Munich. At the beginning of the year, BMW M Motorsport launched the BMW M Racing Academy, a new customer sport support programme for four drivers from the GT4-category. The “Class of 2025,” consisting of Berkay Besler (TUR), Nerea Martí (ESP), Matt Million (USA), and Niels Tröger (GER), has experienced an eventful first half of the year. The participants completed many valuable test kilometres in the BMW M2 Racing, trained at Formula Medicine, and received exclusive and detailed insights during BMW M Motorsport works engagements.
At the start of the programme, participants travelled to Formula Medicine in Viareggio (ITA), where they worked on their mental and physical fitness under the professional guidance of Dr. Riccardo Ceccarelli and his globally renowned team.
During various test drives with the BMW M2 Racing at Miramas (FRA) and Varano (ITA), the “Class of 2025” did not just accumulate many kilometres over the past months. Side by side with BMW M works drivers, participants contributed important development work for the new entry-level model which will be used by many private customer teams on the racetrack starting in 2026. They learned about the professional processes underlying the market launch of a new vehicle at a major manufacturer like BMW.
Martí and Besler gained extensive insights into BMW M Motorsport’s works engagements during the FIA WEC race weekend at Imola (ITA). They exchanged ideas with BMW M Motorsport director Andreas Roos and BMW M works drivers, received a garage tour, and participated in a debrief. Million attended the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race weekend at Laguna Seca (USA), observing the teams and drivers from the LMDh and GT3 programmes.
The BMW M Racing Academy is enriched by a quartet of mentors who fully support participants with advice, tips, and analyses. BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER) serves as the main contact for the four young talents. He is supported by his works driver colleagues Max Hesse (GER) and Robby Foley (USA). All three accompany the programme closely and support participants with their expertise on and off the track. Dirk Adorf (GER) also contributes his extensive experience from previous talent support programmes. This support includes visits to “Class of 2025” race events in the second half of the year, providing insights into works programmes and advising them on their own GT4 customer sport engagements.
Besler, Martí, Tröger, and Million prevailed against several other drivers from the GT4-category in a comprehensive selection process in Munich (GER) at the end of last year.
Statements on the BMW M Racing Academy.
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport: “I am very pleased that we can offer a support programme again this season. Supporting young talents from customer racing is very important to BMW M Motorsport and me personally. It’s great to see how well our ‘Class of 2025’ has developed in the first months and how much they appreciate our efforts to advance their development as drivers through involvement in works engagements. What they learn with us is intended to elevate them to a higher level for their current and future racing engagements. It was also very positive for us that the drivers were available for our BMW M2 Racing tests. All parties involved have benefitted enormously from that. Now I look forward to the second half of the year with the BMW M Racing Academy.”
Jens Klingmann, BMW M Motorsport Works Driver: “We have had an exciting and thrilling first half-year, experiencing many things together in a short time. With the development days in the BMW M2 Racing, we created a special added value. We were able to involve our participants everywhere and offer them a behind-the-scenes look at how development tests are conducted and what is important in vehicle development. They received a lot of driving time in this project and made a very valuable contribution, which was very important for their development. Particularly significant is the experience of providing feedback to engineers and articulating the driving experience to create added value for everyone involved in the project – and to improve the car. We mentors are very glad to be involved, sharing our expertise on and off the track. We are always available to participants with tips, experiences, and advice. Overall, we have seen significant improvements on and off the track. I can draw a very positive balance from the first half-year and look forward to the second half.”
Berkay Besler, BMW M Racing Academy Participant: “The programme has been great so far. Up until now we have experienced a lot of things, most importantly what BMW M Motorsport expects from us. Being one of the fastest on track is really important but also it is important how we behave off the track and represent the brand. Being a part of the BMW M Racing Academy is a great opportunity for us to learn as much as possible from all the mentors. We have spent a lot of time with them and they are all trying to help us and want us to learn as much as possible to be a better race car driver. I am really happy for that and really appreciate that. We have so many more things to do in our programme so we are all looking forward and can’t wait to be back.“
Nerea Martí, BMW M Racing Academy Participant: “The experience so far has been incredible. From day one, I have learned so much – not only on the track but also in terms of teamwork and approaching motorsport in a more professional way. We had intense physical and mental tests that showed me where I can improve and that small changes in training or mindset can make a huge difference. One of the most valuable parts of the programme were the on-track test sessions with the BMW M2 Racing. It was special to learn how to work together as a team to analyse performance and develop the car. The mentors play a big role in this. They share their experience with us and help us understand how to give clear, structured feedback and communicate during a debrief. I really appreciate how open and honest they are with us.”
Matt Million, BMW M Racing Academy Participant: “I am very happy that the opportunity arose to be part of such a programme. The ties to the brand have helped me feel even more integrated in the processes of BMW M Motorsport. I have been able to take in the level of professionalism at which BMW M Motorsport, the employees, and the drivers work and have benefitted from it in all areas. Working with BMW M Motorsport engineers during the BMW M2 Racing test drive was super valuable. It has significantly improved my ability to analyse or write reports; It has helped me immensely in terms of communication. The behind-the-scenes look at Laguna Seca gave me a better insight into how BMW M Motorsport works on-site. The mentors are incredibly helpful. They have given me fantastic input on what their roles look like – not only within their teams but also as BMW M works drivers. I plan to spend even more time with them this year.”
Niels Tröger, BMW M Racing Academy Participant: “I have been able to gather a lot of impressions about what the work of a works driver entails. For example, how important it is to provide engineers with good feedback to improve or develop the car. At Formula Medicine, I gained many important insights that a works driver receives in his work. I was able to focus on where my weaknesses are, but also where my strengths lie. I can now work on that further. As a driver, I am getting faster because the BMW M Racing Academy gives me the opportunity to spend a lot of time in the car and test. A big part is the mentors, who work very well with us and whom we can contact at any time. Overall, the BMW M Racing Academy is a great opportunity to develop my career and achieve success together with BMW M Motorsport.”