Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“In recent weeks, the BMW M4 GT3 has celebrated significant victories at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and in the DTM at the Norisring in the hands of our BMW M works drivers. This is fantastic news for all of us at BMW M Motorsport, but personally, I am equally delighted to once again acknowledge the unbroken streak of success achieved by our private teams and drivers in this newsletter. The Paul Miller Racing and BMW Italia Ceccato Racing teams also had successful weekends with the BMW M4 GT3. Moreover, the BMW M4 GT4 has crossed the finish line first on multiple occasions. Our entry-level car, the BMW M2 CS Racing, was deployed in three one-make cups during a single weekend, proving once again that it remains a highly sought-after racing car that provides thrilling and spectacular racing. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers!”
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Top topics of this newsletter:
- Podium finish for BMW Italia Ceccato Racing in the Italian GT Endurance Championship.
- Double victory for the BMW M4 GT4 in the GT4 European Series.
- BMW M Motorsport teams secure eight class wins at NLS 5.
- BMW M2 Cup: Triple racing action in Germany, Italy, and Belgium.
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Italian GT Endurance Championship: BMW Italia Ceccato Racing on the podium at Mugello.
The second endurance race of the Italian GT Championship took place at Mugello (ITA) last weekend. Once again, the team of BMW Italia Ceccato Racing celebrated a podium finish. Francesco Guerra, Carlo Tamburini, and Salvatore Tavano (all ITA) secured second place in the #8 BMW M4 GT3, which also meant victory in the Pro-Am category. Their teammates Alfred Nilsson (SWE), Stefano Comandini, and Marco Cassarà (both ITA) retired early in the race in the #7 car.
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ADAC GT Masters: Second round at the Norisring.
The ADAC GT Masters returned to the Norisring (GER) last weekend for the first time in over 15 years. The second round of the 2023 season took place on the street circuit at the Dutzendteich. FK Performance Motorsport and Schubert Motorsport both competed with a BMW M4 GT3. In car #10, Igor Walilko (POL) and Kim-Luis Schramm (GER) finished eighth in both races. Eduardo Coseteng (PHI) and Ben Green (GBR) took ninth place in the #20 BMW M4 GT3 of Schubert Motorsport.
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IMPC: Turner Motorsport loses victory at CTMP.
Turner Motorsport celebrated another victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville (CAN), but their joy was short-lived. Robert Megennis and Cameron Lawrence (both USA) crossed the finish line first in the #95 BMW M4 GT4 after the two-hour race, with a lead of over 27 seconds. However, they were subsequently moved to the back of the field among the 24 GS-class cars that finished the race. The race officials determined that the minimum refueling time and minimum weight had been undercut.
The best-placed BMW M4 GT4 in the field was car #43 from Stephen Cameron Racing, finishing 14th in the GS class. The car was driven by Sean Quinlan and Greg Liefooghe (both USA). Robby Foley and Vincent Barletta (both USA) finished 18th in the GS class in the Turner Motorsport #96 BMW M4 GT4.
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VP Racing Sports Car Challenge: Victory and podium finish for the BMW M4 GT4 at CTMP.
The VP Racing Sports Car Challenge also visited Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CAN) over the weekend. Greg Liefooghe (USA) secured pole position in the GSX class for both races in the #43 BMW M4 GT4 from Stephen Cameron Racing. However, the team decided not to compete in the first race in order to preserve the car for the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) race later that day. In the second race, Liefooghe took to the track and dominated the competition, winning with a lead of over 33 seconds.
In race one, there was a podium finish for the BMW M4 GT4 as well: Francis Selldorff (USA) finished second in the Turner Motorsport #95 BMW M4 GT4.
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GT4 European Series: Double victory for the BMW M4 GT4 at Spa-Francorchamps.
As part of the support programme for the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), the GT4 European Series held its third event of the season at the Ardennes circuit. In the first of the two races, there was a clear double victory for the BMW M4 GT4. Ricardo van der Ende (NED) and Benjamin Lessennes (BEL) won in car #117 from L'Espace Bienvenue. They had a lead of over five seconds over Michael Schrey (GER) and Gabriele Piana (ITA), who finished second in the #2 BMW M4 GT4 from Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport. They also had a significant lead over their closest pursuers. In the second race, another BMW M4 GT4 duo stood on the podium, with Berkay Besler (TUR) and Tom Edgar (GBR) finishing third in the #12 BMW M4 GT4 from Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport in the overall and Silver Cup classifications.
The GT4 Scandinavia participants were also part of the GT4 European Series field and were evaluated in their own class. Victor Bouveng and Joakim Walde (both SWE) achieved podium finishes in both races, taking second and third place respectively in the M-Bilar Group Racing #298 BMW M4 GT4.
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NLS: BMW M Motorsport teams secure eight class wins at the Nürburgring.
