Next stop, Great Britain: BMW Motorsport heads to Brands Hatch

Munich (DE), 13th May 2013. Following Augusto Farfus’ (BR) and Dirk Werner’s (DE) one-two at the first round of the 2013 DTM in Hockenheim (DE), the BMW teams travel to the second race of the season with the wind in their sails. The “Brands Hatch Circuit” in Great Britain will host the popular touring car series on 19th May. Last year, BMW Team Schnitzer’s Bruno Spengler (CA) stepped onto the podium as runner-up. Martin Tomczyk (DE) of BMW Team RMG finished fourth to score valuable points, and also clocked the fastest race lap in a time of 42.138 seconds.

The race weekend at Brands Hatch is the first of four trips abroad for the DTM this season. Situated south-east of London (GB), the circuit is the shortest on the race calendar at just 1.929 kilometres. The eight BMW drivers will have completed 98 laps in their BMW M3 DTMs by the time they see the chequered flag. A lap of Brands Hatch is like a rollercoaster ride. The Paddock Hill corner – the circuit’s show-piece – is particularly spectacular. After the start/finish straight, the cars accelerate at high speed into a dip to their right.

The circuit is of particular importance to one BMW driver: Andy Priaulx (GB). The three-time World Touring Car Champion cannot wait for his home race. After a difficult start to the season, with Priaulx’s challenge coming to a premature end in Hockenheim due to a technical problem, the BMW Team RMG driver is looking forward to going back on the attack in front of his home fans. In 2007 and 2010 he was victorious for BMW in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) on the longer Grand Prix Circuit. Farfus has also won a race there at the wheel of the BMW 320si WTCC. The duo now returns to the scene of their successes with the BMW M3 DTM.

The race weekend is also special for Farfus and Tomczyk, but for a different reason: immediately after the second round of the DTM, the two drivers, along with BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt, will travel to the Nürburgring (DE). Once in the “Green Hell”, they will be in action in the BMW Z4 GT3 at the iconic 24-hour race.

BMW Motorsport is inviting media representatives to a special kind of interview session on Friday: the eight drivers will be available for interviews on board a typical double-decker bus. The meeting point for the “One Hour on the Bus” tour through the county of Kent is the BMW Motorsport Hospitality at 13:25.

Quotes ahead of the race in Brands Hatch:

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “You cannot anticipate the kind of result we enjoyed at the season-opener in Hockenheim at any race. That would be very foolhardy. However, you can work very hard to ensure a result of that kind is, in principle, possible. The three manufacturers did just that over the winter. And that obviously makes the joy within the team even greater when it results in a one-two like we had last weekend. Qualifying is extremely important at Brands Hatch. Despite DRS and the option tyres, it will still be very difficult to overtake on the narrow track. As in 2012, we will not be drawn into making any rash predictions, but will concentrate on doing our homework and preparing meticulously. We will wait and see how we have got on at the end of the 98 laps in Great Britain.”

Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer): “We enjoyed a very promising opening round of the new DTM season. Dirk Werner made it onto the podium for the first time in his DTM career in Hockenheim, while Bruno Spengler came home fifth to pick up valuable points for our team. It is now important to take this momentum and back up the good impression we made at the first race. The potential is there. The circuit at Brands Hatch is obviously very special. However, we have good memories of the track, thanks to Bruno Spengler’s second place last season. It still remains to be seen what effect the option tyres and DRS will have over the short laps. However, we will be well prepared. Bring on Brands Hatch.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM): “Brands Hatch may be the shortest circuit on the DTM calendar, but it certainly isn't the easiest. We may not have had our best race there last year, but we certainly learnt a lot about the track and we shall be putting that to good use in our preparations. This is a hilly track and, as we saw in 2012, not easy for overtaking. We now have to see how the introduction of DRS and the option tyres will affect what happens on track. I am looking forward to getting there and just hope the British weather is kind to us and gives us some sunshine.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG): “After the disappointing first race of the season, which certainly did not go to plan for us, we want to really go for it at Brands Hatch. We have fond memories of the circuit in Great Britain. Martin Tomczyk finished fourth here last season. With a bit of luck, he could even have finished higher. This will definitely be a very special race weekend for Andy Priaulx, as he will be lining up in front of his home fans. We will do everything we can to ensure he is in a position to get a great result at his home race. I hope my team will finally be rewarded for the hard work it has put in.”

Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK): “There was a fine line between joy and disappointment at our DTM debut in Hockenheim. We were unlucky in qualifying, but were still able to score valuable points in the race. Marco Wittmann, Timo Glock and the entire team gave an indication of just how much potential they have. That gives us an enormous incentive. We are looking to take another step forward, gain more experience and continue the learning process at the next race at Brands Hatch. We will suffer the odd set-back over the course of the season, but that is to be expected. The important thing is that we do not allow them to knock us out of our stride, but continue to work hard to improve.”

Bruno Spengler (car number 1, BMW Team Schnitzer): “At just 1.929 kilometres, the circuit is really short. For that reason, qualifying is very important at Brands Hatch. Only those right at the front of the grid have any chance of a top result. In the past, there have only been a few overtaking opportunities. Maybe, with the introduction of the new option tyres and DRS it will be a different story this season. After finishing fifth at the opening race in Hockenheim, I am fired up ahead of the second race.”

Dirk Werner (car number 2, BMW Team Schnitzer): “Second place in Hockenheim has obviously given me a lot of confidence. That was the perfect start to the new DTM season for me. However, as nice as that success was for me, we all start from scratch again at Brands Hatch. Therefore, I go into the race with the same goals and expectations as ever. I will do my very best again in Britain, and try to come away with a good result. That won’t be easy, as qualifying is extremely close on the short circuit. Every thousandth of a second counts. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Augusto Farfus (car number 7, BMW Team RBM): “The Brands Hatch race is going to be a very interesting one for several reasons. First of all, 98 laps round a circuit that is just under two kilometres long is going to be quite a challenge, and what you would call a busy race. We saw in Hockenheim the effects of the DRS, so here at a circuit where overtaking is traditionally difficult this could make for a very exciting race. Last year traffic management during the race was crucial for a good result and I expect the same will be true this weekend. All in all it will be a busy weekend, as the moment the race is over I shall be heading to the Nürburgring, where I have an appointment for the 24-hour race.”

Joey Hand (car number 8, BMW Team RBM): “Without doubt I am feeling very confident going into our second race of the year on the back of my best result in the DTM in Hockenheim. It is great to have a year of experience under my belt, especially in terms of knowing the circuits. However, Brands Hatch was one of the circuits I did actually know from the past last year. Add to that the extra knowledge BMW Team RBM has of the track from the WTCC days and I expect to be in good form this weekend. The circuit is fun, but with 22 DTM cars on such a short track you are on the go all the time. I reckon the fans could see some pretty awesome racing with the DRS playing a big role.”

Martin Tomczyk (car number 15, BMW Team RMG): “We can expect a similarly exciting race at Brands Hatch to the one we saw in Hockenheim. Under certain circumstances, the option tyres will provide the odd opportunity to overtake – and that would be a revolution at Brands Hatch. Although I will travel on to the Nürburgring 24 Hours after Brands Hatch, the DTM initially takes absolute priority for me. I will be fully focussed on my job with BMW Team RMG. Only once I have crossed the finish line at Brands Hatch will I switch to 24-hour mode.”

Andy Priaulx (car number 16, BMW Team RMG): “My main objectives this weekend are to realise the strong performance that we showed at times in Hockenheim, finish the race and rack up some points. Being a home race can be an added pressure, but one I feel has to be converted into something positive, which means I want to give my fans and family something to cheer about. I never tire of racing on this track and, without doubt, Paddock Hill Bend is up there with my list of the most demanding corners in motorsport. In many ways, this will be an even busier weekend for me and my engineer as, unlike Hockenheim, we have not tested here with the changes. Therefore, I expect the 90 minutes of free practice to be fairly hectic.”

Marco Wittmann (car number 21, BMW Team MTEK): “I am optimistic, and have a good feeling ahead of the race in Great Britain. Above all, I hope I will not have the same kind of misfortune in qualifying as I had last time out in Hockenheim. In the race itself, I had the pace to go on the attack. The big question is what effect the DRS will have on the short track at Brands Hatch. With lower top speeds than in Hockenheim, it probably won’t have quite such a big effect. Let’s wait and see.”

Timo Glock (car number 22, BMW Team MTEK): “I am entering uncharted waters at Brands Hatch, as I have never raced on this circuit before. Because of this, it will be important for BMW Team MTEK and me to get as many kilometres as possible under our belt during the free practice, in order to gather the relative reference values. Only a few hours after the practice session, we will be back out there battling for starting positions in qualifying. Although not everything went entirely to plan at the opening race in Hockenheim, I have taken a lot of positives from my first DTM weekend. The DTM is a fantastic racing series, and I am looking forward to my second appearance.”

BMW