Category Archives: BMW

BMW

“Eagles for Education”: Tournament charity at the BMW International Open gets underway with 10,000 euros

+++ BMW expands long-term commitment to providing educational opportunities for everyone with “Eagles for Education” +++ Gareth Bale, Thomas Müller, Yannik Paul and defending champion Haotong Li get things started for the tournament charity +++ BMW Group donates an initial 10,000 euros +++


Munich. Among the many players doing their practice rounds at the BMW International Open on the perfectly manicured Championship Course at Golfclub München Eichenried today were two athletes that usually play on a different lawn: The two Champions League winners Thomas Müller (GER) and Gareth Bale (WAL) played a round of nine holes with title holder Haotong Li (CHN) and the best-placed German in the world rankings, Yannik Paul.

Afterwards, the group marked the symbolic start to “Eagles for Education”. The BMW Group is donating the first 10,000 euros to the tournament charity on behalf of the famous athletes.

The long-term charity campaign “Eagles for Education” is making its debut at the BMW International Open in 2023. The BMW Group will donate 1,000 euros for every eagle achieved during the tournament. This sees BMW intensify its long-standing commitment to education and future opportunities for everyone. The money will go to the organisations “JOBLINGE” and “Kick ins Leben”, with which the BMW Group has been working for many years.

BMW

BMW M Motorsport News, 20th June 2023.

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

“Once again, we can look back on plenty of exciting races with superb successes for the BMW M Motorsport teams in Europe, Asia and North America. Be it in the BMW M4 GT3, the BMW M4 GT4, the BMW M2 CS Racing, or other BMW M racing cars – they secured wins and podiums around the world. Congratulations to the Walkenhorst Motorsport team, who clinched the fourth win in the fourth race for the BMW M4 GT3 on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife. In the ADAC GT Masters, Schubert Motorsport got the season underway with a podium, and FK Performance Motorsport made an impressive debut in the series. Dan Harper and Century Motorsport celebrated another podium in the British GT Championship, and BMW Italia Ceccato Racing enjoyed success at the 12H Monza. The races of the various series at the VIRginia International Raceway were also a great deal of fun, with the podiums for the BMW M4 GT3 through BimmerWorld, ST Racing and Turner Motorsport, as well as the dominant successes in GT4 America and TC America. Our BMW M4 GT4 was also unbeatable in France. And there were further successes in real-world and virtual racing. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers!”

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Top topics in this newsletter:

– Walkenhorst Motorsport celebrates overall win in NLS 4.

– Schubert Motorsport gets the 2023 season of the ADAC GT Masters underway with a podium.

– BMW M Motorsport teams secure wins and podiums in Virginia.

– Further podium finishes for the BMW M4 GT3 in the British GT Championship and at the 12H Monza.

– BMW M4 GT4 wins in the GT World Challenge Asia and GT4 France.

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NLS 4: Walkenhorst Motorsport celebrates clear win on the Nordschleife.

Four races and four wins for the BMW M4 GT3 is the current state of play for the BMW M Motorsport teams in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). After a long break, the season resumed with race number four on Saturday, and after four hours Walkenhorst Motorsport celebrated their second NLS overall win of the year. Jakub Giermaziak (POL) and Christian Krognes (NOR) started the race from second on the grid in the #34 BMW M4 GT3. The duo took the lead in the second hour of racing and when they crossed the finish line, Giermaziak / Krognes had a lead of more than two minutes over their closest rivals. Giermaziak previously celebrated overall victory with the #34 at the beginning of April, when he shared the cockpit with BMW M works driver Jesse Krohn (FIN).

It even looked like there might be a one-two result for Walkenhorst Motorsport. Thomas Neubauer (FRA), Niklas Krütten (GER) and Dylan Pereira (LUX) in the #35 BMW M4 GT3 were in second place behind their team-mates temporarily, but then an accident forced them towards the back of the field, and they ended up being classified as Did Not Finish.

In addition to the overall win, and thereby victory in the SP9 Pro category of Walkenhorst Motorsport, the BMW M Motorsport teams claimed a further seven class wins in the fourth NLS race of the season. Walkenhorst Motorsport also won the SP10 class with the #191 BMW M4 GT4. Aris Balanian (BEL), Florian Weber (GER) and Ace Robey (USA) shared the cockpit. Two class wins went to Adrenalin Motorsport Team Motec. In the strong field in the VT2-R+4WD category, Daniel Zils, Oskar Sandberg, and Philipp Leisen (all GER) won once again in the #1 BMW 330i. Their team-mates Sven Markert, Nils Steinberg, and Yannick Fübrich (all GER) secured first place in the BMW M240i class with the #650 BMW M240i Racing. Victory in the BMW M2 CS category went to the two Swedes, Peter Larsen and Johan Rosen in the #884 BMW M2 CS Racing. In the V4 class it was Jürgen Huber, Oliver Frisse and Danny Brink (all GER) who won in the #702 BMW 325i of QTQ-Raceperformance. The #250 BMW 325i of Serge van Vooren and Christian Schotte (both GER) won the SP4 class, and in the H4 category, Bernd Kleeschulte (GER) was victorious in the #600 BMW M3 E92 GTR.

