BMW announces driver line-up for DTM 2012
BMW Team Schnitzer will line up with Bruno Spengler and Dirk Werner in 2012. Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus will represent BMW Team RBM. Reigning DTM champion Martin Tomczyk will join forces with Joey Hand at BMW Team RMG.
"In allocating our six DTM drivers to the three teams we have completed another stage of our planning for the 2012 season," said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. "To find the ideal driver/team combinations, every one of our six drivers has driven for each of the teams. After many discussions with all those involved, we are confident we have found the optimal line-ups, which will allow us to get the best out of the individual strengths of the drivers and teams. The drivers and teams can now continue to grow together and prepare for the season, which begins in just three months."
A newcomer to the squad of BMW works drivers, Spengler joins forces with the oldest BMW team, bringing the experience gained from 73 DTM races since 2005 with him to BMW Team Schnitzer. Under the guidance of Team Principal Charly Lamm, the squad from Freilassing won the DTM in 1989 with Roberto Ravaglia at the wheel of a BMW M3. Schnitzer has 17 wins in this series to its name. Werner knows the team well, having raced with them at many endurance events since 2010, including the 24-hour races at Le Mans and the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.
BMW Team RBM is reunited with Priaulx and Farfus. The British/Brazilian duo lined up successfully in the 2010 World Touring Car Championship for Team Principal Bart Mampaey. Priaulx had previously won the 2004 European Touring Car Championship with the crew from Mechelen, before claiming three back-to-back World Championship titles between 2005 and 2007.
Tomczyk is not only the reigning champion, but also the most experienced DTM driver representing BMW this season, with 112 races to his name. In 2012 he will line up for BMW Team RMG. His team-mate also joins Team Principal Stefan Reinhold’s crew as a reigning champion: Hand won last year’s GT Drivers’ Championship in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) for BMW.
BMW works drivers, Priaulx, Farfus, Spengler, Tomczyk and Werner, will take part in the DTM test in Estoril from 7th to 9th February. However, Hand will not be in Portugal, as at the same time he will be taking part in a test for the BMW ALMS programme