On 26th/27th April, the DTM kicks off its new season at Oschersleben (GER). In preparation for the first two races, the official DTM test day took place at the same location this week. Schubert Motorsport gathered valuable experience with its two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs and BMW M factory drivers René Rast and Marco Wittmann (both GER). At the end of the two sessions on Wednesday, more than 250 test laps were recorded.
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
Oschersleben. On 26th/27th April, the DTM kicks off its new season at Oschersleben (GER). In preparation for the first two races, the official DTM test day took place at the same location this week. Schubert Motorsport gathered valuable experience with its two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs and BMW M factory drivers René Rast and Marco Wittmann (both GER). At the end of the two sessions on Wednesday, more than 250 test laps were recorded.
The focus of the tests for the team and both drivers was to familiarise themselves as much as possible with the EVO version of the BMW M4 GT3 in combination with the new Pirelli tyres that are used in the DTM. Rast completed 129 laps in the #33 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, which featured a new design from BMW M Motorsport partner RoboMarkets, and recorded a personal best time of 1:23.394 minutes. Wittmann completed 132 laps in his “Green Machine”, the #11 BMW M4 GT3 EVO in Schaeffler colours, achieving a best time of 1:23.091 minutes. Schubert Motorsport enters the DTM season as the defending champion in the team standings and traditionally plays its home game at the Motorsport Arena Oschersleben.
BMW M Motorsport and Endless are expanding their partnership.
The development of the BMW M4 GT3 EVO included a focus on optimising the brakes, with valuable assistance from brake specialist Endless, who has been collaborating with BMW M Motorsport since 2020. The partnership, previously limited to individual racing series such as the DTM and the Intercontinental GT Challenge, is now extended to the entire GT3 main programme. Endless will, among other things, appear for the first time as a partner of BMW M Motorsport in the GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS.
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “The test day was crucial for Schubert Motorsport and the drivers to gain experience with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. The focus was on completing as many laps as possible and working through the extensive test programme. The Pirelli tyres are new to everyone, and it's particularly important to test how they perform on a long run. We will only find out where we stand in terms of lap times compared to the competition during the race weekend. Generally, with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, we aim to achieve victories and titles in the biggest GT racing series and at the most important single events worldwide. Endless, as a brake specialist with outstanding expertise, assists us in this endeavour. Together, we have worked on optimising our GT3 car, and we have already celebrated our first successes. I am very pleased that we were able to further expand our partnership with a view to the coming years and join forces worldwide.”
Lucas Nylund (CEO Endless Brake Technology Europe): “Since we started to collaborate with BMW M Motorsport in 2020, we have always felt very welcome within the BMW M Motorsport family as the supplier of high-quality racing brake technology, and we are happy to match the high expectations of BMW M Motorsport on all parts of their GT3 cars. To extend our partnership with BMW M Motorsport is a fantastic opportunity which we are very proud of, and we are looking forward to continuing our shared success story and to work even closer together with BMW M Motorsport by supporting their global GT3 programme. We would like to thank Andreas Roos, the drivers, the engineers, and the entire staff at BMW M Motorsport for their trust in Endless and for the further expanded partnership for the coming years. We will do our very best to achieve even more victories and to further continue our long-lasting success story.”
Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3 EVO): “The anticipation for the DTM season is high, and the official test drives are always a great start to the intensive phase. We completed a full test programme, and I was able to spend a lot of time in the car. The BMW M4 GT3 EVO felt good. Compared to its predecessor, it offers a larger operating window, which will hopefully help us to better adapt the car to the specific challenges that the DTM presents than last year. We are currently experimenting in this area so that we can benefit from it from the first race weekend onwards.”
René Rast (#33 RoboMarkets BMW M4 GT3 EVO): “I drove the BMW M4 GT3 EVO for the first time and used the test day to get accustomed to the car. Even though there are few external changes, there are quite a few new features under the hood. Lap times have not yet played a role for us. That will be the focus in a few weeks when we compete in our first races at Oschersleben. I am hoping for good results and am very excited to participate in this high-class DTM field.”