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ADAC GT Masters: Schubert Motorsport gets new season underway with a podium.

The Schubert Motorsport team started the 2023 season of the ADAC GT Masters with a podium finish. The season opener was held at Hockenheim (GER). In the first of the two races, Edoardo Coseteng (PHI) and Ben Green (GBR) in the #20 BMW M4 GT3 moved their way up the field from eighth on the grid into second place to make it onto the podium. They crossed the finish line in fourth place in race two.

The FK Performance Motorsport team made its ADAC GT Masters debut at Hockenheim and was up there at the front from the start. In the first race, Kim-Luis Schramm (GER) and Igor Walilko (POL) in the #10 BMW M4 GT3 were in the lead for much of the race. However, a safety car period and a turbulent final phase saw the duo drop down the field and end up narrowly missing out on a spot on the podium in fourth place. The duo finished the second race in eighth place.

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GT World Challenge America: BMW M Motorsport teams bag podiums in Virginia.

The Fanatec GT World Challenge America stopped off at the VIRginia International Raceway (USA) at the weekend, and the BMW M Motorsport teams picked up podiums. In race one on Saturday, Chandler Hull and Bill Auberlen (both USA) in the BimmerWorld #94 BMW M4 GT3 finished in second place on the overall podium, which was also equal to second place in the Pro class. In the ST Racing #38 BMW M4 GT3, Samantha Tan (CAN) teamed up with BMW M works driver Neil Verhagen (USA). The new pairing had plenty of reason to celebrate in Virginia; they moved up six places in race one to cross the finish line in fourth place in the overall ranking. This was second place in the Pro-Am class and the first podium for ST Racing in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America.

Verhagen and Tan levelled up in the second race on Sunday. This time they also finished on the overall podium and got second place in the race classification as well as second place in the Pro-Am class again. Verhagen also set the fastest race lap. Hull and Auberlen were also up there fighting for the win, but a penalty for speeding in the pit lane pushed them back down into ninth place (fifth place in the Pro class).

Robby Foley and Vincent Barletta (both USA) competed in the #96 BMW M4 GT3 of Turner Motorsport in Virginia. They finished in P13 and P10 (eighth and fifth in the Pro-Am class).

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British GT Championship: Dan Harper and Century Motorsport on the podium at Snetterton.

BMW M works driver Dan Harper (GBR) was in action in the British GT Championship once again at the weekend. He and his team-mate Darren Leung (GBR) had further reason to celebrate at Snetterton (GBR) where the duo bagged another spot on the podium in the #91 Century Motorsport BMW M4 GT3. Harper and Leung finished in second place on the podium in the first of the two races. “Darren drove into P2 in a superb first stint and after we dropped down a few places during a pit stop I gave it my all to regain the position. I saw where we were quicker, could move back up the field, and bring the podium home,” reported Harper after the race. Harper and Leung finished race two in fifth place.

Their Century Motorsport team-mates in the BMW M4 GT4 also joined in the podium celebrations at Snetterton. In race one, Michael Johnston and Chris Salkeld (both GBR) finished third in their class in the #14 car, with Carl Cavers and Lewis Plato (both GBR) in the #22 right behind them in fourth place. In race two, Cavers/Plato finished fourth in their class again, while Johnston/Salkeld crossed the finish line in eighth place this time of asking.

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24H Series: Class podium for BMW Italia Ceccato Racing at 12H Monza.

The 24H Series headed to Monza, Italy for the fifth race event of the season where BMW Italia Ceccato Racing enjoyed success at the 12H Monza. The #15 BMW M4 GT3 had the three Brazilians Leo Sanchez, Atila Abreu and William Freire at the wheel. The trio celebrated second place on the podium in the GT3-AM class in the two-part twelve-hour race. They finished in an outstanding fourth place in the overall rankings.

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GT World Challenge Asia: BMW M Team Studie with GT4 class win at Fuji.

At the Fanatec GT World Challenge Asia race weekend at Fuji (JPN), BMW M Team Studie claimed a class win in the GT4 category. In the first of the two races, Masaki Kano and Manabu Orido (both JPN) in the #50 BMW M4 GT4 of YZ RACING with BMW Team Studie crossed the finish line as winners in their class. They were not classified in race two.

In the #5 BMW M4 GT3 of PLUS by BMW Team Studie, Tomohide Yamaguchi and Seiji Ara (both JPN) took to the Fuji track. They finished in fifth place overall in the second race. They retired from race one.

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GT / GT4 / TC America: BMW M Motorsport Teams with back-to-back successes.

In the GT America, GT4 America and TC America races that were held at the VIRginia International Raceway (USA) at the weekend, the BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated back-to-back successes once again.

In the GT America, Vincent Barletta (USA) in the Turner Motorsport #96 BMW M4 GT3 finished third on the podium in race one. He crossed the finish line in eighth place in the second race.

The BMW M4 GT4 dominated the GT4 America in Virginia at the weekend. In the first race, the BMW racers brought home a top-four lock-out. Kevin Boehm and Kenton Koch (both USA) won the thrilling race in the #92 BMW M4 GT4 of Random Vandals Racing. That also saw them win the Silver class. Second place went to the #51 car of Auto Technic Racing, with Zac Anderson and John Dubets (both USA) at the wheel. The #82 and #36 BMW M4 GT4 of BimmerWorld crossed the finish line in third and fourth place. James Walker Junior and Tyler McQuarrie (both USA) in the #82 also got the win in the Pro-Am standings, while James Clay and Charlie Postins (both USA) in the #36 won the Am category.

In the second GT4 America race, Anderson and Dubets secured the overall win and first place in the Silver classification. Boehm and Koch crossed the finish line in second place this time of asking to complete the one-two finish for the BMW M4 GT4. There were also further class wins for Walker Junior / McQuarrie in the Pro-Am standings and Clay / Postins in the Am category.

In TC America, it was Maddie Aust (USA)’s weekend. In the first of the two races, she celebrated her first TC America victory in the #9 BMW M2 CS Racing of Fast Track Racing. She repeated that success in the second race when she was the first to cross the finish line once again. The first race, which was characterized by a dramatic final phase, ended being a top-four lock-out for the BMW M2 CS Racing. In second place behind Aust was her team-mate Adam Gleason (USA). This was his first podium finish in the series. Joseph Catania (USA / Rigid Speed Company) finished third, Colin Garrett (USA / Rooster Hall Racing), who was spun around by a competitor in the battle for P1 on the final lap, crossed the finish line in fourth place. In race two, second and third place behind winner Aust went to Garrett and Lucas Catania (USA / Rigid Speed Company).

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GT4 France: Double win for L’Espace Bienvenue in Dijon.

There was no getting past Benjamin Lessennes (BEL) and Ricardo van der Ende (NED) at the third GT4 France race weekend in Dijon (FRA). The duo was dominant in the #17 BMW M4 GT4 of the L’Espace Bienvenue team and secured the overall win in both races. That saw them also get both class wins in the Silver category. In addition, the VSF Sport – Amplitude Automobiles team in the #41 BMW M4 GT4 finished in second place in the Pro-Am classification in the first race.

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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Double victory for Luigi Ferrara in Vallelunga.

The second round of the 2023 BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy was held in Vallelunga (ITA). The man of the weekend was Luigi Ferrara (ITA) from Team V-Action by Nanni Nember. He was unbeatable in his #1 BMW M2 CS Racing and secured victory in both races, each with a significant lead. In the first of the two races, Jody Vullo (ITA) and Steven Giacon (ITA) also took second and third place on the podium. In race two, the podium spots behind Ferrara went to Marco Zanasi (ITA) and Lorenzo Marcucci (ITA). In the championship standings, Ferrara leads ahead of Vullo and Zanasi.

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Sim Racing: Successful Weekend for BMW SIM Teams on Assetto Corsa Competizione and iRacing.

The BMW sim racing teams enjoyed a successful weekend. In the Intercontinental GT Challenge Esports powered by Mobileye, hosted on Assetto Corsa Competizione, BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION celebrated their first podium finish in the second race. The driver trio of Nils Naujoks, Gregor Schill and Arthur Kammerer (all GER) moved up from fifth on the grid into second place during the nine-hour race on the virtual Kyalami (RSA) track. Victory went to the Williams Esports team in the #66 Audi.

In the Silver class in the race, BMW Romania Team West Competition Racing finished in 14th place with drivers Sebastian Apostol (ROM), Marco Jonkers (NED), Victor Nicolae (ROM) and Andrei Miclea (ROM).

The special Six Hours of the Glen event, part of the VCO Grand Slam, was held at the same time on the iRacing platform. The highlight here was the Redline BMW SIM team’s victory in the GTP class at the virtual Watkins Glen (USA). Diogo Pinto (POR) and Chris Lulham (GBR) drove the BMW M Hybrid V8 with car #20 to a convincing win. Their team-mates Enzo Bonito (ITA) and Luke Bennett (GBR) in car #69 secured second place to clinch an impressive Redline one-two finish. Also contesting the GTP class was the BMW Bank team represented by Pedro Sanchez (ESP) and Nathan Lewis (USA), however, an accident forced the duo to retire.

The Redline team with Gianni Vecchio (ITA), Ole Steinbraten (NOR) and Josh Thompson (GBR) were also convincing in the GTD class and got the win there as well with the BMW M4 GT3. BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION finished in sixth place with Felix Quirmbach (GER) and Elias Raikaa (FIN).

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BTCC: Three Races, Three BMW Wins at Oulton Park.

BMW drivers celebrated a perfect weekend in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Oulton Park. The outcome of the fifth race weekend of the season was three races, three wins. It all started with race one, in which Jake Hill (GBR) of Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport claimed the win. In race two, Hill clinched the brace by winning again. The third race made it a triple win for the BMW 330e M Sport. This time it was Colin Turkington (GBR) of Team BMW who celebrated victory. Hill finished the race in second place, followed by Adam Morgan (GBR) in third place, also of Team BMW.

BMW

24H SPA EWC Motos: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team Claims Another Podium at Spa-Francorchamps

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team had a successful home race at Spa-Francorchamps, as they finished on the podium once again. After 24 hours of intense racing, Markus Reiterberger, Ilya Mikhalchik, and Jérémy Guarnoni secured third place with their BMW M 1000 RR at the 24H SPA EWC Motos, the second round of the 2023 FIM Endurance World Championship. This follows their previous third-place finish at the opening race weekend in Le Mans. The team is currently ranked third in the Team world championship standings, 33 points behind the leaders.

In the qualifying sessions, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team showed strong performance, securing second place on the grid. However, they faced challenges during the race, with safety car phases causing them to lose time after pit stops. Despite this setback, the team consistently battled their way back through the field, eventually climbing to fourth place. They maintained this position throughout the night, delivering good lap times and efficient fuel consumption. With three and a half hours remaining, they inherited third place when the Suzuki team ahead of them encountered technical issues. The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team successfully defended their position until the end, even in the face of rain in the closing stages of the race.

The Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team, fresh from their victory in the Superstock class at the season-opener in Le Mans, also had a promising start at Spa-Francorchamps. However, they faced a setback when forced into the garage due to a technical issue. Despite efforts to repair the bike, they eventually had to retire from the race during the night.

The private BMW Team LRP Poland, racing with the BMW S 1000 RR, experienced various issues throughout the race but managed to push through and reach the finish line after 24 hours of racing.

The next race, the 8 Hours of Suzuka in Japan, will take place on August 6th.

BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director, Marc Bongers, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s third-place finish, noting the unfortunate situations caused by safety car periods. He praised the team’s performance, emphasizing their ability to fight back and the reliability of the motorcycle. Bongers acknowledged the need to improve their speed to reach the top position and shared disappointment for the Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team’s inability to finish the race due to technical problems.

Werner Daemen, Team Manager of the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, described the race as hectic, highlighting their bad luck with safety car periods in the beginning. However, he commended the impressive performance of the riders and mechanics and expressed gratitude to BMW for providing a reliable bike for the 24 hours. Daemen emphasized the team’s focus on the upcoming race in Japan and their aim to achieve another strong result.

Markus Reiterberger, one of the riders, reflected on their second-place qualification and the challenges faced during the race. He mentioned struggling with grip in high temperatures but remained error-free throughout the race, eventually securing third place. Reiterberger expressed gratitude to the team and acknowledged the tough and long race they had completed on the podium.

Ilya Mikhalchik, another team member, expressed happiness with their overall speed during the race, despite losing time due to safety car pit lane exits. He praised the team for avoiding mistakes and looked forward to a good position in the upcoming race in Japan.

Jérémy Guarnoni, also a part of the team, celebrated the second consecutive podium finish but acknowledged their lack of luck with the safety car, causing them to lose contact with the front riders. Nonetheless, Guarnoni expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance and the speed of his teammates.

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The Le Mans Classic 2023: BMW Group Classic Enters a BMW M1 Group 4 in Legendary “Wirtshaus” Livery

Munich/Le Mans.

BMW Group Classic is returning to the Le Mans Classic for the first time since 2014 – and will line up at the Circuit de La Sarthe with the legendary BMW M1 Group 4 in “Münchener Wirtshaus” livery. Piloting the car will be the original driver trio from the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1981: HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria (DE), Christian Danner (DE), and Peter Oberndorfer (DE).

On 15 June 2023, the team met up at the Spatenhaus an der Oper restaurant in Munich to set the scene for the action to come.

The drivers got together with fans and media representatives to recreate the pre-race public photo call from 1981. The event on 3 June that year was intended to shine the spotlight on the company’s involvement in the upcoming 24-hour race.

So history was repeating itself this year – with the same venue, the same car, and the same drivers.

“I’m really looking forward to driving the BMW M1 Group 4 in “Münchener Wirtshaus” livery at Le Mans again after 42 years,” said HRH Prince Leopold of Bavaria.

“It makes me particularly proud that my friends Christian Danner and Peter Oberndorfer are here with me, so that we can take a trip back in time in a very special way.”

2023 is a year of celebrations.

BMW Group Classic decided to enter the Le Mans Classic, in cooperation with BMW Motorsport and BMW France, to mark the centenary of the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans. Plus, the BMW sales company in France is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. And on 21 June, His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Bavaria will turn 80.

As well as entering the BMW M1 Group 4 in the Plateau 6 category, BMW Group Classic will be hosting an exhibition of Le Mans racing icons at the Musée des 24 Heures du Mans:

The overall winner of the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1999 – the BMW V12 LMR – will take its place alongside the first-ever BMW Art Car, the BMW 3.0 CSL from 1975 created by Alexander Calder. Visitors will also be able to admire the BMW M3 GT2 Art Car from 2010 – the work of Jeff Koons.

Just under 20 privately entered historic BMW racers will also be taking part in the Le Mans Classic.

More photographs will be available here.

Alcohol-free beer has been served.

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24H SPA EWC Motos: BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team extra motivated ahead of FIM EWC home round.

The BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team is returning to the scene of its greatest success to date. This weekend, the 24H SPA EWC Motos (BEL) forms round two of the FIM Endurance World Championship 2023 (FIM EWC). Last year, the team and its riders Markus Reiterberger (GER), Ilya Mikhalchik (UKR), and Jérémy Guarnoni (FRA) claimed a historic victory in the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps. The success at the team’s home event was not only the first win in a 24-hour race for Werner Daemen’s (BEL) outfit but also the first time a European manufacturer had won over this distance for several decades. All set for its first appearance at the event is the Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team. They start in the Superstock class of the FIM EWC and are making their debut on the Ardennes rollercoaster at Spa-Francorchamps.

This season, the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team is running the new version of the BMW M 1000 RR. The three regular riders – Reiterberger, Mikhalchik, and Guarnoni – immediately finished on the podium in the first race with the new bike when the trio came home third on the #37 M RR at the opening round of the 2023 season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) in mid-April. The team is now extremely motivated ahead of the second race of the season at the iconic racetrack, which is just a one-hour drive from the Belgian team’s base. The fourth rider at Spa-Francorchamps is Vincent Lonbois (BEL). Over the course of his career, the 32-year-old has spent many years riding BMW motorcycles at racetracks and on the road racing scene. In 2016, he was crowned champion in the International Road Racing Championship (IRRC) with the BMW S 1000 RR. He also finished runner-up in the BMW Motorrad Race Trophy in the same year.

The new Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team, in which the French Tecmas Racing Team and its owner Arnaud Sassone (FRA) is collaborating with Werner Daemen’s company Motorcycle Racing Parts and BMW Motorrad Motorsport, made a dream start to its debut season in the FIM EWC at Le Mans. Kenny Foray (FRA), Jan Bühn (GER), and Loïc Arbel (FRA) took victory in the Superstock class with the #9 BMW M 1000 RR. The team is now entering uncharted territory at Spa-Francorchamps. Although the Tecmas Racing Team has contested individual races in the FIM EWC in the past, it did not start the 24H SPA EWC Motos last year.

The race weekend at Spa-Francorchamps begins with free practice on Friday morning. The grid positions will then be determined in the two-part qualifying on Friday afternoon. The race itself gets underway on Saturday at 14:00 (CEST). As well as the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and the Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team, private BMW outfit Team LRP Poland also competes at the 24H SPA EWC Motos.

Quotes ahead of the 24H SPA EWC Motos.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “It goes without saying that last year’s fantastic victory remains a memorable one. We are now back in the Ardennes to face this special challenge again. We have shown that we can be successful at the home circuit for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team, and are obviously hoping for a similar result this year. The current season got off to a successful start with the new BMW M 1000 RR at Le Mans, with third place overall for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team and the debut victory in the Superstock class for the Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team. We now travel to Spa-Francorchamps well prepared. The law of any 24-hour race obviously also applies here – namely that anything can happen. However, as far as the riders, teams, and machinery are concerned, we are well prepared and very confident ahead of the weekend.“

Werner Daemen, Team Manager BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team: “We are expecting a hot week at Spa–Francorchamps. The weather forecast is perfect. Last week, we had a successful pre-test. I was a little bit worried about the weather but the new BMW M 1000 RR also looks very good in hot conditions this year. So I think that we are well prepared for defending our good result from last year and hopefully, we also have the necessary luck.”

Markus Reiterberger: “Spa-Francorchamps is the home event for our team, and it is practically the home race for us too. Spa is a really great racetrack, and we have very fond memories of the circuit after last year’s victory. We completed a two-day function test there at a hobby event, during which we gained our first impressions of the new bike at this track. We now continue with the final tests, in which we will work on fine-tuning. As a team, I believe we are better positioned than ever. We are ready. We want to at least finish on the podium, but would obviously prefer to win. That is the goal we have set ourselves. The weather forecast is good, the team is super. There is nothing to stop us from being successful, and we will do everything we can to make that the case.”

