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Jake Dennis to be second BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver alongside Maximilian Günther in Season 7.

BMW:Jake Dennis to be second BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver alongside Maximilian Günther in Season 7.

Munich. BMW i Andretti Motorsport will contest Season 7 of the
ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the two drivers Jake
Dennis (GBR) and Maximilian Günther (GER). Dennis won over those
making the decision in an intensive selection process and through
his performances during test drives in the BMW iFE.20 as well as in
the BMW Motorsport simulator. The 25-year-old succeeds Alexander
Sims (GBR) alongside Günther.

“Welcome Jake Dennis, to the BMW family and as a new member of the
BMW i Andretti Motorsport team,” said BMW Group Motorsport Director
Jens Marquardt. “I’m delighted that we were able to recruit a young,
talented, versatile driver like him for our Formula E project. His
performances in the BMW Motorsport simulator and during test drives in
the BMW iFE.20 were impressive which is why we decided to offer him
the cockpit alongside Maximilian Günther. Jake made a name for himself
through his appearances in the DTM and with his podium finish in the
Bathurst 12 Hours, among other things. He is also a simulator and
development driver for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing in Formula 1. But
our decision wasn’t based solely on whether someone has raced in the
DTM or Formula 1. To be successful in Formula E with all its unique
challenges, a driver must meet some very special criteria. We
considered all of those and tested our candidates thoroughly with
these in mind. At the end it was clear to us that Jake Dennis brings
the perfect full package that we desire from a driver in Formula E.”

Dennis contested the DTM for R-Motorsport Aston Martin in 2019 and,
with a sixth place, got the best result of the season for an Aston
Martin driver. In the same year, he secured pole position in the
Bathurst 12 Hours (AUS) and finished in P2 in the race to make it onto
the podium. He completed test drives for the Aston Martin Red Bull
Racing Formula 1 team in 2018, where he is regularly employed as a
simulator and development driver. With appearances and successes in
Formula 1, the DTM, GT racing and single-seater racing, he has been
demonstrating his great versatility for many years now.

“I’m really looking forward to the new challenge that awaits me in
Formula E, and would like to thank all those in charge at BMW i
Andretti Motorsport for their trust,” said Dennis. “I’m aware that I
will be confronted with unique requirements in Formula E, which I will
need to get used to first, but versatility has always been one of my
strengths, and I am confident that, with the help of the team and my
fellow driver Maximilian Günther, I will quickly get my bearings.
Formula E is one of those race series that, as a racing driver, you
really want to be involved in at the moment because the level of
manufacturers, teams and drivers is higher there than anywhere else. I
can’t wait to be starting a Formula E race in the BMW iFE.21 for the
very first time.”

Jake Dennis in profile:

Date of birth: 16th June 1995

Place of birth: Nuneaton (GBR)

Career:

2020: Blancpain Endurance Series

2019: DTM, 2nd place Bathurst 12 Hour

2018-2020: Aston Martin Red Bull Racing simulator and development driver

2018: Formula 1 test drives for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing

2016: 4th place GP3

2015: 3rd place FIA Formula 3 European Championship

2013: 4th place Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0

2012: 1st place Formula Renault 2.0 NEC, McLaren Autosport
BRDC Award winner

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Introducing Team BMW Bank: An interview with DNLS champions Bruno Spengler, Nils Koch and Kay Kaschube.

BMW:Introducing Team BMW Bank: An interview with DNLS champions Bruno Spengler, Nils Koch and Kay Kaschube.

Munich. Team BMW Bank won the title in the inaugural season of
the Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series powered by VCO this week.
In the virtual BMW Z4 GT3, fourth place in the season finale at the
Nürburgring-Nordschleife was enough for the driver trio of BMW works
driver Bruno Spengler (CAN) and the two sim racers of
BS+COMPETITION, Nils Koch and Kay Kaschube (both GER), to claim the
title. We introduce the three drivers and their relationship with
sim racing in brief interviews.

 

Bruno Spengler.

Bruno, you have won two sim racing titles this year: first the
IMSA iRacing Pro Series and now the DNLS. How important are these
titles to you as a DTM champion in real-world racing?

Bruno Spengler: “The titles are incredibly important to me. I only
started to get serious about sim racing at the end of 2019, so winning
two titles in the first year is great. The IMSA title was really
important to me because I competed in the same series and against the
same drivers as in the real world. The competition was very tough, and
I was over the moon with my victory. And the same is now true of the
DNLS title with Team BMW Bank. I had a lot of fun with Nils and Kay,
and learned so much from them. We’re a fantastic team and I’d like to
thank them for their outstanding performances that made this title win
possible. All in all it’s been an amazing season.”

What advantages does sim racing give you for your real-world
race appearances?

Spengler: “First and foremost, it helps me focus better. In a real
racing car, as a driver you feel all kinds of movements that make it
easier for you to stay focused. You don’t get that in the simulator,
which is why it is much more difficult to stay perfectly focused for
the full duration of a stint, so sim racing is great practice for
real-world races. In addition, this year I was also able to get to
know all the tracks in North America in the IMSA iRacing Pro Series
before driving there for the first time in the real world. It’s not
the same as in a real racing car but it still gives you a good feel
for the tracks, particularly at the start in the practice sessions.” 

Speaking of the IMSA: After winning the DNLS title, you’re
back in the USA for the next IMSA race this weekend. But what are
your sim racing plans for the winter?

Spengler: “I am indeed still heavily involved in real-world racing at
the moment. I hardly had any time to practise for the DNLS season
finale because I was constantly on the go due to my IMSA races in the
USA. I still have two races with BMW Team RLL and the BMW M8 GTE in
November. Then as of the end of November I will have more time for sim
racing again. I need to take time to discuss what exactly I will be
doing and which race series I will enter with Nils, Kay and my other
team-mates at BS+COMPETITION. But one thing is certain, I will be
racing as much as I can, because I enjoy it.”

—

Nils Koch.

Nils, how did you get into sim racing?

Nils Koch: “It all started when I was ten. I come from near the
Hockenheimring, love motorsport and wanted to get involved at some
point. Then eventually I graduated from standard games consoles to
rFactor, where I first got to know Kay and some of the other members
of what is now the BS+COMPETITION team. Then later on I switched to
iRacing. Ultimately, sim racing was what enabled me to get into
motorsport easily and at a relatively low cost.”

But you also race in real-world races, don’t you?

Koch: “That’s right. I started out in karting as is the usual path
and have even contested real-world races at the Nürburgring in BMW
cars. If it weren’t for the pandemic, I would even have entered the
Nürburgring Endurance Series last weekend. So, I’m still involved, and
I definitely plan to race in real-world races as well as digital races
next season.”

How much time do you invest in sim racing?

Koch: “It varies. While I was at school, I had the most time to
practise. Then it got a little bit more difficult during my time at
university and particularly now that I’m working. These days I mainly
practise in the evenings. While other people are sat on the sofa
watching TV, I’m sat in my simulator. But I have other interests
outside sim racing. Ultimately, it should still be fun and not become
a chore.”

—

Kay Kaschube.

Kay, the first question for you is also about your sim racing career.

Kay Kaschube: “I’m a few years older and started playing racing games
on the C64 in the 90s. It was only much later that online racing
emerged with rFactor. Suddenly you were no longer racing against the
computer, but against real people. At that time I was also still
competing in real-world motorboat races like my father, and was only
involved in sim racing on the side. After things came to an end with
motorboat racing at the end of 2014, I missed the competition. I
looked for a replacement and found it on iRacing. I soon got to know
some of my now team-mates and we had a lot of fun and learned a great deal.”

What can a professional racing driver like Bruno Spengler
learn from you in sim racing?

Kaschube: “Mainly it is compensating as much as possible for the
factors that he is used to from real-world racing and doesn’t have in
the simulator. Above all, that means that I can help him set up his
hardware and software in such a way that he feels just as at home in
the simulator as in a real racing car. It goes without saying that
Bruno and his BMW works driver colleagues that we worked with in the
IMSA iRacing Pro Series are fast at driving cars. But for all of them,
transferring that speed to the simulator was the biggest problem that
we were able to help them with, using our sim racing experience.
Generally, I was very impressed with how open to our advice the BMW
works drivers were, and how seriously they practised for their race
appearances. That was as true of Bruno as it was of Connor De
Phillippi, John Edwards, Jesse Krohn and Nick Catsburg, all of whom
were involved in the virtual IMSA series.” 

How has sim racing changed this year in view of the pandemic?

Kaschube: “Sim racing has made some very positive changes. There was
already movement on the scene before, but ultimately we remained a
relatively small, exclusive community. Through all the events this
year, manufacturers and pro racing drivers getting involved and, last
but not least, the totally new professional structures of VCO, there
has been a great deal of movement. I feel that we have reached a new
level. And I think that the teams have understood this as well, and
are pulling together much more than before. Ultimately, we all have
the same goal of establishing sim racing in the Esports sphere and
making it even more popular.”

Original Press Release

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Projekt „Cobalt for Development” startet Schulungen für Bergbaukooperativen in Kolwezi, Demokratische Republik Kongo obalt for Development” project started trainings for mining cooperatives in Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo

BMW:Projekt „Cobalt for Development” startet Schulungen für Bergbaukooperativen in Kolwezi, Demokratische Republik Kongo obalt for Development” project started trainings for mining cooperatives in Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Schulungen für zwölf Minenkooperativen des Kleinstbergbaus beteiligen über 1.500 Bergbauarbeiter +++ Aktivitäten in den Gemeinden haben bereits über 1.800 Menschen erreicht +++ Volkswagen ist neues Mitglied der industrieübergreifenden Initiative von BMW, BASF, Samsung SDI und Samsung Electronics

Original Press Release

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“Cobalt for Development” project started trainings for mining cooperatives in Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo

BMW:“Cobalt for Development” project started trainings for mining cooperatives in Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo – The
cross-industry initiative “Cobalt for Development” has started
trainings for twelve artisanal mining cooperatives in October in
Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). The trainings cover
major environmental, social and governance aspects for responsible
mining practices. This includes mine site management and legal
compliance, human rights, health and safety as well as environmental
management. The initiative intends to train more than 1,500 artisanal
cobalt miners by mid-2021. BMW, BASF, Samsung SDI and Samsung
Electronics had initiated the project “Cobalt for Development” to
better understand and address challenges for responsible artisanal
mining in the region. Since January 2019, the Deutsche Gesellschaft
für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH is commissioned to
implement the project together with non-governmental organizations.
Volkswagen recently joined the initiative as new partner. “ For our
e-mobility strategy, sustainable and responsible sourcing of raw
materials is of utmost importance. In this regard, cobalt plays a
vital role, despite a decreasing amount of the raw material in newer
generations of batteries for electric vehicles. Through this
initiative, we would like to add to our sustainable raw material
strategy by delivering impact on the ground – in close cooperation
with strong partners,” said Ullrich Gereke, Head of Procurement
Strategy of Volkswagen Group.

