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.
Italian GT Championship (7.-8.9.): Podium and class victory for BMW Italia Ceccato Racing.
The BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team defied heavy rain at Imola (ITA) during the third endurance race of the Italian GT Championship, celebrating an overall podium and a Pro-Am class win. In the #7 BMW M4 GT3, Stefano Comandini, Francesco Guerra (both ITA), and Philippe Denes (USA) finished second overall after 38 laps. As Denes is also a successful automotive gamer and a member of the BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION, the car sported a special livery, with one half featuring the zebra design of BMW M Motorsport’s Automotive Gaming works team. The sister car, the #8 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Marco Cassarà, Francesco de Luca (both ITA), and Alfred Nilsson (SWE), finished fifth overall, securing victory in the Pro-Am class.
British GT Championship (7.-8.9.): Century Motorsport celebrates at Donington Park.
Century Motorsport had a trio of reasons to celebrate at the British GT Championship race at Donington Park (GBR). Ravi Ramyead and Charlie Robertson (both GBR) claimed victory in the GT4 category after two hours of racing in their #71 BMW M4 GT4. Their teammates Ian Gough and Tom Wrigley (both GBR) finished third in the sister car, #29. In the GT3 class, Carl Cavers and Lewis Plato (both GBR) finished sixth overall in the #22 BMW M4 GT3, which translated into second place in the Silver-Am category. BMW M works driver Max Hesse (GER) also competed in the #15 BMW M4 GT3 of RAM Racing, but his teammate John Ferguson (GBR) retired early due to a technical failure.
GT World Challenge America / GT America (7.-8.9.): BMW M4 GT3 teams claim six podium finishes.
BMW M Motorsport teams had a successful weekend with the BMW M4 GT3 at the SRO event with Fanatec GT World Challenge America powered by AWS and GT America at Barber Motorsports Park (USA), achieving six podiums in total.
Turner Motorsport had the most to celebrate. In the GT World Challenge races, Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg (both USA) finished third in the Pro-Am category on Saturday and second on Sunday in the #29 BMW M4 GT3. Rothberg also secured second place in the first GT America race, only losing out on the win in a dramatic last-lap collision. A tyre issue cost him further success in the second race.
ST Racing celebrated twice on the podium. Bill Auberlen and Varun Choksey (both USA) finished second overall in Sunday’s GT World Challenge race in the #28 BMW M4 GT3. Their teammates Neil Verhagen (USA) and Samantha Tan (CAN) finished third in Pro-Am. The two are competing for the class title against Foley and Rothberg.
Random Vandals Racing earned the weekend's sixth podium, with Conor Daly and Kenton Koch (both USA) finishing second on Saturday in the #99 BMW M4 GT3. However, a late refueling stop dropped them to 13th on Sunday after leading most of the race.
GT4 America (7.-8.9.): BMW M4 GT4 wins at Barber Motorsports Park.
At the SRO weekend at Barber Motorsports Park (USA), BMW M Motorsport teams secured a 1-2 finish in Saturday’s GT4 America race. Colin Garrett and Zac Anderson (both USA) won overall and in the Silver category with the #51 BMW M4 GT4 of AutoTechnic Racing. Kevin Boehm and Kenton Koch (both USA) from Random Vandals Racing finished second. On Sunday, Boehm and Koch again finished second overall, this time winning the Silver class.
In the Am category, James Clay and Charlie Postins (both USA) won on Saturday in the #36 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4. Nicholas Shanny and Chris Walsh (both USA) finished third and second in the #20 BMW M4 GT4 of Carrus Callas Raceteam.
TC America (7.-8.9.): Title for Chris Walsh.
Chris Walsh (USA) has done it! The Carrus Callas Raceteam driver secured the TCX class title in TC America with a win and a second-place finish at Barber Motorsports Park (USA). Walsh won Saturday’s race in the #104 BMW M2 CS Racing and finished second on Sunday, accumulating enough points to clinch the title before the season finale at Indianapolis (USA). “I feel nothing but gratitude,” Walsh said. “The team and everyone who helped me achieve this title throughout the year have been incredible. Thanks to everyone. I’m proud to have brought home this reward for them.”
Another podium finish went to Aaron Kaplan (USA), who finished third in Sunday’s race in the #18 BMW M2 CS Racing of Kaplan Racing Systems.
Thailand Super Series (7.-8.9.): AAI Motorsports twice on the podium.
At the fourth race weekend of the Thailand Super Series at the Sepang International Circuit (MAS), BMW M works driver Jesse Krohn (FIN) once again supported AAI Motorsports in the #91 BMW M4 GT3. He and Chun Hua Chen (CHN) finished third in both races.
ESET Cup Series (7.-8.9.): Class victories for the BMW M6 GT3 and BMW M4 GT4.
At the ESET Cup Series weekend at Brno (CZE), Gregor Zsigo (SVK) and Dennis Waszek (CZE) won the endurance race in the GT3 class in the #24 BMW M6 GT3. The Trevor Racing duo finished ahead of their teammates Antal Zsigo and Stefan Rosina (both SVK) in the #500 BMW M4 GT3. In the GT4 class, Rudolf Beňo and Richard Gonda (both SVK) won in the #444 BMW M4 GT4 of Aries Racing Team. Antal Zsigo and Rudolf Beňo finished second in their respective classes in both sprint races.
