Tag Archives: customer

Opinion

Matt Prior: Is your old Ford Fiesta suddenly worth a fortune?

When products like salad cream and Subbuteo were facing the end of their production, renewed customer interest saved them. Their decline in popularity was attributed to the increasing popularity of mayonnaise and video games.

However, when their makers announced their discontinuation, nostalgia sparked renewed interest and saved them. Today, we can still enjoy tangy lettuce and play with tabletop figurines.

Interestingly, both products were actually saved in 2000. It’s easy to think that it was more recent, as we often mix up memories from several decades ago.

Now, the beloved Ford Fiesta, one of Britain’s favorite small cars, has ceased production. While it’s not clear if there was a sudden increase in demand for the new model, it’s likely that the model’s profitability was affected by safety and emissions regulations.

Despite this, the discontinuation of the Ford Fiesta has led to a surge in interest in older models. Car & Classic, a classifieds website, reported a 70% increase in searches for Fiestas during the weekend when production ended.

This raises the question of whether the value of old Fiestas has also increased. While it’s unlikely that many people are buying Fiestas as an investment, it’s reasonable to assume that prices would rise when demand goes up.

BMW

BMW M Motorsport News, 8th August 2023

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

In August, racing circuits around the world typically quiet down as many racing series and BMW M Motorsport teams take a break before the final push of the season in September. However, there have still been several successes to celebrate over the past weekends. The BMW M4 GT4 continues to be a winning car, and I am especially pleased with the impressive performance of the BMW M Team Studie with the BMW M4 GT3 in the highly competitive GT300 class of the Japanese Super GT Series. Congratulations to all the successful teams and drivers, and for those taking a break, I hope you enjoy a relaxing time off. Hopefully, we’ll have more reasons to celebrate together in the final stretch of the season!

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Japanese Super GT Series: BMW M Team Studie achieves strong second place at Fuji.

About four weeks after their first season victory in the GT300 class of the Japanese Super GT Series at Suzuka, BMW M Team Studie secured another podium finish at the fourth season event at Fuji. Seiji Ara and Masataka Yanagida took second place after starting the race from 16th position. The race was challenging due to changing weather conditions, but Ara and Yanagida showcased outstanding performance and strategy, ultimately securing second place and moving the team to the top position in the GT300 overall standings.

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IMPC: Strong presence of BMW M4 GT4 at Road America.

At the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Road America, five BMW M4 GT4 cars participated in the two-hour race. Three of them were in contention for the podium but narrowly missed out due to a fuel strategy gamble. In the end, the Turner Motorsport drivers finished fourth, followed by Random Vandals Racing in fifth place. The race also saw the presence of Stephen Cameron Racing and Fast Track Racing, each with a BMW M4 GT4, finishing twelfth and thirteenth.

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ADAC GT4 Germany: Rain chaos at the Nürburgring.

The ADAC GT4 Germany event at the Nürburgring last weekend was marked by challenging rainy conditions. Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport achieved the best results for the BMW M4 GT4, finishing eleventh and sixteenth in the two races.

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ESET Cup Series: Trevor Racing secures two GT4 class victories at Most.

Trevor Racing dominated the GT4 class in the ESET Cup Series at Most, achieving two victories with the BMW M4 GT4. Additionally, the team finished fourth overall in the Endurance Race with the BMW M4 GT3.

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GT4 Scandinavia: BMW M-Bilar Group Racing claims double podium at Rudskogen.

BMW M-Bilar Group Racing secured two podium finishes in the Pro-Am class at the GT4 Scandinavia event in Rudskogen, Norway.

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BMW M2 Cup: Fourie and Horsten triumph at the Nürburgring.

At the BMW M2 Cup event at the Nürburgring, Leyton Fourie and Bart Horsten stood out with their impressive performances, both securing podium finishes in challenging weather conditions.

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BTCC: Colin Turkington continues Croft dominance.

Colin Turkington claimed his 14th overall victory at the Croft circuit in the BMW 330e M Sport from Team BMW during the sixth round of the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). Turkington achieved a start-to-finish victory in the third race of the weekend, further extending his record number of wins at this track. Turkington currently holds the third position in the championship standings, with Jake Hill in fourth place. In the manufacturer’s standings, BMW leads the way.

BMW

BMW M Motorsport News, 24th July 2023

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

“In this issue of our newsletter, there is one topic that really stands out from my perspective: We have experienced an incredible winning streak with our new BMW M4 GT4 these past two weeks. Whether in Europe, Asia, or the USA, the car was almost unbeatable in the hands of our BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers. I’m delighted that it seems we have managed to make the second generation of the BMW M4 GT4 even more successful than its highly decorated predecessor. Everyone at BMW M Motorsport who was involved in the development of the car can be very proud of this achievement. I’d like to congratulate all the winners of these past weeks and am already looking forward to seeing what the rest of this season has in store!”

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ADAC GT Masters: Marco Wittmann and Project 1 on the Podium at the Nürburgring.

The third event of the ADAC GT Masters 2023 season took place at the Nürburgring (GER), where BMW M works drivers Marco Wittmann (GER) and Neil Verhagen (USA) participated. Wittmann and Sandro Holzem (GER) from the Project 1 team secured a podium finish, moving from tenth on the grid to finish in fourth place in the first race, and starting from fourth on the grid in the second race to secure a second-place finish.

Wittmann commented on his ADAC GT Masters debut, saying that it was a positive experience and that he and Holzem performed well as a team. Verhagen filled in for Igor Walilko (POL) in the FK Performance Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 and finished in seventh and ninth places in the two races. Schubert Motorsport’s BMW M4 GT3 driven by Eduardo Coseteng (PHI) and Ben Green (GBR) finished in eighth and sixth places.

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GT4 European Series: BMW M4 GT4 dominant at Misano.

The BMW M Motorsport teams dominated the GT4 European Series at the fourth round held in Misano, Italy. Michael Schrey (GER) and Gabriele Piana (ITA) from Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport drove from 14 on the grid to victory in the first race, while Berkay Besler (TUR) and Tom Edgar (GBR) from Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport secured a one-two result in the second race. Schrey and Piana lead the drivers’ championship, and Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport is at the top of the team standings.

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IMSA: Turner Motorsport narrowly miss out on podium at Lime Rock Park.

In the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship race at Lime Rock Park (USA), Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (USA) from Turner Motorsport finished in fourth place in the GTD class in their BMW M4 GT3. Bryan Sellers and Madison Snow (USA) from Paul Miller Racing came in eighth place, maintaining their lead in the driver and team standings of the GTD category. Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull (USA) from Turner Motorsport finished eleventh. The next IMSA race will take place at Road America (USA).

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VP Racing Sports Car Challenge: All podium positions go to BMW M4 GT4 teams.

At Lime Rock Park (USA), the BMW M4 GT4 teams dominated the VP Racing Sports Car Challenge. AutoTechnic Racing took all six podium positions over the weekend, with John Capresto-Dubets (USA) leading the way with a one-two-three finish in the GSX class. Francis Selldorff and Vincent Barletta (USA) from Turner Motorsport secured fourth and fifth places.

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British GT Championship: GT4 class win for Century Motorsport.

Michael Johnston and Chris Salkeld (GBR) from Century Motorsport celebrated their first GT4 class win in the British GT Championship at Portimão (POR). They currently lead the Pro-Am driver standings, and Century Motorsport is at the top of the team standings. In the GT3 race, Dan Harper and Darren Leung (GBR) finished fifth in their BMW M4 GT3 and are in second place in the driver standings.

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GT World Challenge Asia: Four GT4 wins in four races for BMW M Team Studie.

Team YZ Racing with BMW M Team Studie had a successful doubleheader at Suzuka and Motegi (JPN), winning all four races in the GT4 category. Masaki Kano and Manabu Orido (JPN) lead the overall standings for their class. In the GT3 class, PLUS with BMW M Team Studie faced challenges and finished twelfth and tenth at Suzuka and retired from both races at Motegi.

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Sim racing: Team BMW Bank wins 24h Spa on iRacing.

Team BMW Bank emerged victorious in the 24-hour race of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) on the sim racing platform iRacing. Rainer Talvar (EST), Phillippe Denes (USA), and Felix Quirmbach (GER) from BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION took turns driving the BMW M4 GT3 and crossed the finish line with a comfortable lead. Team BMW Bank has previously won the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring on iRacing. Team BMW Redline also performed well but had to retire due to a collision.

News, Technology

Beware Of This New Airline Customer Support Scam That’s Fooling Travelers

When Shmuli Evers searched on Google for Delta’s customer support, he came across a toll-free 888 number that seemed legitimate. However, when he dialed it, the call quickly disconnected. He received a call back from a number with a French area code, and the Caller ID showed “DTI Publishing.” This raised suspicions, but given the stressful and anxious nature of dealing with flight cancellations, especially while at the airport, scammers are taking advantage of distracted travelers like Evers. Without paying attention to these red flags, Evers, eager to book a new flight, quickly provided his personal information, including his name and flight confirmation number, to the caller.