In 2019, the project began testing how living and working conditions
in Kolwezi’s artisanal cobalt mines and in the surrounding communities
can be improved. The project has developed interactive training
methods and materials that can be adapted to any artisanal cobalt
mining cooperative in DR Congo. “The training curricula offer
practical risk mitigation guidelines for occupational and
environmental risks. They are benchmarked with Congolese and
international law and standards,” explained Steven Hofmann, project
director “Cobalt for Development”. The project implements the
trainings in close collaboration with artisanal mining cooperatives
and with SAEMAPE, the government authority in charge of artisanal and
small-scale mining. “This partnership with experienced artisanal
mining actors is the essence of our approach,” Steven Hofmann
emphasized. “We jointly implement our training methodology and
strictly avoid duplicating existing services.” On-site coaching will
begin in the upcoming months to support technical improvements in the
areas of occupational safety, environmental management and legal
conformity at mine sites.

Creating additional income opportunities for families in artisanal
mining areas will reduce the dependence on their children contributing
to family income and enable them to attend school. Therefore “Cobalt
for Development” has been carrying out impactful community activities
in Kisote and neighboring villages with its partner Bon Pasteur/Good
Shepherd International Foundation since September 2019. So far, more
than 1,800 residents of these communities – children, their parents
and other community members – have benefitted from improved access to
education and new income opportunities. A new, seven-classroom
building for Kisote’s public elementary and secondary school was
inaugurated on October 26. The former school building will be
renovated and converted into a vocational training center. The members
of two women associations already successfully completed a vocational
training course in breadmaking. Trainings in farming and financial
literacy as well as the establishment of money savings groups support
further income-generating activities. Additional activities include
training in positive parenting, women’s rights and conflict resolution.

While the partners do not intend to operate artisanal mines, it is
planned to test at a specific pilot site under what conditions
responsible artisanal mining could be viable. The project has so far
screened 36 artisanal mines to identify a suitable site that fulfils
two minimum requirements: legality as well as accessible and
sufficient cobalt deposits. One of these mining sites currently under
evaluation is located next to Kisote. “Cobalt for Development” is
engaging with private and public concession holders of cobalt mines to
select a viable, legally operating pilot site. Learnings and insights
gained from trainings and community engagement will contribute to a
better understanding of responsible artisanal mining and how to
improve the working and living conditions for miners and their
communities.  This project also contributes to the goals of global
initiatives, such as the Global Battery Alliance, to foster
sustainable supply chains.

 

Media contacts:

BASF SE

Christine Haupt

Phone: +49 621 60-41040

Email:   Christine.Haupt@basf.com

BMW Group

Kai Zöbelein, Sustainability Communications

Phone: + 49 89 382-21170

Email:   Kai.Zoebelein@bmw.de

Samsung SDI

Dongjun Choi

Phone: +82 2 2255-2616

Email: d-jun.choi@samsung.com

 

Volkswagen

Nikolas Thorke, Volkswagen Corporate Communications

Tel. +49 152 54904662

nikolas.thorke1@volkswagen.de

 

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine
economic success with environmental protection and social
responsibility. More than 117,000 employees in the BASF Group work on
contributing to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and
almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six
segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface
Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF
generated sales of €59 billion in 2019. BASF shares are traded on the
stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts
(BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

About BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly
facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries. In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2,520,000
passenger vehicles and more than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The
profit before tax in the financial year 2018 was € 9.815 billion on
revenues amounting to € 97.480 billion. As of 31 December 2018, the
BMW Group had a workforce of 134,682 employees. The success of the BMW
Group has always been based on long-term thinking and responsible
action. The company has therefore established ecological and social
sustainability throughout the value chain, comprehensive product
responsibility and a clear commitment to conserving resources as an
integral part of its strategy. Further information at www.bmwgroup.com

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative
ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs,
smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network
systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the
latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

About Samsung SDI

Samsung SDI intends to lead the market as “a creative leader in
energy and advanced materials”. Founded in 1970, Samsung SDI currently
produces advanced materials for use in the IT and automotive
industries, secondary batteries for ESS (energy storage systems), and
materials for semiconductors and displays. Samsung SDI has its head
office, research center and production facilities located in Korea,
and has overseas production facilities and sales bases in North
America, Europe, China and Southeast Asia. For sustainable growth,
Samsung SDI pursues harmonious growth by seeking measures to realize
its vision of social and environmental values while creating economic
value as well. Further information at www.samsungsdi.com

About the Volkswagen Group:
The Volkswagen
Group, with its headquarters in Wolfsburg, is one of the world’s
leading automobile manufacturers and the largest carmaker in Europe.
The Group comprises twelve brands from seven European countries:
Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Audi, SEAT, ŠKODA, Bentley, Bugatti,
Lamborghini, Porsche, Ducati, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, Scania
and MAN. The passenger car portfolio ranges from small cars all the
way to luxury-class vehicles. Ducati offers motorcycles. In the light
and heavy commercial vehicles sector, the products range from pick-ups
to buses and heavy trucks. Every weekday, 671.205 employees around the
globe produce on average 44,567 vehicles, are involved in
vehicle-related services or work in other areas of business. The
Volkswagen Group sells its vehicles in 153 countries.

In 2019, the total number of vehicles delivered to customers by the
Group globally was 10.97 million (2018: 10.83 million). The passenger
car global market share was 12.9 percent. Group sales revenue in 2019
totaled EUR 252.6 billion (2018: EUR 235.8 billion). Earnings after
tax in the fiscal year now ended amounted to EUR 14.0 billion (2018:
EUR 12.2 billion).

About “Cobalt for Development”

The project “Cobalt for Development” aims at sustainably improving
artisanal mining working conditions as well as living conditions for
surrounding communities in Congo. In cooperation with the local mining
cooperatives, government authorities and civil society organizations,
the project intends to strengthen legal compliance, improve health and
safety conditions, environmental management as well as economic and
social well-being. In January 2019, the companies BASF, BMW, Samsung
Electronics and Samsung SDI commissioned the Deutsche Gesellschaft für
Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH to implement this fully
privately financed cross-industry initiative. In 2020, Volkswagen
joined the project. None of the commissioning parties operate project mines.

