News

Preparations for the Nürburgring 24 Hours (DE) are entering their critical stage. This Saturday, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert will send two BMW Z4 GT3s into action at the opening race of the VLN Endurance Championship, where they will face the strong opposition on the iconic Nordschleife for the first time this year.

Lucas Luhr (DE), Alexander Sims (GB) and Dirk Werner (DE) will alternate in the cockpit of the number 19 car over the course of the four-hour race. Luhr and Werner were also in action at last week’s test and set-up sessions, where a trouble-free car meant they were able to complete numerous laps. Driving duties in the number 20 BMW Z4 GT3 will be shared by Dominik Baumann (AT), Jens Klingmann (DE) and Martin Tomczyk (DE). Like Luhr and Werner, Klingmann was also involved in the test and set-up sessions, where he alternated behind the wheel with Claudia Hürtgen (DE). The 60th ADAC Westfalenfahrt gets underway at 12:00 on Saturday.

Stefan Wendl (Team Manager Schubert Motorsport): “We were able to implement our programme with the BMW Z4 GT3 as planned at the test and set-up sessions, and hope that the opening VLN race is equally successful. We have already taken a very big step in the right direction as far as reliability is concerned. BMW Motorsport did a very good job over the winter. We saw that at the 24 Hours of Dubai, when we were able to complete the race without a hint of a technical fault. Our task at the preparatory races on the Nordschleife is now to optimise the performance of the car and the processes within the team.”

Dirk Werner (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 19): “The test and set-up sessions were the first time I had driven on the Nordschleife for about three years. It was a challenge to find my feet on the track again. A few places have been resurfaced, which has made the circuit even faster. For this reason, it was important for me to get a few laps under my belt before the first race weekend. I am really looking forward to the season-opener in the VLN, as this is the first time we will line up against our opposition.”

Jens Klingmann (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 20): “Last weekend I returned to the Nordschleife for the first time since the 24-hour race in 2013, and I needed a few laps to adapt to the ‘Green Hell’ again. The asphalt and kerbs are different in a few sections, but at least I now know this ahead of the start of the VLN season. I am looking forward to racing again. The car is running flawlessly, so we should be up there with the front-runners right from the word go.”