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Nürburgring 24 Hours debut for the new BMW M4 GT3 crowns BMW M anniversary week.

BMW:Nürburgring 24 Hours debut for the new BMW M4 GT3 crowns BMW M anniversary week.

Nürburgring. The anniversary week of BMW M GmbH is in full
swing. The company was founded on 24th May 1972, and this
week it celebrates its 50th birthday at the
50th staging of the Nürburgring 24 Hours (GER). The focus
will be on the BMW M4 GT3, which is set for its race debut at the
endurance classic, which BMW M Motorsport teams have won 20 times in
the past. However, the support programme presented by BMW M is also
quite something. The BMW M Race of Legends, the M Korso, and M Town
are just some of the many highlights on offer to the fans, who will
finally be back at the circuit in big numbers.

 

In the 24-hour race, seven BMW M4 GT3s will be looking to back up the
good performances shown in the run-up to the event, and to have a say
in the battle for overall victory. Recent wins for ROWE Racing and the
BMW Junior Team in the Nürburgring Endurance Series and the 24h
Qualifiers have demonstrated the great potential of the new car. It
now faces the ultimate test on the most demanding racetrack in the world.

As well as the BMW M4 GT3, many other BMW M Motorsport cars will also
line up on the grid; the BMW M4 GT4, the BMW M2 CS Racing, the BMW
M240i Racing, and other race cars assembled by private teams take the
total number to roughly 30 BMWs, which will take on the challenge of
the 24-hour race.

50 years of BMW M: Birthday celebration with guest of honour
Jean Todt.

The BMW M2 CS Racing also plays a major role in the highlight of BMW
Ms’ birthday programme. The BMW M Race of Legends, in which heroes
from throughout the motor racing history of BMW M go head to head,
will feature twelve BMW M2 CS Racing cars with a special anniversary
livery – similar to that of the Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3. The
30-minute race takes place on the Grand Prix Circuit at 14:00 on
Saturday, immediately before the grid forms for the 24-hour race. The
BMW legends will also be available to sign autographs, pose for photos
and chat to fans all weekend.

Jochen Neerpasch, the first head of BMW Motorsport GmbH, and former
FIA president Jean Todt will be in attendance as guests of honour.
Todt accepted the invitation he received from a BMW M Motorsport
delegation, led by Neerpasch, at the FIA Gala in December 2021. The
Frenchman has enjoyed an association with BMW Motorsport GmbH from the
very beginning. He and Neerpasch had previously implemented a number
of joint projects, and again worked together on the rally scene from
1973. Among other things, Todt won a round of the World Rally
Championship alongside Achim Warmbold in a BMW 2002 Ti. Furthermore,
Todt made contact with Hervé Poulain, with whom Neerpasch developed
the idea of the BMW Art Cars. As a friend and comrade-in-arms, Jean
Todt played a very important role in the positive development of BMW
Motorsport GmbH.

The traditional M Korso, in which privateers parade round the
Nordschleife in their BMW M cars, also takes place on Saturday. In the
large M Town activity area on the ring°boulevard and in the
neighbouring M showroom, fans can immerse themselves in the world of
BMW M. Current and vintage cars are on display here. There is also a
show programme with regular interviews.

Quotes ahead of the Nürburgring 24 Hours.

Franciscus van Meel (CEO of BMW M GmbH): “What a week
for BMW M! On Tuesday we celebrate the brands’ 50th
birthday, as it was on 24th May 1972, under the leadership
of Jochen Neerpasch, that the 35-strong BMW Motorsport GmbH was
founded. It is unbelievable how it has developed in the five decades
since it was formed. BMW M vehicles are icons – both on the street and
at the racetrack. Where better to celebrate our birthday than on the
Nürburgring-Nordschleife, where BMW M road cars have always been put
through their paces, and BMW M Motorsport race cars have made history.
I am very much looking forward to a weekend full of highlights: the
premiere of the BMW M4 GT3 in the 24-hour race, the BMW M Race of
Legends, the M Korso, our M Town, and much more. Above all, however, I
am glad that we are finally able to celebrate this festival of motor
racing again with all our fans.”

 

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “After
months of intensive preparations, the wait is finally over. The
Nürburgring 24 Hours is both the highlight of the season so far and
the biggest test for the new BMW M4 GT3. The results achieved and the
speed shown in previous races on the Nordschleife have been very good.
Our teams and drivers have really done an outstanding job,
particularly when you consider how little time they have had to
familiarise themselves with the finer details of the car. We have
shown that we have the potential to challenge for victory on the
Nordschleife in the very first year with the BMW M4 GT3 – everyone
involved can be very proud of that. However, it is not pure speed that
will decide between victory and defeat, but primarily reliability. In
this regard, running a new car obviously poses a number of challenges.
We have done everything possible to be as well prepared as we can for
the ultimate endurance test. However, we are also aware that a 24-hour
race can be ruthless. We have an exciting weekend ahead of us.”

Torsten Schubert (Team Principal Schubert Motorsport):
“The 24-hour race at the Nürburgring has a special place in
the history of Schubert Motorsport. We are delighted to line up with
the new BMW M4 GT3 this year and, in doing so, to honour the history
of BMW M. We have come close to the podium several time in the past.
This time, we want to finish right at the front, and we will do
everything in our power to achieve this goal. Furthermore, it will be
rather special to appear with my sons in the BMW M2 CS Racing. We just
want to enjoy this fantastic race – together with all the fans, who
are finally back again. That is something we are particularly pleased
about. We really missed that atmosphere.”

Stefan Reinhold (Team Principal BMW M Team RMG): “For
us, as a team from the Eifel region, the 24-hour race is obviously the
highlight of the season, to which we all look forward. It is fantastic
to finally be able to experience that world-famous Nürburgring flair
again this year, with big crowds in the grandstands, at the campsites,
in the paddock and on the grid. Together with the BMW Junior Team, we
have worked hard in recent months to prepare as well as possible for
the race with the new BMW M4 GT3. Our results have been very positive.
We have shown impressive pace and put on a good show for the fans. We
want to back that up in the 24-hour race. However, the challenge for
the drivers, team and car is greater than it was in the preparations.
Issues like the reliability of the car and consistency of the drivers
at day and night, and in any weather, will definitely play a decisive role.”

Hans-Peter Naundorf (Team Principal ROWE Racing): “It
is exciting for us to line up at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with the new
BMW M4 GT3 for the first time in our seventh year with BMW M
Motorsport. BMW M Motorsport has again made it possible for us to
compete with a fantastic driver line-up this year. We are thrilled to
be working with these top drivers. That is a big privilege and not
something that can be taken for granted. We will do everything we can
to repay that faith and, two years after its 20th overall victory,
give BMW M something to celebrate on its 50th anniversary.”

Niclas Königbauer (Team Manager Walkenhorst Motorsport):
“This year’s milestone Nürburgring 24 Hours is obviously one
of the highlights of our season. We are delighted to be able to field
our three BMW M4 GT3s and finally experience the event together with
what we hope will be big crowds at the circuit again. I am sure that
the race will again provide plenty of excitement and the Eifel will
live up to its reputation. Together with our partner Yokohama, our
drivers and fans, we have put together a very strong package, which
will allow us to battle for the best possible result and master the 24 hours.”

