BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS spring back into competitive action at the Nordschleife this weekend. The Belgian squad’s two-car assault on VLN1 will see Dirk Adorf, Augusto Farfus, Lucas Luhr, Jörg Müller, Markus Palttala and Richard Westbrook in two BMW Z4 GT3 machines.
Any Nordschleife mileage is crucial to a team’s preparation to the fearsome 24 Hours of Nürburgring. This is especially true for Richard Westbrook, who has not driven the BMW Z4 GT3 in competition, and makes his debut with Marc VDS. However, the Briton has vast sportscar racing experience, with race wins in numerous highly competitive classes and championships worldwide – he will be a highly valuable addition to the squad.
The rest of the drivers are all familiar with both car and team. Luhr and Palttala stood on the podium at the 2014 24 Hours of Spa together, while Adorf won on the Nordschleife with Marc VDS last season. Farfus is key to BMW’s DTM challenge, and Müller is BMW Motorsport’s longest serving works pilot. Both raced with BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS in 2014.
The famous VLN series features a grid larger than practically any other circuit race series in the world, with some races featuring more than 200 cars. They vary from the BMW Z4 GT3 and its SP9 brethren all the way to small family hatchbacks. Getting used to this unique challenge is the team’s main focus for the event.
Qualifying and the race take place on Saturday, with the four-hour enduro beginning at 12:00. Live coverage is available on the official VLN website: VLN.de
Bas Leinders, Team Principal
“It’s great to return to this famous track with such a great team and a great line up. I’m happy to welcome back some guys the team know very well, and also to bring in Richard. He’s a fearsome competitor – we had some great races with him in the FIA GT1 World Championship. It’s a very exciting feeling, to be working so closely once more with BMW Motorsport, and to have their trust. We’ll be pushing with everything we’ve got to ensure that it’s a successful season for BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS.”
Augusto Farfus, BMW Z4 GT3
“It’s a pleasure to be back and race at the Nordschleife. It’s great to be behind the wheel of the BMW Z4 GT3, to prepare for the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. My last experience of the car was with Marc VDS, at the 24 Hours of Spa, and I think the team is awesome. I’m extremely motivated and super happy to be back with this team again and I’m sure we’ll have a really competitive package to fight for the victory.”
Richard Westbrook, BMW Z4 GT3
“I’m proud to drive with Marc VDS, and to race the BMW Z4 GT3. I know how important the 24 Hours of Nürburgring and the VLN are for manufacturers, and it’s a great opportunity as part of a strong line up. Marc VDS have established themselves as one of the teams to beat in GT racing across the world, and it’s a real privilege to race for them this weekend and in the coming races. I know them from my GT1 experiences and I feel like I’ve been working with them for a while, there are so many familiar faces I know from the paddock. This will be my sixth N24 in succession and I’m really happy to have a chance to fight at the front again. It all starts this weekend, and we’re looking to get a good performance under our belts.”