Spa-Francorchamps. BMW Team MTEK has finished in fourth place
in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) 6 Hours of
Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) with the #82 BMW M8 GTE and drivers António
Félix da Costa (POR) and Augusto Farfus (BRA).
The #81 sister-car of Martin Tomcyzk (GER) and Nick Catsburg
(NED) finished in ninth place in the GTE-Pro class at the end of the
weather-affected race. The penultimate round of the WEC played host to
sunshine, rain, hail and snow, making tyre choices and strategy calls
key to success.
Reactions to the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps:
Rudolf Dittrich (General Manager BMW Motorsport Vehicle Development):
“Our race here in Spa was very varied, with all sorts of weather
conditions, from sunshine to hail to snow. The GTE-Pro field is very
well balanced, so the spectators could see exciting position battles
in all weathers throughout the race. It’s a shame the team didn’t
manage to get a better result but we are looking forward to the final
of the WEC Super Season in Le Mans.”
Ernest Knoors (BMW Team MTEK, Team Principal):
“The race was completely dominated by the weather today. All
teams were trying to be in the right place at the right time and on
the right tyres. The final safety car was badly timed for us and lost
us our strategy but that’s the way these races go. What we do know is
that we are very competitive under wet and dry conditions and the pit
crew did a fantastic job. We head to Le Mans well-prepared.”
António Félix da Costa (#82 BMW M8 GTE, 4th):
“It was an insane race where we went through every possible
weather condition – dry, drizzle, rain, heavy rain, sleet, hail and
snow – at times, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing! It was good fun
and we had a good car in both the dry and heavy wet. We were in P2 and
then the weather changed and we took a gamble, but then the race was
red-flagged and the gamble didn’t work. The car and team has come a
long way in 12 months of the WEC and we’re ready to return to Le Mans.”
Augusto Farfus (#82 BMW M8 GTE, 4th):
“It was a chaotic race! At one point it looked good for us but
then the weather changed again. We gambled at the end but it didn’t
pay off and we missed the podium. It’s a shame because we were very
strong in practice and qualifying and if the weather had been good, I
think we would have been very strong.”
Martin Tomczyk (#81 BMW M8 GTE, 9th):
“Obviously we came here to win, and in all practice sessions and
qualifying we were strong. But, in the race, the weather affected
everything. The race became all about strategy and this is where we
lost it.”
Nick Catsburg (#81 BMW M8 GTE, 9th):
“It was a weird race with changing conditions. In the final half
hour, we had a lot of pace on our new tyres and I think we were going
to make up some places, but we didn’t get our chance to climb because
the red flag came. It didn’t go our way today, but we are prepared for
all the weather that Le Mans may bring.”