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  • The BMW M3 GTS
    BMW AG News - Automotive News
    Created: Thursday, November 05, 2009 Author: Jeff
    Munich. BMW M GmbH now offers a truly outstanding performer based on the BMW M3 Coupé also ideal for Clubsport events – exactly the right car for the truly discerning customer demanding the very utmost in terms of power and performance. The BMW M3 GTS is largely hand-built by the most skilled craftsmen at BMW M GmbH as a perfectly harmonised package of outstanding modifications, with production exclusively to the customer’s personal order. Focused on motorsport, the modifications comprise both the drivetrain, the suspension and the body of the car, as well as its interior. Market launch of the BMW M3 GTS will be in spring 2010. BMW M3 GTS Photos Offering this truly exclusive model for the genuine motorsport enthusiast, BMW M GmbH is continuing a great tradition introduced on former generations of the BMW M3. Once again, the outstanding sports potential of the BMW M3 is being consistently enhanced and upgraded to an even higher level, the customer benefiting from the Companyâ...
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  • BMW works driver Jörg Müller scores “Petit Le Mans” podium with the BMW M3 GT2
    BMW Racing News - 2009 American LeMans Series
    Created: Saturday, September 26, 2009 Author: Jeff
    For BMW works driver Jörg Müller (DE) the trip to the classic “Petit Le Mans” race in Road Atlanta (US) turned out to be a successful one: In his American Le Mans Series comeback, the 2001 GT2 champion finished second in the GT2-category alongside fellow BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team drivers Dirk Müller (DE) and Tommy Milner (US) in the BMW M3.   Car number 92 was running one lap down on the winning Ferrari trio Melo/Kaffer/Salo, when the race was red-flagged after 4 hours 49 minutes. The number 90 BMW M3 with Jörg Müller’s fellow works driver Andy Priaulx (GB), Bill Auberlen (US) and Joey Hand (US) at the wheel came 12th following an early radiator puncture which made a pit stop of more than 80 minutes necessary. The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team celebrated its seventh podium of the season. In addition, Dirk Müller set the fastest lap of all the GT2 drivers in 1:21.366 minutes.   The race was started on a damp track, bu...
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  • BMW M3 RACES TO VICTORY LANE AT ROAD AMERICA WITH 1-2 BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM GT2 FINISH
    BMW Racing News - 2009 American LeMans Series
    Created: Sunday, August 16, 2009 Author: Jeff
    The BMW M3 returned to the American Le Mans Series winner’s circle with a 1-2 finish by the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team at today’s Time Warner Cable Road Racing Showcase.   The No. 90 M3, driven by Joey Hand and Bill Auberlen, achieved the new M3 racing program’s first victory. Teammates Tommy Milner and Dirk Mϋller in the No. 92 M3 scored their fourth podium finish of the season.   As the race began, starting drivers Bill Auberlen, in the No. 90 M3, and Tommy Milner, in the No. 92 M3, took advantage of their front row starting positions and opened a lead on the GT2 class. Only 15 minutes in, an early yellow slowed the field, but instead of reducing the BMW M3’s lead to mere feet, it increased it to almost a full lap as both M3s received a wave-by when the pace car picked up the overall leader. Before the race went green again, both M3s were able to pit for fuel, and Milner picked up the lead through pitstop speed.   At the one hour...
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  • BMWÂ’s WTCC drivers gather their strength for the final spurt.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Monday, August 10, 2009 Author: Jeff
    The FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) is presently enjoying a seven-week break. The series will resume with a two-race event at Oschersleben (DE) on 6th September 2009. Before the series enters its third and last phase, the BMW national team drivers are putting the break to good use by gathering strength, and building up their concentration ahead of the final spurt.   BMW Team Germany’s Augusto Farfus (BR), third in the drivers’ classification with 76 points, embarked on a trip to Asia shortly after the races in Brands Hatch (GB). “I headed there on behalf of Formula BMW Pacific and PETRONAS to be involved some young driver development work,” explains the 25-year-old. After his Asian visit and a test in Zolder (BE), he headed back home to Brazil. Here with his friends and family he got ready for the final eight races. He adds: “After my return to Europe I will work hard with the team to ensure that we are best prepared for the final straight...
