22.5.2019. Munich. The BMW Group presents its Motorsport programme for the future with a clear focus. The basis of the BMW Group strategy NUMBER ONE > NEXT forms.
With this strategy, the BMW Group takes account of the change in the automotive industry. Motorsport continues to be an integral part of the DNA of BMW and continues the consistent future orientation, as well as the company itself. With the occupation of new fields of the future and sharper focus of the BMW Group Motorsport pays on the company’s strategy and taking into account the current economic conditions.
The range of activities in the BMW i Motorsport, BMW M Motorsport is in the future, great. In the context of the commitment in the FIG FIA Formula E Championship, BMW demonstrated with the BMW i brand its electrification expertise and its claim to technology leadership. On the other hand, the dynamics and performance of BMW M Automobiles continue to be in the DTM and in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is in the foreground. In the course of the focus BMW adopted at the end of the current “Super-Season” of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). In the customer sports a new flagship for the GT3 category is planned.
As another future field of a reinforced BMW’s involvement in Sim-Racing is added, which is recognized as a separate Motorsport discipline and new, young target groups. In addition, the cooperation between BMW Motorrad is amplified Motorsport and BMW Group Motorsport, to further leverage synergies, particularly in the case of commercial and logistical issues between the automotive and motorcycle racing.
In future Engagements, it is a matter, to take advantage of technological synergies within the development Department. In addition, existing and potential customers back in the focus. The close proximity to BMW M is in the production sports car already optically visible. But also about pure technique, the customer should benefit even more from the Motorsport Engagement of BMW Group, and participate in it – whether on-site or in new fields such as the virtual Sim-Racing.
Klaus Fröhlich, member of the Board of management of BMW AG, development, said: “Motorsport is and remains in the genes of the BMW Group and is firmly anchored. We use our commitment – in addition to the sporting competition, as well as to demonstrate our performance and future viability as a company: In the formula, E is the same developer that also for BMW i, the electrification work. As a result, we ensure that BMW is also in the electro-mobility-for sheer Driving pleasure. With Sim-Racing, we are opening ourselves up to new, young target groups and give our young drivers a further platform for the sports Competition. And on the race tracks of the world, we demonstrate, for example, with Class 1, racing, GT3 and GT4, BMW M stands for Performance and high-performance Motorsport. With this broad set of programs, we are well positioned in Motorsport, despite the challenging conditions very well and support the goals of our strategy Number ONE Next.“
Pieter Nota, member of the Board of management of BMW AG, customer, brands, sales and distribution, says: “Motorsport is for our brands BMW and BMW Motorrad in the future is of great importance. However, this environment has become in the past few years, becoming more and more complex. Against this Background, we are well positioned with our differentiation between the BMW i Motorsport, BMW M Motorsport very well. It gives us the possibility of our target groups on the one hand, in a more targeted manner to address and achieve on the other hand, a maximum width of the effect. Exactly, for us, is an important evaluation criterion for our engagement.“
The BMW Group’s Motorsport program in the Individual.
BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt announced the Details of the different building blocks of the future strategy. “Motorsport what for the BMW Group, has always been an important clock, and a relevant testing ground for future developments in the automotive industry as a whole – and will continue to do so.”
“Formula E has provided us with a great platform to show our expertise in the field of electric mobility and to take up further issues in future in focus. Our entry with the beginning of season 5 was a great success, and we were able to win right off the bat. Our commitment in this series is a long-term. We do not understand the formula E only as a pure Motorsport theme, our commitment goes beyond this. For us, it is an important stage for the Demonstration of our competence in the main fields of Innovation in the automotive industry. It is important for us that the cost-Benefit ratio in the formula E remains with the entry of new competitors continues to be positive.“
“The DTM has taken with the introduction of the new Class 1 regulations, the new Turbo engine, a new manufacturer as well as important steps in direction of internationalization a promising way. It now applies consistently to go further. We continue to believe in the series and want to support in all efforts that the DTM is able to expand its international presence even further.“
“The IMSA-series takes up for us in North America, a Central role is developing well. The US is the most important market for BMW M Automobiles. So it is very suitable to beat there with the BMW M8 GTE is a direct bridge to our production models.“
“In the WEC, we will no longer compete in the future. The 24 hours of Le Mans in June are for us, therefore, at the end of a Highlight – as of 2018, when we have celebrated the successful world premiere of the BMW 8er coupe. But against the Background that we are focusing within the framework of our future strategy, a stronger, more fit to continue our WEC commitments for the coming years in our orientation. The global presence of the BMW M Motorsports is ensured by the customer sport and the DTM in Asia and Europe, as well as the IMSA series in North America, even without participation in a world Cup. We would like to thank the BMW Team MTEK for use in the last few years. In addition, we wish the WEC all the best and hope that they will develop well.“
“In the context of BMW M Motorsport’s customer sports program, a private driver will be on the inside, drivers and Teams in the future, the BMW brand to represent in the world. In the process, you will receive a wide variety of Support and of course competitive vehicles. The BMW M4 GT4 has been since its Premiere season in 2018 as a real Winner. The BMW M6 GT3 celebrates regularly triumph in all over the world. A successor for our GT3 model for success is already in planning. Continue to factory-supported take-off international GT are going to be classics as on the Nordschleife, Spa-Francorchamps or, in Macau possible.“
“It is nice to see how many points of contact already exist between the BMW Motorrad Motorsport program, and we at BMW Motorsport. These synergies we want to make under the roof of BMW M Motorsport in the coming years, even more intense. The WorldSBK is the ideal stage for the BMW S 1000 RR of the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team wants to represent the BMW colours.“
“The Sim-Racing is a exciting field for us, and now officially-recognised motor sport discipline. We have the highest respect for the participants in this virtual race and you want to do with our experiences and technologies, even more. For this purpose, we set up a program to our BMW Motorsport Junior program is coupled, and to a new level raises.“
Hong Kong (CHN), 10th March 2019. FIG FIA Formula E Championship, Hong Kong E-Prix, BMW i, Andretti Motorsport, António Félix da Costa (POR) BMW iFE.18 #28.
