Munich. 2017 marks a special anniversary: BMW Motorsport’s
junior promotion turns 40. Four decades ago, in 1977, initiated by
the managing director Jochen Neerpasch, BMW Motorsport GmbH founded
the BMW Junior Team. It was the first time in German car racing that
a works team introduced a team entirely consisting of juniors. Since
then, talent promotion has been firmly established at BMW
Motorsport, and the objective has not changed in 40 years: to
prepare young drivers fully for the demands of international racing.
The first generation of BMW Juniors in 1977 were Marc Surer (SUI),
Manfred Winkelhock (GER) and Eddie Cheever (USA). With their race car,
a BMW 320i modified for group 5, they contested the German Racing
Championship to prepare the BMW Junior Team for entering the one-make
world championship in the future. In the decades that followed, the
juniors’ promotion expanded to encompass single-seater racing, and
Formula BMW and the Formula BMW Talent Cup became significant stepping
stones for young drivers. Many successful racing drivers took their
first steps in BMW junior promotion, including the DTM champions Marco
Wittmann (GER) and Martin Tomczyk (GER), BMW works driver and former
Formula 1 driver Timo Glock (GER), as well as Formula 1 world
champions Sebastian Vettel (GER) and Nico Rosberg (GER).
“40 years of junior promotion – we are proud of this
anniversary,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.
“With the BMW Junior Team, BMW Motorsport GmbH presented a
pioneering concept in international racing in 1977. No other brand had
previously consciously backed junior talent with the goal of
supporting them in their development as racing drivers. The concept
proved to be extremely successful, and it is impressive to see how
many great motorsport careers have started here in the past 40 years.
Supporting young drivers on their way to international racing is more
important to us than ever and is one of the central pillars of our
philosophy. When selecting talented youngsters, we are looking to the
future: The young top talent of today can become the champion of
tomorrow with the right support. In the meantime, other manufacturers
have recognised the significance of junior promotion. And you see the
consistency with which we guide our talented juniors into the top
categories when you look at the most recent outings of our BMW
Motorsport Juniors in GT racing and during DTM tests. They bring just
the right mix of youth and experience to our drivers’ squad that we
need to remain successful long-term.”
“The BMW Junior Team was a novelty back then,” said
Neerpasch. “Never before had a manufacturer so consistently
backed the comprehensive and extensive support of young racing
drivers. We were pioneers and no doubt took a certain risk back then.
I can still remember 1977 well, and the hype that our young guns
created. But we had good instincts since all three of them made it
into Formula 1. Looking back, I am very proud of the BMW junior
promotion that we brought about back then. After all, it has produced
many fantastic, successful racing drivers since then.”
“We were wild dogs on the racetrack back then, but BMW trusted
us anyway, and, despite some criticism, allowed us to gain valuable
race experience,” said Surer. “For me and my colleagues, the
BMW Junior Team was the crucial stepping stone on the way to Formula 1.”
The BMW Motorsport Junior Programme was restructured for the 2014
season, and BMW junior promotion returned to its roots in the GT and
touring car sector. Within the framework of a multi-level concept, the
BMW Motorsport Juniors are taught the skills required for the top
classes of GT racing. The BMW Motorsport Junior Programme is a
commitment of several years, and the long-term goal is for BMW works
drivers that contest the GT3 sector to come from internal junior
promotion. Jesse Krohn is the proof that this concept works: The Finn
was crowned “BMW Motorsport Junior of the Year” in 2014, the
first year of the restructured programme, and has been a fixed part of
BMW’s squad of drivers in international GT outings.
“The BMW Motorsport Junior Programme made my motorsport dream
come true,” said Krohn. “I have learnt an incredible amount
over the past years and I wouldn’t have made it to the top levels of
racing so quickly and with so much focus without BMW Motorsport. My
time as a BMW Motorsport Junior helped me a great deal in many areas
and it makes me more than proud that I am now contesting races around
the world as a fully-fledged member of the BMW family.”
In 2017, the anniversary year, the BMW Motorsport Juniors Ricky
Collard (GBR), Nico Menzel (GER) and Joel Eriksson (SWE) will broaden
their racing experiences within the framework of the BMW Motorsport
Junior Programme. Collard’s season got underway in January, when he
competed in the 24 Hours of Dubai (ARE) in the BMW M4 GT4. The car
replaces the BMW M235i Racing as the new starter car for the juniors.
They are now training in the BMW M4 GT4, while also working on its
development. Collard and Menzel will contest an iconic race this
weekend (4th-5th February): Along with
their mentor for outings in GT racing, BMW works driver Jörg Müller
(GER), they will contest the 12-hour race in Bathurst, Australia, in
a BMW M6 GT3. To mark the anniversary, the car livery will bear the
wording “40 Years of BMW Motorsport Juniors”.
The BMW Motorsport Junior Programme concept comprises numerous
aspects both on and off the racetrack – this was just as true 40 years
ago as it is today. Contesting races with various BMW race cars not
only gives the juniors regular driving experience, but also teaches
them about professional teamwork. Topics such as fitness, nutrition
and handling the media are also on the curriculum. 2017 will see
another class of new BMW Motorsport Juniors. The selection process is
already underway.
Some of the most successful graduates of BMW junior promotion:
Sebastian Vettel.
1st place in the Formula BMW ADAC Championship in 2004
Formula 1 World Champion in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, 42 wins
Nico Rosberg.
1st place in the Formula BMW ADAC Championship in 2002
Formula 1 World Champion in 2016, 23 wins
Marco Wittmann.
2nd place in Formula BMW Europe in 2008
DTM Champion with BMW Motorsport in 2014 and 2016, 8 wins
Martin Tomczyk.
2nd place in the BMW ADAC Formula Junior Cup in 1998
DTM Champion in 2011, 7 wins
Nico Hülkenberg.
1st place in the Formula BMW ADAC Championship in 2005
1st place in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2015