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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.

BTCC Season Finale

Ash Sutton arrived at the final round of the series, with a 32 point advantage over Colin Turkington. But, as we know, the BTCC can turn up some real surprises, so Sutton was mindful of the fact that one DNF could change everything.

BMW had a brilliant hospitality unit just for BMW owners, with an exclusive viewing balcony and refreshments. BMW really knows a thing or two about looking after customers.

Qualifying

The Norlin Honda Civics locked out the front row of the grid, Senna Proctor secured pole from Josh Cook. Ash Sutton was sixth, but crucially the WSR BMW of rival Colin Turkington could only muster eighth, not the best place to try and get the points back. Stephen Jelley was ninth, and Ciceley BMW driver Tom Chilton 10th, his best qualifying position of the season. After finally getting to grips with rear wheel drive, Chilton then announced he was to leave Ciceley Motorsport and go back to a front wheel drive car for the 2022 season. Further back was Tom Oliphant in 14th and Adam Morgan 16th.

Race 1

From the off the two Hondas immediately wull out a gap from the following pack. Colin Turkington went up a place and right behind Sutton’s Infiniti. Ditto Chilton who was fighting with the Infiniti of Aiden Moffatt for 8th. The safety car was out on lap five to recover the Ford Focus of Andy Neate. Racing resumed on lap seven, Turkington was still behind Sutton and needed to get a move on to reduce the points advantage. At the flag it was Josh Cook taking the win from team mate Proctor. Crucially though Colin Turkington couldn’t find a way past Sutton in seventh, so an even bigger mountain to climb for race two. Tom Chilton was ninth, Oliphant 11th, Morgan 15th, and Jelly way down in 22nd.

Race 2

Could Colin Turkington put Ash Sutton under pressure for the second outing of the day? From the start Turkington passed Sutton into Paddock Hill Bend, rubbing Sutton in the process. At the Druids hairpin, Senna Proctor outbraked himself and went off into the gravel. And there was big drama though further up the field, as Tom Chilton tried to pass Ollie Jackson, touching the Ford causing it to spin right into the path of Tom Oliphant, who then spun Jackson into Adam, wrecking both cars. Three BMWs out in seconds. The safety car came out for a good few laps to recover the carnage. When the racing restarted, Sutton was still behind Turkington, which is all he needed to do. Another safety car again late in the race on lap 14 meant there wasn’t much chance for Turkington to make up any ground. He did grab one place bringing him up to fourth, but sixth was enough for Ash Sutton to retain his title. Colin Turkington was the bridesmaid again.

Race 3

The reverse grid draw for the final race put Stephen Jelly on pole in the WSR BMW, with Tom Chilton in the Ciceley BMW second. Could Chilton bow out

Colin Turkington comes second best to the Infiniti of Ash Sutton in this year’s championship.

with a win in his final BMW outing? Colin Turkington was sixth, Tom Oliphant and Adam Morgan 28th and 29th after race two’s scrummage.

Jelly and Chilton got their 330Ms off the line well and led the field on lap one. Lap two and Chilton had slipped to fourth, that win was looking unlikely. Colin Turkington retired. Lap five and new champ Sutton took the lead from Rowbottom’s Honda. Chilton was then back up to third, and a chance at a podium. On lap 10, Jake Hill tagged Stephen Jelly, spinning the BMW out of contention. At the flag it was Ash Sutton, from Dan Rowbottom. Tom Chilton the highest placed BMW in 6th, and his best of the season. Tom Oliphant 15th and Adam Morgan 16th. Not a great showing for the BMW challenge.

Thanks for reading my reports. Will keep you up to date with off season developments, especially who will be replacing Tom Chilton in the second Ciceley BMW.

Colin Turkington wins the BTCC Goodyear Wingfoot award

Awarded to the best qualifier of the season, the BTCC Goodyear Wingfoot award was this year given to WSR’s Colin Turkington. Pictured here with his son Lewis.