BMW Racing News - BMWsport.net - BMW Racing News, Tech Articles and Race Photos

Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER), 19th October 2024, BMW M Motorsport, Customer Racing, NLS5 - 55. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, testing & development BMW M2 Racing, Max Hesse, Jens Klingmann (GER).

BMW M Motorsport News, 29th October 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Tuesday October 29, 2024

In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.

Laura Claesgens
BMW Group

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

"The 2024 motorsport season is entering the home stretch – and for our BMW M Motorsport drivers and teams, it's about securing the last crucial points for the BMW M Sports Trophy Awards. In December, we will continue our tradition of more than 50 years and once again honour the most successful participants in the BMW M Sports Trophy. In addition, we will launch a new exciting project in 2025, for which there will be more information in the coming weeks. Looking back at the past racing events, I congratulate all the successful crews who have represented for BMW M Motorsport around the world with their victories and podium finishes."

Macau, 16-19 November 2023. FIA GT World Cup, Guia Circuit, #32 BMW M4 GT3, Sheldon van der Linde, BMW M Team WRT, Shell.

FIA GT World Cup Macau: BMW M Motorsport assembles an exceptional line-up with four BMW M4 GT3s, four works drivers, and two former winners.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Tuesday October 22, 2024

The FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN) is a highlight at the end of a racing season – and this year, BMW M Motorsport will approach this highlight on the legendary Guia Circuit with an exceptional line-up. Four BMW M4 GT3s will be driven through the narrow streets of the Asian metropolis by four BMW M works drivers on 16th/17th November.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Munich. The FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN) is a highlight at the end of a racing season – and this year, BMW M Motorsport will approach this highlight on the legendary Guia Circuit with an exceptional line-up. Four BMW M4 GT3s will be driven through the narrow streets of the Asian metropolis by four BMW M works drivers on 16th/17th November. Included in the line-up are the two-time Macau winner and defending champion Raffaele Marciello (SUI), the 2018 Macau winner Augusto Farfus (BRA), as well as Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL).

This year marks Raffaele Marciello's Macau debut with BMW M Motorsport. In 2023, he achieved his second-double of winning the qualification and main races on the Guia Circuit, following his first in 2019. It was also his farewell weekend with Mercedes. Last year, Augusto Farfus finished third in the main race driving the BMW M4 GT3 entered by ROWE Racing, also making it to the podium. The Brazilian celebrated his major triumph in 2018 with the BMW M6 GT3, clinching the qualifying and main race double. He also had a podium finish in the qualifying race in 2017 as the runner-up.

Sheldon van der Linde is set for his second appearance in Macau following his debut last year. He will once again compete in the BMW M4 GT3 adorned with an exceptional Manhua design from BMW M Motorsport's Premium Technology Partner Shell. In 2023, the South African claimed a strong fifth place in the qualifying race but unfortunately retired from the main race due to a tyre issue while in contention for a podium finish. Vanthoor participated in Macau in 2018 and 2019, notably recording the second-fastest qualifying time in 2019.

Munich (GER), 18 October 2024. BMW M2 Racing, entry-level race car, BMW M Motorsport design, livery, photoshoot, studio.

First appearances of the BMW M2 Racing at the NLS race at the Nürburgring and in the DTM paddock at Hockenheim.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Saturday October 19, 2024

New name, new design, and the first rigorous test in the “Green Hell”: BMW M Motorsport's new entry-level car had two major appearances this weekend. The BMW M2 Racing was introduced to fans in its new design at the DTM season finale in Hockenheim (GER) in the paddock. In parallel, the first test race was on the schedule at the 4-hour race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) on the Nordschleife (GER) on Saturday.

Laura Claesgens
BMW Group

Hockenheim/Nürburgring. New name, new design, and the first rigorous test in the “Green Hell”: BMW M Motorsport's new entry-level car had two major appearances this weekend. The BMW M2 Racing was introduced to fans in its new design at the DTM season finale in Hockenheim (GER) in the paddock. In parallel, the first test race was on the schedule at the 4-hour race of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) on the Nordschleife (GER) on Saturday. Images from the photo studio, from Hockenheim, and in racing action can be found attached to this press release.

Monza (ITA), 4-6 October 2024. Italian GT Sprint Championship, BMW Italia Ceccato Racing, #7 BMW M4 GT3, Jens Klingmann, Raffaele Marciello.

BMW M Motorsport News, 8th October 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Tuesday October 8, 2024

In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.

Laura Claesgens
BMW Group

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

“What an incredible weekend it has been for us and our BMW M Motorsport teams! Title win in the Intercontinental GT Challenge for Charles Weerts. Pro-Am title in the GT World Challenge America for Turner Motorsport. Title sweep for BMW Italia Ceccato Racing in the Italian GT Championship. In addition, driver and manufacturer titles in the BTCC as well as class victories at Indianapolis. I am almost at a loss for words to honour these triumphs. Congratulations to all the champions, and a big thank you to all the teams, drivers, and BMW M Motorsport staff who make weekends like this possible through their skill and dedication. I am incredibly proud!”

