Whether in the DTM, the FIA World Endurance Championship, 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.
Asian Le Mans Series: AAI celebrates GT title win with the BMW
M6 GT3.
Champions with the BMW M6 GT3: at the season finale of the Asian Le
Mans Series at Sepang (MYS), FIST-Team AAI secured the title win in
the GT class. Once more, the team dominated the action in Sepang,
claimed pole position and took the win in the four-hour race. AAI has
won three of the four races held this season. At the finale, the
number 91 BMW M6 GT3 was driven by regular drivers Jesse Krohn (FIN)
and Jun San Chen (TPE) as well as Markus Palttala (FIN). Paltalla
stood in for Chaz Mostert (AUS), who was in action in the BMW Team
Schnitzer BMW M6 GT3 at the Bathurst 12 Hour (AUS) at the weekend.
Winning this title FIST-Team AAI earned an invitation to the 24 Hours
of Le Mans (FRA).
British GT: Century Motorsport with two BMW M4 GT4s on the grid.
The new BMW M4 GT4 will contest the British GT Championship in the
2018 season. The Century Motorsport team announced that they will be
fielding two cars in the GT4 class. The driver line-up for one of the
two BMW M4 GT4s has already been decided: Ben Tuck and Ben Green (both
GBR). The drivers of the second Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 will be
announced at a later date. “2018 is shaping up to be a very exciting
year for us,” said team principal Nathan Freke (GBR). “To bring BMW
back to the British GT Championship with two BMW M4 GT4s is a
fantastic opportunity for us, and one that we are relishing. We have
one extremely strong driver pairing confirmed, and the second pairing
looks to be just as exciting. The BMW M4 GT4 is a well-tested and
developed car and we expect to be extremely competitive with it. We
have the full support of BMW Motorsport and hope that this is the
start of a successful relationship.” The 2018 British GT Championship
season consists of seven race weekends. The opener will be held at
Oulton Park (GBR) from 31st March to 2nd April,
with the finale taking place at Donington Park (GBR) on
22nd/23rd September.
GT4 European Series: MDM Motorsport to field two BMW M4 GT4s.
As in the British GT Championship, there is good news for all BMW
fans in the GT4 European Series. The Dutch MDM Motorsport team will
run two BMW M4 GT4s in the renowned GT4 series in 2018. The drivers
will be announced at a later date.
Formula E: Digital launch of the race car for Season 5.
This week the ABB FIA Formula E Championship presented the newly
developed car for next season online. The official presentation will
take place on 6th March 2018 at the Geneva Motor Show. At twice the
range, the battery of the new Formula E racing car provides double the
excitement, has a much greater performance and is faster than the
current model. The standard mid-race change of vehicle to date will no
longer be necessary as of Season 5. “The design of the car for Season
5 is revolutionary and exceptional,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens
Marquardt. “The car looks futuristic, which no doubt will make it a
real eye-catcher. The exterior of the racing car for our factory entry
in the race series as of next season is a highlight in itself. We are
responsible for the inner values – meaning the BMW eDrive powertrain.
Development is still in full swing and on schedule.”
Formula E: Harman Kardon extends partnership with BMW i and
the MSAD Andretti Formula E team.
Based on their motto “Driving the Sound of the Future”, Harman Kardon
has again teamed up with BMW i to support the MSAD Andretti
Formula E Team with outstanding sound for the fourth season of the ABB
FIA Formula E Championship. Harman Kardon audio products are known and
appreciated around the world for their beautiful sound and
sophisticated aesthetics. They are available in all BMW and BMW i
models. The collaboration with BMW i and MSAD Andretti emphasises
common values such as innovation, efficiency, sustainability and high
performance, as well as Harman Kardon’s mission to create an ultimate
audio experience within the car.