Ilya Mikhalchik: “I am looking forward to a great race weekend at Spa on a beautiful track. I can’t wait to get back there with our new beautiful bike. Let’s hope for a good weekend and to enjoy riding our BMW M 1000 RR there. We want to show good speed over the entire weekend and to do a good job during the race. It would be great to finish the race on Sunday with a strong result.”

Jérémy Guarnoni: “The target for Spa is clear; like always, we want to win. We know that it is a track we are really fast on. Last year we won there, so obviously the goal is to repeat that. That would be really amazing. It is also a special race for us because it is the team’s home race. This gives us extra motivation. We know that in dry conditions, we are really fast there so let’s see what will happen. I am confident. At the pre–test, we saw that all is okay. Everything is on point so let’s see.”

Arnaud Sassone, Team Owner Tecmas-MRP-BMW Racing Team: “We arrive at Spa-Francorchamps as the championship leader and with an advantage of eleven points. That is perfect, but it does put us under extra pressure, which we must manage. This race at Spa is a first for my team of technicians, but we have worked hard and listened to our riders in order to be well prepared. BMW Motorrad has been successful at Spa in the past, with the overall victory for the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team last year. Our three Tecmas riders, led by their leader Kenny Foray, are a well-oiled team, which is both fast and capable of providing the engineers with precise information. They are also in great form and very motivated. All three of them are very familiar with the track in the Ardennes. Kenny took part in qualifying with the BMW Motorrad World Endurance Team in 2022, while Loïc Arbel finished runner-up in the overall standings on the Tati Team’s Kawasaki. And Jan Bühn has been a regular at the Spa circuit for years.”

BMW

Postcard Story: The MINI Cooper SE in Oxfordshire

Require assistance? To get help, please get in touch with our support team between 9 AM to 5 PM CET via support.pressclub@bmwgroup.com.

PressClub Global · Article.

Wed Jun 14 00:01:00 CEST 2023 Press Release

With its lively electric motor and nimble frame, the electric MINI in the stunning Chili Red hue is a head-turner traversing the streets of Oxford. The compact car is capable of cruising through the tight streets of the old town with ease.

The brand’s classic go-kart sensation is achievable with the electric MINI offering uninterrupted acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.3 seconds, resulting in an incredible driving experience on the streets of Oxford. The sporty design of the MINI Cooper SE is topped off by the 17″ MINI Electric Power Spoke, which has a two-tone wheel.

BMW

BMW International Open 2023: “Eagles for Education” Campaign and BMW i5 Hole-in-One Award

BMW organizes the BMW International Open from 21st to 25th June 2023 at Golfclub München Eichenried. The BMW Group is committed to providing educational opportunities and is launching its long-term charity campaign “Eagles for Education” at the tournament. For every eagle achieved, the BMW Group will donate 1,000 euros to the organisations “JOBLINGE” and “Kick ins Leben”. The 2023 Hole-in-One Award on the 17th hole will be the first fully-electric BMW i5. Thomas Müller and Gareth Bale tee off in the Pro-Am. Here’s what you need to know about the BMW International Open 2023.

The BMW Group is committed to its social responsibility and is expanding its commitment to the BMW International Open by launching a new campaign. The “Eagles for Education” campaign will donate 1,000 euros to the organisations “JOBLINGE” and “Kick ins Leben” for every eagle achieved during the tournament. The BMW Group’s goal is to provide better career opportunities for underprivileged children and young people. The BMW Group has already raised 44.5 million US dollars (roughly 41.4 million euros) for the Evans Scholar Foundation at the PGA TOUR Playoff event, the BMW Championship.

The BMW i5 will be the Hole-in-One Award if a player scores an eagle on the 17th hole. An eagle on a par-three hole is an ace, and as such, the player who scored the eagle wins the BMW i5. The BMW i5 is the first fully-electric BMW 5 Series and is produced at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing, where the electric motors and high-voltage batteries for the vehicle are also produced.

The top-class field for the 34th BMW International Open includes Luke Donald, Thomas Bjørn, Edoardo Molinari, Nicolas Colsaerts, Haotong Li, Nicolai Højgaard, Rasmus Højgaard, Robert MacIntyre, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Pablo Larrazábal, Victor Perez, Adrian Meronk, Ryan Fox, and many others.

The BMW International Open has a long tradition of commitment to education. The tournament also features a Pro-Am tournament with sports stars such as Thomas Müller, Gareth Bale, and Martin Borgmeier. The tournament offers free admission to children and young people aged 16 and under and has various activities to inspire the next generation of golfers, including the “Abschlag Schule” project, which involves school classes visiting the tournament.

