Tag Archives: Imola

BMW

FIA WEC: BMW M4 GT3 triumphs at Imola – Strong race for the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8.

Leave a comment

Imola. Great outcomes for BMW M Motorsport and Team WRT on the second spherical of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). The 6 Hours of Imola (ITA) ended with a one-two outcome for the BMW M4 GT3 within the LMGT3 class. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) triumphed forward of their team-mates Maxime Martin (BEL), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA). It was the primary victory for a BMW M Motorsport automotive within the historical past of the FIA WEC. BMW M Team WRT additionally celebrated success within the Hypercar class. After a difficult begin in Qatar, Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) gave a really sturdy efficiency, battled for the rostrum for a very long time, and finally completed in sixth place.

 

The climate circumstances, with rain setting in across the midway level of the race, turned the occasion into a technique gamble. However, all BMW M Motorsport groups made the correct tyre decisions and have been rewarded with excellent outcomes. The BMW M Hybrid V8 made huge enhancements in comparison with the season opener and was aggressive underneath all circumstances. On the moist observe, last driver van der Linde even had the rostrum inside attain, however issues over the last pit cease and a subsequent drive-through penalty pushed the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 again to a still-strong sixth place. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 with Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) within the cockpit was unfortunate and received innocently concerned in a collision firstly. After about an hour of repairs, the group managed to get the automotive again on observe for necessary take a look at kilometres.

The celebration was even better within the LMGT3 class. Both BMW M4 GT3 crews continued on slick tyres because the rain started to fall, making the correct choice. No competitor may match their velocity, and so they drove to a commanding one-two end. Never earlier than had a BMW M Motorsport automotive gained a race on this collection because the founding of the FIA WEC in 2012.

 

Comments after the race at Imola:

 

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “That was an extremely positive FIA WEC event at Imola. In Hypercar, we made great progress after the challenging start in Qatar. We had the pace to achieve a top result on our own. I am pleased that car #20 was able to hold its own in the leading group throughout the race, even under difficult conditions. The early unprovoked accident of car #15 was very unfortunate and annoying. Many thanks to BMW M Team WRT, which rebuilt the car and sent it back on track. That allowed us to finish the race and collect important data to continue improving. On the LMGT3 side of the garage, it couldn’t have gone better. Congratulations to all drivers and crew members for very strong performances. Thank you to everyone at BMW M Motorsport and the team for a very successful weekend!”

 

Vincent Vosse (Team Principal BMW M Team WRT): “What a great weekend for our LMGT3 crews! Qualifying and the race went very well, and we did the little things right. Augusto and Maxime stayed on slicks on a wet track and were able to show incredible pace. That gave us a good lead and ultimately the one-two result. In Hypercar we were in the window where we belong this time after the big disappointment in Qatar. We are taking one step at a time and have already done some things very well here. On to the next race at Spa-Francorchamps.”

 

Sheldon van der Linde (BMW M Team WRT, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, sixth place): “In the end, that was one of the most challenging and craziest stints I’ve ever driven. I thought several times that I would lose the car. I knew I had to bring it home so we could score very good points. Luckily, that worked out. The team did a great job improving the car so much since Qatar. We can be very proud of that. Thank you to everyone!”

 

Marco Wittmann (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 18th place): “That was a wild start phase, where some of our competitors quite misjudged themselves. I was hit from behind and spun around. That was very annoying. The guys did a great job repairing the car and getting us back on track. That allowed us to collect important test kilometres. My stint after the repair was great. The car felt good, and we could have made up some places. The pace and balance were good; we need to build on that. Hopefully, we’ll have more racing luck next time.”

 

Augusto Farfus (Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3, 1st place): “I am incredibly happy and proud. We showed today that it’s about having the best team in this championship, not just the best car or the best individual driver. In my stint, the track was always differently wet, and it was a constant question of which tyres were better. We stayed on slicks the whole time, and I felt very comfortable in the BMW M4 GT3 under those conditions. The team always stayed calm and did everything right in the end. It’s my son’s birthday today – I couldn’t have given him a better gift.”

 

Sean Gelael (Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3, 1st place): “I’m super happy! Darren qualified the car in fourth place on Saturday and drove a strong first stint. I had quite a bit of fun after that and was able to make up some time. Then I handed over to Augusto, who was sensational on the track and put pressure on Maxime. It was not so bad today.”

 

Darren Leung (Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3, 1st place): “Winning in just my second FIA WEC race – that’s just incredible! We did an outstanding job as a team. The turbulent start phase was difficult for me, but I got through it very well and was able to hand over the car in a good position to my colleagues.”

 

Maxime Martin (Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3, 2nd place): “A fantastic result for the team. We had a strong car and decided on a bold strategy. That made the difference in the end. Congratulations to the #31 crew on the victory! We collected a lot of points and will continue to work hard in the next races.”