The scammer used this information to retrieve Evers’ flight details and continued posing as customer support. They offered him an alternative flight from Newark Liberty International Airport, which raised another red flag as the communication was conducted through SMS. Nonetheless, Evers agreed to take the alternate flight. The scammer informed him that they would cancel the original flight and charge him five times the original cost for the new one, requesting his payment information. Fortunately, Evers suspected foul play and questioned the caller’s location. The caller claimed to be from Rochester, New York, stating it was two hours south of New York City. However, Evers recognized this as a lie since Rochester is actually several hours northwest of New York City. Despite the scammer’s attempts to persuade him through texts, Evers refused to provide his payment information, leading the scammer to eventually give up. Evers then took to Twitter to share his experience, realizing that this scam was not limited to targeting Delta customers alone.

BMW

BMW M Motorsport News, 11th July 2023

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

“Recently, the BMW M4 GT3 achieved significant victories at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and in the DTM at the Norisring with our BMW M works drivers. This is great news for all of us at BMW M Motorsport. We are also proud of the success of our private teams and drivers. The Paul Miller Racing and BMW Italia Ceccato Racing teams had successful weekends with the BMW M4 GT3. The BMW M4 GT4 also had multiple wins. Our entry-level car, the BMW M2 CS Racing, was used in three one-make cups over a single weekend, proving once again that it is a highly sought-after racing car. Congratulations to all the teams and drivers!”

Top topics of this newsletter:

  • BMW Italia Ceccato Racing finishes on the podium in the Italian GT Endurance Championship.
  • Double victory for the BMW M4 GT4 in the GT4 European Series.
  • BMW M Motorsport teams secure eight class wins at NLS 5.
  • BMW M2 Cup: Triple racing action in Germany, Italy, and Belgium.

Italian GT Endurance Championship: BMW Italia Ceccato Racing on the podium at Mugello.

The second endurance race of the Italian GT Championship took place at Mugello (ITA) last weekend. BMW Italia Ceccato Racing secured second place overall and victory in the Pro-Am category with their BMW M4 GT3. One of their teams retired early in the race.

ADAC GT Masters: Second round at the Norisring.

The ADAC GT Masters returned to the Norisring (GER) last weekend after 15 years. FK Performance Motorsport and Schubert Motorsport competed with BMW M4 GT3s. The teams finished eighth and ninth in both races respectively.

IMPC: Turner Motorsport loses victory at CTMP.

Turner Motorsport initially celebrated a victory in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in Bowmanville (CAN), but were moved to the back of the field due to rule violations. The best-placed BMW M4 GT4 finished 14th in the GS class.

VP Racing Sports Car Challenge: Victory and podium finish for the BMW M4 GT4 at CTMP.

The VP Racing Sports Car Challenge took place at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (CAN). The BMW M4 GT4 secured a dominant victory in the second race, and finished second in the first race.

GT4 European Series: Double victory for the BMW M4 GT4 at Spa-Francorchamps.

The GT4 European Series held its third event at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The BMW M4 GT4 achieved a clear double victory in the first race, and another BMW M4 GT4 finished third in the second race.

NLS: BMW M Motorsport teams secure eight class wins at the Nürburgring.

In the fifth round of the Nürburgring Endurance Series 2023 (NLS), BMW M Motorsport teams achieved eight class wins. Walkenhorst Motorsport fought for an overall victory but both cars had to retire prematurely.

GT4 France: L’Espace Bienvenue with double triumph at Val de Vienne.

Ricardo van der Ende and Benjamin Lessennes secured victories in both races at the Val de Vienne GT Festival (FRA) in the GT4 France championship.

BMW M2 Cup: Van Soelen and Horsten victorious at the Norisring.

Senna van Soelen won the first race of the BMW M2 Cup at the Norisring (GER), while Bart Horsten narrowly won the second race.

BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Steven Giacon unbeatable at Mugello.

Steven Giacon dominated the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy event at Mugello (ITA), securing pole position and winning both races.

BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux: Dante Rappange/Dirk Warmerdam dominate at Zolder.

Dante Rappange and Dirk Warmerdam won both races in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Benelux event at Zolder (BEL).

BMW

BMW M Motorsport News, 27th June 2023.

