For BMW Motorsport Fans Only - Party and Sports Trophy
BMW
Corporate Communications
- BMW Motorsport party in Seefeld.
- BMW Motorsport schedule 2004.
- BMW Sports Trophy 2003.
- BMW expands sponsors' portfolio.
BMW Motorsport party in Seefeld.
Day on ice.
Seefeld (AUT), 7th December 2003. Saturday saw BMW and a gathering of 600
guests in the Austrian town of Seefeld celebrating the successful season for
Formula One and the European Touring Car Championship. Attending the party
were the Formula One drivers of the BMW WilliamsF1 Team, Juan Pablo Montoya
with wife Connie and Ralf and Cora Schumacher, along with test driver Marc
Gené,
and the BMW works drivers from the European Touring Car Championship, Dirk
and Jörg Müller. Also joining in the celebrations were another two dozen
racing
drivers who had claimed motor racing successes around the world for BMW in
2003. In the evening, the most successful of the independent drivers were
honoured at the traditional award ceremony of the BMW Sports Trophy, worth a
total of 241,000 euros.
Fun and games preceded the festivities: the 1,800-square-metre open-air ice
stadium at the Olympia Sport and Congress Centre in Seefeld was the venue
for
curling and ice hockey competitions in the afternoon, with the three F1
drivers
forming one team and the two Müllers plus BMW Motorsport Director Mario
Theissen making up the other. Tackling the ice on BMW mountain bikes, even
with
spike tyres, and in a Formula BMW race car also demanded considerable skill.
The drivers' motivation to break the dominance of the colour red was evident
even
when they dressed up as Santa Claus: donning blue and white coats, they
handed
out sweets to delighted spectators.
Enjoying the Christmas market in the medieval ambience of the BMW Motorsport
Castle and the party that followed were, among others, BMW Board Member
Professor Burkhard Göschel, WilliamsF1 bosses Frank Williams and Patrick
Head,
outgoing BMW Motorsport Director Gerhard Berger, ex-Formula One world
champion Keke Rosberg, Leopold Prince of Bavaria, Alessandro Zanardi, TV
celebrity Wolfgang Fierek and TV presenter Barbara Schöneberger, who hosted
the varied entertainment programme with occasional assistance from Hans-
Joachim Stuck.
Press contact: Jörg Kottmeier, tel. +49 (0) 89 - 382 23401,
joerg.kottmeier@bmw.de.
Photo material of the afternoon events, press conference and BMW Motorsport
Party is
downloadable at www.press.bmw.com.
TV footage is available from Markus Appelhans, tel. +49 (0) 160 - 9085 6894.
BMW Motorsport schedule 2004.
On the offensive in Formula One, the ETCC und 24-hour events;
promotion of young driving talent and customer teams.
Seefeld (AUT), 6th December 2003. Challenging and diverse is how one might
describe the BMW Motorsport programme for 2004. It was presented at a press
conference on Saturday in the Austrian town of Seefeld by BMW Motorsport
Director Mario Theissen: "The number one priority is naturally our challenge
for the
Formula One World Championship with the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. I believe
we've got what it takes. We have developed a further new engine in Munich
and
we want to set the benchmark for Formula One again in 2004 with the BMW P84.
Our partner WilliamsF1 has announced the second innovative chassis in
succession, and we can continue to depend on our successful drivers Juan
Pablo
Montoya, Ralf Schumacher and Marc Gené."
On the touring car racing front, BMW is similarly preparing to launch its
offensive
with the BMW 320i in the hands of national teams in the European Touring Car
Championship (ETCC), as well as two BMW M3 GTRs fielded in the 24-hour
events on the Nürburgring and at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). Theissen: "We want
to defend our Manufacturers' title in the ETCC. The sports authorities have
yet to
make a decision concerning the Drivers' title for 2003. As for 2004, we
certainly
have it in our sights."
Dirk and Jörg Müller have already been confirmed as ETCC drivers for BMW
Team
Germany managed by Schnitzer-Motorsport. Both works driver contracts have
been extended to 2005 inclusive. The two namesakes will also be competing in
the
24-hour races. Theissen: "The BMW M3 GTR with its V8 engine is one of the
most
spectacular touring cars BMW has ever produced. We would like to see
European
endurance wins next year added to its record of successes and titles in the
2001
American Le Mans Series."