 

Valentino Rossi (Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3, 2nd place): “I am very happy about the one-two for Team WRT, for BMW M Motorsport, and my first podium in FIA WEC. We already had a strong car on Saturday in qualifying, and Ahmad achieved a very good third starting position. In the race, we then decided to stay out on slicks. Augusto was a bit faster than Maxime at the beginning and took the lead. Nevertheless, I am very happy with the result.”

 

Ahmad Al Harthy (Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3, 2nd place): “My first podium with Team WRT – that’s an incredible feeling! Many thanks to the team, which did a fantastic job. We took a calculated risk, and it paid off in the end.”

Motorsport

Pagani Isn’t Building An Electric Hypercar Anytime Soon

Last week, Pagani debuted the roadster version of the Imola hypercar while simultaneously holding a major business event: the Asia-Pacific launch of the Utopia. Founder Horacio Pagani attended the premiere with his son Christopher and the pair answered questions from media representatives, telling Bloomberg that an electric hypercar from Pagani isn’t coming anytime soon. Why? We think you all know the answer.

Thanks mostly to the generous use of carbon fiber, the new Imola Roadster tips the scales at 2,776 pounds before adding all necessary fluids. In terms of weight, these figures put it in the supermini league but obviously, this is a mighty capable hypercar with a V12 engine under the bonnet.

Pagani_Utopia_01

In fact, low weight has always been among the most important advantages of Pagani’s vehicles, and switching to a battery electric powertrain, Horacio said, will have a negative impact on the car’s weight and overall performance. “It’s so different that you are losing a little bit of fun,” Horacio told the publication.

Last summer, a report from Autocar claimed Pagani had abandoned its EV research efforts, which it started in 2018. However, Horacio contacted us and told us the automaker would continue to invest in electrical technologies and develop batteries and electric motors for use in the future. But it seems that it will still be a while until the company releases a zero-emissions hypercar.

Pagani_Utopia_05

During the Utopia’s Asia-Pacific debut in Hong Kong, Horacio also discussed the automotive industry from a more global perspective. He was asked about the Chinese EV industry and said that “car prices are cheaper than European brands, and therefore the producers of European cars need to pay a lot of attention and put a lot of effort in to try to remain in this specific market and stay competitive.”

The country currently has the largest EV market on the planet and Horacio believes “there are a lot of opportunities for the Chinese brands in the EV segment and actually they are doing it very well when it comes to product and pricing.”

BMW

BMW Motorrad Motorsport continues to progress in WorldSBK at Imola

The heat was on at Imola during round seven of the 2023 FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). Despite the extremely challenging conditions, the BMW Motorrad Motorsport teams and riders built on their positive trend from Donington Park. Loris Baz from the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team achieved his best results of the season so far, while Scott Redding from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team secured fifth place in Superpole. Garrett Gerloff impressed in practice and warm-up sessions but encountered bad luck in the races. Meanwhile, Leon Haslam finished in the points in race one.

On Saturday morning’s Superpole qualifying, Redding and Baz secured fifth and ninth places respectively, setting up a promising weekend. Haslam placed 14th, while Gerloff, despite being among the fastest riders in practice, had to settle for 15th due to yellow flags. In race one on Saturday afternoon, Baz finished eighth, his best result of the season at that point. However, Redding faced handling issues in the extreme temperatures, dropping back to tenth place. Gerloff finished 13th, and Haslam battled for 11th but was ultimately forced off the track and finished 14th.

With even higher temperatures on Sunday, Redding finished ninth in the Superpole Race, closely followed by Baz in tenth place. Haslam placed 15th, while Gerloff retired due to a mechanical issue. In the second main race, which was shortened due to the scorching conditions, Redding gained three positions at the start and finished seventh, with Baz close behind in eighth. Gerloff finished 13th again, while Haslam retired.

Looking back at the Imola round, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director Marc Bongers expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance. Despite the challenging conditions and the fact that two of the riders had never raced at Imola before, the team achieved two top-ten finishes in every race. Bongers praised Baz’s strong performance, especially his three top-ten results, making him the top BMW rider twice. He also acknowledged Gerloff’s strong performances in practice sessions, despite his misfortune in qualifying. Bongers concluded by looking ahead to the next race at Most, a track where the team was successful last year, and anticipating Michael van der Mark’s comeback.

Loris Baz from the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team expressed his happiness with the good weekend and the support from his team. He acknowledged the difficulties they faced earlier in the season but was delighted with his strong performance, including a seventh-place finish in race two. Scott Redding from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team noted that while the weekend had its challenges, the team managed to gather usable data and make progress despite the extreme heat. Garrett Gerloff, also from the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, described the weekend as difficult and expressed determination to do better in the next race. Leon Haslam from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team considered it a good but challenging weekend and expressed satisfaction with his progress and the battles he had with other riders.

