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!”
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
—
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.
