10.10.2023
Our BMW M Motorsport News allows us to give you a regular overview of the race action in various championships around the world and any success enjoyed by the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“What an exciting phase of the motorsport season! Every week, titles are being won all over the world and I am delighted to again be able to congratulate BMW M Motorsport drivers and teams – particularly Adrenalin Motorsport Team Motec on their overall victory in the NLS. For the sixth time in a row – awesome! I am also pleased for Walkenhorst Motorsport, who dominated the season in the top SP9 Pro class and deservedly won the NLS Speed Trophy. I would also like to congratulate all the other members of the BMW M Motorsport family, who brought a successful season on the Nordschleife to a close on Saturday! In North America, Zac Anderson won the Silver class in GT4 America. Charlie Postins and James Clay also won the title in the Am category. I was at Indianapolis myself and was able to congratulate them personally. When title races are so close, there are obviously disappointments. I can ensure the BMW M Motorsport drivers and teams who narrowly missed out that we are still very proud of their magnificent performances this season. I am sure they will get another chance!”
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NLS: Adrenalin Motorsport celebrates sixth title in a row.
Philipp Leisen, Oskar Sandberg and Daniel Zils (all GER) of Adrenalin Motorsport Team Motec have once again won the championship in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS). The German trio in the #1 BMW 330i again won the VT2-R+4WD class to secure the title. Adrenalin Motorsport celebrated its sixth overall victory in a row, making it the most successful team in NLS history.
After three back-to-back wins, Christian Krognes (NOR) and Jakub Giermaziak (POL) were again to be found at the front of the field during the season finale. This time, however, they had to settle for fourth place in the SP9 Pro class. Despite that, the #34 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 comfortably won the NLS Speed Trophy on the Nordschleife.
The FK Performance Motorsport team also had cause for celebration on Saturday, claiming an impressive one-two in the SP10 class. Nick Hancke, Thorsten Wolter and Nick Wüstenhagen (all GER) took victory in the #187 BMW M4 GT4, ahead of Christian Konnerth, Michael Schrey (both GER), Ranko Mijatovic (SUI) and Sindre Setsaas (NOR) in the #178 BMW M4 GT4.
BMW Motorsport teams and drivers were also out in front in the BMW M240i, BMW M2 CS, V4, VT3 and H4 classes.
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GTWC/GT4/GT/TC: Many highs and some lows at Indianapolis.
The ST Racing team, with Samantha Tan (CAN), BMW M works driver Neil Verhagen and Jake Walker (both USA) finished sixth in the Pro-Am class at the wheel of the #38 BMW M4 GT3 at the finale of this season’s Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS, which took place at the iconic Indianapolis Motor Speedway (USA).
In GT4 America, Zac Anderson (USA) was crowned champion in the Silver Class. He finished third and fourth alongside John Capresto-Dubets (USA) in the #51 BMW M4 GT4 at Indianapolis, and secured the title with a lead of 21 points. The winner of the opening race was also a BMW M4 GT4 as Kevin Boehm and Kenton Koch (both USA) from the Random Vandals Racing team won the Silver Class in the #92 BMW M4 GT4. They then finished third in race two to earn third place in the overall standings and round off an outstanding result for BMW M Motorsport.
In contrast, there was disappointment for James Walker Jr. and Tyler McQuarrie (both USA). The #82 BimmerWorld BMW M4 GT4 failed to finish race one in Indianapolis. Race two saw Walker and McQuarrie launch an impressive fightback from 17th on the grid. In the end, however, they had to settle for sixth place in the Pro-Am class, meaning they missed out on the title by one solitary point.
The title in the Am class went to Charlie Postins and James Clay (both USA) from the BimmerWorld team in the #36 BMW M4 GT4.
In TC America, BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated not one but two double podiums. Colin Garrett (USA/Rooster Hall Racing) in the #44 BMW M2 CS Racing finished runner-up in the opening race, with Adam Gleason (USA) from Fast Track Racing coming home third to complete the podium in the #21 BMW M2 CS Racing. Garrett was second again in race two. That time, he was followed over the finish line by Kenny Schmied (USA) in the #14 BMW M2 CS Racing for AOA Racing.
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GT4 France: Lessennes/van der Ende narrowly miss out on the title.
Benjamin Lessennes (BEL) and Ricardo van der Ende (NED) came within a whisker of winning the GT4 France title at the final weekend of the season at Le Castellet (FRA). On Saturday, the #17 BMW M4 GT4 (G82) finished fifth in the Silver class. The duo from the L’Espace Bienvenue team went one better and came home fourth on Sunday.
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BTCC: Hill celebrates at season finale.
Jake Hill (GBR) from the Laser Tools Racing with MB Motorsport team ended this season’s British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) on a high. The Brit won the third and final race of the season finale at Brands Hatch (GBR). Team BMW driver Stephen Jelley (GBR) came home third to make it a double podium for the BMW 330e M Sport. The weekend at Brands Hatch had been a disappointing one for BMW up to that point. The #4 BMW 330e M Sport of Colin Turkington (GBR/Team BMW) was the best-placed BMW in the opening race, finishing fourth. In race two, sixth place for Hill in the #24 BMW 330e M Sport made him the best of the BMW drivers. A strong end to the season saw Hill finish third in the overall standings, ahead of four-time champion Turkington in fourth. In the Manufacturer competition, BMW finished runner-up, narrowly missing out on the title by just four points.
