Whether in the DTM, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship, or countless other championships: Week after week BMW
teams and drivers around the world do battle for points, victories
and titles. Away from the track too, members of the large BMW
Motorsport family around the world are also creating headlines. The
“BMW Motorsport News” allows us to regularly summarise all the
action for you in a compact and informative manner. This way, you
are always up to speed.
Formula E: Season 4 gets underway in Hong Kong.
The MSAD Andretti Formula E team kicked off the fourth season of
the FIA Formula E Championship with two races in Hong Kong (CHN) this
weekend. Furthermore, an announcement was made on Friday that BMW i
will continue to be involved in the series as “Official Vehicle
Partner”. On Saturday, BMW works driver António Félix da Costa (POR)
and Kamui Kobayashi (JPN) finished sixth and 15th. The duo
then came home in P11 (Félix da Costa) and P17 (Kobayashi) on Sunday.
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt also visited the Asian
metropolis, where he followed the action at the “Hong Kong Central
Harbourfront Circuit” at first hand.
Three questions for… Jens Marquardt.
Mr Marquardt, Season 4 of the FIA Formula E Championship is
underway. What was your impression of Hong Kong?
Jens Marquardt: “The opening round of the Formula E season, set
against the spectacular backdrop of Hong Kong, showed that the
championship has continued to develop and is moving in the right
direction. The passion for Formula E is huge – among the fans, and
among the drivers and teams. The continuation of the partnership
between BMW i and the series was announced in Hong Kong. Furthermore,
we and Michael Andretti’s team also gathered more valuable experience
with regard to BMW joining the series with a works commitment in
Season 5. The future of Formula E looks very promising.”
How is the technical development on the Formula E project
going in Munich?
Marquardt: “The development of the BMW eDrive power unit for Season 5
is running to plan. The powertrain has successfully completed its
first long runs on the test bench, and we are in the middle of the
next loop of developments and optimisations. For us, Formula E is a
technology lab for BMW iNext and other generations of BMW i models –
with many interfaces between motorsport and production development.
These include the shared test benches and facilities for prototype
construction. The Formula E development team is incorporated in the
same department as production predevelopment. More than a quarter of
the predevelopment team is working on the Formula E project. That
shows just how intense the transfer of technology is.”
Are you able to give us any information regarding the E drive?
Marquardt: “It is already interesting to see some figures compared to
the production power unit: The BMW eDrive system for Formula E is half
the weight, but twice as powerful – and with twice the engine speed.
The rpm figures are four times as high as a combustion engine. The
engineers are really enjoying being able to focus fully on the
performance and efficiency of the power unit. In doing so, they are
also making many new findings for production. From a technical point
of view, Formula E is a magnificent project.”
—
IWSC: Connor De Phillippi to drive for BMW Team RLL in 2018.
BMW Motorsport welcomes a new member into its motor racing family in
2018. Connor De Phillippi (USA) will contest the entire season of the
IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC) at the wheel of the new
BMW M8 GTE for BMW Team RLL. De Phillippi, who despite being just 24
years old has already enjoyed great success – including victory at the
Nürburgring 24 Hours (GER) in 2017 and the title in the 2016 ADAC GT
Masters – joins John Edwards (USA) as the second American who will
line up at all of the races in the 2018 IWSC as a regular driver. De
Phillippi and Edwards will receive back-up at the endurance classics
in Daytona, Sebring, Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta (all USA) from Bill
Auberlen (USA), class winner at the 2017 “Petit Le Mans” and brand
ambassador for BMW of North America. The European drivers for the 2018
IWSC season will be announced at the BMW Motorsport Season Review on
15th December.
Asian Le Mans Series: Podium for the BMW M6 GT3.
The Asian Le Mans Series held its second race of the 2017/18 season
this weekend, against the impressive backdrop of Mount Fuji (JPN).
Following their victory at the season-opener in Zhuhai (CHN) a good
month ago, Jesse Krohn (FIN), Jun San Chen (TPE) and Chaz Mostert
(AUS) were back on the podium. After four hours of racing at the “Fuji
International Speedway (JPN), they crossed the finish line second in
the GT class at the wheel of the BMW M6 GT3 run by FIST-Team AAI.
Having secured pole position, only a stop-and-go penalty prevented
them from taking the class victory. The next round of the Asian Le
Mans Series takes place on 13th January 2018 in Buriram (THA).