11.06.2024
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“Over the past weeks, we had many successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers to celebrate at the 24h Nürburgring as well as in renowned GT series such as the DTM, ADAC GT Masters, and ADAC GT4 Germany. There was also plenty of reason for joy in numerous other racing series worldwide. The BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team impressively continued its successful streak in the Italian GT Championship with the BMW M4 GT3. In North America, things did not go as well as usual, but we were able to witness strong results of the BMW M4 GT4 in Asia and Australia. I congratulate all participants! Off the racetrack, our highlight was the presentation of the EVO models of the BMW M4 GT3 and BMW M4 GT4 at the Nürburgring. We look forward to being able to provide more details about the new BMW M4 GT4 model in just a few weeks on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps.”
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Italian GT Championship (1st-2nd June): Podium for Klingmann/Dennis at Imola.
The Italian GT Championship visited Imola (ITA) for the second round of the Sprint Cup at the beginning of the month. There was a change in the line-up of BMW M works drivers for the Team BMW Italia Ceccato Racing #7 BMW M4 GT3 as Max Hesse (GER) was simultaneously competing in the 24h Nürburgring (GER), Jake Dennis (GBR) shared the cockpit with Jens Klingmann (GER) at Imola. The duo was successful in the second of the two races when Klingmann and Dennis finished second on the podium. The first run was difficult for the two, ending in 17th place. After contact, Klingmann had to make an unscheduled pitstop to change a tyre during the second stint.
The weekend was also successful for Pedro Ebrahim (BRA) and Federico Malvestiti (ITA), who compete in the Pro-Am class with the #8 BMW M4 GT3. In the first run on Saturday, they secured third place in their category. On Sunday, the duo then celebrated their second class win of the season.
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Japan Cup (8th-9th June): Opening victory for the BMW M4 GT4.
At the first race weekend of the Japan Cup at Sportsland SUGO (JPN) the YZ Racing team, with the #50 BMW M4 GT4 and drivers Yuki Fujii and Masaki Kano (both JPN), won the opening race. In the second run, the duo finished in third place and thus took the lead in the overall standings.
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IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (8th-9th June): Endurance race in Mid-Ohio.
The second 4-hour race of the season in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge took place at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course (USA) last weekend, however without the hoped-for podium successes for the BMW M Motorsport teams. The highest-placed crew was Turner Motorsport with the #95 BMW M4 GT4 and drivers Dillon Machavern and Robert Megennis (both USA) finishing in sixth place. In total, five BMW M4 GT4s were on the starting grid.
Also in Mid-Ohio, the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge held two races in which five BMW M4 GT4s competed. In the Split Decision Motorsports #88 car, Patrick Wilmot (USA) narrowly missed the podium in the GSX class, finishing fourth in both races.
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British GT Championship (25th-26th May): BMW M4 GT3 in the top six at Donington.
At the third round of the British GT Championship at Donington Park (GBR), there was a top-six finish for the BMW M4 GT3. BMW M works driver Dan Harper (GBR) and his teammate Michael Johnston (GBR) finished sixth in the Century Motorsport #14 car.
Their teammates Lewis Plato and Carl Cavers (both GBR) finished twelfth in the #22 BMW M4 GT3. That was equivalent to fourth place in the GT3SA class. BMW M works driver Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and his driving colleague John Ferguson (GBR) saw the checkered flag in the #15 BMW M4 GT3 from Team RAM Racing in 17th place. In the GT4PA class, Ian Gough and Tom Wrigley (both GBR) in the Century Motorsport #29 BMW M4 GT4 finished fourth.
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Super GT Series (1st-2nd June): Endurance race at Suzuka.
At the third season round of the Japanese Super GT Series at Suzuka (JPN), another endurance race was held. Team Studie was again supported by BMW M works driver Bruno Spengler (CAN). In the #7 BMW M4 GT3, he alternated with Niklas Krütten (GER) and Seiji Ara (JPN). The trio started from eighth on the grid and crossed the finish line in seventh place after 85 laps.
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GT4 Australia (1st-2nd June): BMW M4 GT4 successful in Australia.
The BMW M4 GT4 is also successful down under, namely in GT4 Australia. There, the BMW M Motorsport teams are regular guests on the various podiums. That was also the case at the second season round at the beginning of the month at The Bend Motorsport Park near Adelaide (AUS). The highest-placed BMW M Motorsport driver in both races was Tim Leahey (AUS) in the #22 BMW M4 GT4 from Team Central West Prestige. In the first race, he finished third in the highest class, the Silver category. In the second race, he narrowly missed the podium with fourth in his class.
Two class victories were celebrated by Jacob Lawrence (AUS) in the #32 car from Randall Racing in the Am category. In addition, there was a third place on the class podium for the #3 BMW M4 GT4 from Thunder Buddies Racing, driven by Ryder Quinn and Steve Jakic (both AUS / Pro-Am), as well as the #33 car from Randall Racing (Am), in which Jamie Augustine and Peter Lawrence (both AUS) took turns.
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BTCC (25th-26th May / 8th-9th June): Victories at Snetterton and Thruxton.
Two events were on the schedule in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) in recent weeks. At the end of May, it was the third season round at Snetterton (GBR), and last weekend, round four followed at Thruxton (GBR). BMW drivers were once again extremely successful.
At Snetterton, Jake Hill (GBR) from Team Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport crowned himself “King of the Hill”. He defied the very changeable weather conditions and was the star of the weekend. With the #24 BMW 330e M Sport, Hill was not only the fastest in qualifying but also won the first two of the three races. Not even a time penalty prevented him from reaching the finish with a large lead. In the third run, which became a tyre lottery due to drying track conditions, Hill led the field for a long time on rain tyres, but then the competition on slicks had the advantage, and he finished ninth in the end. Teammate Bobby Thompson (GBR) completed a BMW one-two result in the first race, finishing second in the #19 car on the podium.
At Thruxton, Hill repeated the feat of winning the first two of the three races. That gave him four victories from the last six races. In the third race of the day, Hill managed fifth place, which with 164 points now puts him in second place in the drivers’ standings – just five points behind the leader. There were no more podium places for the BMW teams at Thruxton. Adam Morgan (GBR) finished fourth in the last race and twice in eighth place before that. Colin Turkington was twice seventh and once ninth. He is in fourth place in the drivers’ standings.