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  • BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM MAINTAINS BMW M3 PODIUM STREAK AT LIME ROCK PARK
    BMW Racing News - 2009 American LeMans Series
    Created: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 Author: Jeff
    Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand raced their No. 90 BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team M3 to a third place GT2 class finish in today's American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park.   The duo completed 166 laps around the Lime Rock circuit to record their first podium and best result of the season. The team has now scored three podiums in the first five races of their inaugural season to keep BMW of North America's perfect record of always finishing on the podium in a race at Lime Rock Park.   The No. 92 M3 of Tommy Milner and Dirk Mϋller finished 10th in class after running as high as third.   Lime Rock fans got exactly what they came for. As the green flag waved, Bill Auberlen moved the No. 90 M3 immediately to third from his fourth place starting spot. Tommy Milner, in the No. 92 M3, moved from fifth to fourth, and then later was able to glue himself to the rear of the second place competitor for the duration of his stint.   The race's only caution...
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  • BMW driver Farfus wins in Brands Hatch and gains ground in the title fight.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Saturday, July 18, 2009 Author: Jeff
    Thanks to his third win of the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship, BMW Team Germany’s Augusto Farfus (BR) successfully reduced the gap to championship leader Yvan Muller (FR). At Brands Hatch (GB) the 25-year-old won the 16th round of the year. As Farfus’ team-mate Jörg Müller (DE) finished second, BMW was able to celebrate its third one-two finish of the season. Andy Priaulx (GB) of BMW Team UK was BMW driver number three on a podium, after coming third in the first race of the day.   In an eventful race one, Priaulx took the chequered flag behind Chevrolet’s race winner Alain Menu (CH) and Robert Huff (GB). Müller finished sixth and collected three points, while Farfus notched up one point for eighth – and made sure of pole for race two. .The two BMW Team Italy-Spain drivers, Alessandro Zanardi (IT) and Sergio Hernández (ES), however, left Great Britain empty-handed.   As championship front-runner Muller only managed to...
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  • BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM QUALIFIES FOURTH AND FIFTH AT LIME ROCK PARK
    BMW Racing News - 2009 American LeMans Series
    Created: Thursday, July 16, 2009 Author: Jeff
    With only one-thousandth of a second between their qualifying times, the two BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team M3s will start fourth and fifth in the GT2 class for tomorrow’s American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix at Lime Rock Park.   Joey Hand, driving the No. 90 M3, qualified fourth, with a 55.049 second lap around the 1.5-mile circuit. Just a tick of the watch behind, Dirk Mueller qualified the No. 92 M3 in fifth with a 55.050 second lap.   Second and fourth in this morning’s one-hour practice session; the team continued to have a strong second session immediately before today’s qualifying. Five solid weeks of preparation for BMW’s “home” race have paid dividends as both M3s will start only .385 seconds from the front of the GT2 grid.   “We are closing the gap to the class leaders and that is a definite sign of good things to come,” said Hand. “We’ve made progress today and I’m able to trail brake in...
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  • BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM LOOKS TO CONTINUE HISTORY OF BMW M3 SUCCESS AT LIME ROCK PARK
    BMW Racing News - 2009 American LeMans Series
    Created: Monday, July 13, 2009 Author: Jeff
    The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team is well-prepared to continue the momentum made in the first half of its inaugural season following the traditional two-month break in American Le Mans Series action. Adding to the excitement of getting back on track, the July 18 ALMS Northeast Grand Prix will be held at BMW of North America’s “home” track Lime Rock Park, in Lakeville, CT.   BMW of North America M3s have raced at Lime Rock Park in nine previous seasons in five series – never failing to reach the podium - taking six wins, including 1-2-3 GT class finishes in 1997 and 1999.   “Lime Rock Park provides the perfect stage for an excellent handling car and the BMW M3 has always had an affinity for the track,” said Martin Birkmann, BMWNA Motorsport Manager. “We believe the progress made during the break will help us continue to close the gap to our competition and give the fans at Lime Rock an excellent show. The “mountain season&r...
