motorsportnews BMW Junior Team concludes successful first NLS season The BMW Junior Team ended its first season of the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) season with the BMW Team RMG-prepared M6 GT3 on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Even though a retirement in the final race prevented them winning a title, the year was a success for Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER) and Neil Verhagen (USA). The team took two wins and a total of four podium finishes in the BMW M6 GT3, which resulted in a second place overall in the GT3 category in the NLS Speed Trophy. What was even more impressive is the fact that the M6 GT3 that the Junior team were competing in is an ageing race car, which will be retired at the end of 2021 by BMW Motorsport. The rapid development of the BMW Junior Team, with victories at the fourth and fifth NLS races of the season at the Nordschleife, as well as a second and third place in the second half of the season, have finally proven that Harper, Hesse and Verhagen have arrived in the ranks of the top GT drivers. Promising young talents have become seasoned winning drivers within a very short time, and with the new M4 GT3 flagship of BMW Motorsport awaiting them for the 2022 NLS season, overall victory at the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race will also be at stake.
Ones to watch in the future, BMW Junior Team members (L-R) Neil Verhagen, Dan Harper and Max Hesse
The BMW Team RMG #44 M6 GT3 clinched victory at the Nurburgring earlier this season
BMW M4 GT4 wins ADAC GT4 title! The Team Hofor Racing/Bonk Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 driven by Michael Schrey (GER) and Gabriele Piana (ITA) cruised to the title in the final race of the season at the Nurburgring. In total, Schrey and Piana achieved five victories during the season in their F82-based M4 GT4, four of them in the first four races. These wins laid the foundation for eventually taking the eventual title. In the end, the two experienced drivers had a lead of eleven points at the race finish, securing the GT4 driver’s title. Hofor Racing/ Bonk Motorsport finished second in the team standings.
BMW wins GT4 title in the Italian GT Championship Monza was the fitting setting for the final round of the Italian GT Championship. In the GT4 category, the BMW Team Italia #215 M4 GT4 driven by Nicola Neri, Giuseppe Fascicolo (both ITA) and Alfred Nilsson (SWE) secured yet another class victory. The team clinched the GT4 title in their M4 GT4, showing just how competitive the F82 M4 GT4 race car still is. Such success bodes well for the following seasons with the new G82-based M4 GT4 racing car that’s already showing great pace in testing.
The Team Hofor Racing/Bonk Motorsport BMW M4 GT4 driven by Michael Schrey (GER) and Gabriele Piana (ITA) cruises over the finish line to secure the Drivers ADAC GT4 title. The team were also runners up in the team trophy
14 BMW Car Club Magazine December 2021
www.bmwcarclubgb.uk
