GT races 2016 [Αρχείο] - BMW-Motorsport.gr

BMW Power

13-04-16, 14:27

Successful start to season for Rowe Racing.
The Rowe Racing team enjoyed a well-nigh perfect start to the new season in the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup in Misano at the weekend.

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Philipp Eng and Alexander Sims had to start Saturday’s qualifying race from 30th on the grid, but produced an impressive fightback in difficult conditions to finish second. This represented the first podium for the BMW M6 GT3 in Europe. Eng and Sims returned to the podium after the main race on Sunday afternoon: this time they came home third. Nick Catsburg and Stef Dusseldorp finished tenth on Saturday and 29th on Sunday in the second Rowe Racing BMW M6 GT3. As well as the two Rowe Racing cars, another BMW M6 GT3 was in action for the Belgian Boutsen Ginion Racing team in the Pro-Am class. Amateur driver Matias Henkola received support from BMW works driver Maxime Martin, who had travelled straight to Misano from the DTM test in Hockenheim. The two drivers produced an outstanding performance in the qualifying race, finishing second in the Pro-Am class. The duo then finished third in their class in the main race. Martin was in positive spirits at the end of the weekend: “Unfortunately we were spun at the start, but third place in the Pro-Am class is quite okay. It was the first time for the team and for my co-driver Matias. All in all it was a positive weekend.” This year’s Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup consists of five events. The next races take place in Brands Hatch on 7th and 8th May.

BMW Power

18-04-16, 08:33

Successful season-opener for Krohn and Tomczyk.
BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn and BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk scored their first points at the ADAC GT Masters season-opener in Oschersleben.

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The 60-minute race on Saturday saw them finish fifth in the BMW M6 GT3 run by Schubert Motorsport. That result earned them ten points in the standings.
Krohn had qualified ninth in the morning and handed the car over to Tomczyk in P11 after a faultless drive in the first part of the race. Thanks to an excellent pit stop by the Schubert crew Tomczyk returned to the track in P6. He managed to hold this position and finished fifth due to a drive-trough penalty given to one of the drivers ahead of him. Victory in the first race of the weekend went to Sebastian Asch and Luca Ludwig (Mercedes).
Race 2 starts at 1.15 p.m. on Sunday. Then Tomczyk will do qualifying and the opening stint of the race.

BMW Power

18-04-16, 08:36

Krohn and Tomczyk with two points’ finishes.
BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn and BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk finished in the points in both races, on the first race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.

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After fifth place on Saturday, the Schubert Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 finished eighth on Sunday. Krohn and guest driver Tomczyk now have 14 points in the drivers' championship.
Tomczyk started the race Sunday after qualifying in 18th. In difficult conditions on the drying circuit, he was in third place shortly before the end of the session. However, he was unable to improve on that after being held up on his final lap and slipped back to 18th. The race was marked by a number of accidents and safety car periods, and Tomczyk brought all his experience to bear, putting in a good performance until the driver changeover. He handed control to Krohn, who was able to rejoin proceedings in 11th, thanks to some great teamwork in the pits that echoed Saturday's performance. In the final minutes of the race, the BMW Motorsport Junior pulled off great overtaking manoeuvres to claim eighth place.
The second race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters season takes place from 29th April to 1st May at the Sachsenring. This will be the first opportunity for the BMW Motorsport Juniors Krohn and Louis Delétraz to share the cockpit of the BMW M6 GT3.

BMW Power

18-04-16, 08:36

First podium for the BMW M6 GT3 on the Nordschleife.
On only its second outing on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, the BMW M6 GT3 celebrated its first ever podium finish in the “Green Hell”.

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Maxime Martin, Philipp Eng and Alexander Sims took third place at the 24h qualifying race with the number 23 BMW M6 GT3 of ROWE Racing. On 28th and 29th May, the new BMW M6 GT3 will debut at the legendary 24-hour race. The qualifying race mainly served as an intensive test in the preparation for the endurance classic in the Eifel mountains.
The weekend in the Eifel region was characterised by typically unpredictable weather conditions. Temperatures were low, with a mixture of sunshine, rain and even hail. The changeable nature of the weather affected the early phases of the six-hour race, before the sun gradually gained the upper hand.
Martin drove the fastest time in the second qualifying session on Sunday morning, securing the first pole position on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife for the new BMW M6 GT3. The Belgian also started the race, taking a commanding early lead. After 20 minutes, heavy rain and hail set in over a section of the circuit and the team decided to make an unscheduled pit stop to change tyres. The #23 BMW M6 GT3 dropped out of the top 20, but Martin, Sims and Eng quickly worked their way back to the front. An exciting finish saw the final driver, Sims, take the third podium spot.
Jörg Müller, Marco Wittmann and Jens Klingmann drove the sister car, with start number 22. They suffered some bad luck: Müller was hit by another car right after the start, damaging the front of the vehicle. After it took one hour and 20 minutes to repair the car, the trio were able to rejoin the race. Müller, Wittmann and Klingmann finished in 50th position. All three were competing as “guest drivers” for ROWE Racing and in the 24-hour race they will be in the BMW M6 GT3s from Schubert Motorsport.
The second-best BMW M6 GT3 at the 24h qualifying race was start number 100 from Walkenhorst Motorsport powered by Dunlop: Victor Bouveng, Christian Krognes and Michele di Martino finished in eighth position. They also recorded the fastest lap with a time of 8:18.226 minutes. The sister car with start number 101, driven by Matias Henkola, Kazunori Yamauchi, George Richardson and Max Sandritter, was forced to retire.
BMW DTM driver Tom Blomqvist once again competed in the BMW M235i Racing from Walkenhorst Motorsport. He used the qualifying race to familiarise himself further with the Nordschleife before taking on the 24-hour race in the BMW M6 GT3 from Walkenhorst Motorsport. After a tumultuous six hours, Blomqvist and his team-mates Alex Lambertz and Marc Ehret finished in 51st position. Victory in the BMW M235i Racing Cup Klasse went to Norbert Fischer, Christian Konnerth and Gabriele Piana from Pixum Team Adrenalin Motorsport.

BMW Power

25-04-16, 13:58

Race debut for Delétraz at the Sachsenring.
The second race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters season at the Sachsenring (29th April – 1st May) sees the two BMW Motorsport Juniors Jesse Krohn and Louis Delétraz make their first joint appearance in the BMW M6 GT3.

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Delétraz will make his race debut in the Schubert Motorsport car. The man from Switzerland who turned 19 just a few days ago was unable to compete in the first race weekend in Oschersleben due to a scheduling conflict with his parallel activities in Formula racing. However, Delétraz has already completed some tests in the BMW M6 GT3, making him well-prepared for the two races next weekend. He will compete in a total of four GT Masters events in 2016. Krohn will contest the entire season, which got underway with fifth and eighth for him and BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk in Oschersleben. Before Krohn and Delétraz head to the Sachsenring, they will attend the Welcome Event for the 2016 BMW Motorsport Junior Programme in Munich on Monday and Tuesday, where the new class of Juniors will be presented.
Three questions for... Louis Delétraz.
Louis, your second year as a BMW Motorsport Junior officially gets underway this week. Just how excited are you?
Louis Delétraz: "Very excited. The Welcome Event at the start of the coming week is a fantastic start to the new season of the programme. It will be fun to get to know the new Juniors and to no longer be the rookie in the programme (he laughs). I am also really looking forward to the following trip to the Sachsenring. I'm about to contest my first ever GT race and no doubt still have a lot to learn. However, I'm certain it will be an incredible experience. I can hardly wait to get started."
You will switch between the BMW M6 GT3 and a Formula car quite often this season. Have you already got used to this adjustment?
Delétraz: "I don't find it a problem. The adjustment is mainly in my head, and I learned to deal with that very well in the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme last year."
You got off to an outstanding start of your Formula racing season with your first win in the first race. What is your goal for your debut in the BMW M6 GT3?
Delétraz: "Yes, I really did have a dream debut in Formula V8 3.5. We'll have to wait and see whether things go as well at the Sachsenring. We'll see how the BMW M6 GT3 works on this very special track, and will hopefully finish in the points again in the race. If it turns out that we can do even better, naturally we will give it our all to make the most of the opportunity. But the competition in the ADAC GT Masters is of a very high calibre."

BMW Power

25-04-16, 13:59

Four BMW M6 GT3s race in Monza.

Four BMW M6 GT3s were on the starting grid at the opener of the Blancpain Endurance Cup in Monza.

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ROWE Racing fielded two cars in the race and, in addition to their regular drivers, opted for support from the experienced BMW works drivers Dirk Werner and Lucas Luhr in the three-hour race. However, both cars were forced to end the race early. The best-placed BMW M6 GT3 was the car of Boutsen Ginion Racing in 15th place in the Pro-Am Cup. The BMW M6 GT3 of BMW Team Italia headed by team boss Roberto Ravaglia retired early. The win went to McLaren.

BMW Power

25-04-16, 13:59

BMW Team Teo Martín on the podium.
The International GT Open season started with a podium position for BMW Team Teo Martín and the new BMW M6 GT3.

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Gustavo Yacamán and Fernando Monje finished in a strong second place in the first race in Estoril. The sister car driven by defending champion Miguel Ramos and Roldan Rodriguez crossed the finish line in seventh. Yacamán and Monje finished the second race on Sunday in sixth. The second BMW M6 GT3 retired before the end of the race.

BMW Power

09-05-16, 08:53

Pole position and podium for the BMW M6 GT3.
The BMW M6 GT3 narrowly missed out on its first win at round two of the Japanese Super GT Championship in Fuji.

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The Autobacs Racing Team Aguri, with drivers Shinichi Takagi and Takashi Kobayashi, finished runner-up in the GT300 class after 102 laps. They finished just 3.7 seconds behind the winners. The number 55 BMW M6 GT3 started the race from pole position. Jörg Müller and Seji Ara lined up in fourth place on the grid in the BMW Team Studie BMW M6 GT3. However, problems during the race meant they had to settle for 24th.

BMW Power

09-05-16, 08:54

Round two of the Sprint Cup at Brands Hatch.
Just one week after the second round of the VLN at the Nürburgring, ROWE Racing was back in action with its two BMW M6 GT3s at round two of the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup.

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Stef Dusseldorp and Jesse Krohn finished 22nd in the number 98 car in Saturday’s qualifying race. Their team-mates in the number 99 car, Alexander Sims and Philipp Eng, did not finish. In the main race, works drivers Sims and Eng produced an impressive fightback, scything their way through half of the field to finish 16th. Dusseldorp/Krohn were forced to retire after their BMW M6 GT3 was hit by another car.

BMW Power

09-05-16, 08:54

Rob Collard back on the podium.
Rob Collard once again finished on the podium in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) with his West Surrey Racing BMW 125i M Sport.

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The British driver finished runner-up in the second of the three races, which were held on Sunday in Thruxton. Collard came home sixth in both the other two races. His team-mate Sam Tordoff finished seventh, sixth and eighth. Jack Goff was eighth, fifth and 18th in the third West Surrey Racing BMW 125i M Sport. The race weekend in Thruxton marked the third round of the 2016 BTCC season.

BMW Power

16-05-16, 08:05

First win for the new BMW M6 GT3.
The BMW M6 GT3 has been representing BMW in GT sport events on racetracks around the world since January 2016 – and has now been rewarded with a first victory.

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After four hours of the third race in the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring (DE), the BMW works supported number 31 Schubert Motorsport car crossed the line in first place. BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn, who had claimed pole position in qualifying, and his team-mates Jörg Müller and Marco Wittmann ensured that the dress rehearsal for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, which will take place on the Nordschleife on 28th/29th May, was a total success. They also made history for BMW Motorsport as the first winners in the BMW M6 GT3.
The BMW M6 GT3 also finished in second and third positions. The number 39 Schubert Motorsport car, which competed in a special design for the first time to mark the 100th birthday celebrations for the BMW Group and the BMW brand, finished in second place. John Edwards, Lucas Luhr and Martin Tomczyk shared driving duties. Third place went to the number 36 Walkenhorst Motorsport car, driven by Tom Blomqvist, Victor Bouveng and Christian Krognes. The team’s number 35 second car was unable to compete in the race due to a collision in qualifying.
Thanks to such good results in these preparatory races, four BMW M6 GT3s have already claimed their places in Top 30 qualifying for the 24-hour race. Both Schubert Motorsport cars are already sure of taking part, as are one car from ROWE Racing and one from Walkenhorst Motorsport.

BMW Power

16-05-16, 08:34

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After four hours of the third race in the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring (DE), the BMW works supported number 31 Schubert Motorsport car crossed the line in first place.

The BMW M6 GT3 has been representing BMW in GT sport events on racetracks around the world since January 2016 – and has now been rewarded with a first victory. After four hours of the third race in the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring (DE), the BMW works supported number 31 Schubert Motorsport car crossed the line in first place. BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn (FI), who had claimed pole position in qualifying, and his team-mates Jörg Müller (DE) and Marco Wittmann (DE) ensured that the dress rehearsal for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, which will take place on the Nordschleife on 28th/29th May, was a total success. They also made history for BMW Motorsport as the first winners in the BMW M6 GT3.

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The BMW M6 GT3 also finished in second and third positions. The number 39 Schubert Motorsport car, which competed in a special design for the first time to mark the 100th birthday celebrations for the BMW Group and the BMW brand, finished in second place. John Edwards (US), Lucas Luhr (DE) and Martin Tomczyk (DE) shared driving duties. Third place went to the number 36 Walkenhorst Motorsport car, driven by Tom Blomqvist (GB), Victor Bouveng (SE) and Christian Krognes (NO). The team’s number 35 second car was unable to compete in the race due to a collision in qualifying.

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Thanks to such good results in these preparatory races, four BMW M6 GT3s have already claimed their places in Top 30 qualifying for the 24-hour race. Both Schubert Motorsport cars are already sure of taking part, as are one car from ROWE Racing and one from Walkenhorst Motorsport.

Reactions to the third VLN race:

Torsten Schubert (Schubert Motorsport Team Principal): “This win was just reward for the hard work put in by my team over the last few days. We gave our all to give the cars the best preparation for the 24-hour-race and everything went well today. I think it was good to test what speed we can reach in racing trim. Being the first team to win a race in the BMW M6 GT3 is a special honor for us.”

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Jesse Krohn (number 31, Schubert Motorsport): “I did not realize that this was the first ever win for the BMW M6 GT3. It is great to be a part of this triumph and it makes me very proud. I put in a great lap in qualifying, which was good enough for pole position. We took this performance into the race and were able to secure the win. We hit all our targets this weekend and prepared for the 24-hour race in the best possible way.”

Martin Tomczyk (number 39, Schubert Motorsport): “It’s always a great feeling for a driver to be standing on the podium – even if that was not the priority for us in this preparatory race. We wanted to prepare as well as possible for the highlight of the season in two weeks. That includes seeing just what the car can do, so we have shown just what is possible with the BMW M6 GT3. We are looking forward to measuring our performance against the competition in the 24-hour race.”

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Tom Blomqvist (number 36, Walkenhorst Motorsport): “Congratulations to the Walkenhorst Motorsport team. The guys did a fantastic job and enabled us to secure a podium finish in the dress rehearsal for the 24-hour-race. I would also like to congratulate my BMW team-mates. Claiming first, second and third places is a great result. From a personal point of view, I felt this was really intensive preparation for the Nordschleife. Racing in the BMW M6 GT3, as well as in the BMW M235i Racing, really helped me to go to the limit at this circuit.”

BMW Power

23-05-16, 09:10

Festival of GT racing in the Eifel Mountains.
Next weekend, the eyes of the motorsport world are on the Eifel region of Germany: the 44th edition of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring pits the best drivers, teams and cars in GT racing.

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Since 1970, the event on the iconic Nordschleife has been a permanent fixture on the race calendar, and has thrilled fans all around the world. With 19 overall victories to its name, BMW is the most successful manufacturer at this endurance classic, and once again goes into the 2016 race with a strong contingent.
The provisional entry list for the race, which will take place on the 25.378-kilometre combination of the Nordschleife and parts of the Grand Prix circuit, includes no fewer than 40 BMW racing cars. Six of these will race in the SP9 class for powerful GT3 cars: the hopes of the BMW teams of Schubert Motorsport, ROWE Racing and Walkenhorst Motorsport rest with the newly developed BMW M6 GT3, with all three teams fielding two cars. They are joined by 13 BMW M235i Racings, the successful entry-level model in the BMW Motorsport range, as well as many other BMW racing cars run with great passion by private teams.
The BMW M6 GT3 is making its debut at a European 24-hour race, and has a tough act to follow: its predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3, finished runner-up at the Nürburgring in both 2013 and 2014. The last victory came courtesy of Augusto Farfus, Jörg Müller, Uwe Alzen and Pedro Lamy with the BMW M3 GT in 2010. The BMW Z4 GT3 claimed a highly-acclaimed victory at the 24-hour classic at Spa-Francorchamps last season. The BMW M6 GT3, which caused a stir with victory at the dress rehearsal in the VLN Endurance Championship on 14th May, is now charged with continuing this success story.
Behind the wheel for the BMW teams are some of the best and most successful drivers ever to race in the “Green Hell”. Three drivers in the BMW M6 GT3 have won the Nürburgring 24 Hours in the past: Müller (2 wins), Farfus (1 win) and Lucas Luhr (2 wins), who is looking to return to the top step of the podium exactly ten years after his first victory. Five drivers from BMW Motorsport’s current DTM squad are taking time out from the popular touring car series to take on the Nordschleife. Timo Glock will not actually be behind the wheel at the weekend, but will accompany his team-mates as a TV expert, giving him a completely different perspective of the weekend. RTL and RTL NITRO will provide extensive reports from the highlight of the 2016 season.
As well as those watching on television, the fans at the racetrack can also look forward to a top-class motorsport spectacle. As in recent years, fans of BMW Motorsport and BMW M will be in their element at the M Festival. For the sixth time, visitors will be able to follow the action from areas next to the Grand Prix circuit and in the “Fan Base” in the heart of the “Green Hell”. For three days, BMW M Hospitality is the home of the ever-increasing M community from all over the world.
The first highlight of the weekend is the Top-30 Qualifying, which takes place at 19:50 on Friday, 27th May. Four BMW M6 GT3s have secured a place in this individual qualifying session. The race itself begins at 15:30 on Saturday, 28th May.

BMW Power

27-05-16, 14:03

http://www.endurance-info.com/fr/le-top-30-des-24-heures-du-nurburgring-en-livre-streaming/

BMW Power

31-05-16, 10:27

The 24h action is on.
First practice for the 2016 24 Hours of Nürburgring saw the #22 ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3 emerge as fastest BMW. Nick Catsburg, Klaus Graf, Markus Palttala and Richard Westbrook placed 12th, with a time of 8:26.602.