Visitors to the tournament can also experience the BMW fleet of fully-electric and electrified cars, as well as win prizes in the “Nearest to the Pin” competition and take part in the “Longest Putt Challenge” to win season tickets for the Ryder Cup in Rome. There are many options for following the BMW International Open from afar, including live coverage on Sky, ORF Sport+, and Sport1, as well as a free livestream on BMW Golfsport and Sport1.de.

The BMW International Open will use a fully-electrified BMW shuttle fleet, charged with 100% green electricity. The tournament can be accessed via a free bus shuttle service and parking for visitors is available free of charge in officially marked parking spaces.

The BMW International Open would like to thank its partners, including DP World, Emirates, Five9, NTT Data, Rolex, Visit South Africa, Antenne Bayern, Goodyear, Hilton, and all supplier partners for their support and collaboration.

BMW

Peter Hickman impresses with three wins and new lap records on the new BMW M 1000 RR at Isle of Man TT

Peter Hickman and the Monster Energy by FHO Racing BMW Team had a fantastic week, winning three races and setting new lap records at the Isle of Man TT. This year, Hickman won both Superstock TT races and the prestigious Senior TT, setting a new outright TT lap record and new lap records in the Senior TT and the Superbike TT. The new BMW M 1000 RR bike also made its debut at the Isle of Man TT and won both Superstock races. Hickman now has a total of 13 Isle of Man TT wins, with ten victories in the 1,000 cc class on BMW bikes.

Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad, congratulated Hickman and the FHO Racing team for their successful performance. He praised Hickman’s ability to continue BMW’s success story at the Isle of Man TT with the new M 1000 RR bike and acknowledged the hard work put in by Hickman and the FHO Racing Team.

The race week began with the Superbike TT, where Hickman faced technical difficulties but managed to set a new Superbike lap record and finish second. He then switched to the Superstock TT version of the M 1000 RR and won both Superstock TT races, setting a sensational new official outright lap record at the Isle of Man TT with an average speed of 136.358 mph. The week concluded with the six-lap Senior TT, which Hickman won comfortably, setting a new Senior TT lap record and finishing almost 20 seconds ahead of second-place Dean Harrison.

Hickman praised the competition at the Isle of Man TT, especially Michael Dunlop, and thanked everyone for their support. His teammate Josh Brookes returned to Isle of Man TT after five years and finished with a personal best of 132.529 mph.

BMW had 16 road racers competing at this year’s Isle of Man TT, with Hickman’s BMW M 1000 XR prototype providing a preview of the third M model at BMW Motorrad.

BMW

Road to Le Mans: BMW M works drivers Valentino Rossi and Max Hesse have fun victories on the Circuit de la Sarthe.

Le Mans. Two victories for the BMW M Team WRT and the BMW M4 GT3 within the supporting programme, a formidable total presence of BMW M and the primary GT3 triumph for Valentino Rossi (ITA). Although the premiere of the BMW M Hybrid V8 on the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) isn’t on the agenda till 2024, BMW M was already an emphatic a part of the occasion at a number of ranges this 12 months on the 100-year anniversary of the world’s most well-known endurance race.

 

On the racetrack, BMW M Team WRT competed with BMW M works drivers Valentino Rossi and Max Hesse (GER) within the Road to Le Mans assist races, that are a part of the Michelin Le Mans Cup. On Thursday, the victory went to Hesse and his team-mate Tim Whale (GBR). Rossi shared the cockpit of the #46 BMW M4 GT3 within the two 55-minute races with Jérôme Policand (FRA). The duo had motive to have fun on Friday when Rossi perfected his first GT3 triumph with an overtaking manoeuvre on the penultimate lap. Hesse and Whale accomplished the WRT one-two as runners-up.

For BMW M Team WRT, it was the primary deployment for BMW M Motorsport at Le Mans, earlier than the BMW M Hybrid V8 premieres within the prime class in 2024. This season, the group is getting into two LMP2 vehicles within the 24-hour race for the final time. A 3rd BMW M4 GT3 was fielded within the Road to Le Mans races by the GMB Motorsport group. The drivers Roland and Kristian Poulsen (each DEN) completed in seventh and fifteenth locations.

Marking the event of the 100-year anniversary of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, one historic BMW race automotive will go across the observe on demo laps on the weekend – the BMW V12 LMR, with which BMW M Motorsport claimed total victory in 1999. Also on view are the legendary BMW Art Cars by Alexander Calder and Jeff Koons, which triggered a sensation at Le Mans in 1975 and 2010. A preview of subsequent 12 months is offered by the BMW M Hybrid V8 present automotive, which shares the paddock area with the BMW M manufacturing mannequin BMW XM (gasoline consumption in l/100 km mixed: 1.7 – 1.6 WLTP; energy consumption in kWh/100 km mixed: 34.5 – 33.0 WLTP; CO2 emissions in g/km mixed: 39 – 35 WLTP).