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  • BMW national teams continue WTCC title chase in Brands Hatch.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Sunday, July 12, 2009 Author: Jeff
    The fight for the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) enters its next stage in Brands Hatch (GB) this weekend. The 3.703-kilometre Grand Prix Circuit will host rounds 15 and 16 of the series. A look to the past proves the track suits the BMW 320si WTCC: In 2007 local hero Andy Priaulx (GB) claimed victory for BMW Team UK there, last year BMW Team Germany’s Jörg Müller (DE) made it to the top step of the podium.   Following his 2008 pole position, Müller’s team-mate Augusto Farfus (BR), currently ranked third in the drivers’ classification, is fired up to score his maiden win at this classic circuit. Sergio Hernández (ES) has fully recovered from the foot injury he suffered in an accident in Porto (PT). He and his team-mate, Alessandro Zanardi (IT), equally want to improve the points’ tally of BMW Team Italy-Spain. The BMW 320si WTCC cars with the H-pattern gearbox will carry the same compensation weight (40 kilograms) as t...
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  • BMW driver Augusto Farfus wins 100th WTCC race in Portugal.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Saturday, July 04, 2009 Author: Jeff
    BMW Team Germany’s Augusto Farfus (BR) claimed victory in the 14th round of the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship. At the “Circuito da Boavista”, the 25-year-old took victory in front of the two SEAT drivers, Yvan Muller (FR) and Rickard Rydell (SE), who finished second and third respectively. In the 100th WTCC race since 2005 Farfus celebrated his 11th career win, thus topping the all-time winners’ list in the series. BMW Team UK driver, Andy Priaulx (GB), became the only driver to have contested every WTCC race to date and scored two points by finishing seventh. Farfus’ team-mate Jörg Müller (DE) came eighth.   The first sprint race of the day had to be stopped shortly after the start following a mass collision. Before the red flag came out, BMW Team Italy-Spain’s Sergio Hernández (ES) was involved in a heavy accident, when he was pushed into the wall by another competitor. The 25-year-old suffered a bruised left foot,...
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  • Priaulx claims fourth for BMW in 50th WTCC qualifying since 2005.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Friday, July 03, 2009 Author: Jeff
     In qualifying for the 13th round of the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship, BMW Team UK’s Andy Priaulx (GB) secured a place on the second row of the grid. The triple world champion clocked a lap time of 2:09.563 minutes in the decisive second session and finished fourth at Porto’s “Circuito da Boavista”.   Augusto Farfus (BR) of BMW Team Germany also managed to claim a top-ten result in the 50th qualifying in WTCC history. He will start seventh in the first of the two sprint races on Sunday. SEAT’s Gabriele Tarquini (IT) took pole position, running 0.255 seconds quicker than Priaulx. Chevrolet driver Robert Huff (GB) and Yvan Muller (FR/SEAT) came second and third respectively.   Alessandro Zanardi (IT) narrowly missed out on the second part of qualifying for BMW Team Italy-Spain after finishing 11th in the first phase. BMW Team Germany’s Jörg Müller (DE) followed in 12th. After hitting the barriers during his secon...
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  • 100th World Touring Car Championship race for BMW since 2005.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 Author: Jeff
    The FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) this weekend travels to Porto (PT) for the 99th and 100th races since the series made its comeback in 2005. BMW has unquestionably been the most successful manufacturer in the championship. Eighteen years after BMW driver Roberto Ravaglia (IT) scored the first WTCC title in 1987, Dirk Müller (DE) registered a hat-trick (pole position, fastest lap and overall victory) for BMW on 10th April 2005.   To date the manufacturer has claimed a further 37 wins, with Sergio Hernández (ES) adding his name to the winners’ roll by occupying the top step of the podium in Brno (CZ) for BMW Team Italy-Spain. BMW Team UK’s Andy Priaulx (GB) was crowned world champion three times after winning consecutive titles between 2005 and 2007. While the driver from Guernsey in the Channel Islands won his first title with a BMW 320i, it was with the BMW 320si WTCC, introduced in 2006, that he won the others. Priaulx is the only driver who...
