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BMW M Team WRT returns to Bathurst.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday January 12, 2024

BMW M Team WRT has a score to settle with the Bathurst 12 Hour (AUS) – and is back in 2024 for a second shot at victory with the BMW M4 GT3. The Belgian team competes at the opening round of this season’s Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC), at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit, with two cars and six BMW M works drivers.

Munich. BMW M Team WRT has a score to settle with the Bathurst 12 Hour (AUS) – and is back in 2024 for a second shot at victory with the BMW M4 GT3. The Belgian team competes at the opening round of this season’s Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC), at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit, with two cars and six BMW M works drivers. Valentino Rossi (ITA) is back in Australia, one year after making his debut there. Joining him behind the wheel will be Raffaele Marciello (SUI), for whom this will be his first race in BMW M Motorsport colours.

Roughly one year ago, BMW M Team WRT’s first race as an official works team ended with fourth and sixth place. A solid start, but not what the ambitious team from Belgium had hoped for. They now have another chance to challenge for victory with the BMW M4 GT3 at the legendary 12-hour race at Bathurst. Boosting their chances of success are two strong crews of BMW M works drivers.

Sharing the driving duties in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 are Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL). The same trio came home fourth in 2023, narrowly missing out on the podium. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin (BEL) are another established duo. New to the team is Raffaele Marciello, who will be racing for BMW M Motorsport for the first time at Bathurst.

Brands Hatch (GBR), 4-5 May 2024. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, GTWC, BMW M Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3, Dries Vanthoor, Charles Weerts.

GT World Challenge Europe: BMW M Team WRT kicks off 2024 Sprint Cup season with a victory.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sunday May 5, 2024

BMW M Team WRT has started the 2024 season of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup with a victory. Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) won the first of two races held on Sunday at Brands Hatch (GBR) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3.

Brands Hatch. BMW M Team WRT has started the 2024 season of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup with a victory. Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) won the first of two races held on Sunday at Brands Hatch (GBR) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3. Their teammates, Valentino Rossi (ITA) and Maxime Martin (BEL), who are participating in individual starts in the Sprint Cup with the #46 BMW M4 GT3, were unrewarded for their strong performances.

Starting from third place, Vanthoor brought the #32 car up to second before the driver change. With a perfect and swift pit stop, BMW M Team WRT ensured that Weerts returned to the track as the leader. After an hour of racing, the team celebrated a well-deserved victory for Vanthoor and Weerts. Rossi/Martin finished fifth but dropped to 15th due to a time penalty.

In the second race, Martin and Rossi managed to climb up to a temporary sixth from 11th on the grid. However, a few minutes before the end, while lying in P8, Rossi reported steering issues and had to head into the pits. Weerts and Vanthoor, starting tenth, crossed the finish line in seventh.

In the Silver Cup, Team WRT’s #30 BMW M4 GT3 was successful: Sam De Haan (GBR) and Calan Williams (AUS) finished the two races in second and third positions in the class, respectively, securing podiums in their category.

Reactions after the races at Brands Hatch:

Nürburgring (GER), 13-14 April 2024. 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers, Nordschleife, #98 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, Raffaele Marciello, Maxime Martin, Marco Wittmann.

ROWE Racing finishes 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on the podium – Three BMW M4 GT3s in the top six.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sunday April 14, 2024

The BMW M Motorsport teams ROWE Racing and RMG successfully completed the most important race weekend on the Nordschleife before the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (GER)

Nürburgring. The BMW M Motorsport teams ROWE Racing and RMG successfully completed the most important race weekend on the Nordschleife before the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (GER). During the 24h Qualifiers, all three BMW M4 GT3s completed many laps and collected valuable data. In addition, there was racing success in the 4-hour race on Sunday. Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) drove the #98 ROWE Racing car to a second-place finish on the podium. The sister #99 car and the BMW M Team RMV #72 BMW M4 GT3 finished in fourth and sixth places, respectively.