Indianapolis (USA), 20-22 September 2024. IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, GS, Turner Motorsport, #95 BMW M4 GT4, Dillon Machavern, Robert Megennis.

BMW M Motorsport News, 1st October 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Tuesday October 1, 2024

In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.

Andrea Schwab

BMW Group

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

“In the motorsport series worldwide, the weeks of truth are beginning, where titles will be decided. Last weekend, the British GT Championship held its season finale. Century Motorsport gave a strong performance with two podium finishes. After the fantastic title win in 2023, this season was more challenging, but we are proud to have our cars so well represented in British GT. I am especially happy for CarBahn Motorsports, who claimed their first victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge with the BMW M4 GT4. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers who have been successful in recent weeks. October will be extremely exciting – and hopefully, we will have many titles to celebrate with our BMW M Motorsport teams. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for everyone!”

Watkins Glen (USA), 21-23 June 2024. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, GTP, LMDh, #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team RLL, Nick Yelloly, Connor De Phillippi.

IMSA and GT World Challenge Europe: BMW M Motorsport adjusts driver line-up for double-header weekend.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Tuesday September 17, 2024

BMW M Motorsport is gearing up for two racing highlights this upcoming weekend. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series) will make a stop at Indianapolis (USA), where BMW M Team RLL will field two BMW M Hybrid V8s for its home race, as Bobby Rahal’s team is based in Indianapolis. Meanwhile, at Monza (ITA), the fourth Endurance Cup race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS will take place.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Munich. BMW M Motorsport is gearing up for two racing highlights this upcoming weekend. The IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series) will make a stop at Indianapolis (USA), where BMW M Team RLL will field two BMW M Hybrid V8s for its home race, as Bobby Rahal’s team is based in Indianapolis. The 6-hour race, ‘Battle on the Bricks,’ is part of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. Meanwhile, at Monza (ITA), the fourth Endurance Cup race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS will take place. Due to the double-header, there will be two driver changes in the ROWE Racing #98 BMW M4 GT3. Robin Frijns and Maxime Oosten (both NED) will replace regular IMSA drivers Philipp Eng (AUT) and Nick Yelloly (GBR). For Oosten, it will be his debut on the big GT stage.

Imola (ITA), 6th to 8th September 2024. BMW M Motorsport. Italian GT Championship Endurance Cup, BMW Italia Ceccato Racing Team, #7 BMW M4 GT3, Philippe Denes (USA), Francesco Guerra, Stefano Comandini (both ITA).

BMW M Motorsport News, 10th September 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Tuesday September 10, 2024

n our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

“As the championships worldwide in which our BMW M Motorsport teams compete for victories and titles, gradually enter the decisive phase, the excitement is mounting. I’m very pleased that our drivers continue to play leading roles. Both the BMW M4 GT3 and the BMW M4 GT4 have once again achieved many victories and podium finishes globally over the past two weeks – congratulations! I would especially like to congratulate Chris Walsh on securing the title early with the BMW M2 CS Racing in TC America.”

ADAC GT Masters (31.8.-1.9.): FK Performance wins at Spa-Francorchamps.

Leon Köhler (GER) and Maxime Oosten (NED) celebrated their third win of the season at the fourth race weekend of the ADAC GT Masters at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), keeping their title hopes alive. The FK Performance Motorsport duo triumphed in the #54 BMW M4 GT3 during Sunday’s sprint race, after finishing fourth in Saturday’s endurance race. In the driver standings, Köhler and Oosten have 147 points, trailing the leaders by just twelve points in second place. Grégory de Sybourg (SUI) and Eduardo Coseteng (PHI) finished 15th in the #10 BMW M4 GT3 in the sprint race and retired in the endurance race.

Mugello (ITA), 23-25 August 2024. Italian GT Championship, BMW Italia Ceccato Racing, #8 BMW M4 GT3, Pro-Am, Pedro Ebrahim, Federico Malvestiti.

BMW M Motorsport News, 26th August 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Monday August 26, 2024

In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.

Laura Claesgens
BMW Group

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

"What an incredible two race weekends for our BMW M Motorsport teams! BMW Italia Ceccato Racing is at the forefront of the title race after a fantastic performance at Mugello. Paul Miller Racing has finally celebrated its first GTD PRO victory in the IMSA series, and Turner Motorsport also shone in the USA. Add to that the successes for Team WRT and Century Motorsport in the GT World Challenge Europe and for Trevor Racing in the ESET Cup Series. The BMW M4 GT3 has truly impressed. But our teams with the BMW M4 GT4 were in no way inferior. They also achieved further successes in Europe, North America, Australia, and Asia. I am proud of such a strong customer sports programme and warmly congratulate all the winners!"

Italian GT Championship (24.-25.8.): Victories and podiums at Mugello.