The company's commitment to promoting young driving talent is also being
expanded. While the Formula BMW ADAC Championship enters its third year in
Germany, Formula BMW Asia will embark on its second season. 2004 will see
the
inauguration of the Formula BMW UK and Formula BMW USA series. As Theissen
explains, "Formula BMW has established itself as the first port of call for
drivers
around the world wanting to enter into formula racing, thanks to its modern
racing
technology and unrivalled safety standards. The same applies to its
multidisciplinary training programme and scholarships."
The backing of customer teams in mass motorsport events will continue as
before.
This includes bonus payments for successes in the newly created DMSB
Production Car Championship, which replaces the German Touring Car Challenge
(DTC), and the annual invitation to contend for the lucrative BMW Sports
Trophy.
BMW Sports Trophy 2003.
Andy Priaulx is the most successful private BMW driver in the world.
Seefeld (AUT), 7th December 2003. British driver Andy Priaulx emerged as the
world's most successful private BMW driver of 2003. The 29-year-old was
hailed as
the discovery of the season in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC),
taking third place overall with BMW Team Great Britain fielded by Bart
Mampaey.
Priaulx's performance in the BMW 320i - three wins, one second place and two
thirds - helped BMW to the Manufacturers' title in the European Touring Car
Championship.
This was the 38th presentation of the BMW Sports Trophy, which carries a
total
purse of 241,000 euros. Trophy winner Priaulx was presented with prize money
of
35,000 euros at the BMW Motorsport party in Seefeld (Tyrol/AUT) on Saturday.
Based on the Sports Trophy's coefficient system, he managed to accumulate
520
points.
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen presented the prizes to the 20 best
independent BMW drivers, emphasising: "I have great respect for the
commitment
of these racing drivers and their teams. By nature it's the top-echelon
events and
works motor racing that take centre stage, but these ambitious privateers
fly the
flag for BMW in mass motorsport around the globe. They compete against other
marques in various classes and a variety of vehicle and drivetrain concepts.
Thanks to their assertiveness on the race track, they display BMW's
technical
competence in a wide range of motorsport categories."
With a total of 425 points, last year's trophy winner Duncan Huisman (NLD)
was
this year's runner-up in the traditional award. In the ETCC the 32-year-old
won the
Independents' Trophy with Team Carly Motors and, likewise in a BMW 320i, he
came first in the famous touring car race in Macau - for the third time in
succession.
Taking third place in the BMW Sports Trophy 2003 was Casper Elgaard (25) of
Denmark. In his BMW 320i he claimed three wins and six further podium places
for
the Essex Invest Team in the Danish Touring Car Championship. His results
produced a tally of 355 trophy points.
The best German driver was 32-year-old Claudia Hürtgen from Aachen, who took
fifth place with 313 points. She made her mark with a BMW 320i in the 2003
German Touring Car Challenge (DTC) by becoming the first woman to take a
German touring car title. Driving for Team Schubert Motorsport, she claimed
two
individual victories and never finished outside the first five.