The 24h Qualifiers consisted of two races, each four hours long. On Saturday, the #BMW M Motorsport teams focused on set-up work. Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER), and Charles Weerts (BEL) were the highest-placed crew as tenth in the #72 #BMW M4 GT3. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) finished twelfth in the ROWE Racing car #99. The #98 BMW M4 GT3 retired after an unavoidable collision but made up for it with the podium finish on Sunday. The race weekend was particularly valuable for Weerts and Marciello, as both completed their first races in the BMW M4 GT3 on the Nordschleife and were able to complete many laps. Marciello also celebrated his first podium as a BMW M works driver.

At the 24h Qualifiers – also rounds three and four of the #Nürburgring Endurance Series #NLS – numerous other categories were present alongside the GT3 cars. BMW M Motorsport teams achieved a total of nine class victories in the two races.

Nürburgring (GER), 22-23 March 2024. Nürburgring Endurance Series, NES, Nordschleife, ROWE Racing, #98 BMW M4 GT3, Robin Frijns, Raffaele Marciello, Augusto Farfus, Maxime Martin.

24h Nürburgring Qualifiers: BMW M Motorsport teams face the most important endurance test before the 24-hour race.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Saturday April 13, 2024

The short and intensive preparation phase for the Nürburgring 24 Hours (GER, 1st/2nd June) reaches its climax this coming weekend at the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers. There, BMW M Motorsport teams RMG and ROWE Racing will compete in important preparatory races for the season highlight. Nine BMW M works drivers will be deployed in three BMW M4 GT3s.

Nürburgring. The short and intensive preparation phase for the Nürburgring 24 Hours (GER, 1^st/2^nd June) reaches its climax this coming weekend at the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers. There, BMW M Motorsport teams RMG and ROWE Racing will compete in important preparatory races for the season highlight. Nine BMW M works drivers will be deployed in three BMW M4 GT3s.

BMW M Team RMG is once again relying on a young, highly talented line-up of drivers in 2024, with three members of the Gen2K group created by BMW M Motorsport (BMW M works drivers born in 2000 or later). Dan Harper (GBR) and Max Hesse (GER) will compete for the fourth time together with the team led by Team Principal Stefan Reinhold in the top class at the 24-hour race. Joining them in the cockpit of the #72 BMW M4 GT3, sporting the design of BMW M Motorsport Premium Technology Partner Shell, is Charles Weerts (BEL). The 23-year-old will make his debut at the 24h Nürburgring but already has an impressive and successful GT3 career, especially in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, where he was the overall winner in 2021. In recent weeks, Weerts, Harper, and Hesse have already completed several test laps on the Nordschleife and have been intensively preparing for their race entries.

ROWE Racing will field two cars. This coming weekend, BMW M works drivers Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) will take turns in the #98 BMW M4 GT3. In the sister #99 car, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) will be in the cockpit. As the seventh driver, Robin Frijns (NED) will compete in the 24-hour race, however he will be absent from the Qualifiers due to a scheduling conflict with Formula E. Nevertheless, Frijns has also managed to complete several test laps on the Nordschleife in the past weeks.

At the season opener of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) last weekend, no BMW M4 GT3 could take part because most drivers were participating in the concurrent GT World Challenge Europe event at Le Castellet (FRA), where Harper, Hesse, and Farfus won together with the ROWE Racing Team.

Munich (GER), 4 April 2024. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, GTWC, BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, MultiBank Group, Dan Harper, Max Hesse, Augusto Farfus, design, livery.

GT World Challenge Europe: Six BMW M4 GT3s at Endurance Cup season opener.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Thursday April 4, 2024

The new season of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS kicks off this coming weekend, with BMW M Motorsport once again well-represented. At Circuit Paul Ricard (FRA), BMW M Motorsport teams WRT, ROWE Racing, and Century Motorsport will field a total of six BMW M4 GT3 cars and more than a dozen BMW M works drivers.

Le Castellet. The new season of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS kicks off this coming weekend, with BMW M Motorsport once again well-represented. At Circuit Paul Ricard (FRA), BMW M Motorsport teams WRT, ROWE Racing, and Century Motorsport will field a total of six BMW M4 GT3 cars and more than a dozen BMW M works drivers.