BMW M4 GT3 line-ups:

 

#20 Schubert Motorsport:

Jesse Krohn (FIN), Alexander Sims (GBR), Jens Klingmann (GER), Niklas
Krütten (GER)

#72 BMW M Team RMG / BMW Junior Team:

Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER), Neil Verhagen (USA)

#98 ROWE Racing:

Nick Catsburg (NED), John Edwards (USA), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA),
Marco Wittmann (GER)

#99 ROWE Racing:

Connor De Phillippi (USA), Philipp Eng (AUT), Augusto Farfus (BRA),
Nick Yelloly (GBR)

#100 Walkenhorst Motorsport:

Henry Walkenhorst (GER), Friedrich von Bohlen (GER), Jörg Breuer
(GER), Andreas Ziegler (GER)

#101 Walkenhorst Motorsport:

Christian Krognes (NOR), Andy Soucek (ESP), Sami-Matti Trogen (FIN),
Jörg Müller (GER)

#102 Walkenhorst Motorsport:

Jörg Müller (GER), Mario von Bohlen (GER), Ben Tuck (GBR), Jörn
Schmidt-Staade (GER)

Start list for the BMW M Race of Legends:

Franciscus van Meel (NED)

Olaf Manthey (GER)

SKH Leopold von Bayern (GER)

Johnny Cecotto (VEN)

Arturo Merzario (ITA)

Harald Grohs (GER)

Bill Auberlen (USA)

Dirk Adorf (GER)

Jochen Mass (GER)

Eddie Cheever (USA)

Steve Soper (GBR)

Eric van de Poele (BEL)

Original Press Release

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50 Jahre BMW M: The BMW M3 and BMW M4 edition models marking the company’s anniversary.

BMW:50 Jahre BMW M: The BMW M3 and BMW M4 edition models marking the company’s anniversary.

Munich. Within the framework of spectacular events
featuring sensational new model innovations and together with its
worldwide community, BMW M GmbH is celebrating the first five decades
of its existence during these weeks and months. On 24 May 1972, the
partnership agreement for BMW Motorsport GmbH was signed. Exactly 50
years later to the day, the company now known as BMW M GmbH is
presenting an exclusive collection of edition models as a current
anniversary highlight.

With the BMW M 50 Jahre edition of the BMW M3 Sedan (fuel consumption
combined: 10.2 – 9.8 litres/100 km; CO2 emissions combined:
231 – 223 g/km according to WLTP; data according to NEDC: – ) and the
BMW M4 Coupe (fuel consumption combined: 10.1 – 9.8 litres/100 km;
CO2 emissions combined: 230 – 223 g/km according to WLTP;
data according to NEDC: – ), M enthusiasts around the globe can
express both their passion for racing and their awareness of
tradition. Limited editions, exclusive design features and
individually selectable equipment options ensure that each edition
vehicle can become a unique car that reflects the personal style of
its owner.

The BMW M 50 Jahre edition is based on the current generation of the
most successful model series in the history of BMW M GmbH. Worldwide,
the model designations BMW M3 and BMW M4 are synonymous with high
performance in the premium mid-range segment. The edition models are
powered by a straight six-cylinder engine with up to 375 kW/510 hp, M
TwinPower Turbo technology and high-revving characteristics. Depending
on the model variant, its power is transferred to the rear wheels via
a 6-speed manual transmission or an 8-speed M Steptronic transmission
with Drivelogic, or fully variably distributed to all four wheels
using M xDrive technology.

The exclusive character of the edition models is the result of a
market-specific configuration with unique design features and a
strictly limited number of units in each case. In this way,
fascinating rarities are created for the most important automotive
markets around the world. For the exterior paintwork of the edition
vehicles, style-defining colours from the history of BMW M GmbH are
being reissued. These are complemented by M forged wheels in a
similarly exclusive colour scheme and striking accents in the interior.

In Europe and other selected sales regions, BMW M GmbH is offering an
exclusive edition of the BMW M4 Coupe to mark its anniversary. The
two-door BMW M 50 Jahre edition comes in the exterior colours Carbon
Black, Macao Blue, Brands Hatch Grey, Imola Red and San Marino Blue.
Their expressive appearance is enhanced by 19-inch M forged wheels on
the front axle and 20-inch wheels on the rear axle featuring a
double-spoke design, which are being offered for the first time in the
colours Orbit Grey Matt and Gold Bronze matt.

In addition, a similarly limited number of edition vehicles of the
BMW M4 Coupe are being produced for the Chinese automotive market and
available in the exterior paint finishes Fire Orange and Stratus Grey.
This colour selection relates to the fact that the anniversary of BMW
M GmbH is being celebrated in China in the Year of the Tiger. The M
forged wheels on these vehicles are finished in matt Orbit Grey in
conjunction with the Fire Orange body colour and in matt Gold Bronze
in conjunction with the Stratus Grey exterior paint finish.

In the interior of all edition vehicles based on the BMW M4 Coupe,
door sill panels bearing the lettering “Edition 50 Jahre BMW M”, a
metal plaque on the centre console with the lettering “M4 Edition 50
Jahre BMW M” and a corresponding imprint on the headrests of the
standard M sports seats and the optional M carbon bucket seats for
driver and front passenger hint at the anniversary.

The edition model on the basis of the BMW M3 Sedan was designed
exclusively for the US and Canadian automotive markets. There is a
choice of five exterior paint finishes for the 500 models of the
four-door high-performance sports car available there, each of which
is reminiscent of one of its five predecessors: from Vermilion Red to
Techno Violet, Interlagos Blue and Fire Orange to Limerock Grey. All
body colours are combined with M forged wheels in Orbit Grey matt and
selected BMW M Performance Parts. The components, which are inspired
by racing in terms of design and technology and likewise included in
the range of equipment available for the anniversary edition, also
comprise the BMW M Performance front splitter Carbon, the BMW M
Performance rear spoiler Carbon and the BMW M Performance tailpipe
trims Carbon/Titanium.

The “Edition 50 Jahre BMW M” lettering on the door sill trims and M
stripes on the headrests of the front and outer rear seats
characterise the interior. Moreover, an exclusive seam pattern adorns
both the standard M sports seats and the optionally available M carbon
bucket seats of the edition vehicles. A metal plaque on the cupholder
cover of the centre console bears the inscription “M3 Edition 50 Jahre
BMW M” and the reference “1/500”.

BMW M3 Sedan

Fuel consumption combined: 10.2 – 9.8 litres/100 km; CO2
emissions combined: 231 – 223 g/km according to WLTP; data according
to NEDC: – .

BMW M4 Coupe

Fuel consumption combined: 10.1 – 9.8 litres/100 km; CO2
emissions combined: 230 – 223 g/km according to WLTP; data according
to NEDC: – .

Original Press Release

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BMW M Motorsport News, 23rd May 2022.