 

Reactions to the Road to Le Mans races:

 

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “We had tremendous profitable days right here with our BMW M4 GT3 along with WRT within the Road to Le Mans races. It was additionally the primary BMW race look for a number of years at Le Mans. With the victory within the first race and the one-two within the second race, we’re in fact very glad. To see Valentino Rossi along with Jérôme Policand in addition to Max Hesse and Tim Whale on prime of the rostrum is just unbelievable. We hope to have the ability to construct on these successes subsequent 12 months. This was a primary step. Many thanks, in fact, for the dedication to the entire group, the drivers and the crew of BMW M Motorsport. They gave our BMW M4 GT3 a fantastic Le Mans debut.”

 

Valentino Rossi (#46 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT): “We are very completely satisfied as a result of we received. It was the primary victory along with BMW, and it was additionally a fantastic expertise to come back right here to organize for subsequent 12 months’s 24-hour race. We had a robust tempo since yesterday morning and in qualifying however we have been a bit unfortunate within the first race so we wished to go for the rostrum within the second race. Jérôme had an excellent first stint, and on the finish of the day we have been capable of win. I had an excellent tempo and was capable of do some good overtakes. We are very, very completely satisfied.”

 

Max Hesse (#31 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT): “We are in fact very completely satisfied. On Thursday we already had a fantastic race. WRT did an ideal job on the pit cease. We selected the fitting technique. It was a fantastic honour to have the ability to drive right here. Being right here for the primary time was very, very cool for me and it was good to be taught, as a result of there was not a lot stress and you might drive many laps. We are actually pleased with first and second place. Congratulations in fact additionally to our team-mates on the victory on Friday.”

BMW

German men’s biathlon team tests in the BMW Group wind tunnel.

+++ Technology transfer enhances mobility partnership between the BMW Group and DSV Biathlon +++ German’s male biathletes test in the wind tunnel for the first time +++ Valuable findings with regard to stance and aiming process +++ Reference points for further optimisations and innovations +++

Munich. Since last autumn, the BMW Group has been “Mobility Partner of the German National Biathlon Team” and has provided the team with electrified vehicles. Within this partnership, BMW has allowed the DSV biathlon squad to perform tests in a wind tunnel for the first time. In the different wind speeds and directions generated in the controlled laboratory conditions in the BMW Group’s Aerolab, the DSV men were able to analyse their body posture, their reactions to different conditions, and the movement of their weapons when shooting whilst standing.

Here, where the NEUE KLASSE of BMW cars are usually put through their paces and optimised aerodynamically, it was now the German biathletes who for two days had the opportunity to examine their stance and aiming process in the wind. With the athletes too, it was all about identifying potential for improvement, as biathlon races are often decided at the shooting range.

“The BMW Group wind tunnel is our main test centre, as far as aerodynamics are concerned. Here, we are able to determine the proportions and finer details of the vehicle, making it as efficient as possible and thus increasing electrical range,” says Holger Gau, Head of Dynamics Mid-Range BMW. “With the biathletes, we analysed the sensitivity of the shooting with a side wind. As we are able to generate consistent conditions in the wind tunnel, the athletes were able to adopt different postures, which could then be analysed and compared.”

Pressure points and pressure distribution were measured using sensors on the soles of the biathlon shoes. A measuring device was mounted on the barrel of the gun, which recorded the aiming and shooting process. The athletes were also observed in the wind tunnel by cameras and trainers. Last but not least, the analysis also incorporated the subjective feelings of the biathletes.

“We have just one challenge – and that is to be as successful as possible in competition. However, to master this challenge you have to do something in an awful lot of areas. You have to be progressive, if you want to break into the world elite,” says Uroš Velepec, coach of the DSV German men’s biathlon squad. “As such, it is very valuable to be given the opportunity to test in a wind tunnel for the first time. Together with the aerodynamics experts in the BMW Group, we have developed some really significant tests. The results are already promising. We are very grateful to BMW and I hope this partnership will continue to develop on a technological level.”

As well as the individual analysis of the standing position in the wind, and the compensatory movements, Velepec also took another approach: without naming names, he is convinced that there are athletes in the German men’s squad who are among the best in the world when shooting in the wind. The goal now was to find out how these athletes act intuitively and to use that to develop a model, which could be applied to others. “We can now see what these athletes are doing differently,” said Velepec after the wind tunnel tests. “We always suspected it, but we now have proof and know how they do it.”

Karlheinz Waibel, DSV National Science and Technology Coach, is also impressed by the two days in the wind tunnel and the cooperation with the BMW Group engineers. He says: “We planned the tests together with the BMW experts and wanted to know how they would approach them. We were asked questions, which we were unable to answer, because we did not have any knowledge from the past. That is how we came up with exciting and clever ideas, which we will continue to pursue – with regard to aerodynamic improvements to the gun, for example.”

It will take a few more weeks to evaluate and analyse the data acquired, but one thing is already certain: the German national biathlon team’s first trip to the BMW Group’s Aerolab will not be the last.