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  • BMW expects difficult WTCC centenary meeting in Porto.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Sunday, June 28, 2009 Author: Jeff
    Following three consecutive victories, BMW this weekend goes to Porto (PT), which marks the start of the second half of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. Thanks to BMW Team Italy-Spain’s Alessandro Zanardi (IT) and Sergio Hernández (ES) claiming a victory each in Brno (CZ), the present points’ score of 153 puts BMW just eight points adrift of SEAT’s tally. In the drivers’ classification the five BMW national team drivers are close. After a disappointing weekend for him in the Czech Republic, Augusto Farfus (BR), from BMW Team Germany, is determined to ratchet up the pressure on points’ leader Yvan Muller (FR/SEAT). The Brazilian’s team-mate, Jörg Müller (DE), BMW Team UK’s Andy Priaulx (GB) and the BMW Team Italy-Spain duo also intend making up ground in the drivers’ rankings.   However, the BMW drivers face a difficult mission in the 99th and 100th rounds since the WTCC started in 2005. Farfus, Müller, ...
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  • Alessandro Zanardi and Sergio Hernández win for BMW in Brno.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Saturday, June 20, 2009 Author: Jeff
    BMW Team Italy-Spain continued its impressive winning streak at the “Automotodrom Brno” today. Alessandro Zanardi (IT) and Sergio Hernández (ES) crossed the line as winners in rounds 11 and 12 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. This makes it four wins out of the last six races in Brno (CZ) for Italian team principal Roberto Ravaglia’s squad. While Zanardi celebrated his fourth WTCC victory, it was first time Hernández had climbed to the top step of the podium.   BMW Team Germany’s Jörg Müller (DE) scored another podium finish by coming second in race one and increased his points’ total to ten by taking seventh in race two. Hernández also scored points in the first race after taking the chequered flag in fifth. Andy Priaulx (GB) from BMW Team UK had to make do with eighth place in round two. His hopes for a big points weekend were destroyed at the start of race one, when BMW Team Germany’s Augusto Farfus (...
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  • Augusto Farfus wins pole position in Brno – Three BMW drivers in front.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Friday, June 19, 2009 Author: Jeff
    BMW Team Germany’s Augusto Farfus (BR) will start round 11 of the FIA World Touring Car Championship from pole position. At the “Automotodrom Brno” the 25-year-old set the best time of 2:09.590 minutes in the decisive second qualifying phase. Just 0,040 seconds behind his fellow BMW driver, Andy Priaulx (GB) qualified second for BMW Team UK in Brno (CZ). Alessandro Zanardi (IT) from BMW Team Italy-Spain came third, so rounding off an excellent overall result for BMW.   The other two BMW national team drivers also managed to get into the top-ten shoot-out. BMW Team Germany’s Jörg Müller (DE) will line up seventh on the grid for the first of Sunday’s two sprint races at the 5.402-kilometre circuit. Zanardi’s team-mate, Sergio Hernández (ES), was ninth.   “It was really tricky to find the perfect set-up for this qualifying,” said Farfus. “Following the wet practice sessions we then had to prepare for dry ...
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  • BMW national teams conclude first half of the WTCC season in Brno.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Sunday, June 14, 2009 Author: Jeff
    The first half of the 2009 FIA World Touring Car Championship comes to an end in Brno (CZ) this weekend. Following the first BMW victory of the season in Valencia (ES), claimed by Augusto Farfus (BR), the BMW national teams again want to play a major role when it comes to fighting for top positions at the “Automotodrom Brno”. For the first time since the Marrakech (MA) rounds, all the title favourites from BMW, SEAT and Chevrolet will compete with the same compensation weight. Farfus, second in the championship, has to load 40 kilograms of ballast on his BMW 320si WTCC car. The same goes for his team-mate Jörg Müller (DE), BMW Team UK’s Andy Priaulx (GB) and Sergio Hernández (ES) from BMW Team Italy-Spain. Hernández team-mate, Alessandro Zanardi (IT), will take the start at the wheel of his BMW 320si WTCC with its sequential gearbox without carrying any ballast. Last year Zanardi was the dominant force in Brno: After scoring his maiden WTCC p...