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

“It was another fantastic weekend! In the USA, Paul Miller Racing secured another podium with the BMW M4 GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Turner Motorsport celebrated a superb one-two result with the BMW M4 GT4 in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. BMW Italia Ceccato Racing had a strong weekend in the Italian GT Championship in Monza with P1 and P3 on Saturday. There was also thrilling racing in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy. And in Zandvoort, Walkenhorst Motorsport finished on the podium with the BMW M4 GT4. Congratulations to all the drivers and teams!”

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Top topics in this newsletter:

– One-two result for Turner Motorsport in the IMPC.

– Bruno Spengler and Jens Klingmann win with BMW Italia Ceccato Racing in Italy.

– Podium for Walkenhorst Motorsport and the BMW M4 GT4 in the GT4 Germany.

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IMPC: Turner Motorsport Celebrates One-Two Result at Watkins Glen.

Turner Motorsport celebrated a one-two result in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge (IMPC) at Watkins Glen. Vincent Barletta and Robby Foley won in the BMW M4 GT4, ahead of their team-mates Robert Megennis and Cameron Lawrence. This was the second one-two result of the season for Turner Motorsport. Bad weather delayed the start of the race, but Barletta and Foley kept their lead on a drying track and with three yellow flag periods.

In a post-race interview, Foley said, “It was a crazy race. Vin did an amazing job and got us through the first half of the race well, when it was still very wet. We were expecting the weather to be like this and opted for a kind of rain set-up, and the car was really good. It’s a great day for the team. It’s fantastic to get another one-two result. And now we want to take this momentum with us.”

Starting driver Barletta added, “It was a little bit difficult, but it wasn’t long before the track improved. I tried to find my pace, to not lose any time. The yellow flag periods suited us, which isn’t always the case. We were able to pit early and then Robby did the rest.”

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Italian GT Championship: First Win of the Season for Bruno Spengler and Jens Klingmann.

Bruno Spengler and Jens Klingmann secured their first win of the season in the Italian GT Championship at Monza. They represented the BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team and won the Saturday race in the BMW M4 GT3. They also finished in a podium position in race two, but were given a time penalty retrospectively. Spengler and Klingmann are now at the top of the championship table. Their team-mates Francesco de Luca and Carlo Tamburini also had success, finishing third on the overall podium and winning the Pro-Am class in the BMW M4 GT3.

In an interview, Spengler said, “It was a great weekend for us. The team did a fantastic job. We made another huge leap with the car from Friday to Saturday. The car was very competitive and consistent during the race. It was an amazing result for the whole team.”

Klingmann added, “The first win of the season on Saturday saw us pick up a lot of valuable points. Overall, it was a great result for the whole team. Bruno paved the way for success at the start. He did the hard work, then my job was to manage the win. It’s always something special to win at Monza.”

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ADAC GT4 Germany: Walkenhorst Motorsport on the Podium at Zandvoort.

Walkenhorst Motorsport secured a podium finish in race two of ADAC GT4 Germany at Zandvoort. Mex Jansen and Nico Hantke finished in second place in the BMW M4 GT4. The Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport team narrowly missed out on the podium, finishing fourth in race two with Tim Reiter and Leon Wassertheurer in the BMW M4 GT4. Marat Khayrov and Gabriele Piana of Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport finished seventh in both races.

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BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy: Thrilling Race Action at Monza.

The BMW M2 CS Racing Cup Italy at Monza offered thrilling race action. Jody Vullo won the first race in his BMW M2 CS Racing, with a narrow lead over Luigi Ferrara. Marco Zanasi took a narrow victory in race two. Ferrara continues to lead the championship standings.

Citreon

CITROËN OPENS ORDERS FOR PETROL AND DIESEL NEW C4 X

  • Orders are now open for the petrol and diesel versions of the New C4 X, following high demand from customers.
  • The range complements the fully electric New ë-C4 X, giving buyers the option to choose the powertrain that suits their needs.
  • The launch includes two petrol engines and one diesel engine.
  • Petrol models are available in Sense, Sense Plus, Shine, and Shine Plus variants, while diesel models are exclusively sold in Shine Plus.
  • This range update follows the earlier update to the New ë-C4 X, which introduced a next-generation 54kWh battery technology.
  • The New ë-C4 X is equipped with a 54kWh battery and a 115kw electric motor, enabling it to achieve a range of up to 260 miles (WLTP) on a full charge.

 

In response to high demand from customers, Citroën has announced that orders are now open for the petrol and diesel variants of the New C4 X. These models complement the fully electric New ë-C4 X, which has already been available in the market. The prices for the petrol and diesel variants start from £22,080 OTR, and the first deliveries are scheduled to begin in July 2023.

