Munich. For the 61st time, BMW M Motorsport honoured probably the most profitable non-public groups and drivers for his or her performances in BMW race automobiles all over the world on the BMW M Sports Trophy Awards final Saturday. Turner Motorsport topped the workforce rating this time, whereas Michael Schrey (GER) triumphed within the driver rating. BMW M CEO Franciscus van Meel congratulated the winners on website and likewise paid tribute to the long-standing GT3 workforce Walkenhorst Motorsport, which can face a brand new problem in 2024 and can solely symbolize the BMW M Motorsport colors with the BMW M4 GT4.
“It is a decades-long tradition at BMW M Motorsport to offer the private teams and drivers the big stage they deserve as ambassadors of BMW and BMW M around the world at the end of each racing season through the BMW M Sports Trophy Awards,” stated Franciscus van Meel. “I thank all participants for their loyalty and dedication and congratulate the winners very warmly. Especially the first-placed Turner Motorsport and Michael Schrey, who have contributed significantly to an overall very successful season for the BMW M Motorsport family. At the same time, I wish Walkenhorst Motorsport, which will face a new challenge in the GT3 sector in 2024, all the best! We will always remember the shared victories – especially the triumph at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps – and look forward to continuing to work together in GT4.”
Between 2013 and 2023, Walkenhorst Motorsport competed with BMW M Motorsport GT3 automobiles. In 2018, the workforce celebrated the most important success in its historical past with the 24-hour victory at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) with the BMW M6 GT3. Walkenhorst Motorsport has additionally represented the colors of BMW M Motorsport excellently within the DTM and different high-class GT racing sequence. In 2023, the workforce gained 5 season races of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) with the BMW M4 GT3 and secured the title within the NLS Speed Trophy. In addition, they gained the GT title within the Asian Le Mans Series. Walkenhorst Motorsport completed fourth within the BMW M Sports Trophy workforce rating.
This time, Turner Motorsport from North America topped the workforce rating. Thanks to sturdy outcomes with the BMW M4 GT3 within the IMSA WeatherTech SportsAutomobile Championship and the Fanatec GT World Challenge America, in addition to title wins with the BMW M4 GT4 within the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the IMSA VP Racing SportsAutomobile Challenge, the workforce of Will Turner prevailed with 1,165 factors. BimmerWorld Racing and Adrenalin Motorsport adopted intently behind in second and third place.
Michael Schrey triumphed within the driver rating with 912 factors, primarily resulting from his title win within the GT4 European Series. He was additionally profitable within the NLS. Second place within the driver rating went to his teammate at Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport within the GT4 European Series, Gabriele Piana (ITA). Third place went to Chandler Hull (USA).
“Congratulations to all BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers who have celebrated successes this season – especially to the winners of tonight’s awards,” stated Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport. “We look back on a fantastic season for our race cars. The BMW M4 GT3 has won titles in the IMSA series, the GTWC Europe Gold Cup, British GT, Italian GT, NLS, and the Asian Le Mans Series, and has won major individual events such as the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the 24 Hours of Dubai, 9 Hours of Kyalami, and 8 Hours of Indianapolis. The BMW M4 GT4 has won titles in the GT4 European Series, the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge, the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge, the GT4 Asia, and the GT4 America. In addition, we have seen great brand trophies with the BMW M2 CS Racing. A very special congratulations goes to Adrenalin Motorsport for their sixth consecutive overall NLS victory – what an incredible achievement! I can’t wait to watch our teams and drivers strive to top this outstanding record again in 2024.”
BMW M works driver and BMW SIM Racing ambassador Bruno Spengler (CAN) offered the awards, which for the primary time additionally included the popularity of one of the best contributors within the BMW M SIM Trophy, the digital counterpart to the BMW M Sports Trophy. Those sim racers had been honoured who had been most profitable in digital BMW M race automobiles.