A new adventure: BMW teams gearing up for DTM debut in Moscow.

Munich (DE), 26th July 2013. There is a lot of anticipation ahead of the sixth race of the DTM season at the “Moscow Raceway”, close to Moscow (RU). On the 2.555-kilometre track, the DTM will celebrate its Russia debut on 4th August. The BMW teams and drivers will experience new territory in the gateway to the Russian capital.

BMW Team RMG’s Andy Priaulx (GB) has already had a taste of the country and its people as last weekend he took part in the “Moscow City Racing” event and thrilled the Russian fans. He put on a big show for over 100,000 spectators along with the other DTM drivers in front of the Kremlin backdrop, driving the BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM.

Priaulx is also one of the five BMW drivers who scored points in the fifth DTM race at the Norisring (DE). Bruno Spengler (CA) in fifth was the highest placed BMW driver. After the first half of the season, the reigning champion is second in the standings with 69 points, only two points behind Audi’s Mike Rockenfeller (DE). Besides Priaulx and Spengler, Joey Hand (US), Marco Wittmann (DE) and Dirk Werner (DE) also collected points on the streets of Nürnberg (DE).

The quintet of drivers, together with Augusto Farfus (BR), Martin Tomczyk (DE) and Timo Glock (DE), are hoping for a return to the podium, which the BMW drivers have not been on since the magnificent one-two-three in Spielberg (AT). BMW still leads the manufacturers’ championship with 200 points.

Quotes ahead of the race in Moscow:  

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):

“I think the whole DTM community and everyone at BMW Motorsport are excited about the race debut in Russia. At the Moscow City Racing event last weekend, we saw how enthusiastically the Russian fans welcomed Andy Priaulx and the other DTM drivers. With its appearance in Russia, the DTM enters new territory – and this international venture has a positive influence on the series. Logistically it will be a special challenge, as the race is approximately 2,000 kilometres away from Munich. Also the teams and their drivers will have to adjust to many new situations when we get there, but this is the same for everyone. I am convinced the DTM will put on a great show for the fans in Moscow.”

Charly Lamm (Team Principal, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“BMW Team Schnitzer has, in its long history, competed in races in almost every corner of the world, but even for us the DTM race at the Moscow Raceway will be a new adventure. Most likely the roll-out and practice will not be as important at any other track this year than it will be in Russia. Both the drivers and the team have to adapt to the circuit very quickly to allow us to achieve good results. It will be an exciting challenge.”

Bart Mampaey (Team Principal, BMW Team RBM):

“It is always exciting to go to new tracks and certainly the chance to race in Russia is something we are all looking forward to. Joey Hand has proved he can learn new tracks very quickly, but I am sure he will be looking forward to going to one no one else in the series has raced on. Augusto Farfus took the chance to have a look at the track, so has some idea of which direction it will go. It goes without saying, we shall adopt the same approach we have for every weekend, but we are all aware we shall be starting from scratch.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal, BMW Team RMG):

“Russia is an interesting country and one I am looking forward to visiting. I am sure there will be some surprises for us there. A new track is always a challenge for both the team and the drivers, but I am certain Martin Tomczyk and Andy Priaulx will be happy to take on this challenge.” 

Ernest Knoors (Team Principal, BMW Team MTEK):

“We are looking forward to the race in Moscow very much – because there it will not be just us as rookies, but all of the other DTM teams as well. Everyone starts from scratch, because what we initially experience there will be the same for all of us. Both Marco Wittmann and Timo Glock have already proven several times they can get the hang of new tracks very easily. That is why we go into this weekend very confidently.”

Bruno Spengler (car number 1, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“I have never been in Russia before. It is always good to visit a new country. It is a long time since I last learnt a new circuit, as it was Monteblanco in 2010. I can’t wait to see the new circuit in Moscow.”

Dirk Werner (car number 2, BMW Team Schnitzer):

“I am curious to see a new country and, particularly, the race track, as that will be where we spend most of our time. As it will be a new track, I think it is a big challenge for everybody to race after just having 90 minutes of practice and then qualifying on a circuit you have never seen before.”

Augusto Farfus (car number 7, BMW Team RBM):

“I have been to this track already, although I have not raced there. I am always keen on new challenges. The track has a great infrastructure, and I noticed the Russian racing fans are really enthusiastic. The track looks quite tight. I am just hopeful of having a good race there.” 

Joey Hand (car number 8, BMW Team RBM):

“I think the good thing for me is nobody else has been there. I spent all last year going to tracks that everybody had been to except for me, so I am looking forward to being the guy with the same experience as everybody else. Luckily I learn race tracks pretty quickly. My philosophy is number one learn the track and number two get your car set-up and sorted as quickly as possible. I also pride myself with being good at giving feedback on how the car is and we are going to have to do this in Russia.”

Martin Tomczyk (car number 15, BMW Team RMG):

“It will be an exciting journey for us and we are all looking forward to it, even though it is not that easy to make plans. I don’t know the layout of the track from a cockpit perspective yet. I shall go there, sit in the car and try my best. I hope there will be a lot of spectators supporting us and hope we shall see DTM there many times in the future.”

Andy Priaulx (car number 16, BMW Team RMG):

“I got to know Moscow a little bit at the Moscow City Racing event and I am really enthusiastic about it, but the race track will be a new experience for all of us. It looks quite slow speed, with one fast corner in turn one. To me it looks like it will be more in the direction of a mechanical circuit grip wise, but I don’t know how bumpy it is.”

Marco Wittmann (car number 21, BMW Team MTEK):

“I am really looking forward to the race, especially because everybody starts from zero and nobody has any experience driving there. It even may be an advantage for the rookie drivers and the rookie teams like us. I think it will be very special.”

Timo Glock (car number 22, BMW Team MTEK):

“A new race is always an amazing experience. I look forward to getting to know the new track. Especially because we have very little time to prepare in the 90 minute-practice, it will be a big challenge to get used to the circuit.”