Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 

Valentino Rossi to become new member of BMW M Motorsport works driver family.

The BMW M works driver squad for the 2023 season is gaining a well-known 21st member. Valentino Rossi (ITA) and BMW M Motorsport have agreed a works commitment that goes beyond the race appearances with BMW M Team WRT announced last week.

Munich. The BMW M works driver squad for the 2023 season is gaining a well-known 21st member. Valentino Rossi (ITA) and BMW M Motorsport have agreed a works commitment that goes beyond the race appearances with BMW M Team WRT announced last week. The nine-time motorcycle world champion, who called time on his long-standing, successful career on two wheels back in autumn 2021, is set to contest the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and Bathurst 12 Hour in the BMW M4 GT3 next year – and will also be available for further race and test appearances in BMW M Motorsport racing cars.

Three-pronged assault on British Touring Car title for Team BMW

Three-pronged assault on British Touring Car title for Team BMW 
BMW press report:

•  Colin Turkington, Tom Oliphant and Stephen Jelley to race in 2021

•  BMW 3 Series aims for record-breaking sixth straight Manufacturers’ title

BMW will be represented by a three-pronged attack on the 2021 British Touring Car Championship with Team BMW today (Wednesday) confirming that its line-up of Colin Turkington, Tom Oliphant and Stephen Jelley will battle for the most coveted crown in UK motorsport with the BMW 330i M Sport.

BMW secured a record-equalling fifth straight Manufacturers’ title in Britain’s premier motor racing series in 2020 while Team BMW - run by long-time partner West Surrey Racing (WSR) - claimed a fourth Teams’ title in five years thanks to six race wins - more than any other team.

Those achievements were cemented thanks to four-time champion Turkington taking the title fight down to the season finale and claiming second place in the Drivers’ standings, while Oliphant scored his first BTCC victory and finished sixth overall in what was his best campaign to date.

The 2021 line-up is completed by Jelley, who has taken each of his three career BTCC victories in BMWs. Having raced a 125i M Sport last year, his move to WSR-run Team BMW reunites him with an organisation he last drove for in 2009 - a campaign in which he scored his first series victory.

The trio has won 60 BTCC races between them, racked up 159 podium finishes, 23 pole positions, 67 fastest laps and over 4700 career points, giving Team BMW a tremendous chance of going one better than in 2020 and scoring what would be a remarkable title treble.

The 2021 BTCC starts at Thruxton on May 8-9 and comprises 10 triple-header rounds, reaching its climax on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit on October 23-24. Every race will be screened live and in HD on ITV4.

Graeme Grieve - Chief Executive Officer, BMW Group UK: “2020 was a fantastic season for BMW and our partner West Surrey Racing as they achieved another double-title success with the 3 Series. I’m delighted to see an expanded three-driver Team BMW line-up for the British Touring Car Championship. In Colin, Tom and Stephen we have three supremely-talented drivers racing for one of the most successful teams in the history of the championship. I’m looking forward to seeing the story of the season evolve as we aim for a record-breaking sixth straight Manufacturers’ title and many other achievements.”

Colin Turkington - Driver, Team BMW, said: “The confirmation from BMW UK to continue the Team BMW programme allows WSR and I to launch our 14th BTCC season together. It’s not always easy to put these campaigns together year-on-year, but to have done so for 14 years and collected numerous titles is something I’m incredibly proud of. It makes me smile that we get to chase our title dreams together with BMW once again. What we achieved together last season was phenomenal. The pace of the BMW was blistering and we really were the ones to beat. It didn’t have the fairytale ending we all wanted, but you can learn a great deal from defeat, so I’m convinced I will bring even more to the table this year. We have high hopes for the new season and I’m certain it will be as exciting as ever.”

Tom Oliphant - Driver, Team BMW: “I’m hugely excited about the season ahead, and naturally delighted to continue to race for Team BMW. I feel I’ve made a positive step forwards with my performances over the past two years and I now feel so dialled-in to the 330i M Sport...  I took on greater responsibility last year - my second year with the team - and that’s really helped my own development both on-track and off it. I certainly feel stronger and more confident as a result. I’m ready to move up to the next level in the championship and with the best overall package on the grid, I’m confident I can challenge for the Drivers’ title and help BMW try to win a record-breaking sixth straight Manufacturers’ crown.”

