The BMW Sports Trophy, given to the top privateer BMW racer of the year, has been awarded to Michael Schrey, who drove an M235i Racing in the Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring (VLN), a ten-race series held on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Schrey won the M235i Racing Cup and finished on top of the VLN standings along with his Bonk Motorsport co-driver, Alexander Mies. Schrey was awarded 30,000 euros—and a 2017 test-drive in an M6 GT3.
The BMW Sports Trophy for teams went to Pixum Team Adrenalin Motorsports for the third consecutive year. Pixum won the VLN M235i Racing Cup team title.
Turner Motorsport racer Bret Curtis, in fourteenth, was the best finishing American in this year’s Sports Trophy drivers’ standings, while Turner Motorsport, in eighth, was the best finishing American team.
The awards were given at BMW’s annual motorsport season review event in Munich. In addition to the Sports Trophy Awards, BMW recognized DTM driver champion Marco Wittmann with the Victory of the Year Award, and recognized Alessandro Zanardi with an Achievement of the Year Award for his handbike wins in Rio de Janeiro and his win in the Italian Touring Car Championship on his first drive in an M6 GT3.—Brian S. Morgan
Photo: BMW Sports Trophy winner Michael Schrey stands next to Marco Wittmann, who presented the award. (BMW AG photo)