First podiums for the BMW M6 GT3
Sunday, 10th April 2016 - BMWBlancpain GT Series Sprint Cup: Successful start to season for Rowe Racing.
The Rowe Racing team enjoyed a well-nigh perfect start to the new season in the Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup in Misano (IT) at the weekend. Philipp Eng (AT) and Alexander Sims (GB) had to start Saturday’s qualifying race from 30th on the grid, but produced an impressive fightback in difficult conditions to finish second. This represented the first podium for the BMW M6 GT3 in Europe. Eng and Sims returned to the podium after the main race on Sunday afternoon: this time they came home third. Nick Catsburg (NL) and Stef Dusseldorp (NL) finished tenth on Saturday and 29th on Sunday in the second Rowe Racing BMW M6 GT3. As well as the two Rowe Racing cars, another BMW M6 GT3 was in action for the Belgian Boutsen Ginion Racing team in the Pro-Am class. Amateur driver Matias Henkola (FI) received support from BMW works driver Maxime Martin (BE), who had travelled straight to Misano from the DTM test in Hockenheim (DE). The two drivers produced an outstanding performance in the qualifying race, finishing second in the Pro-Am class. The duo then finished third in their class in the main race. Martin was in positive spirits at the end of the weekend: “Unfortunately we were spun at the start, but third place in the Pro-Am class is quite okay. It was the first time for the team and for my co-driver Matias. All in all it was a positive weekend.” This year’s Blancpain GT Series Sprint Cup consists of five events. The next races take place in Brands Hatch (GB) on 7th and 8th May.
All races are broadcasted live on www.blancpain-gt-series.com. The next race in the Blancpain Series GT Endurance Cup will take place on the 23rd - 24th of May in Monza / Italy.
Japanese Super GT Championship: Third place for BMW Team Studie at season-opener in Okayama.
Successful start to the season for BMW Team Studie: The first race weekend of the 2016 Japanese Super GT Championship at the Okayama International Circuit (JP) saw the Japanese team finish on the podium in the GT300 class. This was also the first podium finish for the new BMW M6 GT3 in Asia. Starting from third on the grid, BMW works driver Jörg Müller (DE) and his team-mate Seiji Ara (JP) remained on course for a spot on the podium throughout the entire race, and ultimately crossed the finish line in third place. The second BMW M6 GT3, run by Autobacs Racing Team Aguri and driven by Japanese duo Shinichi Takagi and Takashi Kobayashi, came home eleventh. Round two of the Japanese Super GT Championship is in Fuji (JP) on 3rd May.
