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BMW

ROWE Racing finishes 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers on the rostrum – Three BMW M4 GT3s within the prime six.

Nürburgring. The BMW M Motorsport groups ROWE Racing and RMG efficiently accomplished crucial race weekend on the Nordschleife earlier than the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (GER). During the 24h Qualifiers, all three BMW M4 GT3s accomplished many laps and picked up precious information. In addition, there was racing success within the 4-hour race on Sunday. Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) drove the #98 ROWE Racing automotive to a second-place end on the rostrum. The sister #99 automotive and the BMW M Team RMV #72 BMW M4 GT3 completed in fourth and sixth locations, respectively.

The 24h Qualifiers consisted of two races, every 4 hours lengthy. On Saturday, the BMW M Motorsport groups targeted on set-up work. Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER), and Charles Weerts (BEL) have been the highest-placed crew as tenth within the #72 BMW M4 GT3. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) completed twelfth within the ROWE Racing automotive #99. The #98 BMW M4 GT3 retired after an unavoidable collision however made up for it with the rostrum end on Sunday. The race weekend was notably precious for Weerts and Marciello, as each accomplished their first races within the BMW M4 GT3 on the Nordschleife and have been capable of full many laps. Marciello additionally celebrated his first podium as a BMW M works driver.

At the 24h Qualifiers – additionally rounds three and 4 of the Nürburgring Endurance Series NLS – quite a few different classes have been current alongside the GT3 automobiles. BMW M Motorsport groups achieved a complete of 9 class victories within the two races.

Reactions after the 24h Nürburgring Qualifiers:

Hans-Peter Naundorf (Team Principal ROWE Racing): “Our team and our drivers did a very good job this weekend. Despite the unprovoked retirement in the race on Saturday, we covered many kilometres and gained valuable insights about the new tyres. Our drivers were able to get used to the Nordschleife and the tuning again. We have already got into a good groove with Raffaele Marciello. Thanks to the good work of the team and some lucky circumstances, we were rewarded with a podium on Sunday, the second within eight days after our victory in the GT World Challenge Europe. It’s a nice reward for the intensive work in the past weeks.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW M Team RMG): “Overall, it was a good test run for the 24-hour race. On Saturday, we still had some things to sort out with the set-up and couldn’t keep up with the lead. Things went better on Sunday, although we had a slight collision in the first corner of the race and had to repair the car during the first stop. Charles Weerts has integrated very well into our team and was able to complete many valuable laps this weekend.”

Raffaele Marciello (#98 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing): “We can be very happy with the podium today. Our pace was good, and we had a good strategy. The main goal this weekend was to prepare ourselves as well as possible for the 24-hour race because that’s where it really counts. Of course, you can never be one hundred percent perfectly prepared for such a special race, but I think we are in a good position.”

Sheldon van der Linde (#99 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing): “Fourth place is a good result to end the weekend. We may not have had the fastest car, but our pit stops were great and ultimately got us to this position. Of course, the preparation for the 24-hour race was the main focus, and we ticked all the boxes on our list. That also applies to me personally. It was my first time this season on the Nordschleife, and I was able to complete many laps which helped me a lot. I feel very well prepared.”

Charles Weerts (#72 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team RMG): “It was a good weekend for us, where we could finish both races without major problems. As a team, we are still finding the perfect tuning for the new tyres. That worked out much better on Sunday than on Saturday. Personally, I learn something new with every single lap on the Nordschleife and am gathering many valuable experiences. Things are already going quite well, but I can certainly continue to improve.”

BMW

GT World Challenge Europe: Augusto Farfus, Dan Harper, and Max Hesse win the season opener.

Le Castellet. The breakthrough has come! ROWE Racing has given BMW M Motorsport the primary main success of the 12 months 2024 on the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Le Castellet (FRA) season opener. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) have been rewarded following an impressive efficiency within the #998 BMW M4 GT3 and celebrated their first victory within the extremely aggressive race collection. Starting from fifth place, the trio placed on a formidable present and crossed the end line in first place with a 13.5-second lead. In the BMW M Team WRT #46 BMW M4 GT3, Valentino Rossi (ITA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Raffaele Marciello (SUI) additionally gave a powerful efficiency to complete fourth.

You discover post-race video interviews right here: https://b.mw/GTWC_Interviews.

The #998 BMW M4 GT3, sporting the design of BMW M Motorsport associate MultiBank Group, moved as much as third place because of a powerful begin by Farfus, and Harper put the automotive on the trail to victory with a outstanding overtaking manoeuvre on the main Lamborghini. Hesse then confidently drove to the end line, securing the fifth general victory for ROWE Racing within the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS. The sister automotive with Marco Wittmann (GER), Nick Yelloly (GBR), and Philipp Eng (AUT) additionally gave a really sturdy efficiency and was on observe for a podium end, however an issue throughout the second refuelling initially value beneficial seconds after which compelled Eng to make an extra pit cease shortly earlier than the tip of the race. That dropped the #98 BMW M4 GT3 again to twelfth place.

There have been combined emotions at BMW M Team WRT. While Rossi, Martin, and Marciello might be happy with fourth place because of a powerful remaining dash, the #32 BMW M4 GT3 was compelled to retire after an unprovoked collision for Charles Weerts (BEL) with a competitor leading to tyre harm. The Team WRT #30 BMW M4 GT3, by which BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER) shared the cockpit with Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) and Sam De Haan (GBR), completed sixth within the Bronze Cup. The #991 BMW M4 GT3 of Century Motorsport with Jake Dennis, Darren Leung, and Toby Sowery (all GBR) on the wheel was on the right track for a podium within the Bronze Cup however then retired.

Comments after the race.

 

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “A very good start to the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS season! Congratulations to Augusto Farfus, Dan Harper, and Max Hesse as well as ROWE Racing on the victory! They did a perfect job. Many thanks to the team, the drivers, and all the BMW M Motorsport employees who contributed to this success! We had no racing luck at the beginning of this season at Daytona, Bathurst, Qatar, and Sebring. Now the knot has been untied, and I hope we can carry this momentum into the rest of the season. BMW M Team WRT also gave a strong performance with the #46 BMW M4 GT3 of Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Raffaele Marciello. The three harmonised superbly in the new setup and just narrowly missed the podium. It’s very unfortunate that there were difficulties with the ROWE Racing #98 BMW M4 GT3 and the BMW M Team WRT #32 BMW M4 GT3. We need to closely examine the refuelling issue that probably cost the ROWE Racing trio a podium place.”

Hans-Peter Naundorf (Team Principal ROWE Racing): “That was a fantastic start to the season for the team! Augusto Farfus, Dan Harper, and Max Hesse impressively showed today where the hammer hangs and how well the combination of the experienced mentor and the young guns works. Dan and Max have proved that they are first-class BMW M works drivers. All three did a perfect job, drove cleverly, and implemented the strategy superbly. The whole team has shown the mix of routine and enthusiasm needed to be at the front in this high-calibre series again this year. I feel sorry for the #98 guys, as they also did a flawless job and deserved to be on the podium. Unfortunately, there were irregularities with the fuel flow during their last pit stop which caused them to lose time first and then had to make an additional stop. Without that problem, a double podium like last year at Monza would have been possible.”

 

Augusto Farfus (#998 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, 1st place): “It is a great honour for me to share the car with these two amazing guys. This victory is for the entire team. We complemented each other very well. I had a good start and got to third place, Dan took the lead with his overtaking manoeuvre, and Max brought the victory home confidently in the last stint. I have been following the development of Dan and Max from the beginning and now share the car with real professionals.”

Dan Harper (#998 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, 1st place): “It’s a very special feeling to win the season opener after we were second last year – just fantastic! A great way to start the year together with ROWE Racing, Augusto, and Max. Many thanks to BMW M Motorsport for this opportunity! We worked incredibly well together as a team, had no problems, and all three of us were happy with the driving feel in the car.”

 

Max Hesse (#998 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, 1st place): “That was a fantastic start. This season, 20 Pro cars and some of the best GT drivers in the world are competing against each other, and to win the first race with Augusto, Dan, and ROWE Racing is something very special for me. I will remember this day for a long time.”

 

Raffaele Marciello (#46 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT, 4th place): “Fourth place is a good result for us, bringing important points. But we can’t be completely satisfied because if another team with the BMW M4 GT3 wins the race, we should be able to do that too. Congratulations to ROWE Racing! We will prepare very well for the next race.”

 

Philipp Eng (#98 BMW M4 GT3, ROWE Racing, twelfth place): “I am very happy for our sister car. That was a grand victory. The entire team did a super job all weekend. Unfortunately, we didn’t quite have the balance we wanted in qualifying, but the car was really top for the race. It looked like a podium for a long time, if not even a 1-2 for ROWE Racing and BMW M Motorsport. Then we unfortunately had a problem with refuelling and had to stop again to make it to the finish. Nevertheless, I am very happy for my teammates.”

 

Charles Weerts (#32 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team WRT, DNF): “I had a good start moving up to P5, passing two cars together with Max in the #46 car, which was nice. Then there was the very aggressive Ferrari that hit me twice in one lap. Unfortunately, the second hit resulted in a puncture which basically ended our race. That’s a shame as we had a very competitive car and could have achieved a good result.”

BMW

ROWE Racing to compete in GT World Challenge Europe and the 24h Nürburgring once more in 2024.

Munich. ROWE Racing will as soon as once more symbolize BMW M Motorsport within the 2024 season on the two main endurance classics on the Nürburgring (GER) and Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The aim is defending the title within the Ardennes and, after ending second in 2023, launching an assault on the second Nürburgring triumph after 2020. Similar to final yr, the crew led by crew supervisor Hans-Peter Naundorf will compete within the 5 races of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup with two BMW M4 GT3s. Two automobiles can even be in motion on the Nordschleife.

In the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) goal to defend their collectively achieved victory on the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 2023. They will share the cockpit of a BMW M4 GT3 in 4 races of the Fanatec GT Endurance Cup. Due to a schedule conflict between the occasion at Monza (ITA) in September and the IMSA Indianapolis (USA) race, Eng and Yelloly can not compete along with Wittmann that weekend. The driver line-up for that race can be introduced at a later date.

In the crew’s different BMW M4 GT3, Dan Harper (GBR) and Max Hesse (GER) will as soon as once more hit the observe. Augusto Farfus (BRA) joins because the third driver, returning to ROWE Racing. He first raced with the squad in 2022 and in 2023, he competed for the crew on the Nürburgring and in Macau (CHN). Farfus reunites with Hesse and Harper, with whom he beforehand shared the cockpit as a mentor of the BMW Junior Team on the Nordschleife.

For the 24 Hours on the Nürburgring, seven BMW M works drivers will compete within the two BMW M4 GT3s. Alongside GTWC drivers Wittmann and Farfus, these are Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Maxime Martin, Dries Vanthoor (each BEL), and the 2 new additions Robin Frijns (NED) and Raffaele Marciello (SUI).

Reactions to the lineup:

 

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “BMW M Motorsport and ROWE Racing are entering their ninth season together in 2024, and the partnership has been a great success story from the first year. Two joint 24-hour victories at Spa-Francorchamps, one at the Nürburgring and we aim to further improve that record in 2024 with another strong lineup. I am very much looking forward to the races and the fantastic collaboration with Hans-Peter Naundorf and his team. It’s unfortunate that we don’t have all BMW M works drivers available due to some schedule conflicts, but thanks to our high-calibre and big line-up, we can still assemble incredibly strong teams.”

Hans-Peter Naundorf (Team Manager ROWE Racing): “I am pleased that our partnership with BMW M Motorsport is now entering its ninth year. It is characterised by great mutual respect and an exceptionally loyal collaboration. Having the winning trio from last year allows us to embark on the title defense at Spa, providing a perfect foundation to once again compete for victory. Additionally, two of the three driver positions remain unchanged in the sister car, and Augusto Farfus brings additional qualities with his driving skill, vast experience, and exemplary team spirit. This year, we will have seven BMW M works drivers on the Nordschleife. For the first time, Robin Frijns and Raffaele Marciello will compete for ROWE Racing in the 24h Nürburgring, whom we have known as formidable opponents. Our entire team looks forward to collaborating with two such successful and fast drivers, and we warmly welcome them to the ROWE Racing family.”

Robin Frijns: “At my last start on the Nordschleife in 2022, I won the 24-hour race together with Dries Vanthoor. Now, I am very excited about my debut for BMW M Motorsport. It is one of the biggest motorsport events in Germany, and the fans there are particularly enthusiastic. It never gets boring for a driver on the Nordschleife. I am curious to see how my debut in the BMW M4 GT3 will go.”

Raffaele Marciello: “I am very excited to return to the Nordschleife – especially with BMW M Motorsport and ROWE Racing, as they have an impressive shared history of good results there. I have never won the race, but I have reached the podium. Accordingly, my hope for a strong race is great. But first, I need to prepare very well together with the team and in the new car.”

BMW

24h Spa-Francorchamps: Philipp Eng, Marco Wittmann, and Nick Yelloly win for ROWE Racing in the BMW M4 GT3.

ROWE Racing secured their third victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps with a thrilling race. After completing 537 laps, Philipp Eng, Marco Wittmann, and Nick Yelloly drove the #98 BMW M4 GT3 to victory, giving BMW their 25th overall win in the event. Eng claimed his third Spa triumph for BMW, while Wittmann celebrated his first 24-hour race win and Yelloly added to his endurance victory from the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in 2020.

The BMW M4 GT3 teams had to make up ground after heavy rain during qualifying forced them to miss out on Super Pole. The BMW M Team WRT and the #998 BMW M4 GT3 of ROWE Racing made impressive progress early on, battling for top positions. The eventual winners faced setbacks but made an impressive comeback, ultimately taking the lead during the night and securing the victory.

The #46 BMW M4 GT3 from BMW M Team WRT finished in sixth place, having shown strong speed throughout the race but receiving time penalties. The #30 BMW M4 GT3 from the WRT team secured second place in the Gold Cup category. The #31 BMW M4 GT3 finished 25th overall.

A collision between the #998 BMW M4 GT3 from ROWE Racing and the #32 BMW M4 GT3 from BMW M Team WRT resulted in heavy damage to both vehicles. Fortunately, both drivers remained unharmed, but repairs to the barriers led to a two-hour yellow period.

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, praised the team’s performance and the victory for the BMW M4 GT3. Hans-Peter Naundorf, Team Principal of ROWE Racing, highlighted the difficulty of the race and the consistency of the team’s performance. Winning this significant race in the second year of the BMW M4 GT3 project was a significant achievement. Philipp Eng, Marco Wittmann, and Nick Yelloly expressed their joy and gratitude for the victory, with Wittmann celebrating his long-awaited first 24-hour race win.

Valentino Rossi, who drove the #46 BMW M4 GT3, expressed his happiness with the race and the team’s improvement from the previous year. Charles Weerts, driver of the #32 BMW M4 GT3, expressed disappointment and emphasized the need for a thorough investigation into the accident. Neil Verhagen, driver of the #998 BMW M4 GT3, expressed relief that both drivers were unharmed but expressed frustration at the loss of two cars with a chance of winning.

BMW

ROWE Racing Takes Third Place in the GT World Challenge Europe 1000km Race at Paul Ricard

In the second Endurance Cup race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Powered by AWS (GTWC), BMW M works drivers Philipp Eng, Marco Wittmann, and Nick Yelloly of ROWE Racing claimed third place at the 1000km race of Paul Ricard. This is the team’s second podium finish in the series, maintaining their lead in the standings. However, they had to settle for third place after final stint driver Yelloly lacked the required pace to defend the lead position.

The BMW Junior Team finished in sixth place, while Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Augusto Farfus finished eighth for the BMW M Team WRT after a strong chasing performance.

Despite starting from 11th on the grid, the #98 car came in fourth but was later classified third when a five-second penalty was imposed on the Audi that finished ahead of them. Similarly, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 moved up 12 positions from 20th to eighth in an impressive performance.

The #32 BMW M4 GT3 from the BMW M Team WRT, which started in ninth place, was not able to finish the race due to technical issues. The #30 BMW M4 GT3 of the WRT team and the #35 BMW M4 GT3 from Walkenhorst Motorsport also did not finish the race.

ROWE Racing’s Philipp Eng was pleased with the team’s performance, saying that they had made significant improvements to the car after finishing practice sessions quite far off the lead on Friday. Max Hesse of ROWE Racing also expressed satisfaction with the team’s competitiveness in the race.

Valentino Rossi of the BMW M Team WRT acknowledged that they wanted more from the race but were satisfied with an 8th place finish from 20th on the grid.

Meanwhile, Charles Weerts of the BMW M Team WRT expressed disappointment over their DNF status resulting from a slight collision with a teammate. The team will now focus on the next race in Spa.