Sections: Motorsport, Official News Dec 6th, 2009 12 Comments 
Official Release: Having bid farewell to Formula One, BMW will intensify its involvement in GT and touring car racing in the forthcoming year. The company released details of its 2010 motorsport programme on Saturday at the BMW Sports Trophy Award Ceremony in Munich (DE). The BMW M3 GT2 will see action in selected GT races, primarily the 24-hour classics. The BMW drivers will fight for victories in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), and will be setting their sights on the titles. BMW will continue its successful promotion of young talent in the Formula BMW Europe and Formula BMW Pacific series, which feature on the same bill as Formula One races. Customer racing also remains an important component for BMW Motorsport: a BMW Z4, which complies with GT3 regulations, will be added to the range of products for private teams.
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen says: “I am pleased that we are able to offer our fans an attractive motorsport programme in the first year since our withdrawal from Formula One. In production car racing, BMW has enjoyed countless triumphs throughout the course of its long racing history – whether with close-to-production touring cars or imposing GT sports cars. We want to follow on from this success in 2010, in both the World Touring Car Championship and the ALMS. In addition, our programme will include works entries at 24-hour classics for the first time since 2005. Promoting junior racing drivers remains an important pillar of our activities: Formula BMW Europe is once again a permanent feature in the general Formula One programme, and we will also be supporting talented youngsters in Formula BMW Pacific as they take their first steps in single-seater racing. Furthermore, we will also expand our customer racing programme, and will be offering a new car in the form of a BMW Z4 that complies with GT3 regulations. In general, we are well positioned to demonstrate the performance of our cars to our customers around the world in 2010.”
BMW will be represented at numerous GT events by its long-term test and development team Schnitzer Motorsport. The focus of this commitment is on the classic 24-hour races. As well as the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE), it is also planned for the BMW M3 GT2 to start in Le Mans (FR) and Spa-Francorchamps (BE). BMW Motorsport is currently in positive discussions with organisers and governing bodies regarding the approval of the car.
In addition, and as preparation for these classics, the programme also includes race starts in the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring and in the Le Mans Series (LMS). Jörg Müller (DE) and Dirk Werner (DE), who joins the 2010 BMW works drivers line-up, will be the regular drivers for the GT races. Works drivers Andy Priaulx (GB), Augusto Farfus (BR) and Dirk Müller (DE) will also be involved with the GT programme. Uwe Alzen (DE) and Dirk Adorf (DE) complete the strong squad for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
As last year, the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team, under the flag of BMW of North America, will send two BMW M3 GT2 cars into battle for the GT2 title in the ALMS. In 2009 Bobby Rahal’s (US) team celebrated a one-two result at Road America (US) and finished on the podium seven times. Next year the driving quartet will once again consist of Dirk Müller, Tommy Milner (US), Bill Auberlen (US) and Joey Hand (US). BMW will be lining up in a different format to previous years in the World Touring Car Championship. Priaulx and Farfus will be battling for points and victories as team-mates. Bart Mampaey’s (BE) RBM team will be responsible for the two BMW 320si WTCCs. While Priaulx won three World Championship titles between 2005 and 2007, Farfus was the most successful BMW driver last season with six victories and third place overall. The two drivers have a combined total of 27 victories so far in the World Touring Car Championship.
In past years, Formula BMW has proven to be the ideal springboard into the world of Formula One for many drivers. Last season alone, five former BMW drivers lined up in this series – and with great success. Nico Rosberg (DE), Timo Glock (DE), Adrian Sutil (DE) and Sébastien Buemi (CH) all scored World Championship points. Sebastian Vettel (DE) even celebrated four Grand Prix victories and finished the season as runner-up in the Drivers’ Championship, behind Jenson Button (GB). Nicolas Hülkenberg (DE) and Bruno Senna (BR) will join the quintet in 2010 as regular F1 drivers. A number of other Formula BMW graduates can also hope to get a taste of Formula One as test and reserve drivers.
Great news on all fronts! So the rumblings I had been hearing about Schnitzer competing in the GT series turned out to be true. I know that the GT2 M3 will need to undergo some changes for the 24 hours of Le Mans and that one race costs an arm and a leg (almost quite literally) so they are putting a good amount of money into racing!
I am glad that the Autoblog story was incorrect (as we suspected) that racing would be further cut.
-M
ReplyInteresting news for sure!
“Furthermore, we will also expand our customer racing programme, and will be offering a new car in the form of a BMW Z4 that complies with GT3 regulations.”
A Coupe coming along for the E89? I see no way GT3 would allow a convertible into the race.
ReplyJon- you could always weld the roof closed and provide additional roll cage members.
ReplyIts the old z4 which has been taking part in the vln which they will modify.I knew that BMW would race the GT2 in europe,and it was the fia holding things up. I think the GTS has helped
ReplyX5m posted a time off 1.28.2 round the top gear track by the stig and he was over driving it like he dose with all BMW’S it was also a wet lap only a sec behind porsche gt3 on a damp track. The stig could of got another sec of the time with out any trouble
ReplyHey, racing we can see, up close and personal, at tracks like Sebring, Watkins Glen and Lime Rock. This is much better than F1 where we only get 1 shot in Montreal. My buddies and I like this a lot.
ReplyGreat news indeed. Does this mean that BMW has plans to build and sell production-based race cars to individuals as Porsche does with 3 different versions of the 911? (a profit making operation for Porsche BTW)
ReplyMichah- BMW has been building and selling customers production based race cars for the past several years.
Since 2006 the BMW 320si WTCC has successfully proven itself with the model having won four FIA World Touring Car Championship titles for BMW. To date over 60 racing kits have been supplied to BMW racing teams. The racing version of the BMW Z4 M Coupe, too, has proven successful, particularly in endurance events Racing kit versions of the BMW 120d, which is also mainly suited to endurance racing, have been on offer since March 2006.
In February 2009 BMW began offering a GT4 version of the E92 ///M3.The price for the ready-to-race car amounts to €120,000 (plus VAT). This car is the basis of the recently launch ///M3 GTS.
Basically, all those vehicles in the picture are available for customer purchase for racing use.
ReplyI got a chance to watch the Z4 race car in person and it has to be one of the best looking cars I’ve ever seen on the track. The addition of the width to the classic lines of the Z4 makes for on heck of a design and a quite potent racing package. Would love to bring one home for a new track toy.
ReplyThanks for information Michael. Given that customers can buy race cars, it is surprising how few BMW-prepped cars are racing in the US. I cannot recall seeing one in any US racing series beyond the two M3s in ALMS. There are of course BMWs in the Speed World Challenge Touring car class, but those are prepped in house. Perhaps BMW should consider a single make series like the GT3 Cup? Saw thes races at Miller this year — over 20 cars were entered, and the racing was close and exciting. And with the new Challenge class in ALMS, it would be great to see BMW-prepped, customer bought M3s and M Coupes racing the 911s that populate this class now.
ReplyKoni Challange had a couple Z4 in the series last year. They look and sound super. And since I have a Z4M coupe I love to see them run.
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