The works-supported teams WRT and ROWE Racing will each compete with two cars in the Pro Cup for overall victories. Both teams have only one personnel change from last year. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Raffaele Marciello (SUI) will be the third driver alongside Maxime Martin (BEL) and Valentino Rossi (ITA), as he was already at Bathurst (AUS) in February. The #32 BMW M4 GT3 line-up remains unchanged with Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL).

The same applies to the ROWE Racing #98 BMW M4 GT3, where Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) will compete, among others, to defend the title at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). In the #998 BMW M4 GT3, Augusto Farfus (BRA) – who was with BMW M Team WRT in 2023 – will be the third driver alongside Dan Harper (GBR) and Max Hesse (GER). The car will feature a new design from BMW M Motorsport partner MultiBank Group in 2024.

Le Castellet (FRA), 5-7 April 2024. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, GTWC, Circuit Paul Ricard, Endurance Cup, #46 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT, Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, Raffaele Marciello.

GT World Challenge Europe: Augusto Farfus, Dan Harper, and Max Hesse win the season opener.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Monday December 4, 2006

The breakthrough has come! ROWE Racing has given BMW M Motorsport the first major success of the year 2024 at the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Le Castellet (FRA) season opener. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) were rewarded following a magnificent performance in the #998 BMW M4 GT3 and celebrated their first victory in the highly competitive race series.

Le Castellet. The breakthrough has come! ROWE Racing has given BMW M Motorsport the first major success of the year 2024 at the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Le Castellet (FRA) season opener. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) were rewarded following a magnificent performance in the #998 BMW M4 GT3 and celebrated their first victory in the highly competitive race series. Starting from fifth place, the trio put on an impressive show and crossed the finish line in first place with a 13.5-second lead. In the BMW M Team WRT #46 BMW M4 GT3, Valentino Rossi (ITA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Raffaele Marciello (SUI) also gave a strong performance to finish fourth.

You find post-race video interviews here: https://b.mw/GTWC_Interviews. (URL is not valid)

The #998 BMW M4 GT3, sporting the design of BMW M Motorsport partner MultiBank Group, moved up to third place thanks to a strong start by Farfus, and Harper put the car on the path to victory with a remarkable overtaking manoeuvre on the leading Lamborghini. Hesse then confidently drove to the finish line, securing the fifth overall victory for ROWE Racing in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS. The sister car with Marco Wittmann (GER), Nick Yelloly (GBR), and Philipp Eng (AUT) also gave a very strong performance and was on track for a podium finish, but a problem during the second refuelling initially cost valuable seconds and then forced Eng to make an additional pit stop shortly before the end of the race. That dropped the #98 BMW M4 GT3 back to twelfth position.

There were mixed feelings at BMW M Team WRT. While Rossi, Martin, and Marciello could be satisfied with fourth place thanks to a strong final sprint, the #32 BMW M4 GT3 was forced to retire after an unprovoked collision for Charles Weerts (BEL) with a competitor resulting in tyre damage. The Team WRT #30 BMW M4 GT3, in which BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER) shared the cockpit with Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) and Sam De Haan (GBR), finished sixth in the Bronze Cup. The #991 BMW M4 GT3 of Century Motorsport with Jake Dennis, Darren Leung, and Toby Sowery (all GBR) at the wheel was on course for a podium in the Bronze Cup but then retired.

Hockenheim (GER), 9-10 April 2024. DTM, ADAC Motorsport, Schubert Motorsport, #33 BMW M4 GT3, René Rast, RoboMarkets.

DTM tests: Three Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3s on the racetrack for the first time in new designs.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 ADAC GT Masters Friday April 12, 2024

Schubert Motorsport took advantage of the official DTM test drives at Hockenheim (GER) on Tuesday and Wednesday to intensively prepare its three BMW M4 GT3s for the season start at the end of April. The BMW M works drivers René Rast (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Marco Wittmann (GER) hit the track for the first time in the new car designs of the BMW M Motorsport Partners RoboMarkets, Shell, and Schaeffler.