BMW:BMW M Motorsport News, 23rd May 2022.

ADAC GT Masters: Schubert Motorsport dominates at the Red Bull Ring.

At the same time as Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) was winning both DTM
races at the Lausitzring (GER), Schubert Motorsport was also winning
both races in the ADAC GT Masters at the Red Bull Ring (AUT). Young
talents Ben Green (GBR) and Niklas Krütten (GER) took victory on
Saturday and Sunday in the #10 BMW M4 GT3. The two wins at the
weekend, in front of 25,000 spectators, were enough to move Green and
Krütten to the top of the Drivers’ Championship, each with 60 points
to their name. “I need a few days to take it all in,” said Green. “It
is incredible to have won both races here and also to lead the
championship.” 19-year-old Krütten, who also secured pole position on
Sunday, said: “I was nervous at the start, but got away well. After a
few laps, the race at the front had calmed down a little and I tried
to look after the tyres for Ben’s stint. That worked well, and allowed
Ben to secure the win. I cannot yet believe that we won again today,
after our maiden victory on Saturday. It is unbelievable.”

Second place in Sunday’s race went to BMW M works drivers Nick
Catsburg (NED) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) in the #20 BMW M4 GT3, which
lined up in the “50 years of BMW M” anniversary livery for the first
time. The duo, which finished fifth on Saturday, now lies fourth in
the Drivers’ Championship with 55 points after the second race weekend
of the season. Schubert Motorsport tops the Team competition with 73
points after its outstanding weekend in Austria. Four wins in four
races, on two days: With its success in the DTM and the ADAC GT
Masters, the team from Oschersleben (GER) claimed the first big wins
in both series for the new BMW M4 GT3. The next highlight comes this
weekend with the Nürburgring 24 Hours (GER).

—

ADAC GT4 Germany: Brace of wins for the defending champions.

In ADAC GT4 Germany too, it was a BMW M Motorsport team that
dominated the race weekend at the Red Bull Ring (AUT). Reigning
champions Michael Schrey (GER) and Gabriele Piana (ITA) won both races
in the BMW M4 GT4 of Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport. In doing so,
they repeated last year’s double victory in Spielberg (AUT) and
climbed into second place in the Drivers’ Championship after a tough
start to the season in Oschersleben (GER). “We are delighted. We never
thought we could win twice here again,” said Schrey.

Patrick Steinmetz and Michael von Zabiensky (both GER), in the
Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT4, produced an impressive fightback in
Sunday’s race. They took advantage of multiple safety car phases to
climb into fourth from 26th on the grid. They had
previously come home 13th on Saturday. Tim Reiter and Max
Rosam (both GER) were eighth in the opening race in Hofor Racing by
Bonk Motorsport’s second BMW M4 GT4, before failing to finish race two.

—

BMW M2 Cup: Fabian Kreim dominates the opening weekend.

The BMW M2 Cup kicked off its season on the support programme for the
DTM race weekend at the Lausitzring (GER). Last year’s runner-up
Fabian Kreim (GER) won both 30-minute races, which were streamed live
on the BMW M YouTube channel. On Saturday, he controlled the race from
pole position. He started from the front of the grid again on Sunday,
and refused to be knocked out of his stride by a late safety car
phase, which saw the field bunch back together. “What an incredible
feeling. I could hardly be happier,” said Kreim. “A huge thank you
goes to the BMW M2 Cup team, and particularly the mechanics, who
prepared and configured my car perfectly.” Second and third place in
Saturday’s race went to Maxime Oosten (NED) and Tom Nittel (GER). On
Sunday, Kreim was joined on the podium by Robert Hefler (HUN) and
Diego Stifter (ITA).

“We could hardly have asked for a better start to the new season,”
said BMW M2 Cup manager Jörg Michaelis. “Qualifying hinted at what was
to come, and the drivers produced precisely that in the race: hard but
fair racing of a very high standard – with door-to-door action but no
major damage. That was the perfect start. A big thank you goes to our
team of mechanics, led by Björn Wiegard, who provided the drivers with
perfectly prepared cars.”

—

DTM Trophy: Two BMW M4 GT4 on the podium.

Two BMW M4 GT4 made it onto the podium in Sunday’s race at the
opening weekend of the DTM Trophy at the Lausitzring (GER). Theo
Oeverhaus (GER) was runner-up in the Walkenhorst Motorsport car, ahead
of Colin Caresani (NED) from the Project 1 team. Oeverhaus fought back
impressively in both races. On Sunday, he stormed onto the podium from
13th place on the grid. On Saturday, he finished as the top
BMW M Motorsport driver in sixth place, having started from 15th.
Caresani, who like his Project 1 team-mate Louis Henkefend (GER) has
stepped up from the BMW M2 Cup into the GT4 category, failed to finish
on Saturday. Marc de Fulgencio (ESP) came home tenth and seventh in a
BMW M4 GT4 for FK Performance Motorsport.

—

GTWC/GT4/TC America: BMW M Motorsport teams on the podium.

BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated many successes at the SRO race
weekend at NOLA Motorsports Park (USA), in the BMW M4 GT3, BMW M4 GT4
and the BMW M2 CS Racing. In the GT World Challenge America, Bill
Auberlen and Chandler Hull (both USA) made it onto the Pro-Am podium
in both races at the wheel of the #94 BMW M4 GT3 of BimmerWorld
Racing. They came home third on Saturday and second on Sunday. The
Turner Motorsport duo of Robby Foley and Michael Dinan (both USA)
failed to finish either race.

In GT4 America, James Clay and Charlie Postins (both USA) won the Am
class on Saturday in the BimmerWorld Racing BMW M4 GT4. They failed to
finish on Sunday. In the Silver class, Austen Smith and Zac Anderson
(both USA) from the Auto Technic Racing team were third in both races.
Their team-mates Tom Capizzi and John Capestro-Dubets (both USA)
finished runner-up in the Pro-Am class on Saturday. On Sunday, James
Walker Jr. and Devin Jones (both USA) came home third for BimmerWorld Racing.

In TC America, Colin Garrett and Jacob Ruud (both USA) each won one
race at the wheel of the BMW M2 CS Racing. Garrett won for Rooster
Hall Racing on Saturday, finishing ahead of Ruud and Lucas Catania
(Rigid Speed). On Sunday, it was Ruud who triumphed for the Fast Track
Racing team. This time, Garrett came home second, ahead of Catania,
who made it onto the podium in both races.

Original Press Release

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BMW Group to open Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre this autumn

BMW:BMW Group to open Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre this autumn

+++ Approvals granted for commissioning of production in Parsdorf +++
Near-standard production of samples for next-generation battery cells
+++ Start of production in late 2022 +++

 

Munich/Parsdorf. The BMW Group will open its Cell
Manufacturing Competence Centre (CCMC) in the autumn. With the
immission control approval procedure now completed, the necessary
conditions are in place for commissioning of near-standard production
of lithium-ion battery cells at the competence centre in Parsdorf,
outside of Munich. In an area spanning around 15,000 square metres,
the BMW Group will demonstrate industrial feasibility of future
generations of high-performance battery cells. The pilot line at the
competence centre will make it possible to analyse and fully
understand cell value creation processes. This will enable future
suppliers to produce cells to the BMW Group’s own specifications and
thereby further optimise battery cell production with regard to
quality, output and costs. The company is currently ruling out the
option of establishing its own large-scale battery cell production.