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The efforts of the BMW M6 GT3 teams were focused largely on familiarisation and set up, to ensure the best possible preparation for Saturday’s race. With little to gain in extensive running once a good feeling and set up was achieved, only limited running schedules were employed. The drivers reported confidence and a good feeling in the car.
Night practice will follow at 20:00 today, where drivers will take the opportunity to once more acquaint themselves with the challenge of the Nordschleife in darkness.

BMW Power

31-05-16, 10:28

All set for Top 30 Qualifying.
The next highlight from the Nürburgring 24 Hours is the Top 30 Qualifying, which takes place this evening. Among those in action are five BMW M6 GT3s.

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The cars will take to the Nürburgring-Nordschleife again at 19:50, when the top 30 grid positions for the 24-hour race will be determined. Places in the Top 30 Qualifying are much sought-after among the teams, and not only because it guarantees them a place towards the front of the field at the start of the race. These 30 cars also receive a blue light in their cockpit during the race.
Four BMW M6 GT3s had already qualified for the top-30 shootout ahead of the weekend in the Eifel Mountains: the two Schubert Motorsport cars – #18 (Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, Jörg Müller, Marco Wittmann) and #100 (Lucas Luhr, Jens Klingmann, John Edwards, Martin Tomczyk) – the #23 ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3 (Alexander Sims, Philipp Eng, Maxime Martin, Dirk Werner), and the #999 Walkenhorst Motorsport car (Victor Bouveng, Tom Blomqvist, Christian Krognes, Michele Di Martino).
The final spots in the Top 30 Qualifying were earned in the first two qualifying sessions of the weekend, which took place on Thursday evening and Friday morning. One of these was secured by the second ROWE Racing BMW M6 GT3, the number 22 car, which is driven by Klaus Graf, Richard Westbrook, Nick Catsburg and Markus Palttala.

BMW Power

31-05-16, 10:28

Front row start for the BMW M6 GT3.
The stage is set for a gripping 24-hour race at the Nürburgring: Augusto Farfus secured second place on the grid for the number 18 BMW M6 GT3 of Schubert Motorsport.

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The Brazilian, who shares the cockpit with Jesse Krohn, Jörg Müller and Marco Wittmann, was the fastest BMW driver in the top-30 qualifying for the endurance classic. Farfus just missed pole position by a gap of 1.631 seconds to the first-placed Mercedes.
Walkenhorst Motorsport’s number 999 BMW M6 GT3 clocked the second-fastest lap time for BMW: Victor Bouveng, Tom Blomqvist, Michele di Martino and Christian Krognes, who was at the wheel during the session, finished sixth. ROWE Racing also brought one BMW M6 GT3, the number 22 car, into the top-10. Nick Catsburg clocked the seventh-fastest time, before having to stop following an accident on his second timed lap. The BMW M6 GT3 cars #100 and #23 came 13th and 15th respectively.
Driver quotes after top-30 qualifying:
Augusto Farfus (Schubert Motorsport, #18 BMW M6 GT3, 2nd place):
“Conditions were far from easy today, but P2 is obviously a great result. The track was still damp in some areas, so you had to be extremely careful. It’s nice that the long phase of preparations is over and that the race is now almost there. We are ready, and there’s not much more we could have done. A big 24 hours await us, and the weather will surely be a challenging factor. However, we have a strong squad and will be fully focussed.”
Christian Krognes (Walkenhorst Motorsport powered by Dunlop, #999 BMW M6 GT3, 6th place):
“This is a great result for us – although it wasn’t easy out there during the session. Our team managed to put together a fantastic package. It will be a long race. For the first time I’m contesting the 24 hours in a GT3 car. This makes me even happier with this qualifying result.”
Jens Klingmann (Schubert Motorsport, #100 BMW M6 GT3, 13th place):
“The basis of our preparation is really good, we are heading in the right direction. However, the weather conditions will be the tricky factor in this race. This will definitely be a major challenge on Saturday and Sunday. Only in the race itself will we see how strong the competition really is. That’s why we only focus on ourselves. The first goal is to make it through the race without any major incidents. This alone will be a difficult task.”
Maxime Martin (ROWE Racing, #23 BMW M6 GT3, 15th place):
“Unfortunately I lost some time behind another car, so a better result wasn’t possible. We didn’t take any risks. Now I’m really happy that the race is finally drawing closer, especially because our package seems to be competitive here. Where this will take us in the very first year of the BMW M6 GT3, we will see. In any case we have a strong team, and we are really confident. Let the 24-hour race begin.”
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The driver line-ups of the six BMW M6 GT3 for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring:
#18 BMW M6 GT3, Schubert Motorsport
Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, Jörg Müller, Marco Wittmann
#22 BMW M6 GT3, ROWE Racing
Klaus Graf, Richard Westbrook, Nicky Catsburg, Markus Palttala
#23 BMW M6 GT3, ROWE Racing
Alexander Sims, Philipp Eng, Maxime Martin, Dirk Werner
#100 BMW M6 GT3, Schubert Motorsport
John Edwards, Jens Klingmann, Lucas Luhr, Martin Tomczyk
#101 Walkenhorst Motorsport powered by Dunlop
Matias Henkola, Kazunori Yamauchi, Max Sandritter, George Richardson
#999 Walkenhorst Motorsport powered by Dunlop
Victor Bouveng, Tom Blomqvist, Christian Krognes, Michele di Martino

BMW Power

31-05-16, 10:29

Storm brings out red flag after 50 minutes.
The 2016 Nürburgring 24 Hours endured an eventful start: the endurance classic in the Eifel Mountains began at 15:30, in dry conditions and with a field featuring 40 BMW racing cars. However, the 44th staging of the race was red flagged just 50 minutes later after hail and heavy rain had transformed the Nordschleife into a dangerously slippery cross between a water slide and an ice rink.

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After an exciting start, with no major incidents, the number 18 BMW M6 GT3, with Jörg Müller at the wheel, was running second and embroiled in a close battle with the leading Mercedes. Four of the six BMW M6 GT3s in the field were in the top 15. Then came the bad weather front, which left many cars stranded out on the track. Some cars made it back to the pit lane under their own steam, others were towed back.
The 24-hour race is still suspended at the moment.
Quotes from the drivers after the start:
Jörg Müller (Schubert Motorsport, number 18 BMW M6 GT3):
“I have seen a lot on the Nordschleife, but hail is a new one – even for me. I have never seen a track here covered in ice in May. The storm came out of nowhere. I was doing 60 km/h when I went off, and only touched the brakes very lightly. The next thing I knew, the car was aquaplaning. I am very happy with the decision to suspend the race.”
Martin Tomczyk (Schubert Motorsport, number 100 BMW M6 GT3):
“That is the Nordschleife for you. We knew that something like this was going to happen. However, it came as quite a surprise that ice started to fall from the skies so early in the race. My wheels were spinning and I simply could not get up the Fuchsröhre section. Unbelievable. The car is okay.”
Dirk Werner (ROWE Racing, number 23 BMW M6 GT3):
“At first it was just heavy rain, then it turned to hail – I have never seen anything like it. It was just impossible to continue. We were really lucky that the car was not damaged.”
Klaus Graf (ROWE Racing, number 22 BMW M6 GT3):
“I am speechless. That was incredible. I am just happy that we came through that situation in one piece. I was the first in my group to arrive at Schwedenkreuz – and there was nothing I could do. By the time I hit the clutch, it was already too late.”
Christian Krognes (Walkenhorst Motorsport powered by Dunlop, number 999 BMW M6 GT3):
“Even by Nordschleife standards, today was extreme. It was great that the team had already given me wet-weather tyres when I came into the pits before the storm. Our car did not pick up so much as a scratch. Despite this, the stewards still stopped us, as the track was blocked.”

BMW Power

31-05-16, 10:29

The 24-hour race remains turbulent.
After an interruption due to the weather at the start, the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring got going again in the evening. Shortly after 20:00hrs, the field restarted the 44th running of the endurance classic and got back to the racing action the spectators were hoping for.

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After the BMW M6 GT3 was briefly one-two at the front of the field, the number 100 Schubert Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 driven by John Edwards, Jens Klingmann, Lucas Luhr and Martin Tomczyk is the best-placed BMW in seventh.
After the restart, Jörg Müller in the number 18 Schubert Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 and Markus Palttala at the wheel of the number 22 ROWE Racing initially took the top two spots in the field. Müller initially dropped down the field after an early tyre change, but then worked his way back up into first place. A technical failure related to the powertrain on lap 17 forced Müller to stop in the number 18 BMW M6 GT3. The car went back to the Schubert Motorsport garage.
Palttala also lost some positions following a puncture and then made up ground. After switching to slicks and with Richard Westbrook at the wheel, car number 22 is in 20th.
An electronic problem meant that Philipp Eng in the number 23 BMW M6 GT3 was only able to get involved in the racing action belatedly after the restart and also dropped down the field. After a race to catch up, the second ROWE Racing car is back in 19th. The two Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3s are in 21st (number 999) and 39th (number 101) after six and a half hours.
In the Cup 5 class for BMW M235i Racing cars, Michael Schrey, Alexander Mies, Emin Akata and Dries Vanthoor of Bonk Motorsport are in the lead.
Driver quotes after six and a half hours:
Markus Palttala (ROWE Racing, number 22 BMW M6 GT3):
“We wanted to take it steady and avoid taking any risks. Then we found ourselves running really well. I was able to pass the Schubert car and then had clear visibility. However, I was then unable to keep the Mercedes behind me. I don’t know what then caused the puncture. We lost a few minutes, but it could have been worse if it had happened somewhere else on the circuit.”
Philipp Eng (ROWE Racing, number 23 BMW M6 GT3):
“A problem stopped my engine from firing up at the start of the warm-up lap. The guys did a fantastic job fixing the problem. Then I drove at the back of the field. The conditions at the restart were still very treacherous. Then the more the track dried out, the better our balance became, so we moved up the field little by little. Naturally this is the way we want to continue.”
Jörg Müller (Schubert Motorsport, number 18 BMW M6 GT3):
“The first thing I noticed was a vibration in the car. At first I thought it was a puncture, but then I suddenly lost power and it started to smoke. Something broke in the drivetrain. It is a big shame, as we were running really well.”