Hockenheim. Schubert Motorsport took advantage of the official DTM test drives at Hockenheim (GER) on Tuesday and Wednesday to intensively prepare its three BMW M4 GT3s for the season start at the end of April. The BMW M works drivers René Rast (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Marco Wittmann (GER) hit the track for the first time in the new car designs of the BMW M Motorsport Partners RoboMarkets, Shell, and Schaeffler. At the end of the four test sessions, the drivers drew a positive conclusion .

In addition to the DTM, the ADAC GT Masters also conducted test sessions at Hockenheim. The FK Performance Motorsport team participated with two BMW M4 GT3s.

On the sidelines of the testing, ADAC announced the continuation of the BMW M2 Cup. In the 2024 season, the cars will no longer be centrally deployed and managed but will be run by several teams. Along with this change, the portfolio of models eligible for the Cup has expanded. Three car categories are eligible to start, including the BMW M2 CS Racing in the 450 HP and 365 HP versions, as well as the 340 HP BMW M240i Racing. The BMW M2 Cup events are compact and take place over two days. Practice, qualifying, and races are held exclusively on Saturday and Sunday. The junior series will compete at a total of five DTM events and will hold two races lasting 25 minutes each weekend. The season starts from 24^th to 26^th May at the Lausitzring (GER).

Comments on the DTM test:

DTM, 1. Lauf, Motorsport Arena Oschersleben, Deutschland, 26.- 28. April 2024, #2 Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport, BMW M4 GT4.

DTM Opener in Oschersleben: Schubert Motorsport experiences rollercoaster of emotions at home round.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 DTM Sunday April 28, 2024

Schubert Motorsport kicked off the 2024 DTM with their home round at Oschersleben and experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. Sheldon van der Linde finished the two races in fourth and sixth positions, respectively. René Rast also scored points with two seventh-place finishes. Marco Wittmann led the Saturday race in the closing stages, but retired due to fuel pressure issues. On Sunday, Wittmann secured points with a tenth-place finish.

Oschersleben. Schubert Motorsport kicked off the 2024 DTM season with their home round at Oschersleben (GER) and experienced a rollercoaster of emotions just outside their headquarters. Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) finished the two eventful races on Saturday and Sunday in fourth and sixth positions, respectively. René Rast (GER) also scored points with two seventh-place finishes in both races. Marco Wittmann (GER) led the Saturday race in the closing stages, but retired just before the finish due to fuel pressure issues. On Sunday, Wittmann secured points with a tenth-place finish.

The first race on Saturday already provided fans at Oschersleben with plenty of excitement. With a tactical masterpiece, Schubert Motorsport brought Wittmann in the #11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3, starting from 19th, into the lead. However, just before the end, with victory in sight, Wittmann rolled to a stop on the start-finish straight due to fuel pressure issues. Van der Linde fought in the #31 Shell BMW M4 GT3 until the finish line for a podium finish, ultimately finishing fourth with a narrow gap. Rast secured points in seventh place in the #33 RoboMarkets BMW M4 GT3.

After a challenging qualifying session on Sunday, all three BMW M works drivers staged a comeback in the second race, moving up from the back of the field. However, van der Linde suffered an early setback when he couldn’t avoid a collision ahead of him at the start. The South African resumed the race in last place and worked his way up position by position. Eventually, he finished sixth, followed directly by Rast, who again was seventh. Wittmann completed the points positions in tenth place.

In the support programme, the ADAC GT Masters and the ADAC GT4 Germany also kicked off the 2024 season – with successes for the BMW M4 GT3 and the BMW M4 GT4. In the ADAC GT Masters, Maxime Oosten (NED) secured pole position for FK Performance Motorsport in Saturday’s qualifying. In the first race, he celebrated victory together with teammate Leon Köhler (GER) in the #54 BMW M4 GT3. In the ADAC GT4 Germany, Gabriele Piana (ITA) and Michael Schrey (GER) in the Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport #2 BMW M4 GT4 secured pole position and victory in race one on Saturday. Their teammates, Leon Wassertheurer and Tim Reiter (both GER), secured third place on the podium in the #3 BMW M4 GT4. In Sunday’s qualifying, Reiter claimed pole position. Piana and Schrey celebrated their second win of the weekend in Sunday’s race.