Markus Fallböhmer, head of Production Engines, E-Drives at the BMW
Group: “The Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre in Parsdorf is the
next logical step towards penetrating all aspects of the battery cell
value chain. Following successful implementation of the Battery Cell
Competence Centre (BCCC), we are now focusing on the production
processes. We are validating the manufacturability of lithium-ion
battery cells for large-scale standard production, with regard to
quality, efficiency and costs.”

Staggered production start for pilot line from autumn 2022

Investment in the initial development phase for the Cell
Manufacturing Competence Centre totals around 170 million euros. About
80 employees will work at the Parsdorf location. The German Federal
Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Bavarian Ministry of Economic
Affairs, Regional Development and Energy are supporting the project
within the framework of the European funding process IPCEI (Important
Projects of Common European Interest).

Due to the complex technologies involved, battery cell production
will be commissioned in stages, with production due to start at the
CMCC in the autumn. In the initial phase of the ramp-up, the systems
for electrode production will be installed and run in. During this
stage, raw materials, such as graphite and nickel oxides for battery
electrodes, are metered and mixed. This is followed by coating of the
metal foils and final compression.

In the second phase, the systems for subsequent cell assembly and
formation will be installed. In this step, the electrodes are
processed with the other sub-components to create battery cells and
are formed and checked for quality. The entire ramp-up process will
take about a year. Over the course of the following year,
near-standard battery cell production at the competence centre will
transition to regular operation.

Cell manufacturing expertise for Neue Klasse

In Parsdorf, work will also focus on innovative production processes
and systems that can be used in standard production. The BMW Group
will produce battery cell samples at this site for the next generation
of battery technology for use in the Neue Klasse. The Neue Klasse
represents a major technological leap for the company in electric
drive systems. The aim is to significantly increase the energy density
of the next generation of lithium-ion cells and, at the same time,
reduce costs from the use of materials and production. The CMCC will
make an important contribution to this. Operations in Parsdorf will
therefore rely on electricity produced using renewable energy,
including from photovoltaic systems on the roof of the building.
Parking spaces in the garage are also equipped with charging infrastructure.

Markus Fallböhmer, head of Production Engines, E-Drives at the BMW
Group: “The CMCC will enable us to round out our know-how throughout
the value chain, from battery cell development to production of
modules and powertrain components, up to and including installation of
fully-assembled high-voltage batteries at our vehicle plants. Like the
BCCC in the field of cell research, near-standard production in
Parsdorf will create an authority in battery cell production. This
means BMW Group experts will be able to discuss topics with cell
manufacturers at the same eye level and optimise processes and technologies.”

Complete view of battery value chain

The BMW Group sources battery cells from leading cell manufacturers.
The remaining value creation, i.e. cell preparation, and production of
modules and high-voltage batteries, takes place at the automotive
manufacturer. Electric powertrain components are manufactured at
multiple locations across the BMW Group production network. For
example, high-voltage batteries, battery modules and components are
produced in Germany, at Plants Dingolfing, Regensburg and Leipzig.
Other electric powertrain components come from Plant Spartanburg in
the US and the BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture in China.

Original Press Release

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BMW Motorrad Motorsport in Estoril: Mixed results on the track, special activities to mark 50th birthday of BMW M.

BMW:BMW Motorrad Motorsport in Estoril: Mixed results on the track, special activities to mark 50th birthday of BMW M.

Estoril. After the third race weekend of the 2022 FIM
Superbike World Championship in Estoril (POR), the results were
mixed for BMW Motorrad Motorsport. Scott Redding (GBR) of the BMW
Motorrad WorldSBK Team finished an impressive fourth in the
Superpole, before ending the races in eighth, seventh and 11th
places. His team-mate Michael van der Mark (NED) crashed on Friday
and fractured his right femur neck. The Bonovo action BMW Racing
Team took victory in the Independent classification with Loris Baz
(FRA) on Saturday. However, Sunday did not go to plan for Baz and
his team-mate Eugene Laverty (IRL). As well as the race action on
the track, a central theme in Estoril was the 50th birthday of
partner BMW M.

 

The weekend in Estoril began with a big setback for BMW Motorrad
Motorsport and the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, when van der Mark
crashed in the first free practice session. He was successfully
operated on in Lisbon on Friday evening and is already able to take a
few steps on crutches. Van der Mark will return to his home in the
Netherlands on Monday. The whole BMW Motorrad Motorsport family wishes
him a speedy recovery.

 

Redding impressed with a strong fourth place in Saturday morning’s
Superpole. In race one – in which he lined up with a special “50 years
of BMW M” livery – he was battling in the top five until the halfway
point. However, his front tyre then started to wear and Redding
eventually crossed the line eighth. Baz finished tenth in the opening
race to ensure the Bonovo action BMW Racing Team once again won the
Independent competition. Team-mate Laverty, who was ninth in the
Superpole, fell back in the race and had to settle for 15th place.

Rain earlier in the day made for difficult, mixed conditions in the
Superpole Race on Sunday morning. Redding finished seventh after 10
laps of racing. There was disappointment for the Bonovo action BMW
Racing Team; like many other riders, Baz and Laverty both crashed out
whilst running in the top eight. Redding came home eleventh in race
two on Sunday afternoon, with Baz and Laverty 12th and 14th.

50 years of BMW M – Unveiling of the BMW M 1000 RR 50 Years
Edition and anniversary livery.

To mark the 50th birthday of BMW M, BMW Motorrad presented the new
BMW M 1000 RR 50 Years Edition. The anniversary model enjoyed a
ceremonial unveiling on Friday evening – at an event in Villa d’Este
on Lake Como (ITA), and at the same time in the BMW Motorrad WorldSBK
Hospitality in the paddock in Estoril. Here, Redding and BMW Motorrad
Motorsport Director Marc Bongers unveiled the production bike in
vintage São Paulo yellow. The anniversary livery of the BMW Motorrad
WorldSBK Team’s race bikes also caught the eye on Saturday: The BMW M
1000 RR Superbikes were sporting São Paulo yellow. In the race,
Redding wore special leathers with a “50 years of BMW M” design – all
black with the anniversary version of the BMW emblem.

Quotes after the Estoril races.

