BMW is back in the DTM – and was immediately in the thick of things in a turbulent opening race of the 2012 season at the Hockenheimring (DE). Andy Priaulx (GB) of BMW Team RBM was the only one of the six BMW drivers to complete the 40 laps without any notable incidents.
Under the watchful eyes of Members of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Dr.-Ing. Herbert Diess (Development), Dr.-Ing. Klaus Draeger (Purchasing and Supplier Network) and Ian Robertson (Sales and Marketing and Future Retail), Priaulx crossed the line in sixth place in his Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM to score eight points. The three-time World Touring Car Champion finished 28.4 seconds behind Gary Paffett (GB), who won the race for Mercedes.
Starting the race … CONTINUED
Dirk Werner (DE) finished third in the DTM qualifying at the Hockenheimring (DE) at the wheel of his E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM. The BMW Team Schnitzer driver led the pack of strong BMW drivers, with four out of six making it into the top-ten. The first DTM pole position of the year went to Audi driver Mattias Ekstr
Here’s a new feature video highlighting the BMW M Performance Parts equipped Afrox-ADF Motorsport F30 335i series race car.
One of the factors guaranteeing the success of the popular racing series is the longstanding cooperation between BMW M GmbH and MotoGP™ organiser Dorna. BMW M has further strengthened this close-knit partnership, appointing the new Dorna MotoGP™ safety consultant Loris Capirossi as the new BMW M MotoGP™ expert.
The former top-level motorcycle racer from Italy looks back over extensive experience and boasts a vast knowledge of MotoGP™. Nicknamed “Capirex” while still an active rider, the Italian has a highly successful Grand Prix career to his name which stretches back 22 years, including a total of 328 races and three world championship titles.
In Loris Capirossi, BMW M has gained the services of an expert with an in-depth understanding of riders’ concerns. He has enormous expertise in the field … CONTINUED
With a second place GT class finish by the No. 56 BMW Team RLL M3 GT in today’s American Le Mans Series at Long Beach race, BMW is tied for the manufacturer’s point lead. The second podium of the young ALMS season for Joey Hand and Dirk Müller solidifies their lead in the driver’s standings.
The defending GT driver co-champions started the race from the class pole with Hand at the wheel of the No. 56 BMW M3 GT. Hand led the race for the opening 16 laps until a prototype ran into him causing a puncture of the right rear tire. Hand pitted for fuel and four new tires, returning to the race in the seventh position. The races only caution period brought him back to … CONTINUED
Here’s a great look via never seen before footage into the development, engineering, and testing process behind the BMW M3 DTM cars which are set to make their debut at the first 2012 DTM series race at Hockenheimring on April 29th.
The BMW M3 DTM cars are set to take on their Audi and Mercedes Benz rivals for real and for the first time in just over two weeks at Hockenheim (on April 29), but the race cars first face off in this photo session from Media Day, where for the first time the final DTM cars were revealed together. This will be BMW’s first DTM race since October 11, 1992.
Subject to the same regulations, the three German marquees’ cars share similar general aero bits and styling, but each also maintains the essence of the respective models’ styling cues – grilles, lights, and the like.
And you haven’t heard or seen the M3 DTM cars in action, be sure to check out the videos we’ve reposted below. Photos … CONTINUED
How’s this for kicking off the racing history for the F30 3 series sedan. South African based ADF Motorsport team successfully took a brand new F30 3 Series racing car [more info/photos] to its first-ever race victory, in its very first race! The victory came at the Killarney race circuit in Cape Town, South Africa, in a WesBank Super Series race which features Bridgestone Production Cars Class A race cars. Congrats to the ADF team!
Ian McLaren of carmagblog provided us this account of the race, along with his experience from being a part of the pit crew.
The countdown is on: BMW Motorsport completes its final test before the DTM season-opener in Hockenheim. Watch the first extensive footage of the BMW M3 DTM race cars inside, together with interviews with the BMW DTM drivers prior to the first DTM race in 3 weeks.
Munich, 5th April 2012. With three weeks to go until the first race of the 2012 DTM season, BMW Motorsport has officially completed its test programme. From Monday to Thursday the three teams and their six drivers were hard at work at the Hockenheimring (DE), traditionally the venue of the opening round, which this year will get underway on 29th April 2012. This will be BMW’s first DTM race since 11th October 1992.
Over the last few days, all the BMW … CONTINUED
