Whether in the DTM, the FIA World Endurance Championship, the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar 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.

DTM: roll-out for BMW M4 DTM with two-litre turbo engine.

The BMW M4 DTM, modified to comply with Class 1 regulations and driven by the newly-developed BMW two-litre turbo engine, has completed a baptism of fire at its BMW Group Plant Dingolfing (DEU) premiere. BMW works driver Bruno Spengler (CAN) was behind the wheel. The 2012 DTM champion shared his impressions in this interview.

Three questions for... Bruno Spengler.

Bruno, how was your experience of the BMW M4 DTM roll-out with the two-litre turbo engine?
Bruno Spengler: 'The first few kilometres felt very good. That marked the start of a new era for us and for the DTM. Being able to be there right at the start made it very special for me. It was a very interesting and productive roll-out. Now I am looking forward to the next steps in its development.'

The new turbo engine is substantially stronger than its predecessor. Did you notice the extra power?

Spengler: 'As soon as you put your foot on the gas and the revs start to go up, you feel that the car generates a lot more thrust and has more performance potential than before. The new engine will have an effect on the top speed in particular. We will be significantly faster on the straights and that will provide even more excitement for the spectators. Of course, the engine does sound different now but I still really like the sound.'

How will racing change in 2019?
Spengler: 'I think that the DTM will be even more spectacular and the show will be even better for the spectators. For one thing, we will be even faster on the straights. I also feel that the rear tyres will deteriorate a bit more during the races as we will have more horsepower available. That means that drivers might make a few more mistakes here and there. We will certainly have to work more in the cockpit.'

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Italian GT Championship: podium for BMW Team Italia at the finale.

Stefano Comandini (ITA) and Max Koebolt (NED) have rounded off the season with another podium finish in the BMW Team Italia #15 BMW M6 GT3. The duo secured second place in the first of two races at the Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello (ITA). Comandini and Koebolt started from eighth place in the BMW M6 GT3 and worked their way gradually up through the field as the race progressed. The second race on Sunday was affected by severe downpours. Comandini and Koebolt finished in eighth place. Comandini is the best-placed BMW representative in the championship standings, in sixth position.

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BMW - Bayerische Motoren Werke AG published this content on 28 October 2018 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 28 October 2018 17:36:07 UTC