The next round of the 2023 WorldSBK season will take place at Most, in the Czech Republic, from July 28th to 30th.

BMW

BMW Motorrad Motorsport returns to historic Imola circuit with the WorldSBK – Leon Haslam on the second BMW M 1000 RR of the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team.

Munich. BMW Motorrad Motorsport is making a comeback at the historic Imola circuit in Italy with the FIM Superbike World Championship (WorldSBK). The seventh round of the 2023 WorldSBK season will be held at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari from 14th to 16th July. Imola has been a regular stop for the WorldSBK in the past, with the most recent visit in 2019. Leon Haslam from the UK will join Scott Redding in the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, riding the second BMW M 1000 RR.

Haslam is no stranger to BMW Motorrad Motorsport and the WorldSBK. Between 2003 and 2022, the 40-year-old British rider has competed in a total of 316 WorldSBK races and finished as the championship runner-up in 2010. Haslam raced as a BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory rider with the BMW S 1000 RR in 2011 and 2012, achieving eight podium finishes. Currently, Haslam is competing in the British Superbike Championship (BSB) with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad British Superbike Team aboard the BMW M 1000 RR, where he has already secured six podium finishes in the 2023 season, including two at the recent round at Snetterton.

Imola is a track with a rich tradition, but it hasn’t been on the WorldSBK calendar in recent years, making it unfamiliar to some teams and riders. The ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, Haslam, and Loris Baz (FRA) have experience at the circuit. However, Redding and Garrett Gerloff (USA), as well as the Bonovo Action BMW Racing Team, will be making their debut at Imola.

Quotes ahead of the Imola round.

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director: “First of all, many thanks to Leon for being available at short notice to be with us at Imola. We know each other well from the past, where we celebrated success together, and this season he has returned to the BMW Motorrad family in BSB and is familiar with the new BMW M 1000 RR. He also has a lot of WorldSBK experience, and we are confident that he will quickly get back up to speed at Imola. After his crash at Donington, Tom Sykes is on the road to recovery and was discharged from the hospital on Sunday after a week, and we all send him our best wishes. Michael participated in a track day last week, however a return for Imola would still be too early, and we have jointly decided that he will sit out this weekend, and then we will reassess the situation. Now we are excited about Imola. Scott showed a clear upward trend in Donington, which was confirmed by his fourth-place finish in the second race. Garrett was also fast and consistently strong there, and we want to continue that at Imola. However, a major topic will be the high heat expected over the weekend which can be challenging for humans, machines, and tires.”

Garrett Gerloff, #31 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo Action BMW Racing Team: “It’s going to be an interesting weekend, I think. It’s a track that I’ve never been to, and it looks like it could be technical. But I feel good learning new layouts, and this circuit, being mainly left-hand corner dominant with some elevation changes and tighter corners, reminds me of the tracks I raced in America. I’m hoping this connection helps me learn it faster, but I think there will be a few people who haven’t been there or haven’t been there in a while. I just hope it will be a good weekend, and we can keep improving like we did at Donington.”

Scott Redding, #45 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “Imola is a new track for me, so it’s another element to the weekend. I always like new tracks! I hope for a good weekend and to maintain the momentum from Donington.”

Loris Baz, #76 BMW M 1000 RR, Bonovo Action BMW Racing Team: “It has been a tough season and tough couple of weekends with no luck unfortunately at the last two rounds, which is a shame because I feel strong again on the bike. I just need to have a calm weekend, so I hope Imola will be that one. I’m sending my best wishes again to Tom Sykes and Michael Ruben Rinaldi, who were involved in the crash at Donington, and I hope they can come back soon. For me, I’m really happy to come back to Imola. It’s a track that I always loved and have good memories of. It’s an old school circuit with a different atmosphere compared to other venues. I’m really looking forward to it. I’m sure we can be fast there. I know the layout and everything. I just hope we can put all our bad luck behind us and have a nice and calm weekend on the BMW M 1000 RR. I know the guys on this team never stop working incredibly hard, and I feel it’s definitely time to get our normal mojo back and rediscover the pace we had at the beginning of this season.”

Leon Haslam, #91 BMW M 1000 RR, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team: “It’s a fantastic opportunity. Obviously, I have a lot of history with Imola. We took the championship down to the last round here in 2010. I have a lot of history from this circuit, and it’s fantastic to ride again for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. We are riding the BMW M 1000 RR in the UK, so I’m looking forward to working with Shaun Muir and all the guys from the ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team. I have no real big expectations; I just want to try to enjoy it and hopefully get some good information and results.”

Track Facts Imola.

Circuit length

4.936 km – anti-clockwise

Corners

22 – 9 right-handers, 13 left-handers

Pole position

Left

Longest straight

358 meters (start-finish straight)

Track layout

Stop&Go track with slow and fast chicanes, many changes in elevation, challenging changes of direction.