Martin Tomczyk makes successful BMW debut.
BMW Motorsport has completed another successful DTM test in southern Spain. All the manufacturers involved in the DTM met for the last time this year at the “Circuito Monteblanco” near Seville from 6th to 8th December. New BMW works driver Martin Tomczyk (DE) made his debut in the BMW M3 DTM. The reigning DTM champion, who also celebrated his 30th birthday in Monteblanco, alternated with fellow BMW drivers Bruno Spengler (CA) and Andy Priaulx (GB) at the wheels of the three BMW M3 DTM cars.
As well as the three BMW works drivers, two more drivers were also given the opportunity to test the BMW M3 DTM: reigning GP2 champion, Formula One test driver and former Grand Prix driver Romain Grosjean (FR) and Marco Wittmann (DE), who started out in Formula BMW and is now a successful Formula 3 driver.
“We are very happy with this test,” declared BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “As expected, Martin had no problem adapting to the car and finding his feet in the team. This meant he was very quickly able to concentrate on the actual test programme. Overall, we can draw a positive conclusion from these three days. The teams, with Martin, Bruno and Andy, were able to tick off all of the points on our list. Romain and Marco also gave valuable feedback. We took another big step forward with the development of our BMW M3 DTM. We will now continue our work at home and prepare intensively for the start of the season in spring.”
BMW Motorsport, BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW Team RBM and BMW Team RMG enjoyed good circuit and weather conditions, allowing them to complete an extensive test programme. The long list of things to do included testing the life span of the standard components, working on the chassis settings, and electronics tests. The drivers completed 377 laps of the 3.357-kilometre circuit on the first day, 361 laps on day two, and 353 laps on the third and final day.
Martin Tomczyk (DE): “I am very positive about this test. Obviously this is a new situation for me: a new manufacturer, a new car, and a new team. You have to find your feet a bit first, but that took no time at all. You can see that we are all working towards the same goal, namely to be competitive in the first race. The strategy at the tests is working very well. Although this three day test was actually quite short, we were able to gain a lot of experience and we could use the knowledge gained immediately. It we continue like this, I have no doubt that the car really will be competitive by the first race. I personally had great fun getting to know both the BMW M3 DTM and the team – and celebrating my birthday here. It is great to learn something new. And it is even better when that new thing also works superbly.”
Bruno Spengler (CA): “We are making very good progress. Up until now we have been carrying out good basic work and have gained a lot of experience. We obviously still have a lot to learn, but we have taken a big step forward in this process this week. I now know everyone in the team, which makes the work easier for me. It is great fun to be so involved in the development of the car. There are still a few areas we must concentrate on, but the entire team is unbelievably motivated. It is great to be able to work in this way.”
Andy Priaulx (GB): “It has been a very productive three days. It was very positive working with Martin and Bruno too. We were able to get a lot of work done. I am very positive about where we are with the car. Clearly, it is moving in the right direction. This test leaves me with a lot of optimism for the future.”
Romain Grosjean (FR): “I am very pleased with this test. It was great to get to know a new car, especially as the DTM is entering a new era. It is always interesting for a driver to develop a car. The DTM is a championship that I have been looking at for a long time, so I was really happy to be given the chance to test with BMW. The car is pretty powerful, very efficient on braking and aerodynamics and works quite well in the slow corners. It is impressive that a car of this size handles and reacts so well. The test went very well. We worked on different areas of the car and improved a lot during these days. And I think that it was interesting for the team to get a different view from a driver that is not from DTM but from single-seater racing.”
Marco Wittmann (DE): “That was my first test in a DTM car and my first time in Monteblanco. With that in mind, I was entering uncharted territory in two regards. Obviously I first had to get used to the DTM car. When you are coming from single-seater racing you have to make quite a big adjustment. In the DTM car, you have power-assisted steering and the view is completely different. For instance, you can’t see whether or not the wheels are locked up. However, I improved from lap to lap and was then really able to put my foot down. I was surprised by the powerful brakes and the downforce produced by the DTM car. I certainly enjoyed testing here and working with BMW.”
The weekend before the test Tomczyk and Priaulx were flying the BMW flag at the Race of Champions (3rd and 4th December) in Düsseldorf. Tomczyk was the only DTM driver to reach the semi-finals in the individual competition, but lost out to eventual winner, rally driver Sébastien Ogier (FR). Priaulx won all his races in the group stage of the individual competition, before being knocked out in his quarter-final – also by Ogier. In the “Nations Cup”, Priaulx joined forces with Jenson Button (GB) to form Team Great Britain. The duo reached the semi-final, where it lost out to Team Germany, with Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
