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Hockenheim (GER), 19-21 July 2024. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, GTWC, Sprint Cup, Century Motorsport, #991 BMW M4 GT3, Dan Harper, Darren Leung.

GT World Challenge Europe: Great race weekend for the BMW M4 GT3 in Hockenheim.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sunday July 21, 2024

The third race weekend of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup could hardly have gone better for the BMW M Motorsport teams. Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (BEL) climbed onto the podium twice at the Hockenheimring (GER) in the BMW M Team WRT #32 BMW M4 GT3 and lead both the overall standings and the Sprint Cup of the GT World Challenge Europe

Hockenheim. The third race weekend of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup could hardly have gone better for the BMW M Motorsport teams. Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (BEL) climbed onto the podium twice at the Hockenheimring (GER) in the BMW M Team WRT #32 BMW M4 GT3 and lead both the overall standings and the Sprint Cup of the GT World Challenge Europe. In the Silver Cup, Calan Williams (AUS) and Sam De Haan (GBR) celebrated a class win and a second place. Dan Harper and Darren Leung (both GBR) triumphed twice in the Bronze Cup.

Vanthoor and Weerts showed an impressive comeback in Saturday's race after a disappointing qualifying, moving up from 19th place to second. On Sunday, Vanthoor placed the #32 BMW M4 GT3 third on the grid, and, although the car's speed was not quite as good as the day before in hot temperatures, the WRT duo managed to fight for another second place. Thanks to these strong results, Vanthoor and Weerts lead both the overall GT World Challenge Europe standings, which include both endurance and sprint races, as well as the sprint classification. In both team classifications, WRT is at the top.

The Belgian team also had plenty of reasons to celebrate in the Silver Cup. Williams and De Haan won the Sunday race in Hockenheim in their class in the #30 BMW M4 GT3 and finished second on Saturday. At the same time, they took excellent fifth places in the overall classifications, further extending their already clear lead for the drivers and team in the Sprint Cup standings. In the Bronze Cup, Harper and Leung shone with two class wins in the Century Motorsport Team #991 BMW M4 GT3. They also lead the Sprint Cup drivers' standings in their class, as does Century Motorsport in the team standings.

Comments after the races:

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CAN), 12-14 July 2024. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, GTD, #1 BMW M4 GT3, Paul Miller Racing, Madison Snow, Bryan Sellers.

BMW M Motorsport News, 16th July 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Tuesday July 16, 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:

“Even in the summer, our BMW M Motorsport teams do not take a break. During the DTM at the Norisring, we were able to celebrate a 1-2-3 for the BMW M4 GT4 in ADAC GT4 Germany. There was also reason to rejoice in numerous other racing series. In front of the impressive backdrop of the Truck Grand Prix at the Nürburgring, the FK Performance Motorsport team once again underlined their title ambitions in the ADAC GT Masters. In the IMSA series, there were some strong results, even though the leap to the very top unfortunately did not happen this time. Congratulations to Century Motorsport for a strong British GT weekend at Snetterton – and also to all other teams and drivers who have achieved success as ambassadors for the BMW brand in recent weeks.”

São Paulo (BRA), 12-14 July 2024. FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Hypercar, LMDh, Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello, Marco Wittmann.

FIA WEC: BMW M Team WRT fights for top-ten results at the São Paulo race premiere.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Monday July 15, 2024

At the start of the second half of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season, BMW M Team WRT managed to finish with all its cars at the 6 Hours of São Paulo (BRA), but could not match the performance shown in previous races.

São Paulo. At the start of the second half of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season, BMW M Team WRT managed to finish with all its cars at the 6 Hours of São Paulo (BRA), but could not match the performance shown in previous races. In the Hypercar class, the cars ended the race in ninth and 14th places, while in the LMGT3 category, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 crossed the finish line in fifth place, and the #31 BMW M4 GT3 earned a point in the title race by finishing tenth.

In qualifying, one BMW M Hybrid V8 and one BMW M4 GT3 each made it into Hyperpole. Robin Frijns (NED) and Darren Leung (GBR) secured the tenth and sixth starting positions. However, it quickly became apparent in the race that the pace in both classes was not sufficient to achieve top results. Thanks to error-free performances and good reliability, three of the four crews still managed to collect valuable points. Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) finished ninth in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 after starting 14th. Frijns, René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) finished in 14th place in the sister car. They lost several positions and a lot of time due to a spin that was not their fault.

In the LMGT3 class, Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi (ITA) finished in fifth place after a strong comeback from twelfth on the grid. Augusto Farfus (BRA) had to settle for tenth place at his home race, celebrated by many enthusiastic Brazilian fans, alongside Leung and Sean Gelael (INA), after receiving a drive-through penalty.

Comments after the 6 Hours of São Paulo:

Le Mans (FRA), 7-16 June 2024. FIA World Endurance Championship, 24h Le Mans, Team WRT, LMGT3, #46 BMW M4 GT3, Maxime Martin, Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harthy.

FIA WEC: Start into the second half of the season with the home game for Augusto Farfus in São Paulo, Brazil.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Tuesday July 9, 2024

Following the mega-event of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) heads into the second half of the season this coming weekend with the 6 Hours of São Paulo (BRA).

São Paulo. Following the mega-event of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) heads into the second half of the season this coming weekend with the 6 Hours of São Paulo (BRA). In the Hypercar class, BMW M Team WRT will compete with two BMW M Hybrid V8 cars. The goal is to translate the strong pace shown by the car at Le Mans into good results and to collect important points for the overall standings. In the LMGT3 category, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) are aiming for the World Championship title after their victory at Imola (ITA) and a second place at Le Mans most recently. For Farfus, who was born in Curitiba (BRA), a very special home race awaits.

It has been 14 years since Farfus last competed in races for BMW in his home country of Brazil – in 2010 in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC). Now he returns with his fellow drivers in the #31 BMW M4 GT3 to fight for the World Championship lead in the LMGT3 class. The trio is just two points behind the leaders with 73 points. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Maxime Martin (BEL), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) will take turns.

In the Hypercar class, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, as well as Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) in the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, aim to achieve good positions after disappointing results at Le Mans. With the fastest qualifying time at Le Mans, the car has proved it can keep up with the best, and now the team aims to regain the consistency in the race that was lacking last time.

The 6 Hours of São Paulo will start on Sunday, 14^th July, at 16:30 CEST (11:30 local time).

Note to editors.

On Friday, at 18:15 local time in the paddock, there will be a ‘Meet the Team’ event with all drivers, Head of BMW M Motorsport Andreas Roos, and WRT Team Principal Vincent Vosse. All accredited media representatives are invited.

Comments before the 6 Hours of São Paulo: