Successful European debut for BMW M3 GT2.

For the BMW M3 GT2, with which the BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team has celebrated a one-two victory in the American Le Mans Series this year, this was a premiere: the 485 bhp racing car was appearing on the most challenging circuit in the world for the first time. In contrast, the Schnitzer Motorsport team, who oversaw the BMW M3 GT2, was celebrating its return to the “Green Hell”: Team manager Charly Lamm’s squad most recently claimed two impressive one-two victories at the Nürburgring 24-hour races in 2004 and 2005.

Müller and Farfus had clinched eighth place on the grid for the 41st ADAC Barbarossa Prize, and the World Touring Car Championship team-mates had already moved through the field by the end of the first section of the race.

Müller was first into the driver’s seat and found himself in a battle for third place by the time he handed the BMW M3 GT2 over to Farfus an hour later. “The car is sensational in the corners. It is great fun,” said the 40-year-old. As his rivals came into the pits, Farfus even notched up the new car’s first kilometres as the leading car on the Nordschleife. There were to be several further changes at the head of the field.

After 28 laps, the BMW M3 GT2 eventually crossed the line in fourth, meaning Müller and Farfus narrowly missed out on a podium finish on the car’s Nordschleife debut. Victory went to Christian Mamerow and Dirk Werner in their Porsche 911 GT3 Cup, who finished 1:27 minutes ahead of the BMW pairing.

“We are happy with the debut of our new car on the Nordschleife,” says Friedholm Nohl,  General Manager Engineering,  BMW Sports and Touring Cars:. “We were able to pursue our development programme as planned. One of the most important points was reliability, and in this respect we showed that we can go the distance without any trouble.” 

The BMW M3 GT2 will be racing in the VLN again on 17th October. This time the two BMW works drivers Andy Priaulx and Dirk Müller will be alternating behind the wheel.