News

Saturday’s fourth round of the VLN Endurance Championship is a very special race. It is the last opportunity to prepare for the Nürburgring 24 Hours (DE), which takes place on the Nordschleife on 21st/22nd June. Having sat out the last VLN race – “PIXUM Team Schubert” powered by Jochen Schweizer was in action in the ADAC GT Masters on the same weekend – the priority for BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert is to complete its preparations, which have run smoothly so far, and to polish up the final details and processes at the track. 

The number 19 BMW Z4 GT3 will line up with exactly the same squad of drivers that will contest the 24-hour race: Lucas Luhr (DE), Dirk Müller (DE), Alexander Sims (GB) and Dirk Werner (DE). Dominik Baumann (AT), Claudia Hürtgen (DE) and Jens Klingmann (DE) will share the driving duties behind the wheel of the number 20 car. The fourth driver, Martin Tomczyk (DE), will be in action in the BMW M4 DTM at the second round of the DTM season in Oschersleben (DE). 

Stefan Wendl (Team Manager Schubert Motorsport): “We will use the dress rehearsal for the 24-hour race to complete the final preparations and to simulate as accurately as possible the actual processes we will encounter during the marathon race in five weeks. That primarily applies to the pit stops, but also for certain on-track situations we will certainly be confronted with at the 24 Hours. I am happy our preparations have gone to plan so far, which means we can actually focus on small details this coming Saturday.” 

Dirk Werner (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 19): “After missing VLN3, I can hardly wait to get back in the cockpit of the BMW Z4 GT3 at the dress rehearsal for the 24-hour race. The entire team’s preparations have gone to plan. Hopefully that will continue to be the case this weekend. For me as a driver, the key is to find and maintain my rhythm on the Nordschleife so I can perform to the best of my ability right from the opening lap in five weeks.” 

Jens Klingmann (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 20): “This season we have had a comparatively long time to prepare for the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Despite this, the dress rehearsal is still rather special, as we will use it to run through everything again and to make sure we have the package we need in five weeks. We will approach VLN4 differently to the previous races – like a mini 24-hour race.”