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  • BMW Team Germany celebrates a one-two in Valencia.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Saturday, May 30, 2009 Author: Jeff
    Augusto Farfus (BR) was the winner of the FIA World Touring Car Championship’s tenth round. At the “Circuit de la Comunitat” in Valencia (ES), the BMW Team Germany driver scored his tenth WTCC victory. Jörg Müller (DE) finished second, thus making it the first BMW one-two since Brno 2008. The other BMW national team drivers also collected points: BMW Team UK’s Andy Priaulx (GB) was fourth, while Alessandro Zanardi (IT) and Sergio Hernández (ES) came fifth and sixth respectively for BMW Team Italy-Spain. In the first race of the day Hernández secured pole position for race two by finishing eighth, with Farfus, Müller and Priaulx coming fourth, fifth and sixth. Victory went to SEAT driver Yvan Muller (FR). In the Drivers’ Championship Farfus successfully reduced the gap to leader Muller. He now has 54 points to his name, just three points less than the 2008 world champion. With 35 points, Priaulx improved to fourth in the overa...
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  • BMW national teams aim to continue upward trend in Valencia.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Author: Jeff
    The FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) approaches its next round. This weekend, the BMW national teams will be battling for points and victories at the “Circuit de la Comunitat” in Valencia (ES). Following the good performance in Pau (FR), where BMW Team Germany’s Augusto Farfus (BR) picked up 16 points and moved to second in the Drivers’ Championship, the BMW drivers are now determined to make up more ground in the World Championship.   However, there is a question mark over the current balance of power in the World Touring Car Championship. The FIA Touring Car Bureau has once again made changes to the technical regulations, including raising the supercharged air pressure of the SEAT turbodiesel engines to 2.7 bar plus overboost spikes which last less than one second.   In addition Farfus, his team-mate, Jörg Müller (DE), BMW Team UK driver Andy Priaulx (GB) and Sergio Hernández (ES) from BMW Team Italy-Spain will line up w...
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  • BMW RAHAL LETTERMAN RACING TEAM UTAH GRAND PRIX RACE SUMMARY
    BMW Racing News - 2009 American LeMans Series
    Created: Monday, May 18, 2009 Author: Jeff
    The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team soldiered to seventh and eighth place finishes in today’s American Le Mans Series Utah Grand Prix. Despite strong qualifying results, prospects for the race outcome were altered at the start. When the green flag flew, a series of car-to-car contacts throughout the field culminated in an incident between the two BMW M3s in Turn One. As a consequence of the collision, teammates Tommy Milner and Bill Auberlen were forced to the pits for extensive repairs in the opening minutes of the race. Each M3 re-entered the race more than five laps down from the GT2 leader. The balance of the race was without incident as Milner pitted the No. 92 M3 after 38 laps to hand over to Dirk Müller. Auberlen pitted eight laps later and Joey Hand took the wheel of the No. 90 M3. Although Müller and Auberlen made late stops for fuel, both drivers were able to regain two class positions over the course of their stints. Martin Birkmann, BMW of North Americ...
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  • Farfus finishes second twice in Pau – Müller also on the podium for BMW.
    BMW Racing News - 2009 FIA WTCC
    Created: Saturday, May 16, 2009 Author: Jeff
    BMW Team Germany’s Augusto Farfus (BR) emerged as the most successful BMW driver in rounds seven and eight of the FIA World Touring Car Championship. He finished second in both races. His team-mate Jörg Müller (DE) joined him on the podium after race one by finishing third, while Chevrolet driver Robert Huff (GB) claimed victory. Alain Menu (CH, Chevrolet) took the win in race two, while Huff came home third. However, Farfus and Müller weren’t the only ones to score points for BMW: BMW Team UK’s Andy Priaulx (GB) finished both races in fourth. BMW Team Italy-Spain also added points to its tally. Sergio Hérnandez (ES) came fifth in race one, Alessandro Zanardi (IT) achieved the same feat in the second race of the day.   In the Drivers’ Championship, Farfus now has 39 points to his name and successfully reduced the gap to the leader, Yvan Muller (FR), to six points. In the manufacturers’ classification, BMW increased its points t...
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