Nürburgring, 19th August 2012. BMW’s second victory of its comeback season: Bruno Spengler (CA) won the sixth DTM race of the year at the Nürburgring (DE). The 28-year-old, at the wheel of the BMW Bank M3 DTM, crossed the line 6.703 seconds clear of runner-up Edoardo Mortara (IT, Audi). Martin Tomczyk (DE) came home in third in his BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM.
After the triumph at the Lausitzring (DE) in just the second race back after a 20-year absence from the DTM, Spengler, who started from pole, once again led from start to finish in the Eifel Mountains. Thanks to two immaculate pit stops by BMW Team Schnitzer and a flawless 49-lap drive, the Canadian presented BMW with its 51st victory in the DTM – and the perfect close to the festivities marking the 40th birthday of BMW M. As well as the win and pole position, Spengler also clocked the fastest race lap in a time of 1:25.185 minutes. It was his 11th triumph in the DTM. BMW Team Schnitzer claimed its 19th win in the series. When BMW last tasted success in the DTM at the Nürburgring on 3rd September 1990, courtesy of Emanuele Pirro (IT) in a BMW M3, Charly Lamm was again on the pit wall as Team Principal. Since 1984, BMW has won nine times in the DTM.
BMW Motorsport rounded off the sixth race weekend of the year, which was followed by 89,000 fans, by celebrating podium finishes seven and eight of the season. Tomczyk climbed onto the podium for the third time in a row, following two second places in Spielberg (AT) and at the Norisring (DE). In the drivers’ standings, Spengler has moved into second place thanks to his victory. He now has 83 points to his name and has reduced the gap to the leader, Gary Paffett (GB, Mercedes), to 20 points. Tomczyk remains in fourth place on 69 points.
Augusto Farfus (BR), at the wheel of the Castrol EDGE BMW M3 DTM, crossed the line in tenth to pick up a point. Spengler’s team-mate Dirk Werner (DE) ended the race in 12th in the E-POSTBRIEF BMW M3 DTM. Joey Hand (US, SAMSUNG BMW M3 DTM) and Andy Priaulx (GB, Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM) finished 18th and 19th respectively. This coming weekend, the three BMW teams head to Zandvoort (NL) for the seventh round of the year.
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“That is an absolute dream result for us. Bruno Spengler’s second victory for BMW after yesterday’s pole position, coupled with third place for Martin Tomczyk, were the icing on the cake on a perfect race weekend. I am unbelievably proud of the whole team. We could hardly have wished for a better present on the 40th birthday of BMW M. Bruno controlled the race from start to finish. Martin was able to fight his way onto the podium from fifth on the grid, thanks to a great strategy and a nice overtaking manoeuvre. The pit stops worked perfectly. BMW Team Schnitzer and the Nürburgring are simply a perfect match for each other. A Schnitzer BMW M3 was also responsible for the most recent BMW win in the DTM on this track almost exactly 22 years ago. That was our ninth DTM triumph at the Nürburgring, and one that we will celebrate accordingly.”