BMW returned to DTM this year after a twenty-year absence with three two-car teams running its new M3 DTM. The marque’s return to the series has been very successful. Going into the season finale at the Hockenheimring on October 21, Bruno Spengler, who drives for BMW Team Schnitzer, is second in the drivers’ championship, just three points behind Gary Paffett of Mercedes.
BMW Motorsport has released an overview of its season that provides a synopsis of each race. It appears below. More information on the series is available on the DTM website. A link to the English language version of the site is provided here. —Brian Morgan
The road to Hockenheim: a review of BMW’s comeback season.
Munich (DE), 11th October 2012. Ahead of the finale in Hockenheim (DE), BMW Motorsport can look back on a wholly successful first season in the DTM. After an absence of 20 years, BMW has returned in style, picking up four victories and four pole positions from its first nine races.
Going into the final race on 21st October, Bruno Spengler (CA) has 124 points to his name – just three less than leader Gary Paffett (GB, Mercedes). Jamie Green (GB, Mercedes) also arrives at the Hockenheimring for the finale with a chance of winning the drivers’ title.
With ten days to go until judgment day, we take a look at the season so far from the viewpoint of BMW Motorsport and the three title contenders.
Hockenheim (DE), 29th April 2012.
BMW makes its DTM comeback after 20 years away from the series. There are still a lot of unanswered questions ahead of the first race. How will the BMW M3 DTM compare to the opposition? Will the DTM newcomers find their feet in this series? When will BMW claim its first points and podiums? The opening weekend provides a lot of promising answers. Dirk Werner (DE) immediately produces a strong performance to qualify third. In the race, Andy Priaulx (GB) finishes sixth at the first attempt to score eight points. Experienced DTM drivers Bruno Spengler and Martin Tomczyk (DE) are forced to retire after collisions that were no fault of their own. Werner is hit by a rival at the start of the race and drops well back through the field. Gary Paffett wins ahead of Jamie Green and Mattias Ekström (SE, Audi).
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 25 – Green 18 – Spengler 0
Lausitzring (DE), 6th May 2012.
BMW announces its arrival in the series with a bang in just the second race of the comeback season. Bruno Spengler first puts his BMW Bank M3 DTM on pole position, before guiding it to victory in the race. Gary Paffett pushes him all the way and finishes runner-up. Augusto Farfus (BR) is the surprise package, coming home third in just his second DTM race, having received a lot of attention by qualifying second. He fends off the attacks of Jamie Green throughout the entire race. Martin Tomczyk comes seventh to score his first points in BMW colors.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 43 – Green 30 – Spengler 25
Brands Hatch (GB), 20th May 2012.
As at the Lausitzring, Bruno Spengler and Gary Paffett are embroiled in another thrilling duel, but in reverse order. This time Paffett is able to withstand Spengler’s pressure to win his home race in England. Spengler crosses the line in second. Martin Tomczyk is fourth behind Mike Rockenfeller (DE, Audi) and sets the fastest lap time. Jamie Green comes home in eighth.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 68 – Spengler 43 – Green 34
Spielberg (AT), 3rd June 2012.
The fourth round sees Martin Tomczyk claim his first podium for BMW. He finishes second behind Edoardo Mortara (IT, Audi) and in front of Gary Paffett in an exciting three-way battle. Bruno Spengler is involved in a collision on the very first lap. He is initially able to continue, but subsequently retires. Joey Hand (US) finishes ninth to score his maiden DTM points. Jamie Green crosses the finish line in fifth.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 83 – Green 44 – Spengler 43
Norisring (DE), 1st July 2012.
Dramatic finish in Nürnberg (DE). Martin Tomczyk can already taste his first victory for BMW when the charging Jamie Green passes him in the very last corner to deny him his moment of glory. Bruno Spengler finishes third in difficult weather conditions. Starting from pole position, Gary Paffett is the first to arrive at turn one but is then caught up in a pile-up that sees him drop to the back of the field and also counts Augusto Farfus among its victims. Despite this, Paffett still fights his way back to fourth. Dirk Werner comes home tenth to pick up his first DTM point.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 95 – Green 69 – Spengler 58
Munich (DE), 15th July 2012.
Bruno Spengler is unable to repeat last year’s victory at the Show Event in the Olympic Stadium, but still crowns a successful home event for BMW by finishing third in the individual competition. Victory goes to Mattias Ekström. Jamie Green and Ralf Schumacher (both Mercedes) win the team competition with Dirk Werner and Joey Hand fourth. No points are up for grabs at the spectacle in Munich.
Nürburgring (DE), 19th August 2012.
Bruno Spengler and BMW Team Schnitzer make a perfect return from the summer break, converting their second pole position of the season into win number two. Martin Tomczyk finishes third behind Edoardo Mortara to crown the 40th anniversary celebrations of BMW M in the Eifel Mountains. Augusto Farfus also picks up a point in tenth place. Jamie Green and Gary Paffett come home in fourth and sixth respectively.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 103 – Spengler 83 – Green 81
Zandvoort (NL), 26th August 2012.
BMW struggles during qualifying in the Dutch dunes. Only Dirk Werner is able to secure a good starting position, qualifying seventh. In the race, however, the other BMW drivers work their way back towards the front of the field. This is particularly true of Martin Tomczyk, who is challenging Mattias Ekström and Gary Paffett for third place when the rain starts to fall and Tomczyk can do nothing to prevent his car sliding into that of Paffett. The German is forced to retire, while Paffett loses ground and eventually comes home in seventh, behind Bruno Spengler. Jamie Green is fourth behind a trio of Audis. As well as Spengler, Dirk Werner and Augusto Farfus also score points for BMW.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 109 – Green 93 – Spengler 91
Oschersleben (DE), 16th September 2012.
For the third time this season, Bruno Spengler and Gary Paffett go head to head for the victory – and for the second time, it is Spengler who just gets his nose in front. He claims his third win of the season, just 0.6 seconds ahead of Paffett. The pair is joined on the podium by fellow title contender Jamie Green. Dirk Werner crosses the line in fourth to secure his best DTM result to date, with Augusto Farfus in fifth.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 127 – Spengler 116 – Green 108
Valencia (ES), 30th September 2012.
Maiden win for DTM rookie Augusto Farfus. Starting from pole position in only his ninth race, Farfus powers to a dominant victory. The title race is full of dramatic twists: Bruno Spengler jumps the start from 12th on the grid. The Canadian is handed a drive-through penalty and drops back down the field before fighting back to finish sixth. While Jamie Green finishes tenth behind Andy Priaulx and Dirk Werner, Paffett is forced to retire.
Drivers’ standings: Paffett 127 – Spengler 124 – Green 109
