21.03.2024
When the three DTM champions René Rast (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Marco Wittmann (GER) kick off the 2024 DTM season with Schubert Motorsport at the end of April, long-standing BMW M Motorsport partners RoboMarkets, Schaeffler, and Shell will also be on board again. These three partners will continue to shape the designs of the three BMW M4 GT3s.
Munich. When the three DTM champions René Rast (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Marco Wittmann (GER) kick off the 2024 DTM season with Schubert Motorsport at the end of April, long-standing BMW M Motorsport partners RoboMarkets, Schaeffler, and Shell will also be on board again. These three partners will continue to shape the designs of the three BMW M4 GT3s.
Wittmann, with car number 11 and the green Schaeffler design has been a successful combination familiar to DTM fans for a long time and will again be seen on the DTM circuits this season. Van der Linde will compete in the #31 BMW M4 GT3 in Shell’s classic colors, as in previous years. Rast enters his second DTM season as a BMW M works driver, and his #33 BMW M4 GT3 will once again feature RoboMarkets’ blue design, as it did last year.
Quotes:
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “We are very pleased to have our long-standing BMW M Motorsport partners RoboMarkets, Schaeffler and Shell by our side in the 2024 DTM season as well. Without their support, successful race participation in a highly competitive championship like the DTM would not be possible. Many thanks for the long-standing excellent collaboration that goes far beyond the design of the cars. Sheldon van der Linde and Shell, as well as Marco Wittmann and Schaeffler, have already celebrated numerous joint successes in the past. René Rast also stood on the top step of the podium in his first season in the RoboMarkets BMW M4 GT3 in 2023. Now we are looking forward to further successes with our strong BMW M Motorsport partners in the 2024 season.”
Matthias Zink, CEO Automotive Technologies Schaeffler AG: “Motorsport has long been part of our DNA at Schaeffler. The race track is the test lab for the series. In order to remain a leading technology company worldwide, we as a company must constantly evolve. With innovation, agility, and efficiency, we aim to maintain our technological leadership role. The dynamic, competitive environment of the DTM provides the perfect platform for this. With our long-standing partner BMW M Motorsport and our brand ambassador Marco Wittmann, we already form a well-rehearsed trio. With the expertise and experience of Schubert Motorsport, we approach the new season optimistically.”
Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 GT3): “I am very happy that I can continue to compete with Schaeffler and in the ‘Green Machine’ in the DTM after so many years. Schaeffler moves so much, both on and off the race track. We have built a very strong bond, also with the fans. Just the presence of Schaeffler at the race track, through the hospitality and the many activities, shows their commitment to motorsport, which is also great for me and BMW M Motorsport. This partnership means a lot to me. Therefore, I am looking forward to starting again with Schaeffler and hoping for a successful year together. I personally also find the new design of the ‘Green Machine’ extremely cool and can’t wait to hit the track with the car.”
Aysun Akik, Global Vice President for New Business Development and Global Key Accounts at Shell Lubricants: “Shell is proud to continue its long-standing Premium Technology partnership with BMW M Motorsport in DTM, enabling us to deepen our R&D collaboration with high-performance at its core. Shell has partnered with the team’s engineers to formulate a bespoke Shell Helix Ultra race lubricant to deliver long-lasting and improved engine performance and efficiency. The learnings taken from this extreme testbed help to develop new products and technologies that benefit BMW motorists on the road around the world. We look forward to supporting the team as it embarks on a new season.”
Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 GT3): “I’m very excited to extend my partnership with Shell to its fifth year in the DTM! My identity in the DTM has quite noticeably become driving a yellow and red car for Shell so I’m extremely proud to continue that successful collaboration and hopefully we can repeat what we achieved together in 2022!”
René Rast (#33 RoboMarkets BMW M4 GT3): “It’s fantastic that the BMW M Motorsport partners are supporting us in the DTM. This support is very important. 2023 was my first season with RoboMarkets, and among the great moments of the year were, of course, the victory at the Red Bull Ring, the additional podium finishes and the pole positions. We were contenders for the title, and that’s a strong foundation for my second season in the RoboMarkets BMW M4 GT3. We will do everything to express our gratitude for the support with corresponding successes!”