BMW Power

31-05-16, 10:30

16 hours: Two BMW M6 GT3 inside the Top 10.
After the freak weather at the start, the evening of the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring ran smoothly, at least from a meteorological perspective. It remained dry; the drivers only reported periods of fog, which reduced visibility. Eight hours before the end of the race, two BMW M6 GT3s are in the top ten.

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Schubert Motorsport’s number 100 car – driven by John Edwards, Jens Klingmann, Lucas Luhr and Martin Tomczyk – is in fifth place, while the number 23 ROWE Racing car driven by Alexander Sims, Philipp Eng, Maxime Martin and Dirk Werner is in seventh place.
Car number 22 has been out of the race since 4:00hrs: With Klaus Graf at the wheel, the BMW M6 GT3 had an accident in the Hatzenbach section and retired. The number 18 car had a technical problem on Saturday. The Schubert team worked hard overnight to be able to send the BMW M6 GT3 back onto the track and into racing action.
The two Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3s are also still in the race. Car number 999 is in 17th after making a pit stop for repairs, which lasted several laps; the number 101 car is in 37th.
In the Cup 5 class, Michael Schrey, Alexander Mies, Emin Akata and Dries Vanthoor in the number 305 BMW M235i Racing of Bonk Motorsport are still in the lead.
Driver quotes after 16 hours:
Martin Tomczyk (Schubert Motorsport, number 100 BMW M6 GT3):
“We drove double stints during the night. It was okay. We didn’t risk too much and drove safely, but quickly. We were mostly between third and fifth place. I’m happy, it went quite well even though there was a lot going on on the track. But that is the Nürburgring.”
Alexander Sims (ROWE Racing, number 23 BMW M6 GT3):
“I really enjoyed my night stint. On the initial laps, the main task was getting into a rhythm in the traffic. That is the biggest challenge driving at night-time. You need to assess where the others are driving and if they will move. I think that we did well, but there is still a long way to go in the race. Our BMW M6 GT3 feels really good.”
Dirk Werner (ROWE Racing, number 23 BMW M6 GT3):
“The positive thing is that the track conditions are relatively consistent now. Which is why it was fun driving at night-time. But, as always at the Nürburgring, particularly in traffic with the different classes, it is difficult to fight your way up the field. We want to reduce our deficit. We have already been able to make up a few positions. Hopefully we will be able to continue in this way.”

BMW Power

31-05-16, 10:30

24 hrs: Highs and lows for BMW teams.
The number 23 BMW M6 GT3 was the best-placed BMW at the Nürburgring 24 Hours: Last-stint driver Dirk Werner crossed the finish line in fifth place overall after 133 laps.

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He had shared the driving duties with Alexander Sims, Philipp Eng and Maxime Martin during the race. The quartet came home one lap behind the winning Mercedes.
The two Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3s both finished in the top 30: the number 999 car, with Victor Bouveng, Tom Blomqvist, Christian Krognes and Michele di Martino at the wheel, lost several laps while the car was being repaired during the night, but fought back to finish 12th. The number 101 car, driven by Matias Henkola, Kazunori Yamauchi, Max Sandritter and George Richardson, ended the race in 22nd.
This was the BMW M6 GT3’s first outing at this endurance classic – and the Nürburgring-Nordschleife lived up to its nickname of the “Green Hell” on several occasions on the car’s debut. With torrential rain and hail at the start, a race interruption, many incidents and countless twists in the ever-fascinating storyline, the race at the 25.378-kilometre circuit once again proved to be a unique challenge. Unfortunately, the BMW M6 GT3 teams were often left to rue the unpredictability of this event.
For a long time, the number 100 Schubert Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 was on course for a podium finish, until Lucas Luhr (DE) was hit by a slower car on the Grand Prix circuit shortly after 09:00. He hit the crash barriers hard, but fortunately emerged from the crash unhurt. At the time of the incident, Luhr and his fellow drivers John Edwards, Jens Klingmann and Martin Tomczyk were running third in the BMW M6 GT3.
For the second ROWE Racing car, the number 22 BMW M6 GT3, the race came to a premature end in the early hours of Sunday morning: Klaus Graf, who had alternated at the wheel with Richard Westbrook, Nicky Catsburg and Markus Palttala, was forced to retire following a collision with a slower car in the Hatzenbach section of the circuit. The number 22 had led the race for a while early on.
The 44th staging of the Eifel marathon also took a disappointing turn for Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, Jörg Müller and Marco Wittmann. An engine failure caused Müller to park the leading number 18 BMW M6 GT3 at the side of the track on Saturday. The Schubert team worked through the night to repair the car, meaning the quartet was at least able to re-join the race on Sunday morning.
Victory in the Cup 5 class went to Michael Schrey, Alexander Mies, Emin Akata and Dries Vanthoor in the number 305 BMW M235i Racing fielded by the Bonk Motorsport team. In doing so, they extended their winning run in the 2016 BMW M235i Racing Cup, which forms part of the VLN Endurance Championship. In total, 13 cars were in action in this class. First place in the class was a strong 25th place overall.
Selected quotes from the 24-hour race:
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“Naturally we are somewhat disappointed with the race result and had hoped for more on the BMW M6 GT3’s debut at this endurance classic. But that’s how it is in endurance racing, especially here at the Nordschleife: You can plan preparation, and a race strategy – but not how the race will go. And once again the Nürburgring pretty much offered everything that has made it legendary; sun, rain, hail, extreme weather conditions and interruption of the race. And, unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side. At times we were able to show the potential of the BMW M6 GT3, and were even in the lead. Then technical issues and two accidents meant that in the course of the race we only had one car left in the leading group. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough with the strong competition. Which was very strong, much stronger than in the warm-up races. However, our performances in the first VLN races spoke for themselves: We showed what we were capable of achieving. I would like to say a big well done to our teams. Even though the result didn’t reflect this, Schubert Motorsport, ROWE Racing and Walkenhorst Motorsport delivered a fantastic, flawless performance, and the same is true of our driver line-up. The teamwork was a lot of fun and I am already looking forward to next year. I’m confident that then we will get a result that is a fairer reflection on our teams, the drivers and the BMW M6 GT3. Congratulations to Mercedes-Benz on its win.”
Alexander Sims (ROWE Racing, number 23 BMW M6 GT3, 5th place):
“I think we did the best we could given the circumstances. It wasn't a smooth race for anyone. The weather was just crazy. Then there was the interruption and a turbulent restart. We had a great comeback and battled our way into fifth place. I'm proud of the whole team.”
Dirk Werner (ROWE Racing, number 23 BMW M6 GT3, 5th place):
“We battled and gave it our all. In these difficult conditions, the main thing was to make it through the race. We managed that. Our team did a great job. It’s a shame that we dropped down into 50th place on the restart. This meant that it wasn’t possible to finish even further up the field. I retired early in the two previous years, so it feels good that we finished in fifth place this time. The Nordschleife did what it felt like once again.”
Philipp Eng (ROWE Racing, number 23 BMW M6 GT3, 5th place):
“Mercedes was very strong this time around. Which is why we can be pleased that we were at the front of the field of the other manufacturers. Unfortunately, we lost exactly the same amount of time at the start that we trailed by at the end. Otherwise, the BMW M6 GT3 was extremely reliable and delivered a fantastic performance. A huge well-done to the entire team once again. They really did a perfect job, in particular with our problem at the start.”
Maxime Martin (ROWE Racing, number 23 BMW M6 GT3, 5th place):
“The result is definitely okay after a race like this one. But, of course, I would have preferred it if we had finished a bit further up the field. Unfortunately, the technical problem at the restart cost us time. If it hadn’t been for that, we would have been able to fight for a spot on the podium. Now we will work hard to make sure that 2017 is even better. The BMW M6 GT3 definitely has the potential.”
Tom Blomqvist (Walkenhorst Motorsport, number 999 BMW M6 GT3, 12th place):
“I've never experienced a race like this one before. Everything here is unique. It was a fantastic experience. Unfortunately, a problem meant that we lost four laps in the pit. If it hadn't been for that, then we would have been able to finish further up the field. The BMW M6 GT3 was fast. I’m just happy that we made it to the end after this incredible race.”
Augusto Farfus (Schubert Motorsport, number 18 BMW M6 GT3, 120th place):
“It obviously hurt to be denied any chance of a good result relatively early in the race. We were leading at the time of the engine problem, and had very good speed. We still had that pace after the overnight repairs. I would like to pay a big compliment to the Schubert Motorsport team. They worked hard all night to get our car back out onto the track. For me, they are the real heroes.”
Lucas Luhr (Schubert Motorsport, number 100 BMW M6 GT3, DNF):
“I am a positive person, so I will take the positives from this race. The brand-new BMW M6 GT3 proved its potential and showed that it is competitive on the Nordschleife. We can build on that, looking ahead. The collision was obviously unnecessary. The other car came from nowhere and ploughed into me. I had no chance, and it was a big impact. It is a shame that we were unable to convert the strong performance we showed over the course of the race into a good result.”