Comments after the DTM season opener:

Hockenheim (GER), 9-10 April 2024. DTM, ADAC Motorsport, Schubert Motorsport, BMW M4 GT3, René Rast, Sheldon van der Linde, Marco Wittmann, RoboMarkets, Shell, Schaeffler.

DTM season opener: Schubert Motorsport competes with three BMW M4 GT3s at the home race in Oschersleben.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 DTM Thursday April 25, 2024

The 2024 DTM season, in which the racing series celebrates its 40th anniversary, starts for Schubert Motorsport with a real highlight: the home event at the gates of the company's headquarters in Oschersleben (GER).

Munich. The 2024 DTM season, in which the racing series celebrates its 40th anniversary, starts for Schubert Motorsport with a real highlight: the home event at the gates of the company's headquarters in Oschersleben (GER). The team has intensively prepared for the season in the past weeks with testing in Hockenheim (GER) and Oschersleben, where it will field three BMW M4 GT3s for the first time. DTM champions René Rast (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Marco Wittmann (GER) will compete in the colours of BMW M Motorsport partners RoboMarkets, Shell, and Schaeffler, aiming for podium finishes and victories .

The track record of the driver trio in DTM is impressive. Rast has three titles and 26 wins in 106 races, Wittmann two titles and 18 wins in 178 races. Van der Linde has one title and five wins in 84 races. Schubert Motorsport is entering its third DTM season. Following the win of the driver and team titles at its debut in 2022, the team finished fourth in the team standings last season. In just two years, Team Principal Torsten Schubert and his crew have achieved five wins and nine additional podium finishes.

At the official testing in Hockenheim, the BMW M4 GT3s made a strong impression, and the team collected much valuable data. Last week, the cars completed their laps in the Motorsport Arena, where the first two races of the year will be held on Saturday and Sunday each at 13:30 CEST. The supporting programme also includes the season starts of the ADAC GT Masters and ADAC GT4 Germany, where FK Performance Motorsport will compete with a large contingent in the BMW M4 GT3 and BMW M4 GT4. Other GT4 teams representing the colours of BMW M Motorsport are Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and ME Motorsport, each fielding two BMW M4 GT4s in the ADAC GT4 Germany.

Comments before the DTM season opener:

Laguna Seca (USA), 8-12 May 2024. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, BMW M Team RLL, GTP, LMDh, #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, Connor De Phillippi, Nick Yelloly.

IMSA Laguna Seca: Podium for Turner Motorsport at milestone race – BMW M Team RLL faces issues.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Monday May 13, 2024

Turner Motorsport celebrated second place in the GTD class at the fourth race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Laguna Seca (USA), concluding its milestone weekend on the podium. BMW M Team RLL showed good pace in qualifying with the two BMW M Hybrid V8s but fell back in the race after incidents and missed the podium.

Laguna Seca. Turner Motorsport celebrated second place in the GTD class at the fourth race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Laguna Seca (USA), concluding its milestone weekend on the podium. The team, led by Will Turner, completed its 557th race in a BMW car – more than any other BMW M Motorsport customer team. BMW M Team RLL showed good pace in qualifying with the two BMW M Hybrid V8s but fell back in the race after incidents and missed the podium .

Philipp Eng (AUT) started the race in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 from third place after a strong qualifying session on Saturday. He held that position until the driver change to Jesse Krohn (FIN). However, a slip in the final hour of the race resulted in a damaged rear that had to be changed in the pits. Krohn finished the race in ninth place in the GTP class. Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) started in the sister car from fifth place and finished in seventh after losing time during a pit stop and also slipping off the track.

Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (both USA) took the lead in the GTD class in their #557 BMW M4 GT3 after the first yellow phase of the race from the second start position and had victory in sight. However, a few laps before the end, there was an unfortunate contact with a lapping GTP car which caused Foley to fall from first to second place. In the GTD PRO category, Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers (both USA) in the #1 BMW M4 GT3 from Paul Miller Racing finished in seventh place.

Comments after the race: