BMW sweeps the board in the FIA WTCC
Delighted crowds and thrilling races in three continents: the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) celebrated a successful comeback this year.
As in 1987, when Roberto Ravaglia won the only World Championship titlepreviously awarded in touring car racing, the new edition similarly saw a BMWdriver taking the crown. In a gripping final to the season in Macau, Andy Priaulx(GBR) of BMW Team UK clinched the World Championship title. But thatwasn’t all. As in the last two years of the European Championship, BMW alsowalked away with the Manufacturers’ title. Marc Hennerici (GER), moreover,claimed the coveted Independents Trophy as a BMW privateer entrant.
BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen commented: “In the WTCC seasonjust ended, we have witnessed first-rate touring car racing. The series hasfully lived up to the high expectations placed in it. Right up to the final race, itwas a hotly contested World Championship, so I am absolutely delightedthat we managed to win the Manufacturers’ title and that Andy Priaulx took theDrivers’ trophy. The performance of runner-up Dirk Müller also deservesgreat respect. Marc Hennerici’s win among the private drivers rounds off thisfantastic overall result for BMW.”
Three national teams, five drivers, one triumph.
In 2005, BMW once again sent three strong national teams out onto the grid.This concept of promoting customer sports has borne fruit since theEuropean Touring Car Championship of 2001, and now it has also proved asuccess in the World Championship. For BMW Team Deutschland –Schnitzer Motorsport it was the fourth year running that Dirk Müller (GER)and his team-mate Jörg Müller (GER) were behind the wheel of a BMW 320i.While Dirk was in the running for the title right up to the end, Jörg hadmore than his share of bad luck over the season and ultimately finished fifth inthe drivers’ rankings. Like the other drivers in the BMW national teams,he regularly raced with a weight handicap on board his car, which rose to themaximum 60 kilograms on several occasions.
Priaulx was again racing for BMW Team UK. The 31-year-old had won the2004 European Championship with the RBM team under the management ofBart Mampaey (BEL) and also ended the new edition of the World Touring CarChampionship in triumph when he claimed the title on the final race weekend.
At the season finale in Macau, the RBM team was fielding a secondBMW 320i with Duncan Huisman (NLD) at the wheel. Sporting the coloursof BMW Team Holland, he went on to win the last race of the year.For BMW Team Italy-Spain – ROAL Motorsport, team manager RobertoRavaglia likewise invested his faith in proven drivers: Antonio Garcia (ESP)collected 51 World Championship points, making a key contribution towinning the Constructors’ title. The same went for Alessandro Zanardi (ITA),who was contending his second complete racing season since the seriousaccident in 2001 in which he lost both legs. The 39-year-old provided somestirring performances out on the track.
Zanardi wins in Oschersleben.
When Zanardi crossed the finishing line in the 14th race of the WTCC, thebattle for the World Championship title momentarily took a back seat as thefans’ favourite celebrated his first win in the World Touring Car Championship.The untiring work that Zanardi and his team had put in since his motorracing comeback in 2003 had finally paid off. In the course of the season theengineers of ROAL Motorsport and BMW had succeeded in steadilyimproving the BMW 320i that had been specially adapted to Zanardi’srequirements, enabling the former Formula One driver to mix it among thefront-runners more and more often. In the end, Zanardi came away witha tally of one win, one third-placed finish and a total of 36 World Championshippoints. He also claimed an early title in the Italian Superturismo Championship.Farewell season for the BMW 320i.
For the BMW 320i – the 275 bhp touring car based on the E46 evolution ofthe BMW 3 Series – this WTCC season was the last. BMW sold 114 racingkits of this successful model to teams around the world, and the 320i raked insuccesses wherever it went. Apart from winning the World Championship,BMW drivers claimed wins and titles in numerous national championships in2005. Next year will see the BMW 320si make its debut in the racing arena.Powered by a two-litre four-cylinder in-line engine, the racer was developed byBMW Motorsport based on the special model of the same name. It is set toadd further chapters to the success story of the BMW 3 Series in touring carracing.
Rundown of the FIA WTCC races.
Monza.
As in the forerunner series of the World Touring Car Championship – the FIAETCC – the BMW national teams similarly kicked off the racing season at theAutodromo Nazionale di Monza. On the high-speed Italian track it soonbecame clear that the previous years’ contest between BMW and Alfa Romeowas set to continue at World Championship level. Dirk Müller got off toa perfect start, claiming pole position and then celebrating his first win of theseason in the first race. As runner-up in the second race, he drove into acommanding lead in the Drivers’ Championship. Antonio Garcia also emergedfrom the first race weekend of the season with a satisfying result: after thesecond race he occupied third place on the podium and earned tenchampionship points. Andy Priaulx left Italy with nine points in his pocket whileJörg Müller took away five. Alessandro Zanardi also made it into thepoints by coming seventh in the second race. This put BMW into the lead ofthe Manufacturers’ Championship just ahead of Alfa.
Magny-Cours.It was Jörg Müller who left his mark on the race weekend in Magny-Cours.The experienced driver came away with the best possible result achievableat a WTCC event: after a best qualifying time had earned him the secondpole position to be taken by a BMW driver this season, he went on to winboth races and recorded the fastest lap on both occasions. His team-mateDirk Müller remained in the lead following the races in France. Although hehad a weight handicap of 45 kilograms on board, the championship leadermanaged to collect another eleven points. For the first time this season, WorldTouring Car Champion Priaulx made it onto the podium after both races,taking second and third place respectively. Garcia also managed to boost hispoints score with a fourth and fifth-placed finish. The first four places in theWorld Championship were now occupied by BMW drivers, and BMW’s leadin the manufacturers’ rankings was growing.
Silverstone.A last-minute change in the regulations by the FIA Touring Car Bureau wasa key factor in rendering the Silverstone race weekend a difficult one for theBMW national teams. With immediate effect, the minimum weight for all frontwheel-drive cars was reduced by 20 kilograms. Coupled with the in partconsiderable weight handicap on board the BMW 320i cars – arising from theirsuccesses in Monza and Magny-Cours – this gave the rear-wheel-drive
BMWs a weight disadvantage of up to 70 kilograms compared with some ofthe competitors on the grid. Local hero Priaulx fared best under thecircumstances, claiming the fourth-best time in qualifying and ending the firstrace in fifth place. In the second race he turned tragic hero when he had toretire from the lead with a flat-spotted tyre. Dirk Müller collected three pointsand Jörg Müller two. In the World Championship rankings the field bunchedup much more closely, though Dirk Müller maintained his lead, as did BMWamong the manufacturers.
Imola.Zanardi arrived at his home race at Imola’s Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrariwith his head held high: he had just won the Laureus World Sports Award for“Comeback of the Year 2004” and he was also leading the ItalianSuperturismo Championship. After finishing eighth in the first race, Zanardiwas on course for a podium place in the second race until the final corner,when Alfa driver Augusto Farfus jr. (BRA) unfairly forced him off the track.He nevertheless finished sixth to celebrate his best season result so far,despite missing out on his third-placed finish. The other BMW drivers werealso back on track for success despite a continuing weight disadvantagecompared to their front-wheel-drive rivals. Dirk Müller won the second race todefend his lead in the World Championship, while Garcia and Priaulx alsoclaimed podium finishes. After a collision in the first race through no fault of hisown, Jörg Müller came away empty-handed from both races.
Puebla.For races nine and ten, the WTCC headed overseas for the first time. At theAutodromo Miguel E. Abed, the BMW drivers were given an enthusiasticwelcome by more than 40,000 Mexican fans. But there was also criticism ofthe 3.032-kilometre circuit, which did not present itself in ideal condition.Garcia posted the best results for BMW Team Italy-Spain: after taking twelveWorld Championship points and his third podium finish of the season,the Spaniard advanced to fourth place in the drivers’ rankings. Dirk Müller andPriaulx went out with the maximum weight handicap of 60 kilograms forthe first time. Dirk Müller failed to make any points in either race, while Priaulxpicked up a single point in the second race. After an accident during practice,Jörg Müller was unable to race and dropped back to ninth position in theWorld Championship. Despite the disappointing results in Mexico, Dirk Müllercontinued to lead the World Championship with 47 points. However, with ascore of 44, Fabrizio Giovanardi had managed to squeeze in between him andPriaulx. BMW retained its lead in the Manufacturers’ Championship.
Spa-Francorchamps.From Mexico the BMW national teams travelled to one of the world’s mosttradition-steeped race tracks: the Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps in the BelgianArdennes. But it was to prove a shortlived weekend for Zanardi. After aspectacular accident during free practice, he was unable to compete in raceseleven and twelve of the season. The four remaining drivers in the BMWnational teams nevertheless delivered an excellent result: Dirk Müllercelebrated his third win of the season in the first of the two races, while Priaulxand Jörg Müller finished in second and third place. Garcia also made it intothe points with a sixth-placed finish. A cloudburst made for a turbulent secondrace, which Dirk Müller finished in fifth place with the best result amongBMW’s national teams. BMW privateer driver Stefano d'Aste (ITA) crossed thefinish line first to take a sensational win, but was subsequently handed athree-second penalty which relegated him to runner-up. At the top of theWorld Championship rankings, the positions of the leading drivers remainedunchanged. Among the manufacturers, BMW continued to occupy the top slot.
Oschersleben.Two BMW drivers in particular had no complaints about their performance atthe WTCC guest appearance in Germany: Zanardi and Priaulx. In the 14thround of the season, Zanardi won the first World Championship race since hisimpressive racing comeback in 2003. The Italian ended the first race ineighth place to take pole for the second on the basis of the reversed startinggrid. He got away to a good start and clocked up a fault-free 14 laps.Though being under permanent pressure from Jörg Müller and Priaulx,Zanardi managed to defend his lead right up to the finish. The German fanswent wild and his fellow-drivers took their helmets off to the winner.BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen, who was also at the trackside,was duly impressed by Zanardi’s achievement: “Alessandro has put in atremendous performance and well deserves his triumph. He is an impressivepersonality.” Priaulx finished the race as runner-up after celebrating his firstwin of the season in the first race. With that, the British driver shortened thegap to championship leader Dirk Müller, who came away from Oscherslebenwith eight points to lead the rankings by just one point. Jörg Müller finishedthird in both races of BMW’s home event. Only Garcia came away fromOschersleben without any World Championship points.
Istanbul.At the Istanbul Speed Park on the Asian side of the Turkish metropolis, fortunebestowed her favours unequally on the BMW drivers. Three weeks after hisvictory in Oschersleben, Zanardi came third to claim his second podium finishof the season. A week before he had secured an early title as ItalianTouring Car Champion. Priaulx came third in the first race, while Dirk Müllerfinished the second race in fifth place to pick up just four World Championshippoints. For the first time, the leader in the Drivers’ Championship was nolonger Dirk Müller but Andy Priaulx, who now had a one-point lead over hisfellow BMW driver. Garcia came fourth in the first race, but was involved ina collision, as was Jörg Müller, who scored no points. It was now becomingincreasingly clear that the World Championship would be decided betweenPriaulx, Dirk Müller and third-placed Giovanardi.
Valencia.The European leg of the World Touring Car Championship ended in Valencia,Spain. The Circuit de la Comunitat Ricardo Tormo is not normally regardedas a track that favours the BMW 320i, yet the BMW national teams achieveda good overall result. Jörg Müller claimed his third win of the season in thesecond race, and five BMW drivers made it into the top six. In the first race,Dirk Müller came second for BMW Team Deutschland. In all, he gleaned twopoints more than his British rival Priaulx over the weekend, thereby reclaimingthe lead in the Drivers’ Championship. With 86 points, he led the rankingsjust one point clear of Priaulx. Giovanardi with a score of 81 was also in with achance of winning the first World Championship title since 1987 at theseason final in Macau. BMW still led the Manufacturers’ Championship by amargin of 25 points.