BMW Power

06-06-16, 08:32

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kknHUzWhwQ&feature=em-uploademail

BMW Power

06-06-16, 08:51

Krohn and Delétraz in the points in the BMW M6 GT3.
BMW Motorsport Juniors Jesse Krohn and Louis Delétraz appeared in the ADAC GT Masters at the wheel of the number 20 Schubert Motorsport BMW M6 GT3.

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This was their second outing together, having also contested both races at the Sachsenring. The weekend’s programme at the EuroSpeedway also featured the DTM, the SUPERBIKE*IDM, the ADAC Formula 4, and the Porsche Carrera Cup, ensuring the crowds were treated to a fantastic show.
The qualifying sessions for the two ADAC GT Masters races took place on Friday. Krohn set an outstanding lap time in his group, putting him third on the grid. Delétraz finished 17th against strong opposition in his session.
Krohn made a good start to Saturday’s race and, for long periods, was in contention for a place on the podium until he dropped a few places towards the end of his stint. Delétraz attempted to make up ground again after the driver change. However, the BMW M6 GT3 was so badly damaged in a fierce battle that Delétraz was forced to return to the pit lane and retire.
On Sunday, the two BMW Motorsport Juniors again battled hard to work their way through the field from 17th on the grid. They achieved this superbly thanks to a flawless performance and the fact that a number of opponents were in trouble. The pair came home sixth to score valuable points towards the overall standings. The number 19 Schubert Motorsport BMW M6 GT3, which was making its first appearance and was driven by Claudia Hürtgen and Niklas Mackschin, failed to finish race one and came home 20th on Sunday.
The BMW Motorsport Juniors were coached by BMW works driver Jörg Müller throughout the entire weekend. He is acting as mentor to all the Juniors who take their place at the wheel of the BMW M6 GT3 over the course of the year. Former BMW Juniors and current BMW DTM drivers Timo Glock, Martin Tomczyk and Marco Wittmann also visited their successors in the Schubert Motorsport garage. The ADAC GT Masters now takes a six-week summer break before the fourth race weekend at the Red Bull Ring from 22nd to 24th July.

BMW Power

10-06-16, 10:25

Victory and second place for BMW Team Teo Martín.
BMW Team Teo Martín continued its winning run in the International GT Open.

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The team won one race and finished runner-up at the third race weekend of the season, which took place on the “Paul Ricard” racetrack in Le Castellet in the south of France. Miguel Ramos and Roldan Rodriguez took their second win of the season in the number 1 BMW M6 GT3 in Saturday’s opening race. Their team-mates Gustavo Yacamán and Fernando Monje, who failed to finish on Saturday, finished runners-up in Sunday’s second race to take their place on the podium. Ramos/Rodriguez came home eighth in race two.

BMW Power

10-06-16, 10:25

Turner Motorsport at Detroit’s Belle Isle Park.
While the GTLM class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) takes a break, the GTD class contested its fifth round of the season last weekend.

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The race took place at Belle Isle Park in Detroit. Bret Curtis and BMW works driver Jens Klingmann finished ninth in the number 96 Turner Motorsport BMW M6 GT3. Their team-mates Michael Marsal and Markus Palttala came home 11th in the number 97 car.

BMW Power

10-06-16, 10:26

Victory and championship lead for Tordoff.
West Surrey Racing driver Sam Tordoff moved to the top of the overall standings in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) with a successful Sunday of racing at Oulton Park.

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Tordoff won the second of the day’s three races in the BMW 125i M Sport. He finished runner-up in the other two races. This was sufficient to give him a one-point lead at the top of the Drivers’ Championship. Team-mate Jack Goff finished 12th, ninth and had a DNF. Rob Collard was 23rd, 25th and sixth in the third West Surrey Racing BMW 125i M Sport.

BMW Power

13-06-16, 12:06

BMW M6 GT3 claims maiden win in Italy.
The third race weekend of the 2016 Italian GT Championship saw BMW Team Italia take its first victory with the BMW M6 GT3.

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Alberto Cerqui and Stefano Comandini first secured pole position with the number 15 BMW M6 GT3 at the “Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli”. They then executed a virtually perfect race. Comandini took the lead with just a few laps remaining when Ferrari driver Mirko Venturi dropped back due to a puncture – and he never looked back. Comandini and Cerqui crossed the finish line 12th in race two on Sunday. The next round of the Italian GT Championship takes place in Mugello on 17th July.

BMW Power

21-06-16, 11:19

Collard celebrates win in the BMW 125i M Sport.
The West Surrey Racing team continued its winning ways in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

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On the fifth race weekend of the season, Rob Collard topped the podium in Croft after finishing first in his BMW 125i M Sport. Collard won the second of three races that took place on Sunday. In the other two races, he finished in seventh and fourth positions respectively. His team-mate Sam Tordoff extended the lead in the BTCC championship standings in Croft. Tordoff finished in second place in the turbulent third race of the day – heavy rainfall started just before the race began. In the previous two races, he had finished in 13th and eighth. The strong performance from West Surrey Racing was completed by Jack Goff, who drove his BMW 125i M Sport to two fourth places, as well as finishing in ninth in the other race.

BMW Power

04-07-16, 15:45

Four BMW M6 GT3s in action in Paul Ricard.
ROWE Racing, Boutsen Ginion Racing and the BMW Team Italia fielded a total of four BMW M6 GT3 in Saturday’s 1000-kilometre race in Paul Ricard.

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The Boutsen Ginion Racing car ended the Blancpain Endurance Cup race, which served as preparation for the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BE), in 20th place overall and eighth in the Pro-Am Cup. BMW Team Italia came home 12th in the Pro-Am Cup. The two ROWE Racing cars both failed to finish. Victory went to McLaren.

BMW Power

04-07-16, 15:46

Fourth VLN round.
The first VLN race since the Nürburgring 24 Hours was a rain-dominated affair.

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A wet track and poor visibility made the four-hour race a major challenge for all involved – even for BMW works driver Jörg Müller, who lined up alongside BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn and Victor Bouveng in the #36 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M6 GT3. Müller is acting as mentor at all of the outings of the BMW Motorsport Juniors in the BMW M6 GT3. The trio finished fifth on Saturday, with victory going to Audi. Alexander Mies and Michael Schrey remain the men to beat in the BMW M235i Racing Cup. They won the fourth round of the VLN and remain unbeaten in their class this season. Second place went to Michael Funke of the Schirmer team. In third place, following a magnificent fightback from the back of the field, were Rudi Adams and Thomas Jäger in the ‘Eifelblitz’ car. In total, BMW teams claimed four class victories.

BMW Power

04-07-16, 15:47

ROWE Racing with two BMW M6 GT3s at Spa.
Just a few weeks after finishing fifth in the new BMW M6 GT3 at the Nürburgring 24h, the ROWE Racing team is in the midst of preparations for the second highlight of the endurance racing season.

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BMW is returning to the Ardennes to defend the title won last year, when the BMW Z4 GT3 triumphed in its last major 24-hour race. ROWE Racing will compete in the classic marathon event with two BMW M6 GT3s.
“Returning to Spa-Francorchamps is a bit special after our win there last year,” says BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “It was a great way for the BMW Z4 GT3 2015 to leave endurance racing and now we want to celebrate a successful start for the BMW M6 GT3 in Spa-Francorchamps. ROWE Racing is competing with six fast and experienced drivers. We are really looking forward to this challenge in the Ardennes.”
Philipp Eng, Maxime Martin and Alexander Sims will share driving duties in the number 99 car. Eng and Sims are competing together for the whole of the Blancpain GT Series season, which also includes the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. This is a home race for the Belgian BMW DTM driver Martin. Nick Catsburg, Stef Dusseldorp and Dirk Werner will be behind the wheel of the number 98 car. In 2015, Catsburg was part of the victorious team in the BMW Z4 GT3.
BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk will also be taking part in the BMW M6 GT3 at the 24-hour classic in the Ardennes. He will be competing for Roberto Ravaglia’s BMW Team Italia alongside Stefano Colombo, Giorgio Roda and Max Koebolt.

BMW Power

01-08-16, 10:04

Start to the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.
On the BMW M6 GT3's first appearance at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, both of ROWE Racing's cars made it into the Super Pole competition.