 

Marc Bongers, BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director:
“Michael’s injury was an extremely difficult start to the
weekend. We hope to have some news soon about how quickly he might
recover. In the meantime, we will see who could step in as a
replacement if needed. As far as Scott is concerned, there were a few
bright spots and highlights. Fourth place gave him a very good
starting position. He was eighth in race one and then seventh in
difficult conditions in the Superpole Race. We wanted to take another
step forward for the last race on Sunday afternoon, in order to
improve in our weakest sector, the final sector. Unfortunately, this
was the wrong move and had a negative effect in other sections of the
track. We have learned from this situation. On the whole, I am
satisfied with how the weekend played out for Scott, as we had a
stable bike based on the tests beforehand in Portimão, and that is a
good basis for future work. The Bonovo action BMW Racing Team was
unlucky on Sunday morning, with Loris and Eugene both crashing out in
quick succession. That was a great shame, as both could have improved
their starting positions for the second race. As such, their grid
positions were not the best for race two. We must now analyse the data
and improve the basis for Misano step by step. I would like to take
this opportunity to congratulate our partner BMW M on its 50th
birthday. The anniversary celebration on Friday evening was great and
the special livery on the M 1000 RR on Saturday was a real eye-catcher.”

Scott Redding, BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team (SP: 4 / R01: 8 / SP
Race: 7 / R02: 11): “We had a bit of a better weekend here
in Estoril. Qualifying was good after I had a better feeling with the
bike in FP1. And this always helps for the rest of the weekend. In
race one, we struggled with the front tyre a little bit which was
difficult for us. Then in the Superpole race, we probably made the
wrong tyre choice. In race two I just struggled to stop the bike so
was unable to make good lap times. We had made some changes to the
bike from race one to race two and it was not really the correct way
to go. But in the end it was a better weekend for me so I hope to
continue the form that we had in general over the weekend and seek to
continue the momentum in Misano.”

Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 12 / R01: 10 /
SP Race: DNF / R02: 12): “I didn’t put myself in the
easiest position by crashing in Superpole and finishing this
qualifying in 12th place. But I had a strong pace in race one and
brought the bike back into the top 10. This morning in warm-up I was
third, it was a nice session, I really enjoyed riding the bike in the
wet for the first time. The Superpole race was really tricky. I
usually like those conditions but unfortunately I hit a wet patch and
had a big highsider. The guys did a fantastic job not only fixing one
but two bikes to bring them back on the grid for race two. So hats off
to them and big thanks, we’ll buy the guys a couple of beers tonight.
Then race two I still had some brake problems as on Saturday and was
not feeling too comfortable at the corner entry. It was really humid,
raining in some corners and we just lost too much rear grip and I had
no feeling to go any faster. At the moment, we are not fighting for
the win or the podium but we have to accept that and work as hard as
we can. This is what all BMW riders and the entire team do and I hope
we will have a good step forwards in Misano.”

Eugene Laverty, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team (SP: 9 / R01: 15
/ SP Race: DNF / R02: 14): “My biggest disappointment was
my crash in the Superpole race. I had eighth position secured and
touched the wet part of the track, had a huge crash, destroyed the
bike and gave the mechanics some extra work. In race two I struggled
with the brakes. It was a weekend to forget, but let’s move on. In
general, the bike feels like its working well on one lap here, that’s
good. But we are having problems this year with the rear tyre after a
few laps and this is what we need to work on. It’s clear that I need
something different as I am a smaller rider compared to the other
three BMW guys so I need to work on something to push better on the
rear tyre for me.”

Original Press Release

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Dream weekend for Schubert Motorsport – Sheldon van der Linde wins both DTM races at the Lausitzring.

BMW:Dream weekend for Schubert Motorsport – Sheldon van der Linde wins both DTM races at the Lausitzring.

Lausitzring
. Dream weekend for Schubert Motorsport, with triumphs in the
DTM and the ADAC GT Masters.
Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) won both Saturday and Sunday’s DTM
races at the Lausitzring (GER). Thanks to a total haul of 56 points,
van der Linde has moved to the top of the Drivers’ Championship
after the second event of the season. At the same time, Schubert
Motorsport also leads the Team standings after the first two wins in
the DTM for the new BMW M4 GT3. The BMW M4 GT3 also claimed its
first victories in the ADAC GT Masters at the Red Bull Ring (AUT).
Schubert Motorsport and drivers Ben Green (GBR) and Niklas Krütten
(GER) triumphed on Saturday and Sunday in Austria. Nick Catsburg
(NED) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) finished runner-up in the Sunday race to
join their team-mates on the podium. 
 

At the Lausitzring, Sheldon van der Linde clocked the fastest lap of
the race, as he came through from second place on the grid to take
victory on Saturday. On Sunday, he overcame the success ballast to win
again, this time from pole position. These were victories number two
and three in the DTM, having previously won in 2020 in Assen (NED).
The South African now leads the Drivers’ Championship with 66 points.
His team-mate at Schubert Motorsport, Philipp Eng (AUT), battled his
way to fourth place on Sunday, having failed to finish on Saturday.
Schubert Motorsport now leads the Team competition with 79 points. It
was a difficult weekend for Walkenhorst Motorsport. Marco Wittmann
(GER) came home tenth to pick up one point on Sunday, recorded a DNF
on Saturday. Esteban Muth finished 12th and 18th.

Green and Krütten lead the Drivers’ Championship in the ADAC GT
Masters with 60 points. Catsburg and Krohn are fourth on 55 points. In
the Team competition, Schubert Motorsport leads the way with 73 points.

 

Quotes from the DTM weekend at the Lausitzring.

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport):
“Congratulations to Schubert Motorsport on an incredible weekend. Four
wins in four races, and the lead in the Driver and Team competitions
in both the DTM and the ADAC GT Masters – that is unbelievable! Let’s
hope it continues this way next weekend at the Nürburgring 24 Hours.
Sheldon van der Linde did a perfect job in both races at the
Lausitzring and showed what he and our new BMW M4 GT3 were capable of
at this circuit. The same goes for Philipp Eng with his hard-fought
fourth place on Sunday. It is great to see the BMW M4 GT3 proving it
is competitive at many different racetracks. It is a shame that
Walkenhorst Motorsport did not have such a good weekend at the
Lausitzring. However, I am sure that they will also have some success
to celebrate again soon.”

Torsten Schubert (Team Principal Schubert Motorsport):
“I don’t believe there are enough superlatives for a weekend
like that. I am a little lost for words. I am just happy and pleased
that we are up there at the front from the word go in both racing
series. I might have to pinch myself this evening to make sure that it
was not all a dream. Congratulations to both my crews, at the
Lausitzring and the Red Bull Ring, on a perfect job on this intensive weekend.”

Sheldon van der Linde (#31 BMW M4 GT3, Schubert
Motorsport): “That was the best race weekend of my career.
After Saturday, I did not think it could get any better – but I was
wrong. Sunday was even better! BMW M Motorsport has built a very good
car in the BMW M4 GT3. And the team did a perfect job all weekend. The
success ballast made race two much tougher, and Maro Engel put me
under a lot of pressure. However, we did enough to get the win. I am overjoyed.”

Philipp Eng (#25 BMW M4 GT3, Schubert Motorsport):
“The weekend did not get off to a good start. A technical issue meant
I was unable to take part in the first practice session, and the
technology put an end to my Saturday race too. I only started from
11th place on Sunday, but I did have a very good race. I managed the
tyres well and the team did a perfect job with the strategy and the
pit stop. Fourth place is a good result, and the weekend was obviously
sensational for Schubert Motorsport, with four victories. I am now
looking forward to the next challenges at the Nürburgring 24 Hours and
then in the DTM in Imola.”

Marco Wittmann (#11 BMW M4 GT3, Walkenhorst
Motorsport): “That was a disappointing weekend for us. We did
not have enough pace, especially compared to Schubert Motorsport and
Sheldon van der Linde. I had a good start on Sunday, but was then
forced out wide and immediately lost the positions I had gained. In
the end, it was one point for tenth place. We must now analyse exactly
what happened here at the Lausitzring and do better next time.”

Esteban Muth (#10 BMW M4 GT3, Walkenhorst
Motorsport): “We did not find the right balance for
qualifying on Saturday, and had to start from a long way back. I
managed to make up some positions in the race, but all in all it was
pretty hectic. It was a similar story today. We took a bit of a risk
with the strategy and pinned our hopes on a yellow phase.
Unfortunately, that was not to be. Congratulations to Sheldon! As a
team, we remain very motivated and will definitely find our way back
to the top.”

Original Press Release

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“Best of Show”: Bugatti 57 S wins the Trofeo BMW Group at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2022.

BMW:“Best of Show”: Bugatti 57 S wins the Trofeo BMW Group at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2022.

Munich/Cernobbio. The winner of the Trofeo BMW Group
has been declared. The Bugatti 57 S is the impressive overall winner
of the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2022. The convertible built in
1937 owned by Andrew Picker from Monaco was awarded the honour of
“Best of Show” by the Jury of experts.

The most important award at the world’s most traditional and
exclusive heritage beauty contest for Historic Cars was therefore
conferred on a vehicle from Italian and French co-production. Bugatti
and the traditional coachbuilder Vanvooren located in Courbevoie near
Paris created an ideal symbiosis as an engineering masterpiece defined
by impressive aesthetic clarity. The three-day festival of classic
cars on the shores of Lake Como drew to a close today with the gala
prize award ceremony. Once again, the festival was a celebration of
elegance and timeless beauty on four wheels.

The Bugatti 57 S triumphed in a carefully curated field of
participating rare jewels from eight decades of automobile history.
The winning car from Class A “The golden Age of Elegance: The Art Deco
Era of Motor Car Design” is the first of just four Bugatti Type 57 S
automobiles reputed to have been bodied by Vanvooren as

convertibles. The elegant convertible body and perfectly balanced
proportions accentuate calm, knife-edge lines that reject any form of
opulence or flamboyant ornamentation. One of the previous ten owners,
a Vice President of General Motors, swapped the Bugatti inline
eight-cylinder powerhouse for a Buick V8 for test purposes. The

fact that after four decades of separation the long-sought original
engine turned up in an Internet search and found its way back to the
car is surely almost a modern-day miracle. The Jury had already
provided an eagerly awaited highlight for participants and guests
alike when it announced the Class Winners and Mentions of Honour in
the course of the afternoon. A total of 51 outstanding classic cars

from different eras of automobile history were nominated for the
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2022.

The Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2022 provides an impressive
array of diverse Historic Cars. They range from rare automobiles
created in the golden era of coachbuilding in the 1920s and 1930s,
when the automobile was emancipated from being essentially an
engineering product to becoming an object of desire and elegance,

to sports models with hugely impressive contours.

The list below presents the “Best of Show” and all the class
winners alongside those vehicles in eight classes for Historic Cars
bestowed with a Mention of Honour. The model, coachwork designer,
year of manufacture and owner are provided in each case:

TROFEO BMW GROUP

BEST OF SHOW BY THE JURY

Bugatti, 57 S, 1937, Andrew Pisker, MON

CLASS WINNERS AND MENTIONS OF HONOUR

CLASS A:

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ELEGANCE:

THE ART DECO ERA OF MOTOR CAR DESIGN

Class Winner

Bugatti, 57 S, 1937, Andrew Pisker, MON

Mention of Honour

Cord, 812 Phaeton, 1936, The JBS Collection Jack B. Smith Jr., USA

CLASS B:

KOMPRESSOR!

THE SUPERCHARGED MERCEDES-BENZ

Class Winner

Mercedes-Benz, 540 K Cabriolet A, 1936, Hans Hulsbergen, SUI

Mention of Honour

Mercedes-Benz, 540 K Spezial-Roadster, 1936, Richard Workman, USA

CLASS C:

CELEBRATING 150 SEASONS AT VILLA D’ESTE:

HOW GRAND ENTRANCES WERE ONCE MADE

Class Winner

Chrysler, Boano Coupé Speciale, 1956, Stephen Bruno, USA

Mention of Honour

Siata, 208 S, 1953, Jan de Reu, BEL

CLASS D:

THE CAVALLINO AT 75:

EIGHT DECADES OF FERRARI REPRESENTED IN EIGHT ICONS

Class Winner

Ferrari, 365 P Berlinetta Speciale Tre Posti, 1966, RQ
Collections, USA

Mention of Honour

Ferrari, 250 GT Zagato, 1956, David Sydorick, USA

CLASS E:

BORN FOR THE RACETRACK:

“WIN ON SUNDAY, SELL ON MONDAY”

Class Winner

Porsche, 356 B Carrera Abarth GTL, 1961, Robert A. Ingram, USA

Mention of Honour

Maserati, MC12, 2004, Frank Gelf, GER

CLASS F:

50 YEARS OF MEAN MACHINERY:

BMW’S M CARS AND THEIR ANCESTORS

Class Winner

BMW, 3.0 CSL, 1972, Michael Ulbig, GER

Mention of Honour

BMW, 320 Gruppe 5, 1978, Mast-Jägermeister SE, GER

CLASS G:

BREAKING THE SPEED BARRIER:

PIONEERS THAT CHASED THE MAGIC 300 KPH

Class Winner

Porsche, 959 Sport, 1989, Andreas Gundermann, GER

Mention of Honour

Citroёn, SM, 1971, Thierry Dehaeck, BEL

CONCORSO D’ELEGANZA DESIGN AWARD

FOR CONCEPT CARS & PROTOTYPES

By Public Referendum

Bugatti Bolide, 2020, Achim Anscheidt

Original Press Release

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100 years of the BMW plant Munich: “This plant is our origin. And our future.”

BMW:100 years of the BMW plant Munich: “This plant is our origin. And our future.”

Munich.
The BMW Group is celebrating the
100th anniversary of its Munich home plant. The company has
been manufacturing its products as “Bayerische Motoren Werke” at the
site in the Milbertshofen district since 1922. At an event to mark the
anniversary, CEO Oliver Zipse emphasized how: “Our home plant – right
in the heart of the metropolis that is Munich – has defied the
elements of time. Because there have always been people who kept this
site moving, always with the right instinct for the times and, above
all, with a clear view to the future.” Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter spoke
of a “strong commitment to Munich as a business hub.”

It all started with aircraft engines and motorcycles. Then, from
1952, the plant moved on to start producing cars, which are still
famous the world over to this day, including the iconic BMW Isetta,
racing legends such as the M3 and, since 1975, the most successful of
all BMW models: the BMW 3 Series. “Our roots are in Munich. This plant
is our origin. And our future,” said Milan Nedeljković, Member of the
Board of Management for Production at BMW AG: “It’s a high-tech
production site. Around 900 top-quality BMWs leave this plant every
day. Five different models with all types of drive. This proves the
high flexibility, but also the vast breadth of experience and skills
of the people who work here. They are the driving force behind
everything that happens here.”

In its 100th anniversary year, the Munich plant is
impressively demonstrating the leading role it plays in the age of
electromobility. The all-electric BMW i4, for example, already makes
up a quarter of the production volume – and rising: “The demand among
our customers for the new BMW i4 is enormous – so we’re ramping up
production even further. Next year already, every second vehicle
leaving the Munich plant will be fully electric. Going by current
plans, that means more than 100,000 BMW i4s from the heart of Munich
for customers all over the world,” announced Oliver Zipse, with Milan
Nedeljković adding: “This means that, by 2023, our home plant will
already have achieved the BMW Group’s global goal for 2030, namely to
increase our proportion of BEVs to 50 percent”.

“The introduction of the BMW i4 was an impressive feat of integration
into an existing production system, and demonstrates the plant’s
enormous capacity for transformation,” Plant Manager Peter Weber
added. “Within less than five years, we have evolved from only
producing combustion engines to producing hybrids and the fully
electric i4. This means that we now manufacture five different models
with all the different drive types on one production line. This shows
that this factory truly understands transformation and is the
embodiment of change and flexibility.”

In conjunction with the BMW Group’s Research and Innovation Center
(FIZ), the Munich plant has always served as an internal center of
excellence, disseminating knowledge about processes and technologies,
as well as the experience gleaned from 100 years of engine and vehicle
production to other plants around the world. Examples of this
innovative prowess include producing the first series of the fully
electric MINI E, the iconic Z8, and the electric special edition of
the BMW 1602 for the Summer Olympics in 1972. Not to mention Project
i, culminating in the revolutionary BMW i3, which also originated at
the Munich plant.

The Munich plant’s strong position as a paragon of the BMW Group’s
production network, now and in the future, is demonstrated by its
transformation into an iFACTORY – the strategic master plan devised by
BMW Group Production, emphasizing ‘lean’, ‘green’ and ‘digital’.
Production Board Member Nedeljković: “The BMW iFACTORY epitomizes what
we are aiming for with our production in the future and is setting new
standards. We are implementing them globally, in all our plants – here
in Munich as well as in our new plant in Debrecen, Hungary.”

The Munich plant’s structure is also undergoing transformation. The
site of the former paint shop is being converted into a new body
construction facility, and from 2024 the company will be constructing
a completely new assembly to produce the all-electric ‘Neue Klasse’ on
the site of the current engine-building facility. “This will keep the
Munich plant competitive and ensure it remains a forward-looking
production site,” emphasized Plant Manager Peter Weber.

Lord Mayor Dieter Reiter highlighted the fact that the plant has
continued to evolve in parallel with the residential urban area that
surrounds it and has remained a valuable employer: “The BMW parent
plant in Munich has played a particularly significant role in BMW’s
success story, which spans over 100 years. It has produced pioneering
vehicles – such as the Neue Klasse in the 1960s and the 3 Series –
which were instrumental in making the company a success,” said Reiter
at the anniversary event. “As a result, I am all the more pleased that
BMW plans to develop its home plant in an innovative and sustainable
way according to its ‘urban production’ motto, taking into account the
industry’s transformation toward electromobility and digitalization.
This is a strong commitment to Munich as a business location and to
securing and creating jobs in our city in the long term. I would like
to thank the company for this endeavor and offer my sincere
congratulations on the 100th anniversary of BMW’s first
plant,” Reiter added.

The mayor also discussed the results of the recently concluded
architecture competition “BMW Munich – Urban Production”, which the
company launched in fall 2021 in partnership with the state capital
Munich. The aim was to capitalize on the plant’s unique location in
the city center. This will involve making the whole complex visibly
more accessible and open to its neighbors.

The two winning offices, OMA from Rotterdam and 3XN from Copenhagen,
decided on a joint endeavor to further develop their designs, and
presented this concept to a high-caliber jury last week. Their vision
for the future of production at the BMW Group plant in Munich will now
be used to develop a new master plan.

With this master plan, as well as the structural optimizations
already in the works, the Munich plant will focus on the BMW iFACTORY
principles LEAN. GREEN. DIGITAL. Together, these principles ensure
that this special site – the BMW Group’s century-old parent plant –
will have maximum flexibility, excellent processes and outstanding
integration capacities over the coming decades.

Original Press Release

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Changing colours with the power of thought.

BMW:Changing colours with the power of thought.

Munich. At the Consumer Electronics Show 2022 in Las
Vegas, the BMW Group unveiled the BMW iX Flow featuring E Ink, a
unique vehicle capable of changing its entire body colour at the touch
of a button. “We have already introduced further improvements for the
technology since the premiere at the CES,” reports Stella Clarke,
project lead of the BMW iX Flow. “Previously, the changes between
colour patterns only took place in a gradual transition. Now, the
control electronics have been tweaked to enable instantaneous
transformations, resulting in an even more stunning visual effect.”

Delegates at the BMW Group’s rad°hub dialogue platform held at Plant
Munich on 12 – 13 May had the opportunity to experience the enhanced
colour switching abilities of the BMW iX Flow up close for the first
time. The rad°hub event provides a platform for open,
interdisciplinary ideas-sharing between visionary thinkers and opinion
leaders from around the world.

The BMW iX Flow meets neurotechnology.

The Munich-based startup brainboost used the new and improved
colour-changing effect in a one-off collaboration with the BMW Group
at rad°hub aimed at raising awareness of mental health.

With the help of brainboost, the BMW iX Flow was connected directly
to the brain of the rad°hub delegates using an electroencephalograph
(EEG), which records the brain’s electrical activity. “The colour
patterns of the BMW iX Flow react to brain activity and reflect the
level of activity,” explains brainboost CEO Philipp Heiler. “Once the
brain is at rest, the changes of patterns on the iX Flow also become
calmer and more rhythmical.” A special animation was activated if
delegates managed to maintain this state for several seconds. Thus,
the participants were able to gradually calm and relax their brains
under the guidance of the brainboost experts and with the help of
neurofeedback via the iX Flow. This matures the knowledge of which
strategies work best to specifically shut down one’s own brain
activity for relaxation, e.g. in everyday working life.



What is the technology behind the colour change?

The body of the BMW iX Flow is laminated in a special film containing
millions of colour capsules. When stimulated by electrical signals,
negatively charged white pigments or positively charged black ones
will collect at the surface, thereby changing the exterior colour. By
making it possible to alter the body colour and display different
patterns, the BMW iX Flow featuring E Ink opens up a whole new way of
personalising the driving experience.



Who or what is brainboost?

