number 19 BMW Z4 GT3 finished third. The second vehicle from BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS with Bas Leinders, Markus Palttala, Nick Catsburg and Dirk Adorf rounded off the one-two-three-four result perfectly after six hours.
Starting from 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th on the grid, the BMW Z4 GT3s drove consistent lap times throughout the race, and didn't show any signs of technical problems. With a clever strategy and their rivals suffering various problems, the BMW teams kept moving up through the field and were able to spend the last hour of the race focussing on bringing the cars home. All four BMW Z4 GT3s celebrated a world debut on Saturday when they were the first to be kitted out with the innovative BMW laser light technology.
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Alexander Mies celebrated his debut as a BMW Junior in the number 25 BMW M235i Racing. He shared the BMW Motorsport car with former MotoGP rider Alex Hofmann and the British specialist racing journalist Jethro Bovingdon. The trio finished the race an excellent 17th overall.
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Maxime Martin (1st place, Number 25 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS):
“It's a great result for us, which we couldn't necessarily expect after qualifying. My team-mates, Marco and Uwe, did a fantastic job.”
Jens Klingmann (2nd place, Number 20 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert):
“We concentrated on a set-up that worked better in the race than in qualifying. In qualifying we saw we had a lot of work to do. But we were consistent and reliable, and that's what counts on the Nordschleife. We were also lucky, of course, that our rivals had to contend with problems.”
Dirk Werner (3rd place, Number 19 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert):
“It was an important test for us. Being able to drive so many laps with relatively little traffic on the track, and to get into the swing of things was invaluable with regard to the 24-hour race. The car held up very well, but it's quite difficult to say what this result means. So many top cars had problems or didn't start with their best drivers. But the most important thing is that we qualified in the top ten and are, therefore, in the top 30 qualifying in June.”
Bas Leinders (4th place, Number 26 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS):
“We knew from the start that we don't currently have the quickest vehicle in the field, but it was very reliable. We only had a few problems with the tyres. Our strength is that we have four cars with an almost identical squad of drivers.”
Alex Hofmann (17th place, Number 235 BMW M235i Racing, BMW Motorsport):
“It was a fantastic weekend with a great car. We were able to complete a lot of testing laps with the vehicle without any major problems, and also get to know each other as a team very well. It was great to see how we consistently improved throughout the weekend. We couldn't have imagined finishing 17th overall.”
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Another victory on the Nordschleife.
BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS claimed another victory as preparations continue towards the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
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After four hours of racing, Dirk Adorf and Nick Catsburg crossed the finish line first in the number 26 BMW Z4 GT3 to win the third round of the VLN Endurance Championship. This was the first win of the season for both drivers, with Catsburg clinching his second victory in only his third VLN race ever. Having previously won the qualifying race for the Nürburgring 24 Hours, this was win number two in the Eifel Mountains for BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS this year.
The second car, with Maxime Martin, Jörg Müller and Marco Wittmann at the wheel, was also in the top five until the final round, but then an accident prevented it from finishing the race. As such, it was awarded twelfth place. Uwe Alzen and Philipp Wlazik of the Uwe Alzen Automotive team finished an impressive fourth in their BMW Z4 GT3. Ralf Oeverhaus and Henry Walkenhorst of the Walkenhorst Motorsport team were ninth.
Victory in the second race of the BMW M235i Racing Cup class went to Max Partl and Jörg Weidinger of the Scheid-Partl Motorsport team. At the end of a close race, it was the “Eifelblitz” who came home first ahead of Emin Akata and Michael Schrey of Walkenhorst Motorsport and Rent2Drive Racing¢s David Ackermann, David Griessner and Jörg Wiskirchen.
Dirk Adorf (1st place, #26 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS):
“Everything came together today. I am absolutely delighted with this win. I have a strong team and a very consistent and quick team-mate to thank. Nicky has now won two of his first three VLN races so far. He deserves the utmost respect for that achievement. Most of all, however, I am pleased that we had a car today, in the BMW Z4 GT3, which also ran well and without any problems when forced away from the racing line. That will be very important at the 24-hour race. And winning that is obviously the ultimate goal.”