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The best BMW driver on Friday in the top 20 individual time trials was last year's winner Nick Catsburg in car number 98. It took him 2:19.517 to complete a lap of the 7.004-kilometre track. This sees Catsburg, Stef Dusseldorp and Dirk Werner start the 68th edition of the 24-hour classic on the ‘Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps’ from 15th on the grid. Clemens Schmid (Mercedes) clinched pole position.
After heavy rain showers in the afternoon, the sun appeared between the clouds now and then during the Super Pole competition. After two fast laps, the second BMW M6 GT3, ROWE Racing’s number 99, secured the 19th starting place. Alexander Sims achieved a best time of 2:19.865 minutes. Over the course of the race, Sims will share the wheel of the BMW M6 GT3 with Maxime Martin and Philipp Eng.
BMW Team Italia, headed by team principal Roberto Ravaglia, achieved 48 in qualifying. BMW works driver Martin Tomczyk, who is competing in the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps for the first time in his long and successful career, will share the cockpit of the #15 BMW M6 GT3 with Stefano Colombo, Giorgio Roda and Max Koebolt. BMW Team Italia is contesting the Pro-Am Cup. Boutsen Ginion Racing is also competing in this class; the team will attack the 24-hour race with the #12 BMW M6 GT3 and the drivers Karim Ojjeh, Julian Darras, Olivier Grotz and Arno Santamato from 52nd on the grid.
BMW starts the Ardennes marathon as reigning champion after the BMW Z4 GT3 celebrated victory last season in its last major 24-hour race. After the warm-up on Saturday morning, the race is scheduled to start at 4:30 p.m. CEST. 24 hours later, one of the 65 participating GT3 cars will be crowned the winner.

BMW Power

01-08-16, 10:05

BMW M6 GT3 in promising position.
The 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps demonstrated in the initial phase once again why it is regarded as one of the most eventful endurance races.

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Yellow flags, a safety car phase of almost an hour, plenty of traffic in the pit lane and drizzle continued to mix up the field. In the first five hours of racing, the two ROWE Racing cars worked their way into a promising position. At times, last year's winner Nick Catsburg in the #98 BMW M6 GT3 and Maxime Martin in the sister car with number 99 led the Ardennes marathon.
Dirk Werner drove the #98 BMW M6 GT3 at the start and made it through the first hour well. On lap 25, the BMW works driver was in fifth place as he headed into the pit for the first stop. Catsburg took over the BMW M6 GT3, but completed the majority of his laps behind the safety car. He was at the front of the field of 65 GT3 cars at the restart and has led the race a total of two times so far. After completing 113 laps, the #98 BMW M6 GT3 was in twelfth place.
The second BMW M6 GT3 in action for ROWE Racing dropped way down the field after its pit stop during the safety car phase, and was outside the top 30 for a while. However, starting drivers Martin, Alexander Sims and Philipp Eng were able to fight their way back up through the field as the race went on and collect laps in the lead. After completing 114 laps, they were back to the front.
Martin Tomczyk also delivered a strong performance at the wheel of the BMW M6 GT3. The BMW DTM driver is contesting his first 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps. He drove at the start for team principal Roberto Ravaglia's BMW Team Italia, and remained in the car with number 15 after the first pit stop for a double stint. Tomczyk went on an impressive pursuit. Within the first two hours of the race, the experienced driver managed to make up 31 places. He started from 47th on the grid and, as he entered the pit for the second time, handed the BMW M6 GT3 over to Stefano Colombo in 16th place. As the race went on, the team were forced to retire after an accident.
The fourth BMW M6 GT3 of Boutsen Ginion Racing, which started from 51st place, worked its way up the field during the course of the race and was in 36th place at one point. However, the car was forced to return to the pit after suffering tyre damage, delaying their race.

BMW Power

01-08-16, 10:05

Sensational victory in Spa-Francorchamps.
The BMW M6 GT3 repeated last year’s success for its predecessor, the BMW Z4 GT3, by winning the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.

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After 531 laps, the ROWE Racing car number 99, driven by Maxime Martin, Philipp Eng and Alexander Sims, crossed the finish line in first place. The trio clinched the 23rd victory overall for BMW in the endurance classic at the "Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps".
Local heroes Pascal Ickx and Gérard Langlois secured BMW's first triumph at the Ardennes marathon in a BMW 1800 TI/SA back in 1965. Nicky Catsburg, Lucas Luhr and Markus Palttala scored victory with the BMW Z4 GT3 last season. Now its successor, the BMW M6 GT3, has also added its name to the list of winners of the 24-hour race in Spa-Francorchamps – and on its very first appearance.
It was a race of highs, lows and a perfect finish for the victorious #99 BMW M6 GT3. In the initial phase in particular, yellow flags, a safety car phase lasting almost an hour and a lot of traffic in the pit lane kept mixing up the field. Martin, Sims and Eng were even outside the top 30 for a while. As the race went on, they were able to battle their way up through the field lap by lap. When night fell, the BMW M6 GT3 had established itself among the front-runners and led the field. The car entered the pits for a mandatory five-minute stop to change its brakes during a yellow flag phase. Afterwards, Sims, Martin and Eng continued to hold their ground among the front-runners and were in fourth place halfway through the race. They returned to first place in the early hours of the morning. Unperturbed by the changeable conditions, ROWE Racing brought home victory. The triumph was a particularly special experience for Belgian driver Martin at his home race in Spa-Francorchamps.
Last year's winner Nick Catsburg, with Stef Dusseldorp and Dirk Werner, also drove a fantastic race in the car 98. ROWE Racing's second BMW M6 GT3 was in the top 10 for long periods of the race and also completed laps as the leader. Like their teammates in the sister car, Catsburg, Dusseldorp and Werner also made it through the night without incident. They were in 16th place at the halfway point, made it back into the top 10 with an outstanding display of driving, and established themselves in a strong position. Then, an hour and a half before the end of the race, the #98 BMW M6 GT3 suffered a problem with the clutch. Catsburg, Dusseldorp and Werner were forced to retire.
BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk in the #15 BMW M6 GT3 was also very unlucky. The German contested his first 24-hour race at the "Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps" for BMW Team Italia. Tomczyk, who drove the first stint, showed impressive pace right from the start. The BMW works driver started the race from 47th on the grid and delivered an impressive charging drive. At the end of his double stint, he handed over the BMW M6 GT3 that was contesting the Pro-Am class to Stefano Colombo in 16th place. Unfortunately, Tomczyk's performance went unrewarded: the team was forced to return the car to the garage after an accident in the early stages of the race. The marathon also came to an early end for Boutsen Ginion Racing; shortly after six in the morning, a technical defect forced the team to retire.

BMW Power

02-08-16, 08:20

Martin: "It is the best win of my life."
Maxime Martin had to wait a while for his first victory at his home event, the Spa 24 Hours: This was the tenth time that he had contested one of the most important GT3 races of the season.

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With the win, he followed in the footsteps of his father Jean-Michel, who also won the 24-hour race at the "Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps" for BMW. Speaking in an interview, Maxime Martin reveals the significance of this success in his career as a racing driver.

Three questions for... Maxime Martin.

Maxime, congratulations on your win at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The race means a great deal to you and your family. How does it feel to win here?
Maxime Martin: "I've dreamed of being successful here since I was a child. But I've usually been unlucky in the 24-hour race. Which is why I am over the moon to have finally won. It is the seventh win for my family, which is really impressive. I still can't quite believe that I did it. Naturally, as a Belgian it is very special to me. The fans here were fantastic once again. Each year it is incredible to see how many spectators are here, how much they know about motorsport and how much they love this sport and this race in particular. To win in front of a crowd like this feels really good. I'll remember this feeling for a very long time."

How significant is this win in your career?
Martin: "It is the best win of my life. I have already enjoyed success in the DTM, but this here is another absolute highlight. This is the race I have contested most often. I came here with my father as a young child, and now I was able to emulate him – and with extremely fierce competition. The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is my favourite race, even more so now than before. Standing on the podium, lifting up the cup and looking into the crowd is incredible. I will definitely cherish these memories. It's superb."

While we're talking about family: You're getting married soon and are becoming a father for the first time. How are you approaching this new phase of your life?
Martin: "Naturally it is very important to me. My family means a great deal to me. Now that I am starting my own family, this feeling has been enhanced. Maybe there will be more racing drivers from the Martin family in the future. If I ever experience a day as a father like the one I experienced with my father today, I will be a very happy man. I have always had my whole family and close friends around me throughout my career to date, and having them here today was very important to me."

BMW Power

02-08-16, 08:20

BTCC: Podium success for the BMW 125i M Sport.
The West Surrey Racing team remains on the road to success in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).

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Rob Collard celebrated a spot on the podium with his BMW 125i M Sport in Snetterton at the sixth race weekend of the season. He narrowly missed out on the podium when he finished in fourth in the second race, but crossed the finish line in second place in the final race of the weekend. He finished 16th in the first race. His team-mate Sam Tordoff finished seventh and eighth, before suffering a retirement. Jack Goff in the third BMW 125i M Sport finished in eleventh and 13th place. He also retired early in one race.

BMW Power

22-08-16, 15:01

Victory for the BMW M6 GT3 in Fuji.
The new BMW M6 GT3 has claimed its first win in the Japanese Super GT Championship: Autobacs Racing Team Aguri proved unbeatable at round four of the season in Fuji.

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Shinichi Takagi and Takashi Kobayashi secured pole position for the number 55 BMW M6 GT3 on Saturday. They then crossed the line as winners after 62 laps of racing on Sunday. The team had previously tasted success in Fuji back in May, when they started from pole before finishing runner-up at the second race of the season. They now have their first win in this series. “After securing pole position here in the spring, we knew that the track suited our car. For this reason, we were determined to win the race this weekend. I am very happy that we achieved this, and took victory,” said Takagi. Jörg Müller and Seji Ara came home 20th in the BMW M6 GT3 run by BMW Team Studie.

