FAREWELL TO BMW TEAMS RBM AND SCHNITZER, BMW TEAM RMG NOW INVOLVED IN THE GT3 DEVELOPMENT

The international motorsport landscape is currently undergoing a raft of changes – and as a result, this also applies to the works-based BMW Motorsport team line-up. Therefore, the long collaboration with the iconic BMW Teams RBM and Schnitzer will not continue. BMW Team RMG will be working with BMW Motorsport to develop the new BMW M4 GT3 in the coming season.

After the premature end of the Class 1 DTM, the fields of activity for BMW’s works-based presence had to be adapted. BMW Team RMG, that previously was one of the works teams in the DTM and celebrated two driver’s titles with Marco Wittmann (GER), will serve as a development team for the new BMW M4 GT3 in the future.

In contrast, the collaboration with BMW Team RBM is ending, as there is no longer a classic works involvement in the new, customer racing-based DTM.

The BMW Motorsport family has enjoyed many fantastic successes with Bart Mampaey’s (BEL) team on the international motorsport stage over 25 years. Founded in 1995, the team became an official BMW works team in 2006 after being crowned European and World Touring Car Champions. Two more World Championship titles followed. With its outstanding performances, BMW Team RBM has made a major contribution to the fact that BMW became one of the most successful manufacturers in the World Touring Car Championship. Since the return to DTM in 2012, BMW Team RBM has been one of the BMW works teams in the series and claimed nine race victories.

The necessary realignment of the works-based team structure also means that the partnership with BMW Team Schnitzer will not be continued.

Since the 1960s, Schnitzer Motorsport has been one of the most influential and successful teams in the world of international GT and touring car racing – always with BMW race cars. BMW Team Schnitzer has forever earned an important place in BMW history, thanks to many prestigious national and international triumphs in renowned championships and at legendary endurance races, like those at the Nürburgring and at Le Mans. Through its passionate commitment and magnificent success, Schnitzer has also been instrumental in shaping the BMW brand in terms of sportiness and dynamics. The level of the team’s performance was demonstrated most recently at the Nürburgring 24 Hours, when it finished third under the leadership of Herbert Schnitzer jun.

Quotes:

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM): “It is a great shame, but we respect the fact that BMW Motorsport is unable to continue the collaboration with us as a works team. I would like to thank BMW for the fantastic partnership, which we have enjoyed for 25 long years. BMW has always been at our side, from the very beginning to the final curtain in the DTM, and our relationship will remain a strong one, even if we are no longer a works team. Times are changing and we are all facing a challenging future. At RBM, we will initially reduce our racing activities. However, that does not mean this is the end of our motorsport chapter. We want to continue in motor racing and see what options arise. I also think that we can apply the values and skills that we have at RBM in other industries outside motorsport. They always say: when one door closes, another one opens. So I am very excited to see what opportunities come our way in the future.”

Herbert Schnitzer jun. (Team Principal BMW Team Schnitzer): “We very much regret that, given the changes in motorsport, it is no longer possible to continue the cooperation with BMW Motorsport. However, we obviously understand and respect the decision. We are proud that we Schnitzers have, together with BMW, shaped international motorsport for so many decades. It is a pleasure to look back on all the big successes we have enjoyed together in such a wide range of categories. We are also very proud to be a part of motorsport history at BMW. We would like to thank BMW Motorsport for this long, unique partnership. BMW was our life and our passion.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG): “We are very much looking forward to our new role as development team for the BMW M4 GT3, and thank BMW Motorsport for the faith it has placed in us. The BMW M4 GT3 is the new flagship of BMW Motorsport, and we will do our bit to make it another successful BMW. For us as racers and technicians, it is very exciting to be closely involved in the development of a race car. We will now apply all our know-how and skills to this project.”

Source. BMW