Nick Catsburg (1st place, #26 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS):
“I have no idea why I am enjoying such success on the Nordschleife. Two wins in three races – that is incredible. However, I am also helped hugely by having a fantastic team around me. I am confident we can have a good 24-hour race, but you must always bear in mind that it will be six times longer than this race.”
Maxime Martin (12th place, #25 BMW Z4 GT3, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS):
“The accident on the final lap is obviously a real shame, as we were on track for a good result. Luckily there were no injuries. On the whole, however, it was a good performance. We learned a lot again, and saw that it is possible to win races with the BMW Z4 GT3.”
Johannes Scheid (Team Principal Scheid-Partl Motorsport, 1st place BMW M235i Racing Cup class):
“It is always great to get a class win. A few yellow flags made it rather close again towards the end of the race, but I never had any doubt that we would come out on top. The BMW M235i Racing bore up well. We are really happy with the car. There is obviously still room for improvement, but we are receiving very good support from BMW Motorsport in that regard. The overall standings in the VLN look pretty good for us at the moment, but the season is still far too young to pay much attention to them.”
BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS with strong driver line-up for home race – More BMW Z4 GT3s in action in the Ardennes.
05.06.2014
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Nürburgring (DE), 26th April 2014. VLN, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, BMW Z4 GT3, Dirk Adorf, Nick Catsburg.
Munich (DE), 5th June 2014. As well as the Nürburgring 24 Hours (DE) on 21st/22nd June, BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS is also preparing for the second highlight of the 2014 endurance season: the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps (BE). The Belgian team will field two BMW Z4 GT3s at its home race in the Ardennes on 26th/27th July, and is putting its faith in a strong driver line-up bolstered by BMW works drivers: Jörg Müller (DE) and the two BMW DTM drivers Maxime Martin (BE) and Augusto Farfus (BR) will share one cockpit. In the second car, Team Principal Bas Leinders (BE) will share the driving duties with BMW works driver Dirk Werner (DE) and Markus Palttala (FI).
“After the Nürburgring, the endurance classic in Spa-Francorchamps is not only another highlight of the season for BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, but also for BMW Motorsport,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “After struggling with technical issues and not achieving the results we had hoped for last year, we are extremely motivated to succeed in this year¢s race. You could say that the BMW Z4 GT3 has a score to settle with this classic. BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS will be joined in the Ardennes by numerous other BMW customer teams. It will certainly be another exciting race.”
The provisional entry list for the 24-hour race includes the ROAL Motorsport and TDS Racing teams, as well as Ecurie Ecosse. For these three teams, the Spa-Francorchamps 24 Hours also represents the highlight of the Blancpain Endurance Series season.
Quotes from the BMW Sports Trophy Teams Marc VDS drivers:
Bas Leinders (driver and Team Principal): “The 24-hour race in Spa is our home event, which obviously makes it a very special race for us. I am pleased that we are once again able to compete with two very strong driver line-ups this year, thanks to the support of BMW Motorsport. The BMW Z4 GT3 is extremely reliable this season. As a result, we are confident we can make it onto the podium this year, after finishing fourth in 2012 and last year¢s misfortune.”
Jörg Müller: “It is great to be back at the 24 Hours of Spa. Together with Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus, we have assembled a really strong trio. The BMW Z4 GT3 has been very impressive this season, so I am confident we will challenge for a top result in Spa.”
Maxime Martin: “I have been racing at the 24 Hours of Spa since 2006, so it is definitely my home race. I think I have a good chance alongside my team-mates Augusto and Jörg, as they have both experience and speed – everything you need to be successful in an endurance race.”
Augusto Farfus: “I am very much looking forward to taking part in one of the biggest races for GT cars. I see no reason why we shouldn¢t have a chance of winning with the BMW Z4 GT3 and such a strong trio of drivers. This will be my first outing at this classic. It means an awful lot to me, as I will have competed at all the major 24-hour races in the world by the end of the weekend.”
Dirk Werner: “The 24-hour race in Spa is one of my favourite races. I have fond memories of my races in 2010 and 2011, both of which I ended on the podium. The track is a highlight for me and, with what is a very durable BMW Z4 GT3 this year and my strong team-mates, we can hopefully be right up there among the front-runners again.”
Markus Palttala: “I really love the circuit in Spa, it¢s my absolute favorite. I¢ve been a part of the 24-hour-race from the beginning of its GT-era. My first start was back in 2000 and this will be my 14th. So I know what to expect and how to deal with the special challenges of such a marathon. I¢ve won the class there, but my dream is to win it outright once in my career. We finished fourth in 2012 and were leading last year with the BMW Z4 GT3, so I know we have a package to do it if we get everything right.”
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Two BMW Z4 GT3s in the top ten.
An eventful weekend at Circuit Park Zandvoort: rain, wind and a safety car phase transformed the third round of the season into a thriller on the North Sea coast.
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And it ended well for the BMW Sports Trophy teams: two BMW Z4 GT3s finished in the top ten. BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert enjoyed a successful debut. The team from Oschersleben was making its first appearance on the grid with the BMW Z4 GT3, and clinched a podium at the first attempt. Dominik Baumann and Thomas Jäger finished runner-up in the #76 BMW Z4 GT3. Matheus Dall´Agnol Stumpf and Nelson Piquet Jr. of the AutOrlando Sport team came home in eighth place. Stefano Colombo and David Fumanelli were twelfth for ROAL Motorsport. Sergio Jimenez and Caca Bueno of BMW Sports Trophy Team Brazil crossed the finish line in 14th place.
Spa: Six BMW Z4 GT3s and 24 hours.
This weekend, the iconic Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium is the venue for the next highlight of the 2014 endurance season. The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps sees four BMW teams in action, fielding a total of six BMW Z4 GT3s in the Ardennes marathon.
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A host of BMW works drivers will bolster the driving line-up within the individual teams. The race forms the highlight of the season in the Blancpain Endurance Series.
BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS from Belgium will run two BMW Z4 GT3s in the Pro Cup category at its home race. At the wheel of the number 66 car will be the two BMW DTM drivers Maxime Martin, who recently claimed his maiden victory in the DTM, and Augusto Farfus. They are joined by BMW works driver Jörg Müller. The second car, number 77, will be driven by BMW works drivers Lucas Luhr and Dirk Werner, alongside Markus Palttala.
The TDS Racing team competes at the “Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps” with two BMW Z4 GT3s in the Pro-Am Cup category. BMW works driver Jens Klingmann joins Henry Hassid, Nick Catsburg and Pierre Thiriet in the cockpit of the number 12 car. The French quartet of Eric Clément, Benjamin Lariche, Nicolas Armindo and Olivier Pla will share driving duties in the number 10 TDS Racing car.
Another BMW works driver, Alexander Sims, is taking on the challenge of Spa-Francorchamps: he will drive a BMW Z4 GT3 for Ecurie Ecosse alongside Olivier Bryant, Andrew Smith and Alasdair McCaig. The sixth BMW Z4 GT3 in the field belongs to ROAL Motorsport, and its team principal Roberto Ravaglia. Stefano Comandini, Eugenio Amos, Stefano Colombo and Michela Cerruti will alternate behind the wheel of the number 43 car. Ecurie Ecosse and ROAL Motorsport start in the Pro-Am Cup category.
The 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps gets underway at 16:30 on Saturday 26th July. The race finishes at 16:30 on Sunday 27th July.
Quotes ahead of the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps.
Maxime Martin (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, Number 66):
“It is great to be back at Spa-Francorchamps. It is my home race and the most important race in Belgium. I know BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS pretty well and I think we have a really good line-up this year, composed of very experienced and fast drivers. That is important for a 24-hour race: you need experience and speed. So I think with this line-up we are well prepared. My DTM win in Moscow has obviously given me a confidence boost ahead of my home race.”
Augusto Farfus (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, Number 66):
“I am extremely motivated because Spa-Francorchamps is a brilliant track. I have really fast team-mates and we have a strong team behind us. Our car is extremely good in the infield. Therefore, I think we definitively have a chance to fight for the overall victory. In addition, Spa is the only one of the five most important 24-hour races which I have not yet contested. I have already raced in Dubai, Daytona, Le Mans and at the Nürburgring with BMW, and now I will compete at Spa. This makes me extremely proud.”
Lucas Luhr (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, Number 77):
“I am really looking forward to Spa. The circuit in the Ardennes is in a beautiful location, and I always describe it as a ¡mini Nordschleife¢ with all its uphill and downhill sections. What makes the 24 Hours of Spa so challenging is the incredible number of cars on the track – and they are all GT3 cars. We have seen in recent years that the race has been more and more fiercely contested. It is important to get through the traffic as well as possible. However, that is not so easy, as all the cars are roughly as quick as each other – in theory, at least.”
Dirk Werner (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, Number 77):
“The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is special because only GT3 cars compete there. You don¢t get that anywhere else. This means that all the cars on the track are also direct rivals, which is a special challenge. The circuit is great. Together with the Nürburgring it is one of my favourite racetracks. Because of this, I am very much looking forward to the weekend. The race will be very tiring. There are a lot of quick corners, but not many opportunities to catch a breather. You always have to wait and see how races like this develop. However, I feel we have the total package to be right up there at the very front of the field.”
Jens Klingmann (TDS Racing, Number 12):
“I drove at Spa-Francorchamps last year, and am delighted to be back again this year. The TDS Racing team may be new to me, but we spent a successful test day together. I was well received by everyone in the team. We compete in the Pro-Am class, which means that Nick Catsburg and I will share the cockpit with two gentlemen drivers. That will be interesting. We are well prepared and have our sights set on victory in the Pro-Am class.”
Alexander Sims (Ecurie Ecosse, Number 79):
“I know the Ecurie Ecosse team well as we race together in the British GT championship. I think that we can be pretty competitive. Whether or not we can fight for the win in the Pro-Am class remains to be seen, but we will obviously do our best. The challenge at Spa itself is always very difficult. Usually, a lot of cars retire over the course of the 24 hours, so the first priority is to finish the race. It would be good if we can qualify in a good position and just stay out of trouble at the start. I know that our BMW Z4 GT3 is very reliable so my confidence is high and I am really looking forward to the challenge.”
Michela Cerruti (ROAL Motorsport, Number 43):
“I am really looking forward to Spa-Francorchamps. Every year, this is the race I wait for more than anything else. I love 24-hour racing and I love the race in Spa. The first and biggest challenge will be to stay out of trouble and to finish the race. If we achieve that we will have a good chance of a strong result. This season in the Blancpain Endurance Series, the ROAL Motorsport team has already enjoyed a great win at Monza and then another podium in Silverstone. We have always been strong on race day. Spa is also important for the team for the championship, as we can score a lot of points with a good result.”
BMW teams are lying in wait.
The BMW teams are ready for the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps. In qualifying and the subsequent Superpole, the six BMW Z4 GT3s secured promising starting positions for the classic in the Ardennes.
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In the individual time trials for the top 20 on Friday, four BMW Z4 GT3s finished in ninth, 11th, 14th and 15th. Laurens Vanthoor (Audi) secured pole position with a time of 2:18.710 minutes.
The best BMW driver was Nick Catsburg of Team TDS Racing. He lapped the 7004-kilometre track in 2:19.334 minutes on his fastest of two qualifying laps and, with his team-mates Jens Klingmann, Henry Hassid and Pierre Thiriet, will start the race from the fifth row of the grid. The second-best BMW driver was Maxime Martin of BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS in the number 66 BMW Z4 GT3. The Belgian achieved a time of 2:19.497 minutes at his home race on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps, a track steeped in tradition. This sees Martin, who recently celebrated his first DTM victory in Moscow, along with team-mates Augusto Farfus and Jörg Müller, start from row six of the grid in the endurance classic.
The other BMW drivers also rose to the first challenge of the weekend. Dirk Werner, Lucas Luhr and Markus Paltalla finished 14th in the number 77 BMW Z4 GT3 of BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS. They were followed by Alexander Sims, Oliver Bryant, Andrew Smith and Alasdair McCaig in the BMW Z4 GT3 of Ecurie Ecosse. The quartet from Great Britain secured 15th on the grid in the Superpole.
A few places behind came the BMW Z4 GT3 of ROAL Motorsport, whose team manager is Roberto Ravaglia. Car number 43, shared by Stefano Comandini, Eugenio Amos, Stefano Colombo and Michela Cerruti, will start the race from 35th. The French quartet of Eric Clément, Benjamin Lariche, Nicolas Armindo and Olivier Pla in the second Team TDS Racing car finished qualifying 46th.
While BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS is in the Pro Cup category, the BMW Z3 GT3s of TDS Racing, Ecurie Ecosse and ROAL Motorsport are all in the Pro-Am Cup. The marathon in the Ardennes, which is part of the Blancpain Endurance Series, gets underway on Saturday at 16:30 CEST.
Nick Catsburg (TDS Racing, Number 12 BMW Z4 GT3, 9th):
“It's great to have made it into the top ten and to be the best BMW. In our Pro-Am class we are even starting in second place. I didn't think this would be possible after we had a few problems in practice. But our engineers made a few great improvements that paid off. The car felt good in qualifying. Many thanks to the entire team. Now we go into the race with the aim of winning the Pro-Am class.”
Maxime Martin (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, Number 66 BMW Z4 GT3, 11th):
“Overall my qualifying lap was ok. The car felt good. On a quick lap we are beatable, but over the whole distance we are definitely in with a chance. In the second sector, with its many bends, we are the fastest in the field, which is very reassuring, and that's where we can attack. Eleventh is a good grid position for tomorrow. The grid position isn't decisive in a 24-hour race. What's important is moving up through the field, and if we manage that we can aim for a top result. I'm very confident about the race on Saturday.”
Dirk Werner (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, Number 77 BMW Z4 GT3, 14th):
“That definitely wasn't the result I was hoping for. I couldn't quite manage the same time as yesterday, so that's why I'm a little bit disappointed. We need to work out the reason for this. Nevertheless we are well prepared for the race. Starting from 14th, Lucas Luhr, as our first driver, will have to keep out of the many duels that will take place at the start and make it safely through the fray. If we drive a clean race we are in with a good chance. This grid position for the 24 Hours of Spa is ok. We'll have to wait and see what the weather has in store. After the first stints tomorrow we will see how good our chances are.”
Alexander Sims (Ecurie Ecosse, Number 79 BMW Z4 GT3, 15th):
“We will have to battle with a slightly nervous rear throughout the weekend. However, 15th on the starting grid is a very good result. We might have been able to be a bit quicker, but this grid position for such a long race is ok. In the tightly packed midfield it will be important to make it through the first laps without any incidents.”
Marc VDS is fighting for first place.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, things are looking promising for BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
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With eight hours to go in the endurance classic, Dirk Werne, Lucas Luhr and Markus Palttala in the number 77 BMW Z4 GT3 are in second place and staging an exciting duel with the leading Audi.
Alexander Sims, Oliver Bryant, Andrew Smith and Alasdair McCaig in the BMW Z4 GT3 of Ecurie Ecosse are currently in a good twelfth place, which sees them in fourth in the Pro-Am Cup, in which they are competing. After six hours the quartet was even in the lead, which means they will pick up valuable points in the interim standings. After six and twelve hours, points are awarded for the rankings in the Blancpain Endurance Series. Nick Catsburg, Jens Klingmann, Henry Hassid and Pierre Thiriet have been close to the top of the Pro-Am Cup for some time in the #12 BMW Z4 GT3 of Team TDS Racing. However, Hassid had to retire after about 15 hours.
The endurance classic on the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps got off to an extremely turbulent start. In the first four and a half hours after the race got underway, the safety car was on the track five times. The 24-hour marathon even had to take a 60-minute break after a particularly nasty accident. Things were much calmer on the track after the restart. There were no major incidents in the race throughout the night or before dawn.
Eric Clément, Benjamin Lariche, Nicolas Armindo and Olivier Pla staged an impressive chase in the second car for Team TDS Racing. After starting the race from position 46, the French quartet has worked its way up into 17th place. The BMW Z4 GT3 of BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS with Maxime Martin, Augusto Farfus and Jörg Müller taking turns at the wheel, was less fortunate. After an incident early on in the race, the car was forced to pit for repairs and lost a lot of time. After 140 laps, Müller had to return the number 66 car to the garage early. The radiator suffered irreparable damage after a collision with a hare. Stefano Comandini, Eugenio Amos, Stefano Colombo and Michela Cerruti from ROAL Motorsport are currently in 39th place.
Dirk Werner (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, #77 BMW Z4 GT3, 2nd place):
“We've managed to stay out of all the skirmishes on the track so far. There's no doubt that this is one of the reasons we are currently fighting for P1. An awful lot can happen in an endurance race. This has also been evident in Spa. It was important for us to make it through the night without damaging the car. That isn't easy. You have your hands full. You need to drive while looking ahead. You have to try to correctly second guess the other drivers, since they all have very different styles. The car is running well so far, we are in with a chance of a podium finish. But there is still a long way to go, anything can happen.”
Jörg Müller (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, #66 BMW Z4 GT3, DNF):
“It was a very disappointing race. I feel sorry for the boys in the team that we had to retire. They did a great job. I drove into the back of a slower vehicle while I was battling with a Nissan. The race had just been restarted and I tried to overtake on the finishing straight. I looked to the right quickly to see where my opponent was. Then the cars in front of me suddenly braked hard because the yellow flags were out again. I didn't have any advance warning that the Safety Car was returning to the track. Sorry to my boys and to the crew of the car that I hit. Later on in the race I then had to retire after my collision with a hare. Very disappointing.”
Alexander Sims (Ecurie Ecosse, #79 BMW Z4 GT3, 12th place):
“The pace of our vehicle was particularly fantastic at night. It was very stable and gave me a good, safe feeling. We were leading the Pro-Am Cup after six hours and were in second place after twelve hours. That means our team will pick up valuable points.”
Second place after a dramatic finish.
Six safety car periods, a 60-minute interruption and a thrilling finish: The BMW drivers and teams have experienced a turbulent race, which was nerve-wracking at the end, at the 66th staging of the 24-hour classic at the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps.
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After 527 laps, Dirk Werner, Lucas Luhr and Markus Palttala in the number 77 BMW Z4 GT3 finished in second place. It was the first podium success for BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS at its home race in the Ardennes. The track is only about 140 kilometres from the team's HQ in Gosselies. Victory at the 24 Hours of Spa went to the Audi drivers Laurens Vanthoor, René Rast and Markus Winkelhock, who only caught the BMW Z4 GT3 15 minutes before the end of the race and won by just 7.077 seconds in one of the closest finishes at Spa ever.
As the second best BMW team, Ecurie Ecosse made it into the top ten. Alexander Sims, Oliver Bryant, Andrew Smith and Alasdair McCaig were rewarded for their strong driving performance with an excellent seventh place overall, which saw them finish second in the Pro-Am Cup in which they were competing. Eric Clément, Benjamin Lariche, Nicolas Armindo and Olivier Pla put in an impressive chase in the BMW Z4 GT3 of Team TDS Racing. Starting the race from 46th, the French quartet worked their way up the field into 16th overall and sixth in the Pro-Am class. Stefano Comandini, Eugenio Amos, Stefano Colombo and Michela Cerruti from ROAL Motorsport crossed the finish line in 35th place.
The BMW drivers had a turbulent marathon race with numerous incidents and six safety car periods. The endurance classic had to take a 60-minute break after a particularly nasty accident. BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS kept its eye on the ball throughout the race and hardly made any mistakes. The team fronted by principal Bas Leinders was in the lead until 15 minutes before the end of the race. However, due to technical problems with the ABS, Werner, who drove the final stint, was unable to defend the leading position in the dramatic final laps.
The second BMW Z4 GT3 of BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, driven by Maxime Martin, Augusto Farfus and Jörg Müller was very unlucky. After 140 laps they were forced to return car number 66 to the garage early. Nick Catsburg, Jens Klingmann, Henry Hassid and Pierre Thiriet also had to finish the race early in the number 12 BMW Z4 GT3 of Team TDS Racing.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“Congratulations to Marc van der Straten and Bas Leinders' team on its first podium finish at its home race in Spa-Francorchamps. It was another extremely exciting race on this wonderful track – from the first to the final lap. Even though I wasn't at the track I followed the race via a live stream throughout and was cheering them on. Dirk Werner, Lucas Luhr and Markus Palttala didn't make any mistakes. Unfortunately a technical problem with the car just a few hours before the end ruined their chance of overall victory. With a bit of luck they might have managed more. After our bad luck last year at the 24 Hours of Spa we are delighted to be on the podium once again. The other BMW Sports Trophy Teams also showed a strong performance in Spa. At times we had four different BMW Z4 GT3s in the top ten. That shows just how competitive our vehicle is. I'm particularly delighted for BMW works driver Alexander Sims from the Ecurie Ecosse team, who finished second in the Pro-Am Cup. I would also like to congratulate Audi on its third victory in three major 24-hour races in this endurance season.”
Bas Leinders (Team Principal BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS):
“My boys put up a long and magnificent fight on the track. We lost a car early on, but we're very happy with the second place overall for Dirk, Lucas and Markus. In the final four hours of the race, our second BMW Z4 GT3 also suffered a minor technical problem. But the drivers in car number 77 did a fantastic job, particularly Dirk on his last stint before the end of the race. We had to take some risks, we didn't change the tyres at the final pit stop. We wanted to try and tempt Audi to take some risks. It was also a sensational race for the fans. I'm just happy to stand on the podium with BMW and my team.”
Dirk Werner (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, number 77 BMW Z4 GT3, 2nd place):
“It was very exciting to drive the closing stint. The team took a gamble in the final one and a half hours of the race and developed a great strategy for the final spurt. However, it was hard to keep up on used tyres and with the technical problems. But I tried everything possible. We had a great weekend, but we were fully aware that we would face tough competition. My team-mates Lucas and Markus also did a fantastic job and really pushed. It's fantastic for the team and BMW to be able to celebrate a podium finish.”
Lucas Luhr (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, number 77 BMW Z4 GT3, 2nd place):
“We can be more than satisfied with the result. The race was really close throughout the entire 24 hours. We were only 7.077 seconds behind the winner at the end. This marathon could have ended up going our way. Unfortunately a technical problem got the better of us, such that we were fighting with some blunt weapons. This is why we tried to use tactics. We secretly hoped that it would be enough. Of course, the initial reaction is slight disappointment. But it is a fantastic day for Marc VDS and BMW.”
Markus Palttala (BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, number 77 BMW Z4 GT3, 2nd place):
“I had mixed feelings directly after the race. Initially second place felt like a defeat. However, if someone had told me last week that we would make it onto the podium at Spa, I would have agreed to it. When all is said and done I'm happy. Probably more so tomorrow than today. But I'm proud of my team. We had an almost perfect race – both on the track and in the pit stops. We were the underdogs facing an armada of Audis. This makes the result absolutely sensational.”
Alexander Sims (Ecurie Ecosse, number 79 BMW Z4 GT3, 7th place):
“We had a fantastic race in a car that was just as fantastic. This is the first time I have been on the podium and I have to say that it feels great. The atmosphere and the level of skills in the race are superb. I'm proud to have been part of this major event. I'm sure we'll celebrate properly tonight.”
Klingmann makes history with record lap.
Jens Klingmann earned his place in the history books at the sixth round of the VLN Endurance Championship. He was the first driver ever to break the eight-minute mark on the VLN version of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in a GT3 car.
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The BMW works driver set a record lap time of 7:59.045 minutes at the wheel of the BMW Z4 GT3 fielded by BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert. “What a lap. I am proud to be the first to break this magical barrier,” said a delighted Klingmann after his record-breaking achievement. Together with team-mates Dominik Baumann, Thomas Jäger and Max Sandritter, Klingmann finished runner-up at the 37th RCM DMV Grenzlandrennen.
Fourth place went to Henry Walkenhorst, Ralf Oeverhaus and Peter Posavac in the Walkenhorst Motorsport team¢s BMW Z4 GT3. Rolf Derscheid and Michael Flehmer won the sixth race of the season in the V4 class at the wheel of their BMW 325i, and defended their overall lead in the VLN in doing so. In total, BMW drivers claimed six class victories.
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