BMW teams looking forward to 2019 DTM season finale at Hockenheimring 30.09.2019: The 2019 DTM season comes to an end with races 17 and 18 at Hockenheim (GER) this weekend. For BMW M Motorsport and the BMW DTM teams, the objective for the season finale is to head into the winter break on a high.

The 2019 DTM season comes to an end with races 17 and 18 at Hockenheim (GER) this weekend. For BMW M Motorsport and the BMW DTM teams, the objective for the season finale is to head into the winter break on a high.



At the season opener in May, BMW M Motorsport started the new turbo era with success at the same track: On Saturday, Marco Wittmann (GER) took the first pole position and the first win for the then new BMW M4 DTM with turbo drive; on Sunday, Philipp Eng (AUT) drove to pole position, while Wittmann completed the front row of the grid.

 

Wittmann is in third place overall heading into the finale, and is still in contention for second place in the driver’s standings. A top three finish is also still within reach for Eng, who is currently in fifth place.

 

One of the highlights of the final weekend is the Japanese SUPER GT joining the action. Before the two series hold their first joint ‘dream race’ at Fuji (JPN) in November, three cars from the SUPER GT will compete as guest starters at Hockenheim. Former Formula 1 world champion Jenson Button (GBR) is just one of the drivers who will make an appearance.

 




Quotes ahead of the DTM finale at Hockenheim.

 

Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director):


“We’re looking forward to the grand finale of the 2019 DTM season at the Hockenheimring. The fans were treated to a fantastic opening round in May. The final race weekend of the year is set to be another highlight. We are very excited about the guest appearance of our colleagues from the SUPER GT in Japan.

This is a great taste of things to come at the Fuji ‘Dream Race’ in November, which will undoubtedly form a genuine highlight at the end of the motorsport year. When we were at Hockenheim for the season-opener back in May, Marco Wittmann claimed the first win of the new turbo era. Although the season has not always been easy for us, we are all determined to end the season with an equally successful weekend at the same venue. Our teams and drivers are ready to give it their all one more time.”




 

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW Team RMG):

“It seems that time is flying. It feels like just yesterday that we kicked the 2019 DTM season off with the pole position and win at Hockenheim. Our objective is to end the season with similar success. We have a mixed record. We have brought home a total of five wins with Marco Wittmann and Bruno Spengler, and Marco is still in with a chance of finishing second in the overall standings.



But there have also been setbacks, and Timo Glock in particular has been very unlucky. But our team refused to give up and kept on fighting. And the same will be true at the final round, since we want to really go for it again with success in the last two races.”

 


Bruno Spengler (#7 BMW Bank M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Drivers’ standings: 9th, 100 points):

“Hockenheim is a great track. A lot always happens during the races there, and it is really good for overtaking. The Hockenheim finale is definitely always a highlight of the season. Huge numbers of fans always come to the track, which is another reason why I am really looking forward to it.



The atmosphere is very special. We will analyse all the data in great detail and see where we can optimise our BMW M4 DTM to be competitive at Hockenheim. We’re going in the right directions; we improved at the Nürburgring. The team and BMW will work really hard as usual to give us a good car for the final. The goal is to have two strong final races.”

 


Marco Wittmann (#11 Schaeffler BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMG, Drivers’ standings: 3rd, 182 points):

“We started the season with a win at Hockenheim, and I hope that we can get a good end there to what has been a difficult season in part. The championship has been decided, but we will try to make the finale a great one for us personally at Hockenheim, with good results in both races.”

 


Timo Glock (#16 BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Drivers’ standings: 13th, 37 points):

“I’m looking forward to the finale. Hockenheim is always a highlight, and I have always had good races there. This season has been far from easy for me. Now I’m just hoping that luck returns to my side at the finale and that we can end the DTM year with results that make up for the difficult season.”

 



Bart Mampaey (Team Principal BMW Team RBM):


“Going into the finale at Hockenheim, we look back on a season in which all of our drivers have consistently shown strong performances. Without a doubt, the highlight was our home event at Zolder, with the one-two result of Philipp Eng and Joel Eriksson on the Saturday and the pole position of our rookie Sheldon van der Linde and Philipp’s podium finish on the Sunday.



 Philipp led the driver’ standings after that, but unfortunately the second half of the season was difficult for us. But the team always gave it their all and showed fantastic dedication, and I’m proud of that. The goal for the finale is fight for the front positions, like at the start of the season. We want to get more strong results in the final two races.”

 


Philipp Eng (#25 ZF BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RMR, Drivers’ standings: 5th, 144 points):

“At the season opener at Hockenheim we had a really good weekend with pole position and a fourth place in the race. I hope that we can build on this performance again at the finale. We had a good package there, and we will work hard to end the season on a high. The finale at Hockenheim is always a highlight, with lots of fans and a great atmosphere. I’m looking forward to it already.”

 


Sheldon van der Linde (#31 Shell BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Drivers’ standings: 12th, 42 points):

“For sure my aim is to finish my DTM rookie season on a high. We know that Hockenheim was pretty good for us at the start of the year, although the conditions have been very different. I think we have a strong car at the moment and hopefully we can just bring everything together. I have experience of the track and I am really looking forward to it.”

 




Joel Eriksson (#47 CATL BMW M4 DTM, BMW Team RBM, Drivers’ standings: 11th, 51 points):

“I think we all have the same goal for the final round. The entire team wants to further improve in qualifying. Already at the Nürburgring, the pace was better but there are still a few things we need to sort out. I am always aiming to end the season on a high.



Hockenheim is a great track and the final round there is a highlight of the season so I am looking forward to having a good time over there.”

 





Alessandro Toffanin- photos BMW