 

At the launch, customers have the choice between two petrol powertrains: the PureTech 100 S&S with a six-speed manual transmission or the PureTech 130 S&S EAT8 with an eight-speed automatic transmission. As for the diesel variants, they will be sold exclusively with Citroën’s efficient BlueHDi 130 S&S EAT8 with an eight-speed manual transmission.

 

Starting from July production, the New ë-C4 X will receive a powertrain upgrade, featuring a 115 kW electric motor with a 54 kWh battery. This new powertrain, which was announced in May, will increase the range of the New ë-C4 X to up to 260 miles (WLTP), compared to the previous range of 222 miles (WLTP). This upgrade will be exclusively available on the new ë-series trim level, in addition to the existing 100 kW motor with a 50 kWh battery that offers a range of up to 222 miles (WLTP).

 

The petrol variants of the New C4 X will be available in Sense, Sense Plus, Shine, and Shine Plus variants, while the diesel models will be exclusively offered in the Shine Plus trim. The fully electric New ë-C4 X will continue to be available in Sense, Shine, and the new ë-Series trims.

 

The ‘Sense’ models come with 18-inch ‘Aeroblade’ alloy wheels, Advanced Comfort® Seats, and a 10-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto. They are also equipped with features like Active Safety Brake, Speed Limit Information, Lane Keeping Assist, Forward Collision Warning, and Driver Attention Alert.

 

The ‘Sense Plus’ models build on the standard equipment of the ‘Sense’ versions and add My Citroën Drive Plus, the next-generation infotainment, and navigation system with integrated natural voice commands. They also feature a head-up display and a reversing camera with Top Rear Vision.

 

Stepping up to the ‘Shine’ trim level, the exterior look is enhanced with dark tinted rear windows, chrome details, and bi-tone diamond-cut versions of the 18-inch ‘Aeroblade’ alloy wheels. Additional convenience features include Automatic Intelligent Beam Headlights, an auto-dimming electrochrome interior rear-view mirror, and front and lateral parking sensors. Safety is improved with Advanced Active Safety Brake with night-time and cyclist detection, as well as Extended Traffic Sign Recognition.

 

The range-topping ‘Shine Plus’ versions further enhance the ‘Shine’ models with heated Alcantara® seats for the driver and front passenger, as well as Citroën’s Highway Driver Assist, a level 2 semi-autonomous driving technology that combines lane-keeping assistance with adaptive cruise control for a more relaxed driving experience. The Ë-C4 X electric versions have their own dedicated top trim level called ‘ë-Series’, which includes features like wireless smartphone charging, the 8-speaker Citroën Hi-Fi system, Onyx Black ‘Aeroblade’ 18-inch alloy wheels, and a distinctive bi-tone Perla Nera Black roof.

 

Please refer to the table below for the trim levels, powertrain options, CO2 emissions, and prices for the different variants:

TRIM LEVEL

POWERTRAIN

CO2 g/km

MRRP OTR

Sense

PureTech 100 S&S 6-speed manual

121

£22,080.00

100kW electric 50kWh battery

0

£31,995.00

Sense Plus

PureTech 130 S&S EAT8 8-speed auto

130

£25,435.00

Shine

PureTech 130 S&S EAT8 8-speed auto

129

£26,980.00

100kW electric 50kWh battery

0

£34,495.00

Shine Plus

PureTech 130 S&S EAT8 8-speed auto

129

£27,540.00

BlueHDi 130 S&S EAT8 8-speed auto

126

£29,170.00

Ë-Series

100kW electric 50kWh battery

0

£36,295.00

115kw electric 54kWh battery

0

£37,195.00

 

 

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

BMW M Motorsport News, 6th June 2023

The BMW M Motorsport teams were busy last weekend, participating in events across Europe, Asia, and North America. BMW M Team Studie achieved its first victory of the season in the GT300 class of the Japanese Super GT Championship. The BMW M4 GT3, driven by Seiji Ara and Masataka Yanagida, won the 450km race held at Suzuka, after the race was suspended due to a crash by Nissan driver Tsugio Matsuda. The BMW team opted for an early pit stop, which helped them to claim the lead when the race was stopped. Matsuda suffered injuries but was not majorly hurt.

