Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“A fantastic race weekend for the BMW M Motorsport teams in Italy and Spain! Congratulations to Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport, Michael Schrey, and Gabriele Piana on winning the title in the GT4 European Series, as well as to Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport for a very strong season with the BMW M4 GT4. Securing the title and achieving race wins in arguably the best-staffed GT4 racing series in the world is a truly remarkable feat. I was also delighted with the successes of Team BMW Italia Ceccato Racing with the BMW M4 GT3. The team led by Team Principal Roberto Ravaglia handles our GT3 car exceptionally well and is regularly rewarded with strong results. Additionally, the triumphs of our Sim racing works team BS+Competition underscore how seriously we continue to take this aspect of our racing programme. Congratulations!”
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GT4 European Series: Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport celebrates championship victory.
There was great jubilation for Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and drivers Michael Schrey (GER) and Gabriele Piana (ITA) last weekend at Barcelona (ESP). With a victory in the final race of the GT4 European Series, they secured the titles in the team and driver standings of the Silver Cup in the #2 BMW M4 GT4. With 171 points each and three season wins, Schrey and Piana finished the year with a 26-point lead in the driver standings. In the team standings, the gap to second place was an even greater 28 points. Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport, with Tom Edgar (GBR) and Berkay Besler (TUR) at the wheel of the #12 BMW M4 GT4, finished third in both the teams’ and drivers’ standings at the end of the season. The duo celebrated one win and three more podium finishes but only managed to score four points at the season finale in Barcelona, leaving them with no chance of winning the title.
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Italian GT Championship: Victory and podium for Spengler/Klingmann at Mugello.
In the battle for the championship title in the Sprint Cup of the Italian GT Championship, BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann (GER) and Bruno Spengler (CAN) secured valuable successes last weekend at Mugello (ITA). The duo won the Saturday race and finished second on Sunday in the #7 BMW M4 GT3 of BMW Italia Ceccato Racing. With a five-point lead in the overall standings, Klingmann and Spengler are the leaders heading into the season finale at Imola (ITA) at the end of October.
Carlo Tamburini and Francesco de Luca (both ITA) won the Pro-Am class on Saturday in the #8 sister car with and narrowly missed the overall podium with a fourth-place finish. On Sunday, the duo finished fourth in the Pro-Am category.
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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Zanasi and Giacon win at Mugello.
As part of the Italian GT Championship weekend at Mugello (ITA), the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy held two races. In the first race, Marco Zanasi (ITA) dominated with a 7.5-second lead over Steven Giacon (ITA). In the second race, Giacon turned the tables and triumphed with four-second lead over Zanasi. Jody Vullo (ITA) finished third in both races. Defending champion Luigi Ferrara (ITA) experienced disappointment at the race weekend. After finishing fourth in the first race, he retired in the second. The season finale will take place on 28th/29th October at Imola (ITA).
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Sim racing: Two wins in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe.
As part of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS at Barcelona (ESP), two major sim racing events took place – and a virtual BMW M4 GT3 triumphed in both races. First, on Friday evening, Team WRT driver Calan Williams (AUS) won the season finale of the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series, securing the Gold Cup title. BMW M works driver and BMW Junior Dan Harper (GBR) finished third in the race for ROWE Racing. All drivers of the two BMW M Motorsport teams received intensive support from BMW M Team BS+Competition, BMW M Motorsport’s sim racing works team, in preparation for the races. “I really enjoyed these races and am very happy with the success,” said Williams. “Many thanks to the guys at BS+Competition for their tremendous support throughout the season.”
On Saturday evening, one of the members of the BMW M Team BS+Competition had his moment of glory, namely Nils Naujoks (GER). In the final race of the SRO Esports SIM Pro Series, where professional sim racers compete against each other instead of real racing drivers, Naujoks secured the race win and second place in the overall standings. “We didn’t expect this win after a rather challenging season, but it feels great,” said Naujoks. “Being one of only five race winners this season and finishing second in the overall standings is a fantastic way to end it.”