The startup brainboost was founded with the mission of making mental
fitness and health accessible to as many people as possible. The
interdisciplinary team specialises entirely in mental fitness and
health, offering training courses, coaching sessions and corporate
health management measures in this area while also conducting research
and developing software. brainboost uses the fundamentals of
neuroscience and data-based measurement techniques – most notably EEGs
for measuring electrical activity in the brain – for the purpose of
clarification and prevention, as well as for enhancing quality of life
and mental performance.



What is rad°hub?

Since 2016, rad°hub has provided a unique platform for openly sharing
ideas, creative moments, innovative ideas and inspiring connections.
The aim of this dialogue-focused event format is to push boundaries,
bring influencers with ideas together and encourage dialogue between
visionary thinkers and opinion leaders from all over the world.
Interdisciplinary exchange, both within the company and beyond,
creates a space for discussing the challenges of future mobility and
developing a range of possible solutions together.

60 thinkers and visionaries from around the globe assembled at BMW’s
home plant in Munich for the rad°hub on 12 – 13 May. In working
groups, the participants dealt with various questions. What kind of
digital world do we want to live in 2040? How can we imagine a
positive future of mobility? Is digitalisation the solution for
sustainability? The developed future scenarios were presented to the
patron of the rad°hub, Dr. Nicolas Peter (Member of the Board of BMW
AG, Finance), who will take the ideas into account in his decisions as
a member of the board.

Original Press Release

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BMW Motorrad presents the BMW M 1000 RR as the anniversary model M RR 50 Years M.

BMW:BMW Motorrad presents the BMW M 1000 RR as the anniversary model M RR 50 Years M.

Munich. To mark the 50th anniversary of BMW M GmbH,
founded in 1972 as BMW Motorsport GmbH, BMW Motorrad presents the M
1000 RR 50 Years M anniversary model in Sao Paulo Yellow finish and
with the historic 50 Years BMW M emblem. With its striking M colours,
this anniversary model lives up to the M philosophy and the racing
spirit from almost 100 years of motorcycle construction by BMW
Motorrad and 50 years of BMW M vehicles. The M RR 50 Years M is
therefore fitted with the M Competition Package as standard. In
addition to the extensive M milled parts package and the exclusive M
carbon package, both a lighter swingarm in silver anodised aluminium,
the unlock code for the M GPS laptrigger as well as the M Endurance
chain, pillion package and pillion seat cover are part of the standard equipment.

M – the most powerful letter in the world.

At the end of 2018, BMW Motorrad already introduced the successful
BMW M automobile range strategy for motorcycles and has since been
offering M special equipment and M Performance

Parts. The BMW M 1000 RR – known as the M RR for short – finally
celebrated its world premiere in September 2020 as the first M model
from BMW Motorrad based on the S 1000 RR.

Today, as in the past, BMW Motorrad follows the philosophy of the
most powerful letter in the world: M is synonymous worldwide with
racing success as well as the fascination of high-performance BMW
models and is aimed at customers with particularly high demands for
performance, exclusivity and individuality. Last but not least, the
BMW M RR has also been the base bike for the BMW Motorrad World SBK
Team since 2021, as well as many other racing teams around the world.

BMW Motorsport GmbH and BMW M GmbH (since 1993).

The BMW Motorsport GmbH was founded in 1972 with the idea of uniting
all BMW motorsport activities under one roof and building up
high-performance racing vehicles and racing engines for motorracing.
The BMW 3.0 CSL (CSL = Coupe Sport Light Construction) made its debut
as the first racing car of BMW Motorsport GmbH in 1973 and on the
occasion of the foundation of BMW Motorsport GmbH, Robert A. Lutz,
member of the Board of Management of BMW AG for Sales in 1972, stated
at the time: “A company is like a human being. If it does sports,
it stays fit, enthusiastic, more effective and powerful.”

The BMW 3.0 CSL made its debut in the European Touring Car
Championship in the 1973 season, and with it a racing team’s uniform
appearance in the three BMW Motorsport colours of blue, violet and red
on a snow-white background that is still defining to this day. This
colour scheme in the updated version Blue – Dark Blue – Red determines
the appearance of the BMW M logo and the BMW M vehicles until today.

The legendary colour scheme can already be found on the first
BMW M vehicles developed for the road in the second half of the 1970s
and also characterises the racing vehicles to come and their
motorsport successes. For example, in 1978 the M1 super sports car and
from 1980 onwards the Formula 1 racing cars with which Nelson Piquet
won the Formula 1 World Championship in 1983.

From the Isle of Man to Dakar – BMW Motorrad and motorsport.

But it is not only since 1972, and not only in BMW automobiles, that
the BMW brand has been driven to win. Outstanding racing successes and
innovations also stem from motorsport. Even in the first decades of
the company’s history, BMW and motorsport were linked with unforgotten
names such as Ernst Jakob Henne and Georg “Schorsch” Meier.
The legendary victory of “Schorsch” Meier with his
supercharged BMW in the 1939 Senior Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man
is unforgotten.

And in 1976, exactly 37 years later, Helmut Dähne and Hans Otto
Butenuth celebrate fifth place in the Production TT. In this class up
to 1000 cc they set the fastest time with their BMW R 90 S, but due to
a handicap rule that applies there, they were listed in fifth place in
the classification behind two 250cc and two 500cc machines.
Nevertheless, given the fastest time, this fifth place was celebrated
like a victory.

75 years after “Schorsch” Meier’s success in the
Senior TT, Michael Dunlop succeeds again in 2014 on the BMW S 1000 RR.
And in the years that followed, the RR left its unmistakable mark on
the Tourist Trophy with further victories.

But the BMW M colours are also represented on BMW motorcycles
off the beaten track. For example, on the BMW GS factory bikes with
which Hubert Auriol and Gaston Rahier dominated the Paris-Dakar Rally
in the early 1980s.

Like no other BMW motorcycle to date, the M RR 50 Years M model
carries this historic motorsport DNA within it. This exceptional
motorcycle can only be ordered between 21 May and 30 November 2022.

You will find press material on BMW motorcycles and BMW Motorrad
rider equipment in the BMW Group PressClub at www.press.bmwgroup.com.

In case of queries please contact:
Gerhard Lindner, BMW
Motorrad Communication
Telephone: +49-151-601-53472, gerhard.la.lindner@bmw.de

Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communication BMW Motorrad
Tel.:
+49-151-601-57505, tim.diehl-thiele@bmw.de

Jennifer Treiber-Ruckenbrod, Head of Communication MINI and BMW
Motorrad
Tel.: +49-151-601-35108, jennifer.ruckenbrod@bmwgroup.com

Internet: www.press.bmw.de
E-mail: presse@bmw.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 2021, the BMW Group sold over 2.5 million passenger vehicles
and more than 194,000 motorcycles worldwide. The profit before tax in
the financial year 2020 was € 5.222 billion on revenues amounting to
€ 98.990 billion. As of 31 December 2020, the BMW Group had a
workforce of 120,726 employees.

The success of the BMW Group has always been based on long-term
thinking and responsible action. The company set the course for the
future at an early stage and consistently makes sustainability and
efficient resource management central to its strategic direction, from
the supply chain through production to the end of the use phase of all products.

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Original Press Release