In scorching temperatures, the fifth round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series 2023 (NLS) took place on the Nürburgring Nordschleife (GER) on Saturday. The BMW M Motorsport teams secured eight class wins in the six-hour race.
Three of these wins went to Adrenalin Motorsport Team Motec. In the highly competitive VT2-R+4WD class, Daniel Zils, Oskar Sandberg, and Philipp Leisen (all GER) once again emerged victorious in the #1 BMW 330i. Lars Harbeck, Christian Kraus, Alexander Müller (all GER), and Michelangelo Comazzi (SUI) triumphed in the SP8T class in the #160 BMW M4 GT4 from Adrenalin Motorsport Team Motec. Their teammates Sven Markert, Nils Steinberg, Yannick Fübrich, and Nick Deißler (all GER) claimed first place in the BMW M240i class, driving the #650 BMW M240i Racing for Adrenalin Motorsport Team Motec. After five races, the two Adrenalin trios of Zils, Sandberg, and Leisen, as well as Markert, Steinberg, and Fübrich, continue to lead the NLS overall standings with 79 points each.
FK Performance Motorsport secured victory in the SP10 class with the #187 BMW M4 GT4, driven by Thorsten Wolter, Nick Wüstenhagen, and Christian Konnerth (all GER). Manheller Racing won the V4 class with the #760 BMW E90, alternating between drivers Manfred Röss, Matthias Röss, and Malte Tack (all GER). Ingo Oepen, Thorsten Köppert, and Klaus Müller (all GER) emerged victorious in the SP4 class with the #254 BMW 325i. Hofor Racing and drivers Michael Kroll, Alexander Prinz (both SUI), and Thomas Mühlenz (GER) claimed victory in the H4 class with the #605 BMW M3 E46 GTR. Peter Larsen and Johan Rosen (both SWE) won the BMW M2 CS class in car #884.
At the front of the field, Walkenhorst Motorsport fought for the team's third overall victory of the season and the fifth win for the BMW M4 GT3 in five races. Christian Krognes (NOR) and Jakub Giermaziak (POL), winners of NLS 4, started the race from second place and led the field in car #34 at times. Their teammates Thomas Neubauer (FRA), Niklas Krütten (GER), and Dylan Peirera (LUX) followed closely in the BMW M4 GT3 with #35, however both cars had to retire prematurely.
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GT4 France: L'Espace Bienvenue with double triumph at Val de Vienne.
Just one week after their victory in the GT4 European Series, Ricardo van der Ende (NED) and Benjamin Lessennes (BEL) triumphed once again with the L'Espace Bienvenue team in the GT4 France championship, securing victories in both races at the Val de Vienne GT Festival (FRA) with their #17 BMW M4 GT4. They had a lead of around five seconds over their closest pursuers in each race. Van der Ende and Lessennes also took the championship lead. In the first race, Debard Automobiles by Racetivity secured second place on the podium in the Am class.
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BMW M2 Cup: Van Soelen and Horsten victorious at the Norisring.
The BMW M2 Cup heldits second event of the season at the Norisring (GER), presenting the young talents with a unique challenge on the street circuit. Senna van Soelen (NED) mastered the first race on Saturday in his #24 BMW M2 CS Racing, winning in a sprint to the finish line ahead of Denny Berndt (GER), who had previously won twice at Oschersleben. Jan Matyáš (CZE) took third place. On Sunday, another thrilling duel for victory took place, with Australian Bart Horsten narrowly defeating South African Leyton Fourie. Max Rosam (GER) claimed third place. After two out of six race weekends, Berndt leads the overall standings with 63 points, followed by Horsten with 57, and van Soelen and Rosam tied with 55 points.
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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Steven Giacon unbeatable at Mugello.
At the fourth event of the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy 2023 at Mugello (ITA), one man set the pace. Steven Giacon (ITA / #6) secured pole position for both races, set the fastest lap time in both races, and emerged as the winner both times.
In the first race, Luigi Ferrara (ITA / #1) and Marco Zanasi (ITA / #69) finished in second and third places respectively. In the second race, Zanasi took second place, while Stefano Stefanelli (ITA / #24) finished third. Ferrara continues to lead the championship standings, with Zanasi and Giacon moving up to second and third places.
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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux: Dante Rappange/Dirk Warmerdam dominate at Zolder.
The BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux visited Zolder (BEL) last weekend. A Dutch duo proved unbeatable at the Belgian circuit, namely Dante Rappange and Dirk Warmerdam. They drove their Bas Koeten Racing #15 BMW M2 CS Racing from pole position to victory in both races. Jayden Post (NED / Ferry Monster Autosport) finished second in the first race, while Mark van der Aa (NED / Bas Koeten Racing) took second place in the second race. The duo Sen Rodenburg and Gianni van de Craats (both NED), also from Team Bas Koeten Racing, claimed third place in both races.