Original Press Release

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‘Timo’s Discovery’: BMW works driver Timo Glock tests the new BMW 545e xDrive plug-in hybrid.

BMW:‘Timo’s Discovery’: BMW works driver Timo Glock tests the new BMW 545e xDrive plug-in hybrid.

Munich. As part of a video series, BMW works driver Timo Glock
(GER) takes his viewers on a discovery tour through numerous
exciting areas of activity and projects within the BMW Group.
‘Timo’s Discovery’ offers exclusive looks behind the scenes. In
episode 2, Glock tests the new BMW 545e xDrive plug-in hybrid
(combined fuel consumption: 2.3 – 2.2 l/100 km; combined energy
consumption: 16.3 – 15.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO2
emissions: 53 – 49 g/km; electric range: 47 – 57km (WLTP)).

 

Link to video:
https://b.mw/Timos_Discovery_2
.

 

After Timo Glock being in familiar territory in the BMW Motorsport
simulator in episode one of ‘Timo’s Discovery’, he now visits the BMW
Group in Garching near Munich (GER), to become one of the first people
to test the new BMW 545e xDrive Sedan, available as of November. In
the flagship plug-in hybrid model in the 5 Series, a synchronous
electric engine with a maximum performance of 80 kW/109 hp is combined
with an efficient inline six-cylinder petrol engine with BMW TwinPower
Turbo technology with a performance of 210 kW/286hp for an overall
system performance of 290 kW/394 hp. Through the intelligently
controlled interaction of both engines, the new BMW 545e xDrive
combines the best of both worlds. It enables both fully electric
driving in urban traffic and efficient commuting between home and
work, as well as dynamic short drives and comfortable long journeys.

That’s the theory. In the practical test, Glock was impressed by both
the performance data and the efficiency. His conclusion: “I’ve had the
privilege of driving BMW cars for ten years now, and it is always a
pleasure. The BMW 545e xDrive is very agile, very easy to handle, very
sporty and very comfortable. I’m impressed.”

In the video, Glock presents the car in a variety of driving
situations, has an expert explain the special features and shows what
links the famous composer Hans Zimmer with the BMW 545e xDrive.

 

Link to video:
https://b.mw/Timos_Discovery_2
.

BMW 545e xDrive Sedan combined fuel consumption: 2.3
– 2.2 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 16.3 – 15.8 kWh/100 km
combined CO2 emissions: 53 – 49 g/km. 

Original Press Release

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BMW teams celebrate two sim racing title wins within just a few hours.

BMW:BMW teams celebrate two sim racing title wins within just a few hours.

Munich. On Tuesday evening, two popular sim racing race series
ended with title wins for BMW teams. In the DTM Esports
Championship, the team of BMW DTM driver Sheldon van der Linde (RSA)
was victorious at the grand finale. Williams Esports driver Moritz
Löhner (GER) also won the driver’s title at the wheel of the virtual
BMW M4 DTM. Just a few hours later, the BMW Bank team was crowned
overall winner of the Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series powered
by VCO. Fourth place in the virtual BMW Z4 GT3 at the season finale
was enough for BMW works driver Bruno Spengler (CAN) and Nils Koch
and Kay Kaschube (both GER) of BS+COMPETITION to maintain first
place in the overall standings.

 

DTM Esports Championship.

In four race events over the past few weeks, teams made up of
professional racing drivers and top sim racers did battle for the DTM
Esports Champion title on the platform Raceroom. BMW Motorsport was
represented by the active DTM drivers Lucas Auer (AUT), Timo Glock
(GER) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), who were captains of their
Esports teams in addition to contesting their usual races in the DTM.

At the grand finale on Tuesday evening it was ‘Team Sheldon van der
Linde’ that emerged victorious. The primary reason for their success
was Williams Esports driver Moritz Löhner, who won two of the last
three races, which saw him being awarded double points, in the virtual
BMW M4 DTM. His team-mate Tim Jarschel (GER) also finished on the
podium twice, contributing valuable points. The fourth driver
alongside van der Linde, who was regularly one of the top pro racing
drivers in the field, was Leonard Krippner (GER).

But the evening’s big winner was Löhner, who thanks to his victories
won the driver’s championship in addition to the team championship.
His prize is a test drive in a GT4 car from the DTM Trophy. All of
‘Team Sheldon van der Linde’ will be invited to a multi-day workshop
at Formula Medicine and a test in the professional simulator.

Sheldon van der Linde (Team Sheldon van der Linde):
“It’s cool being the DTM Esports champion, and it feels fantastic.
When the teams were drawn for this championship, I would never have
dreamed that I had drawn some of the top sim racers on the platform
Raceroom. I’m over the moon for Moritz Löhner, bringing home the
overall win among the sim racers. I know that he has a really cool
prize in store, and hope he really enjoys it.”

Moritz Löhner (Team Sheldon van der Linde): “I’m
delighted to have won the title. After the first race at the Portimão
track I thought that the battle for the title was already over but I
didn’t give up, and told myself that a lot could still happen in the
remaining two races. And that was the case. I was able to make up the
deficit with two wins and two pole positions. Now I’m really excited
to see what my test in the GT4 car will be like. I think that ‘Team
Sheldon van der Linde’ was the best team in the competition. The
collaboration with Sheldon was great. We communicated a lot and helped
each other out. We got on really well, and the team title is the icing
on the cake of my driver’s title.”

Tim Jarschel (Team Sheldon van der Linde): “It was
really cool that we were able to unite real-world and virtual racing
in this race series. And bringing home the team title on top of that
was the perfect way to round off the experience. The championship was
set up really well and the races were a lot of fun. I would love it if
championships like this were held more often.”

Leonard Krippner (Team Sheldon van der Linde): “I’m
really happy that I was able to take part. When the teams were drawn,
I was delighted to be driving with Sheldon, Moritz and Tim. Moritz and
Tim are two of the world’s best racers on the platform Raceroom. For
me as a rookie on Raceroom, the race series was a really cool
experience. Part of it was also the opportunity to collaborate
directly with a racing driver like Sheldon. I did my best to do my bit
to contribute to the success of the team, but ultimately it was mainly
Moritz and Tim who really rocked it.”

Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series powered by VCO.

With the ninth race of the season, the inaugural season of the
Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series powered by VCO hosted on the sim
racing platform iRacing drew to a close on Tuesday evening. Fourth
place in the BMW Z4 GT3 was enough for the BMW Bank team with drivers
Bruno Spengler, Nils Koch and Kay Kaschube to clinch the overall win.
The trio brought home three wins on the virtual
Nürburgring-Nordschleife during the course of the season. The BMW
Junior Team with Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER) and Neil Verhagen
(USA) also made regular appearances in the BMW Z4 GT3. During the
course of the season, in addition to the BMW Z4 GT3, the virtual BMW
M4 GT4 was also available in the SP10 class.

Bruno Spengler (Team BMW Bank): “The final was
another really tough race because our rivals were really strong.
Fortunately, my fast team-mates Kay and Nils built up a good lead so
that I could bring the title home. That was my goal after I had to
miss a few DNLS races due to my race appearances in the IMSA series.
I’m delighted that the whole team’s hard work paid off. It’s a cool title.”

Kay Kaschube (Team BMW Bank): “It was an amazing
season overall, and one that was a lot of fun. When I think back on
how as sim racers we suddenly had so many pro racing drivers around us
at the start of the pandemic, and raced with them on the same track –
it was fantastic. Now to have brought home this title with Bruno and
Nils is great.”

Nils Koch (Team BMW Bank): “You can’t do better than
the title – a great season. I think we proved over the whole season
that we are up there at the front with our pace. We got the most race
wins and delivered our performances consistently over a long period,
since the start of the season in March. It was a lot of fun, and the
title win is the culmination. Many thanks to my team-mates, the whole
team behind the scenes and BMW Bank for the fantastic support.”

Original Press Release

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Electromobility and the future of the MINI model range.

BMW:Electromobility and the future of the MINI model range.

Munich. The British premium automobile manufacturer
MINI is driving forward with the realignment of its model range, with
a clear focus on drivetrain technologies, vehicle segments and
services of the future.

At the centre of this realignment is the expansion of
electromobility, enhanced commitment in the crossover and premium
compact segments and strengthening of the market position in China.
“MINI was always the answer to very special challenges relating to
individual mobility. And the willingness to reinvent the status quo
continues to shape the brand to this day,” commented Bernd Körber,
Head of MINI. “Alongside electromobility, harnessing new target groups
and sales markets will be crucially important for the future of MINI.”

20 years have now passed since the premiere of the second MINI
generation after the relaunch of the traditional British heritage
brand. Since then around four million vehicles of the brand have been
produced at the MINI plant in Oxford and delivered to more than 100
countries all over the world. Customer needs and wishes have defined
the development of the MINI model range over the past two decades. In
2015, the new MINI Clubman spearheaded the successful move into the
premium compact segment and two years later this was continued with
the new MINI Countryman. Around 40 percent of all the brand’s vehicles
sold across the world are in this vehicle class. In addition, the MINI
range is now broader than ever before. Currently, the extreme sport
John Cooper Works models make up around five percent of total sales
for the MINI brand, whilst the electrified models are steadily gaining
in popularity.

The fun of driving combined with efficiency are deeply rooted within
the tradition of the British brand and define the core of MINI. The
classic Mini, introduced 61 years ago, was not only characterized by
revolutionary space economy, but also by an economic drive with
sporting potential. The second generation of MINI, introduced in 2000,
optimised the relationship between fun driving and fuel consumption,
including the introduction of diesel engines. In 2008, MINI was a
trailblazer for electromobility in the BMW Group. The MINI E was
produced in a small series and used in a field trial to gather
important insights into the use of an all-electric car in everyday traffic.

Now, emission-free mobility has been firmly established in the model
range and in the MINI community. With the MINI Countryman Plug-in
Hybrid alone, (combined fuel consumption: 2.0 – 1.7 l/100 km; combined
electricity consumption: 14.0 – 13.1 kWh/100 km; combined
CO2 emissions: 45 – 40 g/km), vehicles with electrified
drive accounted for five percent of the brand’s total sales in 2019.
Following the launch of the MINI Electric (combined fuel consumption:
0.0 l/100 km; combined electricity consumption: 16.8 – 14.8 kWh/
100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km), this rate has
doubled to ten percent of all new registrations for the brand.

Highly efficient combustion engines and additional electric
vehicles
from MINI facilitate the “Power of Choice”.

In future, MINI will enable customers all over the world to have
emission-free driving with a completely electrified model family. At
the same time, MINI will still offer highly efficient petrol and
diesel engines, which continue be an ideal solution for target groups
and regions whose mobility needs are not yet me by all-electric vehicles.

“With the two pillars of our drivetrain strategy, we are pursuing the
Power of Choice approach to meet the needs of our customers around the
world,” says Bernd Körber. “This will create the conditions
for further growth and actively shape the transformation of mobility.”

The future core portfolio of all-electric vehicles will include the
MINI 3-Door Hatch, a new crossover model in the small-car segment and
a compact crossover model. The brand’s small-car models and a
crossover model in the compact segment will be available to choose
from with conventional internal combustion engines.

New MINI models in the crossover and premium compact segment.

To further benefit from the worldwide growth in the crossover market,
MINI is focusing on an expansion of the product range in this vehicle
segment which is specifically geared towards customer requirements.

The successful MINI Countryman will be joined by another crossover
model for the small-car segment, which will be supplied exclusively
with an all-electric drive. In addition, the next generation of MINI
Countryman will be available with both combustion engines and an
electrified drivetrain, meeting the different requirements of
customers all over the world.

The ongoing development of the MINI product range provides the
opportunity to meet the increased demands of many customers in terms
of space and versatility, with an additional model for the premium
compact segment. The principle of creative use of space that is
implemented in every MINI will be preserved. Irrespective of its
concept, its vehicle class or drive type, every new model of the brand
will continue to be a typical MINI, with a maximum of interior space,
exciting drive and individuality, achieved on the smallest footprint
amongst its competitors.

“It is part of our responsibility to the brand and the community to
preserve the unique character of MINI and develop the portfolio
according to our brand values,” says Bernd Körber. “That is why
every new model from our brand in future will be unmistakably a MINI.”

Increased commitment to the automotive market in China.

The world’s largest automotive market in China continues to grow
dynamically and will become even more important for MINI in future.
Currently, around ten percent of all new vehicles produced for the
brand are delivered to customers in China. To share in the positive
development of the market and sell a significantly higher number of
vehicles in China, MINI will soon change its status as an import
brand, to a locally producing automotive supplier.

Based on a new vehicle architecture, developed from the ground up for
pure e-mobility, battery-electric vehicles will be produced in China
from 2023, in cooperation with the local manufacturer Great Wall
Motor. This venture will enable MINI to meet the rising demand for
emission-free driving both in China and in the other global markets.
Cooperation with the Chinese partner will be based on a clearly
defined principle: Production follows the market. With locally
manufactured vehicles MINI will serve the growing Chinese automotive
market whilst maintaining stable production at other locations.

In case of queries, please contact:

Corporate Communications


Matthias Bode, Spokesperson Communication MINI
Telephone:
+49-89-382-61742
E-mail: matthias.bode@mini.com

Andreas Lampka, Head of Communication MINI
Telephone: +49
89-382-23662
E-Mail: andreas.lampka@mini.com

Jennifer Treiber-Ruckenbrod, Head of Communication MINI and BMW
Motorrad
Telephone: +49-89-382-35108
E-Mail: jennifer.ruckenbrod@bmwgroup.com

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the BMW
Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles and
motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility services.
The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production and assembly
facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global sales network in
more than 140 countries.

In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles and
more than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in the
financial year 2019 was € 7.118 billion on revenues amounting to €
104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a workforce
of 126,016 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore established
ecological and social sustainability throughout the value chain,
comprehensive product responsibility and a clear commitment to
conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/BMWGroup
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

Fuel consumption, CO2 emission figures and power consumption were
measured using the methods required according to Regulation VO (EC)
2007/715 as amended. The figures are calculated using a vehicle
fitted with basic equipment in Germany, the ranges stated take into
account differences in selected wheel and tyre sizes as well as the
optional equipment. They may change during configuration.

The figures have already been calculated based on the new WLTP
test cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these
vehicles, different figures than those published here may apply for
the assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are
(also) based on CO2 emissions.

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and
official specific CO2 emissions of new cars, please refer to the
“Manual on the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption
of new cars”, available at sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil
Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760
Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

Original Press Release

Posted on

Finale of the DTM Esports Championship: a profile of the guest starters for BMW Motorsport SIM Racing.

BMW:Finale of the DTM Esports Championship: a profile of the guest starters for BMW Motorsport SIM Racing.

Munich. The grand finale of the DTM Esports Championship gets
underway at 19:00 on Tuesday evening. At four events, professional
sim racers teamed up with six professional racing drivers to go head
to head with BMW DTM drivers Lucas Auer (AUT), Timo Glock (GER) and
Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) in action as team captains. While ‘Team
Sheldon van der Linde’ is currently in pole position in the title
race, the event will once again feature a guest starter in the
virtual BMW M4 DTM, namely hybrid racer Cem Bölükbasi (TUR). He
follows in the footsteps of influencer Jimmy Broadbent (GBR), BMW
works driver Beitske Visser (NED) and tennis pro Florin Mergea
(ROU). Ahead of the final event of the season, we would like to
present the BMW Motorsport SIM Racing guest starters.

 

The grand finale of the DTM Esports Championship livestream:
www.twitch.tv/bmwmotorsport
.

 

Jimmy Broadbent: the Influencer.

Jimmy Broadbent is not only an enthusiastic sim racer himself, but,
as a YouTuber, also delights a community of more than 500,000 fans
with his races and coverage of sim racing and Esports. He is an
established name on the scene and a welcome guest in all virtual
racing series. Broadbent had often worked with BMW Motorsport SIM
Racing, even before his appearance in the DTM Esports Championship.

His summary of his guest appearance in the DTM Esports
Championship: “The sim racers who compete in the DTM Esports
Championship are like aliens to me. It is incredible how quick they
are and what they are capable of. I think I am pretty good in a
simulator, but these guys are in a different league altogether. My
community really enjoyed seeing how I got on compared to sim racers
and the real DTM drivers. They were just as impressed as I was by the
extremely high standard of the championship.”

Beitske Visser: the female racer.

For many years, Beitske Visser has shown that she is more than
capable of winning races at the highest level. She demonstrated her
talent again when she successfully progressed through the BMW
Motorsport Junior programme and was promoted to a BMW works driver.
Visser finished runner-up in the inaugural season of the W Series in
2019, which saw some of the best female racing drivers in the world go
head to head on the same bill as the DTM.

In 2020, she won the title in dominant fashion – not, however, in the
real W Series. Her title came in the virtual W Series, which was
launched as a result of the pandemic. Not only in that series, but in
numerous others, she has shown that she is one of the best
professional racing drivers on the sim racing scene. “I have always
used a simulator to prepare for my real races,” said Visser. “However,
during the pandemic I installed one at home and started to race
online. It is something I really enjoy, and helps me to keep stay sharp.”

Her summary of her guest appearance in the DTM Esports
Championship: “I really enjoyed my start in the DTM Esports
Championship at the Zolder circuit. The BMW M4 DTM is cool to drive.
The standard of the professional sim racers was extremely high, but I
had a lot of fun.”

Florin Mergea: the tennis pro.

Florin Mergea is not only an ambassador for BMW Romania and one of
the world’s best tennis doubles players, but he is also a passionate
and ambitious sim racer. As a tennis pro, Mergea has reached two grand
slam semi-finals in doubles and won silver at the 2016 Olympic Games.
He is now preparing for the Olympic Games in Tokyo (JPN) in 2021.

During the current pandemic, he has taken his passion for sim racing
to a new level. “Only in the last year have I started to invest more
time in sim racing, due to the pandemic. Before then, it was just a
pastime between tennis tournaments,” said Mergea, who this year
competed in the Racing League Romania Season 5 powered by BMW. Since
2014, he has owned his own simulator at home, which he has
consistently improved. Now, sim racing is more than just a hobby for
the Romanian. “The mental aspect of sim racing helps me with my
tennis, because I learn to focus fully for a longer time without the
breaks that I get in tennis. That is something I would not otherwise
practice so intensively,” Mergea explained. And he already has a
vision for his future after tennis. “Once I call time on my tennis
career, I can imagine getting involved professionally in sim racing.”

His summary on his guest appearance in the DTM Esports
Championship: “I have been an ambassador for BMW Romania
since 2015 and have always been a fan of the brand so I was delighted
to be able to try out the BMW M4 DTM in the DTM Esports Championship.
It was great fun. For me, it was a fantastic experience to appear
alongside professional racing drivers and sim racers in the same race.”

Cem Bölükbasi: the hybrid racer.

Cem Bölükbasi is at home in two different worlds – the real world,
and virtual motor racing. Unlike Beitske Visser, whose involvement in
sim racing is in addition to real motorsport, both fields enjoy equal
standing with Bölükbasi. “I started out in real racing, until at a
certain point I was no longer able to get together the budget I needed
to continue,” said Bölükbasi. “That was when I started sim racing. It
was in 2015. My professional sim racing career began in F1 Esports.
Back then, I was the first person to sign a contract with a
professional Esports team.” In 2018, he finished second in the F1
Esports world rankings. His success and activities on various social
media channels allowed him to amass a large fan community. His YouTube
and Instagram accounts have well over 100,000 subscribers.

Despite his success as a sim racer, he has also been a regular on the
real racetrack again since 2019. “The Borusan Otomotiv team gave me
the opportunity to return to real motor racing and to compete in the
GT4 European Series with the BMW M4 GT4,” said Bölükbasi. “They put
their faith in me and said ‘Wow, that guy is good in the simulator.
Let’s see what he can do in a real race car.’ I can only thank them
for that.”

Just last weekend, he claimed a class victory in the BMW M4 GT4 at
Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). Now he competes on Tuesday evening as the
fourth guest starter in the virtual BMW M4 DTM in the DTM Esports Championship.

Original Press Release

Posted on

BMW Motorsport News – Issue 20/2020.

BMW:BMW Motorsport News – Issue 20/2020.

Whether in the DTM, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar
Championship, the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, or countless other
championships: Week after week BMW teams and drivers around the
world do battle for points, victories and titles. Away from the
track too, members of the large BMW Motorsport family around the
world are also creating headlines. The “BMW Motorsport News” allows
us to regularly summarise all the action for you in a compact and
informative manner. This way, you are always up to speed.

Eset V4 Cup: Gregor Zsigo wins the drivers’ title in the GT3
Sprint competition.
The Eset V4 Cup season drew to a
close last weekend with three races at the Hungaroring (HUN). Gregor
Zsigo (HUN) claimed the drivers’ title in a thrilling finale in the
GT3 Sprint category, competing for Trevor Racing in his BMW M6 GT3.
Fifth place in his class was sufficient in the final two races. In the
last endurance race of the season, Zsigo claimed fourth place in the
class together with his team-mate Štefan Rosina (SVK). That equated to
second place in the overall standings. Ferenc Ficza (HUN) finished
second with the Trevor Racing BMW M4 GT4 in the GT4 overall endurance
and sprint standings.

GT4 European Series: class win for the BMW M4 GT4.

The Borusan Otomotiv team celebrated a win in the Pro-Am class
with the BMW M4 GT4 at the penultimate race weekend of the GT4
European Series at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). In the second race on
Saturday, Cem Bölükbasi and Yagiz Gedik (both TUR) secured fifth place
overall and first place in their class. Joakim Walde and Alfred
Nilsson (both SWE) also reached the podium in the Pro-Am class,
finishing third in the Lestrup Racing BMW M4 GT4. Bölükbasi and Gedik
were the best-placed BMW M Customer Racing Team in the first race,
finishing fourth in their class.

