Kyalami. BMW M Team WRT took victory number two in their third race with the BMW M4 GT3. Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) triumphed in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 at the Kyalami 9 Hour (RSA), the second race of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) this season. This was Van der Linde’s second win at his home race, having also achieved the feat in 2020. The number 33 car, with drivers Philipp Eng (AUT), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Maxime Martin (BEL), came home second. it’s a two for the team.
After finishing first and third at the 24 Hours of Dubai (UAE) and fourth and sixth at the 12 Hours of Bathurst (AUS), BMW M Team WRT returned to the podium in Kyalami. Starting second and third on the grid, the two BMW M4 GT3s moved to the front of the field early in the race and then controlled proceedings throughout the race. Van der Linde crossed the finish line 1.8 seconds ahead of Martin.
Thanks to the points they got from the win in South Africa, van der Linde, Vanthoor and Weerts have moved into second place in the IGTC standings after two of the five races this season. The next races are the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), the home start of the BMW M Team WRT.
Strong technology partnerships.
BMW M Motorsport is supported in the Intercontinental GT Challenge by premium technology partner Shell, official partner Endless and official supplier KW automotive. Shell has worked with BMW M Motorsport for years in the development of motor and road lubricants, Endless adds decades of experience in brake technology to the mix, while KW Automotive has developed dampers for the BMW M4 GT3 since from the start of the project. . “We are delighted to be able to continue and expand our partnership with BMW M Motorsport, which has grown over the years,” said Jürgen Wohlfarth, CEO of KW automotive GmbH. “As the official BMW M Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 supplier, we have been involved in the development of the BMW M4 GT3 chassis from the very beginning. As such, we are very proud that the hard work carried out by BMW’s racing engineers and our development department has been rewarded with victories and titles for the BMW M4 GT3.”
Appointments after 9 o’clock Kyalami.
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport):
“Congratulations to BMW M Team WRT for a fantastic and absolutely flawless performance! It’s impressive to see how quickly the newest member of our BMW M Motorsport family has reached such a high level with the BMW M4 GT3 that it was able to win two out of three first races. I hope that this good run with the BMW M4 GT3 at the start of this season will continue in the coming months and that we will have even more reasons to celebrate! I am particularly pleased for Sheldon van der Linde who was able to win the his home race in front of his own fans. It’s a very special experience for him. All the drivers did a perfect job, as did all the members of BMW M Motorsport and BMW M Team WRT. Many thanks to everyone!”
Vincent Vosse (Team Principal BMW M Team WRT): “The team and drivers produced a perfect race, just like they did in Dubai and also in Bathurst, where unfortunately we didn’t have the pace to compete at the front. Everything came together here. I couldn’t have wished for more. The cooperation with BMW M Motorsport is fantastic. It feels like we’ve known each other for a long time. And yet it’s only been six weeks since our first race together. Thanks to all the BMW M Motorsport employees who support us so wonderfully.”
Sheldon van der Linde (#32 BMW M4 GT3, 1stSt
place): “Every time I race in my home country, it seems to go really well. I’ve been here three times now and been on the podium each time, and won twice. The first win was very special, but it was even more emotional because I had a lot of friends and family on the track. I really got goosebumps on the podium. Thanks to BMW M Motorsport and congratulations to WRT for this performance in only the third race with BMW.”
Dries Vanthoor (#32 BMW M4 GT3, 1St
place): “A great weekend for all of us. From the first day we improved the race pace and did a perfect job. The safety car came back a bit close in the last 25 minutes, but Sheldon took the win home perfectly. Personally, I took a big step forward in understanding the BMW M4 GT3.”
Charles Weerts (#32 BMW M4 GT3, 1St
place): “I’m very pleased with my first win in the BMW M4 GT3. I still remember 2020 when I narrowly lost to Sheldon and BMW. Now to be next to him on the top step of the podium is a great story. I feel so much better like home in the car after my second race. I’m really, really happy.”
Philipp Eng (#33 BMW M4 GT3, 2ndn.d place):
“This was my first race with WRT and I was very intrigued to see how the team works. I have to say I’m very impressed. A one-two is obviously a fantastic result, and it looks great for both of us cars in the championship. I had a lot of fun here at Kyalami.”
Augusto Farfus (#33 BMW M4 GT3, 2n.d
place): “From a team perspective, it doesn’t get any better than that. We really did a perfect job. We knew from the start of the weekend that we had a strong pack. However, we made the best of it . I can’t thank BMW M Motorsport and the team enough. We are now very well positioned in the championship. A great result at the start of the season.”
Maxime Martin (#33 BMW M4 GT3, 2ndn.d place):
“For the team, you can’t get a better result than a one-two. We had a clean race without any problems and finished runner-up. In the end we were on the same strategy as our sister car, which meant we had to settle for second.”
