Benjamin M. Monroe Blog: BMW Motorsport launches its 2017 program

Monday, May 1, 2017

BMW Motorsport launches its 2017 program

A week ahead of the start of the new DTM season, BMW Motorsport presented its 2017 racing program in front of the employees at the BMW Group plant in Landshut (GER). At the BMW Motorsport Launch, the six DTM drivers displayed the designs of their new cars with which they will go in search of points this season starting with the opening round in Hockenheim (GER) on 6th and 7th May. The workforce particularly enjoyed the driving action, featuring the current cars and a selection of vintage BMW racing cars.

The BMW Group plant in Landshut provided the ideal stage for BMW Motorsport to present its 2017 program. To mark the anniversary “50 years of BMW in Lower Bavaria”, the factory premises were transformed into a racetrack on Friday. First onto the track was Timo Glock, who completed a number of demonstration laps in one of the most successful touring cars in history, the first generation of BMW M3. While Martin Tomczyk (GER) demonstrated the power of the BMW M6 GT3, Dirk Adorf (GER) and BMW Motorsport Junior Nico Menzel (GER) put their foot down in the BMW M4 GT4 and the BMW M235i Racing.

“I am particularly pleased to see the enthusiasm the employees showed for the 2017 BMW Motorsport Launch,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, who guided his audience through the event alongside TV presenter Markus Othmer. “They lay the foundations for all the BMW Motorsport activities with their daily work. This is clear to see with the engine for the BMW M4 DTM, for example. The high-tech foundry connected to the BMW Group plant in Landshut provides the large castings, such as the cylinder head and crankcase. Motorsport is truly all about teamwork at BMW. We are now fully motivated ahead of our trip to Hockenheim.”

The highlight of the BMW Motorsport car launch, for which the workforce took a short time-out from their shift, was the presentation of the six BMW M4 DTMs in their liveries for the 2017 season. Reigning DTM champion Marco Wittmann (GER) and his fellow BMW drivers Maxime Martin (BEL), Augusto Farfus (BRA), Tom Blomqvist (GBR), Bruno Spengler (CAN) and Timo Glock (GER) will do battle for points, victories and titles for BMW at the wheel of the newly-developed car. “We really burned some rubber and put on a great show for our BMW colleagues here in Landshut,” said Wittmann. “That was the perfect way to get in the mood for the new DTM season. After the long test and development phase in the winter, I am glad to finally go racing again.”

For BMW newcomer Timo Scheider (GER), this was the first appearance at a BMW event following his outings in the BMW M6 GT3 at the Nürburgring (GER). The new boy in the BMW family was impressed by the atmosphere in Landshut. “That kind of atmosphere among the employees is a fantastic motivator for the challenges ahead,” he said. “BMW has a unique history of success in motorsport. It would be a dream to add to this success story at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. We will do everything in our power to achieve that.”