Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“At the very top of my success list this week is not a race result –
as impressive as they were. I am absolutely thrilled that starting
from the 2026 season, we will have our own cup class for the BMW M2
Racing in the NLS. This is exactly the kind of application we
developed our new entry-level model for. It definitely belongs on the
Nordschleife. Now, on to the sporting side: Once again, these were two
fantastic weeks for BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers around the
world. In the North American SRO racing series, the BMW M4 GT3 EVO and
BMW M4 GT4 EVO continue to dominate the action. A special highlight is
the incredible season that Random Vandals Racing is delivering in both
the GT3 and GT4 categories. Turner Motorsport is also impressing
across multiple series. I am also very pleased about the victory for
FK Performance Motorsport in the prestigious ADAC GT Masters. Beyond
that, there were many more BMW M Motorsport customers who were able to
celebrate successes in this decisive stage of the season. I am
delighted for each and every one of them and send my heartfelt
congratulations. Now it’s about reaping the well-deserved rewards in
the form of titles.”
—
NLS: BMW M2 Racing to get its own cup class in its debut season.
Right in its debut season in 2026, the BMW M2 Racing will conquer the
“Green Hell”. The new entry-level race car from BMW M
Motorsport will receive its own cup class as part of the Nürburgring
Endurance Series (NLS). This places the car in the footsteps of its
predecessors, the BMW M235i Racing, BMW M240i Racing, and BMW M2 CS
Racing. The BMW M2 Racing has already passed its first test races on
the Nordschleife, including the 24-hour race, with flying colours.
Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, stated: “With the BMW M2
Racing, we are continuing a proud tradition. Like its predecessors, it
will redefine the entry-level segment. It is affordable, powerful,
easy to maintain, and cost-efficient, with the typical M precision and
drivability – ideal conditions for its own cup class on the
Nordschleife.” VLN Managing Director Mike Jäger added: “We
are delighted that there will once again be a cup class for the BMW M2
Racing in 2026. BMW cup cars have provided thrilling racing in the
past. In 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2024, they produced the champions of
our series.” The NLS will kick off its 50th season on 14th March 2026.
—
ADAC GT Masters (5th-7th September): Zimmermann and Fourie win
at the Salzburgring.
At the fourth round of the ADAC GT Masters at the Salzburgring (AUT),
BMW M Motorsport triumphed. Title contenders Tim Zimmermann (GER) and
Leyton Fourie (RSA) won the Sunday race after Fourie had put the #11
BMW M4 GT3 EVO on pole position. “My qualifying lap was one of the
best I’ve ever driven,” said Fourie on Sunday. “From that moment, we
knew we had a clear track, a good car for the race, and just needed to
execute properly.” With their second win of the season, the
German-South African duo from FK Performance Motorsport closed to
within eight points of the championship lead. On Saturday, Sandro and
Juliano Holzem (both GER) took third place in the #56 BMW M4 GT3 EVO
of Schubert Motorsport. On Sunday they narrowly missed the podium,
finishing fourth.
—
GT World Challenge America (5th-7th September): BMW M4 GT3 EVO
triumphs again at Barber Motorsports Park.
The BMW M4 GT3 EVO’s winning streak in GT World Challenge America
continued at Barber Motorsports Park. Championship leaders Kenton Koch
and Connor De Phillippi (both USA) celebrated their next victory in
the #99 Random Vandals Racing car, winning Saturday’s race. Also on
the podium were their teammates Bill Auberlen and Varun Choksey (both
USA), who finished third in the #51 BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Koch and De
Phillippi claimed another podium on Sunday, finishing third. In the
Pro-Am category, class leaders Robby Foley and Justin Rothberg (both
USA) also added another win, taking the category victory on Saturday
with the #29 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Turner Motorsport.
—
GT America (5th-7th September): Justin Rothberg celebrates
sixth win of the season.
Justin Rothberg (USA) competes not only in GT World Challenge America
but also in GT America with the #29 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Turner
Motorsport. At Barber Motorsports Park, the young American scored his
sixth win of the season. After finishing fourth on Saturday, Rothberg
was unbeatable in Sunday’s race. With his latest victory, he further
extended his championship lead. “The car felt really good,” Rothberg
said afterward. “We had some understeer issues on Saturday, and the
Turner guys took care of it completely. I just had to focus and do my
job. I’m getting better at telling the team what I need from the car,
but it really helps having Robby (Foley) here. He knows this BMW
inside and out. I’m getting closer. I just try to keep learning from him.”
—
GT4 America (5th-7th September): Full program, full success
for the BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
It was a packed weekend for GT4 America teams at Barber Motorsports
Park (USA) – and once again a complete success for the BMW M4 GT4 EVO.
