Racing returns to the Nordschleife: BMW DTM stars in action at VLN season-opener

Munich (DE). The waiting is over: The new season of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (DE) gets underway on Saturday. After missing out on both the test and set-up session and the 60th ADAC Westfalenfahrt, which were cancelled due to extreme winter conditions, the competitors in the popular racing series will get their first taste this year of the infamous “Green Hell” from Thursday to Saturday.

BMW is traditionally represented by a large contingent of privateer cars in the VLN field. This weekend’s event also marks the first race outing on the Nordschleife for the works-assisted BMW Team Schubert and its BMW Z4 GT3s.

The outfit from Oschersleben (DE) lines up at the opening event of the VLN season with a team of prominent drivers who have proven themselves at the Nürburgring in the past. Jörg Müller (DE), Dirk Müller (DE) and Augusto Farfus (BR) will alternate behind the wheel of the first BMW Z4 GT3. While Jörg Müller and Dirk Müller have contested many successful races with the BMW Z4 GT3 in the recent past, Farfus returns to the Nordschleife from the DTM for the VLN season-opener. The second BMW Team Schubert car will be driven by Claudia Hürtgen (DE), Jens Klingmann (DE) and Martin Tomczyk (DE). Like Farfus, who claimed his first DTM victory in Valencia (ES) in 2012, Tomczyk is also part of BMW Motorsport’s team in the DTM, which he won in 2011. The 31-year-old will be making his first appearance in the “Green Hell” for BMW.

“It is fantastic to be back driving on the Nordschleife,” said Farfus, who is currently in Hockenheim (DE) with BMW Team RBM for the final DTM test before the season gets underway on 5th May. “I have fond memories of this circuit, particularly our victory at the 24-hour race in 2010. I also know both the BMW Z4 GT3 and BMW Team Schubert well, having won the 24 Hours of Dubai together in 2011. As such, I am looking forward to seeing the track, team and car again.”

Tomczyk is also looking forward to the race in the Eifel Mountains: “When the chance arose for me to drive the BMW Z4 GT3 on the Nordschleife, I did not hesitate for a second. I really like the circuit and am looking forward to making my race debut there in a BMW. The circuit is a driver’s dream. It’s a big challenge – great fun.”