Tag Archives: Championship

BMW

BMW M Team WRT begins preparing for WEC with rollout and initial test drives of the BMW M Hybrid V8

The countdown has begun for the return of BMW M Motorsport to the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Last week, BMW M Team WRT successfully completed the first test drives with the BMW M Hybrid V8. The rollout of the test car for the 2024 WEC season took place at the BMW Group plant in Dingolfing, Germany.

The initial test drives were led by BMW M works driver Nick Yelloly, who has extensive experience with the BMW M Hybrid V8. Yelloly previously raced with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the North American IMSA series, where the vehicle has already achieved success this season. The BMW M Team RLL, including Yelloly and teammate Connor De Phillippi, celebrated their first IMSA win with the BMW M Hybrid V8 at Watkins Glen, USA.

Following the functional test, the BMW M Hybrid V8 underwent three days of test drives at Aragón, Spain. The car performed without any problems, allowing the team to gather valuable data. BMW works drivers Jesse Krohn, Maxime Martin, Sheldon van der Linde, and Dries Vanthoor took turns behind the wheel. Additional functional tests were conducted by the members of the BMW Junior Team and BMW works drivers Dan Harper and Max Hesse.

In the upcoming weeks and months, BMW M Team WRT will continue to carry out numerous tests to prepare for the start of the FIA WEC season in 2024. The goal is to have as many BMW works drivers as possible providing feedback to the engineers.

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, expressed his satisfaction with the test kickoff, stating that it was a successful start to their WEC preparation. He thanked everyone involved in making it possible and emphasized the motivation to continue working hard throughout the rest of the year.

Vincent Vosse, Team Principal of BMW M Team WRT, described the test as a big step and a dream come true for the team. He expressed confidence in their partnership with BMW and praised the team’s hard work in preparing the car. Vosse thanked everyone involved and looked forward to the preparation for the 2024 season.

Jesse Krohn, a BMW M works driver, shared his excitement about the test and his first outing in a prototype. He praised the WRT team’s working methods and teamwork, describing it as one of the smoothest tests of his career. Krohn expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to the program and gather important data.

News

BTCC 2023: Hill and Turkington make history with BMW domination

In a remarkable display of dominance, West Surrey Racing swept all the races at Oulton Park in the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) on Sunday. Jake Hill and Colin Turkington led BMW to victory, leaving their competitors trailing behind.

Hill had an almost perfect day individually, securing two wins, a second place, and three fastest laps for Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport.

Turkington’s performance was equally impressive. Starting last on the grid in the first race, the four-time champion made stunning progress and continued to excel in the second race. In the final race, he charged ahead to claim his 65th BTCC career win.

Ash Sutton, Tom Ingram, and Adam Morgan also achieved podium finishes, creating a significant shift in the title race halfway through the season. Sutton’s lead in the drivers’ standings has narrowed to just six points ahead of Ingram, while Hill and Turkington remain in close contention.

The second half of the BTCC campaign will resume at Croft in North Yorkshire on July 29-30.

Hill establishes BMW dominance with a win in race one

Hill kickstarted his 2023 campaign with an impressive victory in the first race.

Throughout the season, the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport racer consistently showcased his talent, earning three second-place finishes. However, this win elevated his title challenge to new heights.

Hill made a fantastic start, overtaking pole-sitter Sutton in his BMW 330e M Sport on the run down to turn one. He successfully defended his position in the opening laps and gradually pulled away from championship leader Sutton in his Napa Racing UK Ford Focus ST.

Ingram of Bristol Street Motors with Excelr8 secured the final podium spot after a strong performance, coming through from sixth on the grid.

Hill secures a double win at Oulton Park

Hill continued his incredible form by claiming his first-ever BTCC double, winning the second race from start to finish.

Despite facing an early safety car period, Hill maintained his lead throughout the race and pulled away to secure another victory ahead of Sutton.

The battle for the final podium position intensified as Ingram successfully held off a late charge from Turkington, who showcased his exceptional skills once again by making significant progress.

DSAutomobile

DS AUTOMOBILES READY TO CELEBRATE ITS CENTURY IN FORMULA E

  • DS Automobiles will celebrate its 100th race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship next Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia
  • Participants in Formula E since 2015, DS Automobiles has established itself as the most decorated manufacturer in the all-electric competition as the only two-time double winning team, and has won a record number of titles and podiums
  • With PENSKE AUTOSPORT, Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Automobiles is at the forefront of the action in Season 9 Formula E

This weekend marks a significant anniversary for DS Automobiles and the world of Formula E. On Sunday 4 June, at the second race of the Jakarta E-Prix, the French manufacturer will start a Formula E race for the 100th time since its involvement in the 100% electric championship began.

DS Automobiles joined Formula E in 2015 and has made its mark on the history of electric motorsport with three generations of Formula E. Heading into its 100th race, DS Automobiles has racked up four Team and Drivers’ championship titles, 16 race victories, 47 podiums and 22 pole positions to its name.

DS Automobiles has established itself as the most decorated manufacturer in Formula E with a podium from nearly every other race it has taken part in over almost eight years. DS Automobiles is also the only team to win a double title twice (in 2019 with Jean-Eric Vergne and 2020 with Antonio Félix Da Costa).

To celebrate this anniversary, reigning world champion Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne – the only two-time champion in the history of the sport – will drive a DS E-TENSE FE23 with a one-off livery to mark the occasion. Jean-Eric Vergne, who is also a DS Automobiles ambassador, will also celebrate 100 races with a bespoke design on his helmet.

The event will be celebrated with a video featuring testimonials from the personalities who have played key a role in the DS Automobiles Formula E adventure on the brand’s social channels. These include Béatrice Foucher, Yves Bonnefont, Alessandro Agag, Jean-Marc Finot, Thomas Chevaucher, Eugenio Franzetti, Jean-Eric Vergne, Stoffel Vandoorne, Antonio Félix Da Costa, Sam Bird and André Lotterer. The video will also include clips of some of the team’s greatest moments including winning the debut title in New York, their second title in Berlin, plus victories in Sanya, Bern, Marrakesh, Monaco, Rome, and Hyderabad.

The story of DS Automobiles continues to unfold, and the two races of the Jakarta E-Prix on 3 and 4 June promise more fine performances from the French team.

Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance director, said “We’ll be experiencing a historic and moving moment for all of us in Jakarta. First of all, I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has contributed with such passion and talent to this extraordinary event. Celebrating 100 races in Formula E is truly a milestone, and to do so with the sort of track record that we have accumulated is a source of great pride. A few years ago, DS Automobiles decided to create its DS Performance competition arm, and entered the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This turned out to be a strategic and winning choice. Thanks to our many victories accumulated over the years, the reputation of DS Automobiles has grown considerably, and we’ve also acquired the technical experience that has helped us to support and accelerate the electrification of the entire brand. These days, the Gen3 single-seaters from DS Performance remain an excellent research laboratory to prepare our next generation of electric road cars. From 2024 in fact, all new cars from DS Automobiles will be 100% electric.”

Key figures since DS Automobiles entered Formula E:

–               98 races

–               4 championship titles

–               16 victories

–               47 podiums

–               22 pole positions