Macau.As had already been the case in the FIA ETCC of 2003 and 2004, the WorldTouring Car Championship remained undecided until the season final.The venue was the legendary Guia Circuit in the former Portuguese colony ofMacau. During qualifying Priaulx already demonstrated that he was amongthe strongest drivers on the narrow city circuit, claiming pole position with anew record time of 2.31:712 minutes despite a weight handicap of60 kilograms aboard his BMW 320i. Both races were tumultuous affairs. Onthe very first lap, Jörg Müller had to retire after an accident in the Lisboacorner. Priaulx, meanwhile, fought an exciting duel with Farfus jr. and finishedsecond. Dirk Müller’s championship chances melted away when hedropped back from fourth to tenth place on the last lap with a broken driveshaft. Giovanardi was unable to take part in the second race after a collisionin the first, and thus bid an early farewell to the title contest. Duncan Huisman,racing for BMW Team Holland, got off to a good start in the second raceand advanced from third into first place, managing to defend his lead to thefinish. The title decision fell on lap three when Dirk Müller – also comingto grief in the Lisboa corner – drove into the barriers and retired. Thatconfirmed Priaulx as the World Champion. He finished the race as runner-upbehind Huisman. Zanardi completed the positive result by finishing fourth.
With a tally of 101 points, Priaulx completed the FIA WTCC at the top of therankings, followed by Dirk Müller in second place with 86 points. BMW wonthe Manufacturers’ Championship with 273 points, while Marc Hennericirounded off the triumph by claiming the Independents Trophy.After 24 European titles, BMW also wins the second WTCC.
The 2005 season marked the farewell of the BMW 320i from internationalmotor sport. At the end of its unique career, the 275 bhp race car helpedBMW achieve a further milestone in touring car racing when Andy Priaulx ofTeam BMW UK secured the World Championship title in the FIA WTCCwhile BMW celebrated overall victory in the Manufacturers’ Championship.BMW has a total of 24 European Championship titles under its belt.To this it has now added its second victory in as many FIA World Touring CarChampionships. Once before a BMW driver claimed the crown in thisdiscipline: in 1987 Roberto Ravaglia drove a BMW M3 to win the only otherWorld Championship to date. In 2004, Andy Priaulx won the last EuropeanChampionship title for the foreseeable future when he completed his victory inthe FIA ETCC by winning the final race of the season in a BMW 320i.Successes around the world.
Not only in the FIA WTCC, but also in countless national championships andinternational events over the last season the BMW 320i furnished proof that itis the measure of all things when it comes to near-production touring carracing. 114 racing kits for the E46 series were sold to teams around the worldby BMW’s racing parts distribution. The successes speak for themselves:in October 2005, Richard Göransson (SWE) not only clinched the EuropeanTouring Car Cup in Vallelunga, Italy, but once more laid claim to theSwedish Touring Car Championship in superior style ahead of his fellow BMWdriver from Sweden, Thed Björk. Alessandro Zanardi also came out on top in the Touring Car Championship of his homeland Italy.
The 39-year-old celebrated his title win after beating hiscompatriot Gianluca de Lorenzi, also driving a BMW 320i. Vladimir Nechaev (RUS), meanwhile, took home the Russian Championship, and Caspar Elgaard(DEN) claimed first place for BMW in the Danish Touring Car Championship.Franz Engstler (GER) took an unassailable title in the Asian Touring CarChampionship and won the Manufacturers’ title with BMW.The BMW 320i also showed its mettle over long distances: Claudia Hürtgen(GER) for Team Schubert Motors won the BF Goodrich Long-DistanceChampionship at the Nürburgring.