BTCC: Turkington wins to reclaim overall
lead.
The penultimate weekend in the British Touring Car
Championship (BTCC) saw Colin Turkington (GBR) reinforce his ambitions
of retaining the title with an impressive performance. He claimed
victory in the first two of three races at Snetterton (GBR) in his BMW
330i M Sport, before battling his way up from tenth on the grid to
finish third in the final race. That impressive points haul helped
Turkington reclaim the lead in the drivers’ championship ahead of the
season finale at Brands Hatch (GBR). His team-mate Tom Oliphant (GBR)
missed out on the top ten in each race. Team BMW nonetheless remains
at the top of the team and manufacturers’ standings.

Original Press Release

Posted on

With the know-how of the Dakar Rally winner: The MINI Countryman Powered by X-raid.

BMW:With the know-how of the Dakar Rally winner: The MINI Countryman Powered by X-raid.

Munich. The MINI Countryman arouses the desire for
adventure. The biggest model of the British premium brand has been
designed with five doors and an interior compartment that can be used
in a variety of different ways. This automobile is a true all-round
talent and not simply in everyday traffic. Its robust vehicle concept,
powerful engines and the optional ALL4 all-wheel drive ensure
limitless driving fun even away from paved carriageways. And that’s
not all. As a support vehicle in the entourage of the X-raid Team –
currently the incumbent overall winner of the Dakar Rally – the MINI
Countryman has already put in an impressive performance under extreme
conditions a number of times, displaying dynamic performance and
versatility. MINI fans are now also able to benefit from the
experience of the successful offroad specialists. Chassis
modifications derived directly from rally sport transform the
five-door series vehicle into a MINI Countryman Powered by X-raid.

A significant increase in ground clearance, particularly resilient
wheel rims and tyres with higher flanks are prominent features of the
upgrade for driving on challenging terrain that is now offered by the
X-raid Team in Trebur, Hesse. These features were specially developed
for the MINI Countryman and for outings on offroad terrain.

MINI, the X-raid Team and the Dakar Rally – for a decade, this triad
has represented exceptional success in motor sport. From 2012 to 2015,
the X-raid Team achieved overall victory for MINI four times in
succession in the editions of the classic rally held in South America.
An additional overall success followed in 2020. This time the marathon
rally covered thousands of kilometres through the sands of Saudi
Arabia. The MINI Countryman Powered by X-raid is a truly authentic
vehicle, epitomising not simply the flair of five victories in the
Dakar Rally but also the technology that contributed to these triumphs.

The X-raid Team is familiar both with the features of the MINI
Countryman that are specific to the model and with the tough
conditions besetting competitors and materials alike in endurance
rallies played out on desert sand, rough terrain, mud and stony
ground. The team’s know-how flows not only into the development and
creation of winners in the Dakar Rally like the MINI ALL4 Racing and
the MINI John Cooper Works Buggy but also into continuously optimised
preparation of the service vehicles. This involved extensive
modifications to the chassis and bodywork to make the MINI Countryman
a particularly reliable support vehicle over race stages often
extending along hundreds of kilometres.

Increased ground clearance and measures to avoid flat tyres enabled
the service vehicles of the X-raid Team to travel without mishap along
tracks mined with potholes and strewn with sharp-edged rocks that are
typical of the Andean highlands between Argentina and Chile, and on
the rough terrain of the Saudi Arabian desert. Naturally, this means
that the MINI Countryman Powered by X-raid is now well equipped for
individual challenges on offroad terrain. Increasing the ride height
of the vehicle and the large format for wheel rims and tyres raise the
ground clearance for the MINI Countryman overall by up to 40
millimetres. As a result, the fording depth and the ramp angle are
significantly optimised.

The wheels developed specially for rallying provide effective
protection against tyre damage. A robust rim ring ensures that it is
not necessary to change the entire wheel if damage is sustained on
rocky ground. It also creates a powerful visual impact and masks the
high tyre flanks.

The full scope of the upgrade, prices and availabilities can be found
at offroad@x-raid.

In case of queries, please contact:

Stefanie Szlapka, Press Officer X-raid

Telephone: +49 6147 20 46-73

E-Mail: press@x-raid.de

The BMW Group

With its four brands BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and BMW Motorrad, the
BMW Group is the world’s leading premium manufacturer of automobiles
and motorcycles and also provides premium financial and mobility
services. The BMW Group production network comprises 31 production
and assembly facilities in 15 countries; the company has a global
sales network in more than 140 countries.

In 2019, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles
and more than 175,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax
in the financial year 2019 was € 7.118 billion on revenues amounting
to € 104.210 billion. As of 31 December 2019, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 126,016 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company has therefore
established ecological and social sustainability throughout the
value chain, comprehensive product responsibility and a clear
commitment to conserving resources as an integral part of its strategy.

www.bmwgroup.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BMWGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/BMWGroup

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/BMWGroupView

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bmwgroup

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bmw-group/

Fuel consumption, CO2 emission figures and power consumption were
measured using the methods required according to Regulation VO (EC)
2007/715 as amended. The figures are calculated using a vehicle
fitted with basic equipment in Germany, the ranges stated take into
account differences in selected wheel and tyre sizes as well as the
optional equipment. They may change during configuration.

The figures have already been calculated based on the new WLTP
test cycle and adapted to NEDC for comparison purposes. In these
vehicles, different figures than those published here may apply for
the assessment of taxes and other vehicle-related duties which are
(also) based on CO2 emissions.

For further details of the official fuel consumption figures and
official specific CO2 emissions of new cars, please refer to the
“Manual on the fuel consumption, CO2 emissions and power consumption
of new cars”, available at sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil
Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760
Ostfildern-Scharnhausen and at https://www.dat.de/co2/.

Original Press Release