In the GT4 European Series, BMW M4 GT4 earned a spot on the podium. The Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport duo of Gabriele Piana and Michael Schrey, started from pole position on Sunday and finished second in the chaotic closing stages of the race held at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France. Berkay Besler and Tom Edgar battled their way back to fourth place, but were later given a 43-second penalty due to a rules violation. In the race held on Saturday, Besler and Edgar were the best-placed BMW pairing in seventh. Meanwhile, Victor Bouveng and Joakim Walde from M-Bilar Racing won the Pro-Am class in the BMW M4 GT4 and finished third in their class on Sunday.

The IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge was hosted in Detroit on Saturday, where Turner Motorsport faced a scary moment when Robert Megennis crashed their BMW M4 GT4 spectacularly, taking off and skidding over the roof of a rival’s car before hitting the safety fence. Fortunately, both drivers were unharmed. The second Turner duo of Robby Foley and Vincent Barletta finished ninth in the #96 car, while the BMW M4 GT4 of Stephen Cameron Racing finished 17th.

In the world of virtual racing, BMW drivers and teams shone at the race weekend in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS (GTWC) at Le Castellet. Neil Verhagen and Dries Vanthoor achieved great results in the Fanatec Esports GT Pro Series, winning for the BMW M Team WRT and ROWE Racing team, respectively. Calan Williams won the sim race in his category with the Gold Cup car for the WRT team. BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION’s Arthur Kammerer and Gregor Schill had a strong performance in the SRO Esports Sim Pro Series. The BMW M SIM Cup held its fifth round at the Watkins Glen circuit on the iRacing platform, with Team Redline winning the GT3 class and Team Apex Racing Academy clinching the victory in the GTP class.

Jesse Krohn, BMW M works driver, was a guest starter for the Century Motorsport team in the GT Cup Championship at Snetterton, helping his team-mate and British GT driver Darren Leung to better understand the BMW M4 GT3. They finished with two third-places and two fifth-places. In the British Touring Car Championship, Adam Morgan finished runner-up for Team BMW and claimed one podium in three races while fellow BMW drivers had a series of strong results.

BMW

BMW Motorrad’s Award-Winning Brand Room at BMW Welt

The BMW Welt in Munich boasts the Brand & Customer Institute, which is the only one of its kind in the automotive industry. It allows chosen partners and employees to immerse themselves in BMW Group’s brands, including BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and BMW Motorrad, which has had its own brand room since January 2022.

BMW Motorrad’s brand room was named “Brand Architecture” in the “Spatial Communication” category of last year’s Red Dot Award: Brands & Communication Design. The “Red Dot Design Award” has been adjudicating for the awards since 1954, with the red dot symbolising quality and excellence and becoming internationally recognised.

BMW Motorrad received the iF DESIGN AWARD as the latest recognition, which has been a globally accepted symbol of excellent design since 1954 and is one of the leading global design awards. The BMW Motorrad brand room was able to win over the 133 independent and international experts on the jury for the award for its excellent architectural design and an emotionally crafted brand training programme, making it one of the leading design honours.

The design challenges for the BMW Motorrad brand room were significant because of the small area of 38 square metres, which required the immersion of imaginative brand concepts in inspiring architecture. The solution was a multi-sensory interior design that harmonised with the iconic glass facade of the existing building and supported the interactive experience in the space. The result was an experience that excited curiosity and creativity in visitors who could explore the BMW Motorrad brand and its world.

The customers and fans of BMW Motorrad know that the brand embodies an active lifestyle and experience-oriented attitude, which is the brand promise of “Make Life a Ride.” In the BMW Motorrad brand room designed to cater to personal experiences, the brand’s thematic focus areas are offered through fascinating brand access points that serve as interactive immersion experiences. The BMW Motorrad brand room is a place of communication and dialogue, analogous to a motorcyclist gathering around the campfire that provides a perfect backdrop for training sessions.

In essence, the BMW Motorrad brand room is a holistic experiential concept, featuring elements that appeal to all the senses, including sound, light, and natural materials. The combination of unique features and holistic design makes the BMW Motorrad brand room a memorable and creative experience.

BMW has made it easy to experience the BMW Motorrad brand among other BMW Group brands in the BMW Motorrad brand room at BMW Welt Munich since January 2022. The Brand Mover Training immersive experience in the BMW Motorrad brand room gives visitors all the insight into the brand and its customer types and values through interactive training sessions that simulate all the senses.

If you are interested in BMW motorcycles and BMW Motorrad rider equipment, you can find the press material in the BMW Group PressClub, accessible via www.press.bmwgroup.com. You can also contact Sarah Bauer, Corporate, Product and Innovation Communications, at +49-151-601-94180, or via email at Sarah.Bauer@bmw.de.