BMW lines up again in 2009 WTCC - Return to the ALMS.

Munchen, November 30, 2008: In 2009 BMW Motorsport will put its touring and sports car programmes into action on several popular stages, and will use racing versions of the BMW 3 series to fight for victories and titles.

BMW once again take part in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, where the marque will be aiming to recapture the World Championship titles it missed out on with the BMW 320si WTCC in 2008. The newly developed BMW M3 ALMS will line up in the American Le Mans Series, where it is charged with writing another chapter in the success story of BMW in the US. “Touring cars have traditionally been very important to BMW,” says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. “The same applied to GT sport, to which we are returning in 2009 with the new BMW M3. Our commitment to the World Touring Car Championship and the ALMS will allow us to demonstrate the sporting properties of our cars to a wider public.”

Between 2005 and 2007, BMW won all the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ Championships in the WTCC. Last year it had to make do with second place for the first time. Theissen explains: “I am pleased that a compromise was reached regarding the 2009 rules. This balances out the different engine concepts and should allow for fair and even competition between the manufacturers. We are absolutely determined to be back at the top of the WTCC at the finale of the 2009 season in Macau. We shall announce our team and driver line up at a later point in time.”