BMW Power

22-08-16, 15:02

BMW 125i M Sport on the podium three times.
On the seventh race weekend in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC), the BMW 125i M Sport celebrated three podium finishes in Knockhill.

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Sam Tordoff in the number 600 car crossed the finish line in second place in the second race, and repeated this performance in the third race on Sunday. He claimed fifth place in the first race. Jack Goff in the number 31 BMW 125i M Sport recorded his best result of the season. In the first race, he claimed a podium finish in second place. After 27 laps, he was just 0.503 seconds behind the winner Jason Plato. In the next two races, Goff crossed the finish line in seventh and tenth respectively. Robert Collard, the third Team West Surrey Racing driver, did not have such a successful race weekend. After finishing 17th in the first race on Sunday, he was able to improve on that result with fifth in the second race. However, he was forced to retire on lap eight in the third race. The BTCC season is now entering its critical phase. Two events are scheduled ahead of the finale at Brands Hatch on 1st and 2nd October. The next stop will be at the Rockingham Motor Speedway in two weeks.

BMW Power

22-08-16, 15:03

BMW Motorsport Juniors score points in Zandvoort.
BMW Motorsport Juniors Jesse Krohn and Louis Delétraz defied some nasty weather conditions in Zandvoort to score points in both races during the race weekend in the ADAC GT Masters.

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On Saturday, the duo finished ninth in the Schubert Motorsport BMW M6 GT3, and then made it to eighth place in a turbulent race on Sunday. Zandvoort was the location for the sixth, and penultimate, round in the 2016 ADAC GT Masters.
On Saturday, the weather around the circuit in the dunes was pleasant and sunny. Krohn qualified in seventh with the BMW M6 GT3. Krohn and Delétraz finished ninth in the race, which was interrupted twice for safety car phases after accidents.
However, the weather altered radically overnight: pouring rain on Sunday ensured that conditions would be tricky. The wet qualifying session in the morning ended with 14th place for Delétraz. The Swiss driver had to contend with heavy traffic as the whole field attempted to use a short period of light rain to record a good lap time. The weather improved again after that, and the race started in sunny and dry conditions. However, a short but heavy shower appeared after a quarter of an hour. Some drivers chose to make an extra stop to put on wet weather tyres, but the team decided to stay out with the BMW M6 GT3. Delétraz completed his stint on slick tyres, in the most challenging conditions, before handing the car over to Krohn, who completed the second part of the race as the track dried out. Once things had calmed down after the mandatory pit stops, Krohn was in eighth position. He then defended this position until the finish. Schubert Motorsport also competed in Zandvoort with a second BMW M6 GT3, driven by Claudia Hürtgen and Jeroen den Boer. After tyre problems on Saturday, the duo finished 21st in the first race, but improved to finish ninth on Sunday.
The season finale for the ADAC GT Masters takes place from 30th September to 2nd October at the Hockenheimring.
Torsten Schubert (Schubert Motorsport Team Principal): “We should be happy with the result, as Zandvoort is not an ideal circuit for us. That is why it was even more important to compete and stay in the top ten. The rain on Sunday turned the race into a lottery. It was difficult to make the right decision. Maybe we could have made another stop and switched to wet weather tyres - that might have helped us move up through the field. But all in all, we had some positive results.
Louis Delétraz: “It was a good weekend. We did the maximum we could. Performance wise we continue to improve with every weekend. It was the first round of the season that we finished in the points in both races. Sunday’s race was a bit chaotic. I started on slicks, as it was sunny, but suddenly a big storm with heavy rain came. We decided to stay out. It was pretty tricky to drive with slicks in the wet, but we survived and I was able to hand the car over to Jesse in a good position. He then brought it home in eighth after we had finished ninth on Saturday, so overall we can be pretty happy with the weekend.”
Jesse Krohn: “Scoring points in both races gives us reason to be satisfied. The team did a great job with the tactics, the pitstopp was great and Louis drove really well. Unfortunately, it was impossible to do more this weekend as we are still missing a bit compared to our competition in front.”

BMW Power

22-08-16, 15:05

Christian Büllesbach tests the BMW M6 GT3.
Christian Büllesbach was at the Nürburgring to receive a very special reward for winning the 2015 BMW Sports Tropy.

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He completed 55 laps at the wheel of the BMW M6 GT3 on Friday, ahead of round six of the VLN Endurance Championship. “It was crazy,” said Büllesbach after his first outing in a GT3 car. “It is impossible to describe how it feels to drive such a fantastic racing car. That is a world apart from the cars I normally drive. I was particularly impressed by the braking. Many thanks to BMW Motorsport for this fantastic opportunity.” Büllesbach enjoyed success for Pixum Team Adrenalin Motorsport in a BMW Z4 in last year’s VLN and also won the title in the Rundstrecken Challenge Nürburgring (RCN) (circuit racing challenge Nürburgring). He emerged victorious against 310 drivers from 29 countries in the BMW Sports Trophy.

BMW Power

22-08-16, 15:05

Three Spa winners competing for ROWE Racing.
The next round is approaching in the Blancpain GT Series. After the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the highlight of the season, the competition now moves on to the fourth race weekend in the Sprint Cup.

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On 27th and 28th August, the ROWE Racing team will be aiming for the podium at the Hungaroring with two BMW M6 GT3s. Well-known drivers will be behind the wheel of both cars. Alexander Sims and Philipp Eng will share driving duties in the number 99 BMW M6 GT3, having won the legendary 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps three weeks ago, together with Maxime Martin. Nick Catsburg and Stef Dusseldorp will be competing in the second car entered by the ROWE Racing team.

BMW Power

22-08-16, 15:05

Two BMW M6 GT3s on the podium.
Round six of the VLN Endurance Championship on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife was a great success for Walkenhorst Motorsport, with an impressive pole position and two podium finishes.

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BMW works driver Jörg Müller, Victor Bouveng and Christian Krognes started the race from pole position in the number 36 BMW M6 GT3. Krognes had clocked a fastest time of 7:56.642 minutes in qualifying to set a new unofficial lap record for the VLN variant of the Nordschleife. The trio finished second in the race, behind the winning Mercedes. Matias Henkola, Michele di Martino and Jordan Tresson came home third in the number 35 BMW M6 GT3 to join them on the podium. Meanwhile, Alexander Mies and Michael Schrey continued their winning run in the BMW M235i Racing Cup class: the Bonk Motorsport duo won the CUP5 class for the sixth time in the sixth race of the season to extend their lead in both the Cup class and the overall VLN standings. Second and third in the BMW M235i Racing Cup class went to the Scheid-Honert Motorsport and Walkenhorst Motorsport teams. In total, the BMW teams claimed four class victories in Saturday’s four-hour race.

BMW Power

13-09-16, 12:51

Double success for BMW Team Teo Martín.
It was a perfect race weekend for the BMW M6 GT3 at the Red Bull Ring.

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BMW Team Teo Martín celebrated a double win by securing victory in both the Saturday and Sunday races. In Saturday’s encounter, Miguel Ramos and Pieter Schothorst were first at the finish in their BMW M6 GT3. This was the first win of the year for Schothorst, who joined the team during the season. For Ramos, it was the third victory of the season. Their team-mates Gustavo Yacamán and Fernando Monje ended Saturday’s race in fourth. For Sunday’s race, the team from Madrid and the BMW M6 GT3 laid claim to the entire front row. Ramos/Schothorst secured pole position in the number one car, their team-mates Yacamán/Monje lined up next to them in second on the grid. After the race, it was the Columbian/Spanish pairing who celebrated on the top step of the podium: Yacamán/Monje celebrated their first win of the season in Sunday’s race. Ramos/Schothorst crossed the line in seventh. With the double win, BMW Team Teo Martín extended the overall lead in the team standings of the International GT Open.

BMW Power

19-09-16, 15:33

Collard finishes on the podium.
Sam Tordoff of West Surrey Racing headed to the penultimate race weekend of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) as overall leader.

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However, in all three races at Silverstone, his team-mate Rob Collard was the best-placed BMW driver in the field. In the first two races of the day, Collard came ninth and seventh respectively. Tordoff finished in eleventh place in the BMW 125i M Sport in both races. The third WSR driver, Jack Goff, crossed the finish line in 12th and 13th. Collard started the third and final race from second on the grid – and ultimately finished third. Tordoff also made it into the top-10, taking the chequered flag in sixth, while Goff came 11th. The title will be decided at the BTCC season finale in Brands Hatch on 1st/2nd October.

BMW Power

30-09-16, 08:24

Mies and Schrey reach their target.
The destination of the drivers’ title in the BMW M235i Racing Cup was decided with two races of the season still to go. Alexander Mies and Michael Schrey hold an unassailable lead.

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Although points count double at the season finale, the duo lead by 72 points and cannot be caught even if results removed from the standings are taken into account at the end of the season. Third place in the class for the duo at the eighth race of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring was sufficient for them to claim the overall VLN title in, in theory at least. In purely arithmetical terms, their competitors could still have a chance of the title; however, the average scores for the classes in question mean that this is a theoretical chance and Bonk Motorsport will claim a fourth VLN title at the end of the season. Mies and Schrey had won the first seven VLN races and the 24-hour race in their class. They lost their perfect record but were delighted with their title nonetheless. Victory in the BMW M235i Racing Cup class went to Heiko Eichenberg from the Securtal Sorg Rennsport team. He won ahead of his team-mates Max Kottmayr, Kevin Warum and Erik Johannson. Walkenhorst Motorsport also had reason to celebrate early on. Christian Krognes drove the number 36 BMW M6 GT3 to pole position with a time of 7:53.375 minutes, setting a new lap record for the VLN variant of the Nordschleife. However, both BMW M6 GT3s from this team retired early from the race.