Stephen Jelley - Driver, Team BMW: “I’m thrilled to join Team BMW for 2021. There were times over the past few years - even when I was winning and getting podiums in the 1 Series - that I wasn’t sure I’d have an opportunity like this again, so to say that I’m looking forward to the season would be a huge understatement. When I walked into the WSR workshop for the first time in over a decade, the first thing that I noticed was just how many trophies there are on the shelves now, and that’s incredibly inspiring. I’ve spent the past few years in a BMW 1 Series, so there won’t be an issue adapting to the 330i M Sport, and I’m pleased to have both Colin and Tom in the team because I think we can all work together well to keep pushing ourselves forwards. I’ve been given the best possible platform to achieve what I want to in the BTCC and I don’t intend to waste it.”

Selwyn Frostick obituary

Today we had the sad news that a great friend, BMW Enthusiasts and BMW Car Club GB, South East Region stalwart Selwyn Frostick passed away today (3/3/2019).

 

Selwyn in his beloved BMW 2002TII Touring

I have put together a photograph album of him from our many BMW trips to BMW Club Europa events, the trip to BMW Club USA, Our trip to New Zealand, and of course from our regions home events.

Selwyn Frostick photo album

Selwyn had a lifelong love of BMWs, his first being a BMW Bubble Car. Also owned 2002Tii Touring’s, 3,, 5, 7 series and lastly a New Klasse. 

It was always an adventure when traveling with Selwyn and his beloved “BMW 2002TII Touring”. The number of times we heard “BMW 2002Tii Touring” as he phoned the breakdown service on the Autoroutes in France, became a legend among BMW event attendees.

There are many tales of Selwyn on our trips:

One time in Berlin as we completed the drive along Bomber alley and through the Brandenburg Gate, a driver in a new range rover pulled up alongside him and asked if he would do a straight swap, which he declined, only for that night at the Hotel in (Old East Germany) we were hunting around for grease to put in a front wheel bearing on his “BMW 2002TII Touring”!

Another trip in Munich, we put him right behind the BMW 5 series that was leading us from our hotel to the BMW Mobile tradition site, at a set of lights he followed the wrong BMW 5 series! (Turned up an hour later at Mobile Tradition).

He took the wrong Autobahn out of Munich to Austria, spun a machine gun carrying French border guard around as he did not stop at the border, “Is it OK to smoke” on the Channel Tunnel (Week after the fire in tunnel!), Falling asleep at the restaurant table, and ended up with his face in the meal, getting lost coming back from a pub in Austria,in Clarksville, USA a bar waitress thinking he was smoking pot when he rolled a cigarette (it was Old Holborn), the tales are endless..

So, today we lost a great fun filled friend, but have great memories with him.

My Condolences to Hannah and the family.

RIP Selwyn, (1938 to 2019)
I can hear him now telling St Peter “it’s a BMW 2002TII Touring”.  

Merry Christmas and a Safe BMW Driving in 2019

Merry Christmas and a Safe BMW Driving in 2019

Merry Christmas and a Safe BMW Driving in 2019

BMW Car Club GB stalwart Ron Sharrad has passed away

I received sad news yesterday, as BMW Car Club GB stalwart Ron Sharrad has passed away on 6^th July 2018.

Along with his partner Kathleen Butler they were great organisers of our many trips to Europe with the BMW Car Club Europa events.

The (SAS) Southeast Active Supporters enjoyed many days and evenings with them both in, Germany, Austria, Luxemburg, Switzerland, France, Holland, etc, as well here in UK

They always managed to pressure us into being Concourse Judges on our European adventures.

When I became a BMWCC GB - London and Southeast Region committee member, and then Chairman, Ron and Kathleen were a great help in getting some of the events I arranged off the ground, with their long list of BMW AG contacts.

Car parking arranged at the BMW Four Cylinders building in Munich, which lead to our BMW USA trip!

Photograph permission at BMW ART Car display in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Plus the contacts at AC Schnitzer, which lead to many trips to them in Aachen, Germany, and of course many motor races.  

The photograph is from the 2007 - BMW Club Europa meeting, Leersum, Holland. Ron is holding the glass of white wine with his partner Kathleen beside him.

The picture is from the 2008 BMW Club Europa meeting. Engelberg, Switzerland, Ron giving orders at the farewell meal and prize giving

 Great memories and will be sadly missed. Condolences to Kathleen and family, RIP Ron

BTCC at Brands Hatch 7th / 8th April 2018

British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) at Brands Hatch on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th April 2018.