The action kicked off Friday with the rescheduled race from Road
America (USA), previously cancelled due to bad weather. In the overall
and Silver class standings, Kevin Boehm and Kenton Koch (both USA) in
the #97 Random Vandals Racing car claimed their sixth overall win of
the season. Their teammates Sam Craven and Josh Green (both USA)
finished second in Pro-Am, ahead of fellow BMW drivers James Walker
Jr. and Tyler McQuarrie (both USA / BimmerWorld Racing). In the Am
class, it was a BMW 1-2-3. Paul Sparta and Darius Trinka (both USA /
Random Vandals Racing) won ahead of James Clay/Charlie Postins (both
USA / BimmerWorld Racing) and Laura Hayes/Allen Patten (both USA /
Thunder Bunny Racing).
On Saturday and Sunday, the two Barber round races followed.
Boehm/Koch added another Silver class win (P2 overall) on Saturday. In
Pro-Am, Craven/Green and Walker Jr./McQuarrie collected more podium
finishes. Am class wins again went to BMW teams when Sparta/Trinka
repeated their Friday victory on Saturday, while Hayes/Patten claimed
Sunday’s win. Clay/Postins added a second and third place in class.
—
GT4 Australia (5th-7th September): Overall and class victory
for the BMW M4 GT4.
The penultimate round of GT4 Australia at The Bend (AUS) ended with
an overall and a class win for the BMW M4 GT4. The big weekend winners
were Ryder Quinn and Steve Jakic (both AUS). Although competing in the
Silver-Am category rather than the top class, the duo clinched an
outright win in the second race with the #3 BMW M4 GT4 of Thunder
Buddies / TekworkX, thanks in large part to Quinn’s impressive
comeback drive in the second half. It was their first overall victory
in GT4 Australia. In the battle for the Am class title, Jacob Lawrence
(AUS) in the #32 BMW M4 GT4 of Randall Racing claimed a class win in
race one and finished second in race two. The season finale will be
held at Hampton Downs (NZL) in early November.
—
GT Cup Series (5th-7th September): Jesse Krohn wins in Brno.
The GT Cup Series round at Brno (CZE) featured a prominent guest
driver, BMW works driver and this year’s Nürburgring 24h winner Jesse
Krohn (FIN), racing the BMW M4 GT3 of Racing Trevor. He showed his
skills by taking a commanding GT3 class win in the first sprint race,
finishing second overall. Behind him, Jürgen Alzen (GER) in the BMW M4
GT3 of H&R Spezialfedern finished fourth overall. In the endurance
race, Krohn and Gregor Zsigo (SVK) secured third place in the GT3
class. Second place went to Rudolf Beňo and Richard Gonda (both SVK)
in the BMW M4 GT3 of Aries Racing, who led most of the race before
being caught near the end. The second sprint race delivered two photo
finishes and two BMW M Motorsport winners: Rudolf Beňo won the GT3
class by 0.110 seconds, and Dobroslav Kárník (SVK) in the BMW M4 GT4
EVO of Šenkýř Motorsport took the GT4 class win by 0.091 seconds.
Šenkýř Motorsport also collected further GT4 podiums across the weekend.
—
GT World Challenge Asia (29th-31st August): Ruan and Oosten
defend championship lead.
The fifth and penultimate round of the GT World Challenge Asia 2025
was held in Okayama, Japan. Ruan Cun Fan (CHN) and Maxime Oosten (NED)
claimed another Silver-Am podium and defended their class championship
lead. Driving the #89 BMW M4 GT3 EVO of Team KRC, they finished third
in class on Sunday after taking fourth on Saturday. Ruan and Oosten
now hold a 36-point lead over their nearest rivals. The finale will
take place in Beijing (CHN) in mid-October.
—
GT4 European Series (29th-31st August): Podiums for the BMW M4
GT4 EVO in the Eifel region.
At the Nürburgring, the GT4 European Series held its penultimate
round of the season, with three podium finishes for the BMW M4 GT4
EVO. BMW M Racing Academy member Berkay Besler (TUR) and teammate
Gabriele Piana (ITA) took the #12 Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport car to
the podium twice, third overall in race one and second in race two –
matching their Silver class results. Viktor Bouveng and Joakim Walde
(both SWE) also secured second place in the Pro-Am category in
Saturday’s race with the #98 BMW M4 GT4 EVO of Schubert Motorsport.
—
Belcar Series (29th-31st August): BMW M Motorsport teams
successful at the 24h Zolder.
At the end of August, teams in the Belcar Series faced their next
endurance challenge at the 24h Zolder (BEL). BMW M Motorsport teams
competed with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO and other BMW race cars – and found
success. In the GTS class, Hamofa Motorsport secured second place with
the BMW M4 GT4 EVO, while BMS Motorsport took third with another BMW
M4 GT4. Additional class wins followed as Stevens Motorsport triumphed
in the SS category with the BMW M2, IR Pwrd by GRT Motorsport won the
CS class with a BMW G20 CS, and BMW Team Van der Horst celebrated a
double win in the CC class with their BMW 325i.