BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert wins qualifying race for the 24 Hours – Four BMW Z4 GT3s in the top ten

BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert won the qualifying race for the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring (DE). Dominik Baumann (AT), Claudia Hürtgen (DE), Jens Klingmann (DE) and BMW DTM driver Martin Tomczyk (DE) in the number 20 BMW Z4 GT3 crossed the finish line ahead of the second- placed Porsche after 41 laps and six hours on the legendary Nordschleife. It was the second win in a row at the 24-hour qualifying race for the BMW Z4 GT3 after the car celebrated a one-two-three-four result in 2014. 

The other three BMW Z4 GT3s also put in consistently good performances and finished in the top ten. The second BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert car driven by Dirk Müller (DE), Alexander Sims (GB), Dirk Werner (DE) and DTM Champion Marco Wittmann (DE) crossed the finish line in fifth. The two BMW Z4 GT3s from Team Walkenhorst Motorsport finished in sixth and seventh. The number 17 car in sixth was driven by BMW works driver John Edwards (US), Michela Cerruti (IT) and Felipe Laser (DE). The sister number 18 car was shared by team principal Henry Walkenhorst (DE), Ralf Oeverhaus (DE) and Christian Bollrath (DE). 

Like last year the BMW M235i Racing media car also competed in this qualifying race, in action for BMW Motorsport in cooperation with Walkenhorst Motorsport. BMW Motorsport Junior Victor Bouveng (SE) shared the cockpit with Harald Grohs (DE) and motorsport journalist Bernd Ostmann (DE). The trio finished 25th in the overall standings. The number 235 car will also contest the 24-hour race. 

First place in the BMW M235i Racing Cup class went to Michele Di Martino (DE) and Moritz Oberheim (DE) from Team TKS-Motorsport. They finished ahead of the number 306 and 307 cars of Team Bonk Motorsport. Like the 24-hour race, the qualifying race won't count for the rankings in this season’s BMW M235i Racing Cup. Only the results of the VLN races are taken into account. 

BMW driver quotes from the 24-hour qualifying race: 

Dominik Baumann (BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, car number 20): 

"It was a great race for us, in which we drove valuable kilometres. And, of course, winning was the cherry on the cake. But the focus was on preparing for the 24-hour race as drivers and a team." 

Claudia Hürtgen (BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, car number 20): 

"We are all delighted with this victory. We didn't make a single mistake in the race, which is the reason for our success. Now we're looking forward to the 24-hour race." 

Jens Klingmann (BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, car number 20): 

"We used this race as a test run for the 24-hour race. That's why all of the drivers were in action. We wanted to practice all the processes. Getting overall victory in the qualifying race gives the whole team that extra bit of motivation. I'm delighted for the guys that their hard work was rewarded." 

Martin Tomczyk (BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, car number 20): 

"Since we don't have many opportunities for testing ahead of the 24-hour race, it was important for me to drive on the Nordschleife again. Winning the qualifying race, which I'm delighted about, showed that it went very well and that we function extremely well as a team. The BMW Z4 GT3 has already completed many kilometres on the Nordschleife. That makes it relatively easy to find a very good set-up in a short space of time. A big thumbs up to the organisers, who I feel communicated the newly implemented speed limits very well, and made them clear on the track." 

Dirk Werner (BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert, car number 19): 

"We drove the six-hour race without any problems, which was incredibly important considering the brief time to prepare for the 24-hour race. We know the car really well after many years of racing in it on the Nordschleife. That's a great help. This qualifying race in particular is great preparation for us drivers, since relatively few vehicles are on the track, and we can find a good rhythm on the Nordschleife. I'm confident ahead of the 24-hour race." 

John Edwards (Walkenhorst Motorsport, car number 17): 

"I'm delighted to have contested my first race in a BMW Z4 GT3 on the Nordschleife. Since relatively few cars were on the track compared with the VLN or 24-hour race, I was able to really test my limits. I improved steadily and felt more confident in the car from lap to lap. I knew the Nordschleife from racing other cars, but it's a totally different world in the BMW Z4 GT3. It's so much fun." 

Henry Walkenhorst (Walkenhorst Motorsport, car number 18): 

"For us as a team this race went really well for all the cars. For the BMW M235i Racing media car and our two BMW Z4 GT3s. Finishing sixth and seventh was a fantastic result for us. Unfortunately our crew received a time penalty, otherwise we would have been able to put up a good fight with our sister car." 

Harald Grohs (BMW M235i Racing, car number 235): 

"I might not have sat in a racing car for a few months, but I can tell that I survived the winter and 'haven't started becoming rusty'. The race went really well. BMW Motorsport and Team Walkenhorst Motorsport provided fantastic support and the engineers did a brilliant job on our BMW M235i Racing. I'm confident about the 24- hour race."