Private BMW stops Chevrolet winning streak.

Germany's Franz Engstler, in a BMW 320TC, claimed his first ever World Touring Car victory with an impressive performance at Oschersleben, Germany. The home victory by Engstler and his BMW brought to an end Chevrolet's impressive winning streak of run of 11 consecutive victories.
Starting from pole Engstler (who celebrated his 50th birthday days before the race) and his 1.6 litre turbo 320TC dropped down to second overall before re-gaining the lead on lap eight. From then on the German was never headed, taking a popular win in front of the works Chevrolet of Alain Menu, the Swiss touring car expert finishing just under one second behind.
The BMW 320TC is the latest in a line of successful BMW touring cars and whilst the 1600cc 4 cylinder turbo-charged engine and six speed sequential gearbox may be a little unfamiliar the results achieved certainly are not!

WTCC, Valencia.

The first race of last weekend’s World Touring Car Championship at Valencia, Spain saw BMW continue their resurgence with 3 cars in the top 6 at the finish. Augusto Farfus lead home Andy Priaulx and fast starting Jorg Muller in 4th, 5th and 6th. BMW drivers Sergio Hernandez, Stefano D'Aste and Felix Porteiro completed the top 10 finishers and helped keep the Bavarian manufacturer’s team happy with events.
Race 2 proved to be even better for BMW with 5 out of the top 6 positions falling to their drivers. More importantly BMW were able to claim their first victory of the season thanks to a measured drive by Augusto Farfus who finished half a second clear of fellow BMW driver Jorg Muller. Andy Priaulx, Alex Zanardi and Sergio Hernandez completed the top 6 finishers in their BMWs with Stefano D'Aste finishing 9th overall to cap a successful race and a return to the top step of the podium for BMW.

WTCC Pau.

BMW’s fortunes improved dramatically at Pau, France last weekend in the latest World Touring Car Championship {link} rounds, with a bizarre accident robbing them of an excellent result.
Race 1 on the tight and twisty street circuit saw a return to full competitiveness for BMW as their 3 series touring cars took 6 of the top 7 places as well as having claimed pole position. Unfortunately the BMWs finished 2nd to 7th with the podium’s top step being occupied by a Chevrolet. None the less the result was greeted with jubilation by the Bavarian marque who had endured a disappointing 4 races prior to this.
Race 2 was developing into an even better situation for BMW until the first corner! BMW drivers Jorg Muller and Andy Priaulx tangled with both paying visits to the unforgiving Armco barriers surrounding the track. Priaulx suffered rear bumper damage whilst Muller limped back to the pits for repairs.
Turn 2 saw BMW’s misery increase further as two more of its cars made contact with each other and the scenery. This time Felix Porteiro and Sergio Hernandez clashed after Porteiro clipped a kerb stone resulting in damage to both cars with Hernandez’ ending up burning!
Just when things couldn’t have got any worse for BMW and their drivers, race leader Franz Engstler came across the slow moving safety car with no prior warning. Travelling at race speed Engstler was unable to avoid hefty contact with not only the safety car but the barrier too. Engstler went from leading the race to an instant retirement.After the carnage and a re-start BMW managed to secure 2, 4th and 5th with Augusto Farfus taking 2nd overall for the second race in succession. Farfus is also 2nd in the championship as it moves on to Valencia in 2 weeks time.

World Touring Car Championship, Marrakech.

The latest pair of WTCC {link} rounds were held in Marrakech, Morocco last weekend and were, unfortunately, none-to-kind to BMW.
Whilst Chevrolet were celebrating a double victory for their new Cruze BMW were left struggling with 4th overall in race 2 for Jörg Müller being their best result.
Race 1 was a disaster for the Bavarian marque with Müller being the highest placed BMW finisher in a highly disappointing 8th overall.
The championship table does not make pleasant reading for BMW at present with Andy Priaulx their highest placed driver in 7th, 27 points behind the championship leader.
The only slight glimmer of hope for BMW is that the results from both Moroccan races are still provisional whilst technical checks are carried out on other manufacturer’s cars.

WTCC, getting better for BMW

After an undeniably bad start to the World Touring Car Championship {link} in Brazil BMW's fortunes improved dramatically (and surprisingly) in Mexico for rounds 3 & 4.

Round 3 saw 3 BMWs in the top 5 after a most impressive qualifying saw BMW lockout the front row of the grid. Augusto Farfus finished 2 overall with former WTCC champion Andy Priaulx (who set the fastest race lap) in third and Jorg Muller 5th.

Round 4 once again saw 3 BMWs in the top 5 with Priaulx this time finishing 2nd/ Farfus finished 4th overall and Sergio Hernandez rounded out the top 5. Fastest race lap this time went to Jorg Muller in his BMW capping a far better weekend for the Bavarian manufacturer.

Augusto Farfus heads off to rounds 5 & 6 in Marrakesh, Morocco 3rd in the championship a mere 10 points behind the joint leaders. With the coming circuits expected to be more favourable to the front-engined rear wheel drive BMW 320si E90s.

BMW struggle in WTCC

The first 2 races of the FIA World Touring Car Championship saw BMW struggle against the diesel powered SEATs.

Held at the Brazilian Curitiba circuit BMW were left fighting for places in the lower half of the top 10 in race one. Highest placed BMW driver was Augusto Farfus in a disappointing 6th overall, Sergio Hernandez finished 7th with former WTCC champion Andy Priaulx coming home a un-impressed 9th overall.

Despite having pole and 2 on the grid for race 2 BMW were unable to keep those positions and slumped down to 5th, 6th and 7th. Once again Andy Priaulx struggled home a disappointing and un-impressive 9th overall.

Worse for BMW is that the next 2 rounds in the WTCC are being held at Puebla, Mexico and the high altitude, tight, twisty circuit is expected to give the TDI SEATs an even greater performance advantage.