All placings BMW Sports Trophy 2003:
Driver Vehicle Points;
Successes
1. Andy Priaulx (GBR) BMW 320i 520;
3rd place ETCC
2. Duncan Huisman (NLD) BMW 320i 425;
7th place ETCC
3. Casper Elgaard (DNK) BMW 320i 355;
2nd place Danish TCC
4. John Nielsen (DNK) BMW 320i 335;
3rd place Danish TCC
5. Claudia Hürtgen (GER) BMW 320i 313; 1st place DTC, works
driver
Nürburgring 24 Hours (BMW M3
GTR)
6. Fabrizio Giovanardi (ITA) BMW 320i 310;
9th place ETCC
7. Richard Göransson (SWE) BMW 320i 280;
5th place Swedish TCC
8. Franz Engstler (GER) BMW 320i 279;
3rd place DTC
9. Antonio Garcia (ESP) BMW 320i 270;
8th place ETCC
10. Gianluca de Lorenzi (ITA) BMW 320i 250; 2nd place Italian Super
Production Car
Championship
11. Tom Coronel (NLD) BMW 320i 235;
10th place ETCC
12. Thomas Winkelhock (GER) BMW 320i 232;
5th place DTC
13. Robert Senkyr (CZE) BMW M3 213; 1st place European
Hillclimb
Championship
14. Johannes Scheid (GER) BMW M3 205.5; 6th place German
Endurance
GTRS Championship, Nürburgring,
Class VLN
Special, 2nd place
Nürburgring 24 Hours
15. Claus Müller (GER) BMW M3 200; 1st place German
Endurance
Championship, Nürburgring,
Class SP5
Helmut Abels (GER) BMW M3 200; 1st place German
Endurance
Championship, Nürburgring,
Class SP5
17. Davide Bertozzi (ITA) BMW 320i 190; 2nd place Italian Super
Production Car
Championship
Francesco Iorio (ITA) BMW 320i 190; 1st place Campionato
Italiano Velocità
Turismo
19. Patrik Ernstson (SWE) BMW 320i 181;
10th place Swedish TCC
20. Rainer Krug (GER) BMW M3 180;
5th place European Hillclimb
Championship
TCC = Touring Car Championship
DTC = German Touring Car Challenge
ETCC = European Touring Car Championship
Other BMW successes in 2003 outside the Sports Trophy.
2nd place FIA Formula One Constructors' World Championship, BMW
WilliamsF1 Team, Juan Pablo Montoya (third place) and Ralf
Schumacher
(fifth place), two one-two finishes (Schumacher ahead of Montoya in
Europe and France), two single victories (Montoya in Monaco and
Germany), four pole positions (Schumacher three, Montoya one)
1st place Manufacturers' category FIA European Touring Car
Championship
(ETCC) and 2nd place Drivers' category. BMW Team Germany (Schnitzer-
Motorsport), Jörg Müller, BMW 320i
1st place Russian Touring Car Championship, Mikhail Ukhov, BMW 320i
1st place Speed World Challenge for touring cars in the USA, Bill
Auberlen,
BMW 325i. (Note: BMW also claimed its second SCCA Touring Car
manufacturer's championship.)
1st place German Hillclimb Championship, Group CN sports cars,
Herbert
Stenger, Stenger BMW
1st place DMSB Hillclimb Cup for touring cars, Jörg Weidinger, BMW
318is,
Group G
1st place Touring Car race 2003 in Macau, Duncan Huisman, BMW 320i
Maximilian Götz won the Formula BMW ADAC Championship; Sebastian
Vettel won the rookie category for newcomers to the championship
Ho-Pin Tung took the Formula BMW Asia Championship title; Kyong-Ouk
You was best rookie
BMW expands sponsors' portfolio.
PUMA, O2 and Gore for the 2004 season.
Seefeld (AUT), 7th December 2003. BMW is launching the 2004 Formula One
season with two new official suppliers and another promotional partner: The
sports
article company PUMA and mobile network operator O2 are official suppliers,
Gore
is supporting the BMW WilliamsF1 Team as a promotional partner. "We are very
pleased about the commitment of these companies," commented BMW Motorsport
Director Mario Theissen, "they constitute a good fit with BMW and will be an
outstanding addition to our portfolio of sponsors."
PUMA and BMW have concluded a supplier contract for the coming three years.
PUMA will provide shoes, team clothing and fireproof racing gear for the BMW
WilliamsF1 Team. Water-resistant and windproof high-tech materials with
active
breathing will be supplied by W. L. Gore Associates GmbH for the team's
use.
The BMW WilliamsF1 Team and PUMA have also developed a motorsport
collection which can be obtained through BMW Sales and in PUMA Concept
Stores from March 2004. PUMA is represented in more than 80 countries
and was already making driving shoes in the 1970s.
The F1 commitment by Munich mobile phone provider O2 underpins an
existing partnership with BMW. Cooperation with the BMW WilliamsF1
Team will involve incentive and marketing measures. These include
merchandising articles in the team design being offered through the O2
shops, together with a broad range of WAP and SMS information services
on the subject of motorsport and current news.
O2 Germany GmbH Co. OHG is a subsidiary of mmO2 plc with 19.2 million
customers in Great Britain, Ireland and Germany. The product range
includes post-paid and prepaid products, and mobile data services based on
GPRS technology. O2 will also launch products for the next UMTS mobile
phone generation.
