Walkenhorst Motorsport took part in testing in Aragón, Spain, last week to prepare the new BMW M6 GT3 for the season opener of the VLN Endurance Championship at the Nürburgring. Henry Walkenhorst's team will contest the entire season at the Nordschleife—including the 24-hour race—with a total of five BMWs. Two new BMW M6 GT3s, a BMW Z4 GT3 and two BMW M235i Racings will be in action. Some of the drivers are famous names within the BMW family—one of these is Victor Bouveng. The 19-year-old may not have been "Motorsport Junior of the Year" last season, but his outstanding performances in the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme earned him a place in the BMW M6 GT3.
Bouveng will compete in all of the races in the VLN and the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring for Walkenhorst Motorsport, for whom he contested some races in the BMW Z4 GT3 in 2015. With this major step in his career as a GT racer, he underlines the opportunities that participating in the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme offers talented racing drivers. One of the drivers who Bouveng will share the cockpit with in the 24-hour race is BMW DTM driver Tom Blomqvist. BMW works driver Jörg Müller will also compete for Walkenhorst Motorsport in the VLN.
Three questions for Victor Bouveng:
Victor, how was your debut in the BMW M6 GT3?
"It was fantastic. The car has incredible potential and we used the time to familiarise ourselves with it as much as possible. We tried out many different set-up versions and my first impression was very good. It was great to be back in a GT car after the winter break."
What are the differences between the BMW M6 GT3 and the BMW Z4 GT3?
"At the end of last season, in which I was fortunate enough to contest some races in the BMW Z4 GT3 for Walkenhorst Motorsport, we had a few problems with the top speed. Now the turbo engine of the BMW M6 GT3 means that we have a lot of power available to us. On top of that, the size of the BMW M6 GT3 is the main contrast with the BMW Z4 GT3. You have to get used to the dimensions at first, but in general it is an amazing feeling driving the BMW M6 GT3."
After your successful season as a BMW Motorsport Junior you are a GT driver now. How do you feel about this next step in your career?
"This is exactly the step that I dreamed of when I climbed into the BMW M235i Racing as a BMW Motorsport Junior for the first time last year. The entire season in the BMW Motorsport Junior Programme was unbelievable. I learned an incredible amount and towards the end was given the opportunity to prove myself in the BMW Z4 GT3. I am really grateful to all those responsible at BMW Motorsport and Walkenhorst Motorsport for this. I really like the team and can hardly wait for the new season to start. Everything has run perfectly for me since 2015. Now I'm hoping that there will also be plenty of reasons to celebrate in 2016."