BMW Power

30-09-16, 13:32

Back in the cockpit.
Alessandro Zanardi to compete in his first race in the BMW M6 GT3 in Mugello.

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The mission Rio de Janeiro is completed, and now it is time for Alessandro Zanardi to return to the race cockpit. From 14th to 16th October, the BMW works driver and BMW Brand Ambassador will compete in the season finale of the 2016 Italian GT Championship in Mugello. Zanardi will race a BMW M6 GT3 entered by ROAL Motorsport and specially modified by BMW Motorsport.
Zanardi’s last race to date was the “Spa 24 Hours” in July 2015, when he shared the cockpit of a BMW Z4 GT3 with Timo Glock and Bruno Spengler. After that race, the Italian fully focussed on preparing for his para-cycling competitions in Rio de Janeiro. With great success: just two weeks ago, in the middle of September, Zanardi won two gold medals and one silver medal.
Now, Zanardi, BMW Motorsport and ROAL Motorsport are reunited on the racetrack – with another special project. It will be the first time that Zanardi will race the BMW M6 GT3, the successor to the BMW Z4 GT3, that has been in action on racetracks worldwide since the beginning of this season. BMW Motorsport has many years of experience in modifying BMW race cars for Zanardi’s special needs, and currently the engineers are working on adapting a BMW M6 GT3, which will be run in Mugello by ROAL Motorsport. Zanardi’s participation in the Italian GT Championship finale will be a triple anniversary celebration: just one week after this, on 23rd October, the BMW works driver will celebrate his 50th birthday. In addition, BMW Italy is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the 100th birthday of BMW.
“It is great to see Alex back in the cockpit after he had fully focused on para-cycling for one year,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “We followed his races in Rio de Janeiro full of excitement – and I have to say that, once more, he proved what an outstanding athlete he is. Alex tackled his mission Rio de Janeiro with determination, passion and professionalism, and this commitment was rewarded with two gold and one silver medal. We really have to say: hats off! But now we are happy to have Alex back in our BMW racing family and in a BMW race car. It is a first for him to compete in our new BMW M6 GT3, and I am sure he will really enjoy taking it onto the track. Based on the experiences of all these years working with Alex, our engineers developed the special modifications for the BMW M6 GT3. We are looking forward to see him racing in Mugello – when celebrating his and BMW’s special birthdays.”
“I always say that my life is a never ending privilege of being able to do so many things, and this season is a classic example,” said Zanardi. “Preparing for Rio de Janeiro, approaching my 50th birthday, not only being able to run competitively, but winning what I won is exceptional. But on top of this I will once more enjoy the privilege of indulging in my primary passion, being behind the wheel of a great race car. Since I saw the beautiful BMW M6 GT3 in the workshop in Munich I have dreamt about driving it. And now BMW is granting me the possibility to do so on one of my favourite circuits, Mugello. Therefore, thank you to everyone in Munich who made themselves available to work on this project, thank you to BMW Italy for thinking about this opportunity and I also want to thank all the people in the Italian GT Championship, who are welcoming me into their field. So I am very, very happy and I can’t wait to grab the steering wheel and drive to the best of my abilities.”
Zanardi will test the modified BMW M6 GT3 together with ROAL Motorsport and BMW Motorsport on Tuesday, 4th October in Mugello.

BMW Power

03-10-16, 12:38

ADAC GT Masters draws to a close in Hockenheim.
As at the opening round of the season in Oschersleben in mid-April, BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn and BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk again shared the cockpit of the Schubert Motorsport BMW M6 GT3 at the finale of the 2016 ADAC GT Masters in Hockenheim.

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Krohn had contested the entire season in the number 20 BMW Motorsport Junior car. He received support from Tomczyk at two events, and from BMW DTM driver António Félix da Costa at the Red Bull Ring race weekend. BMW Motorsport Juniors Krohn and Louis Delétraz share the cockpit at the remaining four events, gaining valuable experience in the BMW M6 GT3.
Krohn contested Saturday’s qualifying at the final race weekend of the year at the Hockenheimring, qualifying 16th. He and Tomczyk produced a flawless performance in an eventful, incident-packed race. The duo fought its way into 12th place, but narrowly missed out on the points. Tomczyk started Sunday’s race from 23rd on the grid, and was able to make up a few positions before the driver-changeover. Krohn took over the wheel after a very good pit stop and eventually crossed the finish line 15th after another eventful race.
This marks the end of the BMW M6 GT3’ first season in the ADAC GT Masters. Fifth place at the season-opener in Oschersleben was the best result of the year. In total, Schubert Motorsport finished in the points on five occasions.

BMW Power

18-10-16, 08:36

Sixth place for Alex Zanardi.
Alessandro Zanardi is back in the race cockpit. This weekend, the 49-year old BMW works driver and BMW brand ambassador is competing in his first ever races in the new BMW M6 GT3.

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Zanardi is competing in the season finale of the Italian GT Championship in Mugello. The car is entered by BMW Team Italia and ROAL Motorsport and was specially modified by BMW Motorsport.
Despite the fact that he had not raced for over a year in order to fully focus on para-cycling, and that Mugello marks his debut in the BMW M6 GT3, Zanardi was again fast from the word go. After claiming third position in Friday’s first free practice session, the Italian qualified eighth on the grid for Saturday’s race and secured P3 on the second row for Sunday’s encounter. Saturday’s race was held over 48 minutes, and included a mandatory pit stop. The final stages especially became pretty hectic, but Zanardi called on all his experience and brought his BMW M6 GT3 home in a strong sixth place.
“It is an unbelievable feeling to be back behind the wheel – and to race this beautiful BMW M6 GT3,” said Zanardi. “The car is fantastic. It is a very powerful machine and like a rocket down the straight – and it handles as well as I remember from the BMW Z4 GT3. After not having raced for more than one year, I had no difficulties at all in getting up to speed. My first race in the BMW M6 GT3 was very competitive. Finishing in sixth position is certainly a very good result. I have to admit that in the early stages of the race I did not have exactly the feeling in the car that I was hoping for. Probably we did not get the tyre pressures completely right. But towards the end I was one of the fastest cars out there. So this for sure is very encouraging and I am certain we can do even better than P6. That is the plan for tomorrow, when I will start from third on the grid.”
Zanardi’s participation in the Italian GT Championship finale will be a triple anniversary celebration: next weekend, on 23rd October, the BMW works driver will celebrate his 50th birthday. In addition, BMW Italy is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the 100th birthday of BMW. The car features a special livery, honouring these anniversaries as well as the gold and silver medals Zanardi has won in Rio de Janeiro in September.

BMW Power

18-10-16, 08:37

Fantastic debut in the BMW M6 GT3.
The emotions were overwhelming when Alessandro Zanardi crossed the finish line in Mugello as the winner.

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On his debut weekend in the new BMW M6 GT3, the BMW works driver and BMW brand ambassador was victorious in the final race of the 2016 Italian GT Championship. After finishing Saturday’s race in sixth position, he raced onto the top step of the podium in Sunday’s encounter, celebrated by the fans and all the teams in the paddock.
After a break of over a year and after winning two gold and one silver medal in the para-cycling competitions on Rio de Janeiro, Mugello marked the comeback in the racing cockpit for Zanardi. His BMW M6 GT3 in the Italian GT Championship season finale was entered by BMW Team Italia and ROAL Motorsport, and was specially modified by BMW Motorsport.
Zanardi had qualified third on the grid for Sunday’s race, but was promoted to second place after a competitor’s car was damaged in an accident on Saturday and could not take part in the second race. The Italian was third after the opening lap, but when the pit stop window opened he took the lead. And when he returned to the track after his mandatory pit stop he was still leading the field. Zanardi opened up a gap of several seconds and raced to his first ever win in the BMW M6 GT3.
“There are no words to describe what I feel. Today I saw the sun setting and it never looked that beautiful. What a year, not only what a day. Once more I enjoyed beautiful moments in Rio de Janeiro, and now just jumping into this beautiful car was amazing,” Zanardi enthused. “But to win the race is something else. I did not have the start I wanted, but I had a great car underneath me. So I knew it was just a question of putting in some good laps as soon as the guys in front of me pitted, and that is what I did. So when I came back on the circuit I found myself with a very comfortable lead, and I had the speed to stay away from the guys behind me and finish with the victory. It is unbelievable. I want to thank all the guys in Munich, who did an amazing effort in getting this beautiful BMW M6 GT3 ready for me with everything I needed, thanks to BMW Italia and to ROAL Motorsport for setting the car up and making it ready for me in a magnificent way. And I also want to send my congratulations to the BMW family in Hockenheim, and especially to Marco Wittmann for winning the DTM title. He is an amazing and super fast young driver. He and the whole BMW DTM team with all the drivers can be proud of what they did this season.”
Zanardi’s participation in the Italian GT Championship finale was a triple anniversary celebration: next weekend, on 23rd October, the BMW works driver will celebrate his 50th birthday. In addition, BMW Italy is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year and the 100th birthday of the BMW Group. The car featured a special livery, honouring these anniversaries, as well as the gold and silver medals Zanardi won in Rio de Janeiro in September.