Team BMW Italia Ceccato Racing dominated the penultimate sprint weekend of the Italian GT Championship at Mugello (ITA). With their two BMW M4 GT3s, the team led by Team Principal Roberto Ravaglia achieved two victories and two additional podium places, putting them in an excellent position in the title fight. BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann and Max Hesse (both GER) drove the #7 BMW M4 GT3 to an overall victory in Saturday's race. On Sunday, the duo started from pole position but had to complete a 15-second longer pit stop as required by the regulations after their victory the day before. Nevertheless, final driver Klingmann fought for the lead until the last lap and crossed the finish line in second place. Klingmann has a very good chance of defending his title at the season finale in October at Monza (ITA). Before the evaluation of the drop scores, Klingmann is one point behind, but the drop scores work in his favour, putting him in the lead theoretically. Hesse had to sit out a weekend and therefore does not play a role in the fight for the top position in the overall standings.

His summary of the Mugello weekend was very positive: "It was a great weekend! We felt very comfortable from the first lap and coped very well with the extremely hot conditions. I believe we had an advantage in dealing with the Pirelli tyres thanks to our test the previous week. Working with the BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team is always incredibly fun. Thanks to our good results, Jens is now well in the race for the title before the last sprint weekend in Monza."

In the Pro-Am category, BMW Italia Ceccato Racing also has the best chances for the title. Pedro Ebrahim (BRA) and Federico Malvestiti (ITA) drove the #8 BMW M4 GT3 to a class victory in Sunday's race at Mugello and finished third on Saturday. They lead the Pro-Am drivers' standings, subject to the drop scores, with 98 points and a 27-point lead.

BMW M Motorsport develops new entry-level model for racing for use from the 2026 season.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Tuesday August 20, 2024

Currently, BMW M Motorsport engineers are working on the development of a new car that will complete the portfolio of customer racing cars as an entry-level model into motorsport.

Laura Claesgens
BMW Group

Munich. With the BMW M235i Racing, BMW M240i Racing and BMW M2 CS Racing, at BMW M Motorsport, affordable and technically sophisticated entry-level cars into racing are a tradition. They are the perfect stepping stones to the higher GT4 and GT3 classes. Currently, BMW M Motorsport engineers are working on the development of a new car that will complete the portfolio of customer racing cars as an entry-level model into motorsport.

Nürburgring (GER), 2 August 2024. BMW M4 GT3 EVO, test, Nordschleife, Jens Klingmann.

BMW M Motorsport News, 6th August 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Tuesday August 6, 2024

In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.

Press Contact.

Laura Claesgens
BMW Group

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

"We are all still shocked by the terrible accident last Friday in the Nürburgring paddock. On behalf of BMW M Motorsport, I wish all those affected a speedy recovery! We were on site in the Eifel area to conduct the first Nordschleife test with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. That went well and provided us with valuable insights for the race deployment for the 2025 season. On Saturday, the BMW M Motorsport teams achieved numerous class victories at the same place in the NLS. There were also strong results in the IMSA series and GT4 Australia. I congratulate everybody, even though it is difficult to focus on sport on such a weekend."

BMW M4 GT3 EVO Test (2^nd August): Successful premiere on the Nordschleife.

The Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER) is not only the ultimate endurance test for all BMW M production vehicles but also for all BMW M Motorsport race cars. For this reason, the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, which will replace the current top model in GT racing from the 2025 season, made its debut last Friday in the "Green Hell." BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann (GER) and Augusto Farfus (BRA) completed numerous laps and collected valuable data. Klingmann drew a very positive conclusion: "The Nordschleife, due to its unique characteristics, poses particular challenges to a race car. We are all the more pleased that we can already provide very positive feedback after our first test with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. The car's base was extremely good from the first lap, especially in terms of drivability. As a driver, you immediately have full confidence in the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. These are optimal conditions to now move on to fine-tuning and thereby further improve performance. I can hardly wait for the first race appearances in 2025 with the new car."

Virginia International Raceway (USA). 19th to 21st July 2024. BMW M Motorsport, GT4 America, BMW M4 GT4.

BMW M Motorsport News, 22nd July 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Racing News Monday July 22, 2024

In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

“Once again, this past weekend, BMW M Motorsport teams thrilled us with spectacular races and successes. Congratulations to Berkay Besler and Gabriele Piana from the Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport team, who provided fans with fantastic racing in the BMW M4 GT4 at the GT4 European Series at Hockenheim. In North America, all eyes were on Virginia this weekend. In the GT World Challenge America, ST Racing and Turner Motorsport once again showcased the potential of the BMW M4 GT3, added by Justin Rothberg’s first win in the GT America. In the GT4 and TC America, the teams demonstrated that the BMW M4 GT4 and BMW M2 CS Racing are always among the favourites. The weekend also featured a highlight in Automotive Gaming with the iRacing 24h Spa-Francorchamps, where we can congratulate the BMW M Teams on a victory and a third place.”