Spengler is the best-placed BMW driver.

Norisring, Germany – The fifth race of the 2015 DTM season, at the Norisring (DE), developed into a real rain and tyre lottery. Four BMW drivers scored valuable points today. It began to rain at the 2.3-kilometre street circuit shortly before the race was due to start, which led to differing tyre strategies throughout the grid. BMW Team MTEK’s Bruno Spengler (CA) was one of the drivers who started the race on slicks in his BMW Bank M4 DTM. After 46 laps, he was the most successful of the BMW drivers, finishing fifth. Victory went to Mercedes driver Pascal Wehrlein (DE).

Martin Tomczyk (DE, BMW M Performance Parts M4 DTM), the only BMW driver to begin the race on wets, took the chequered flag directly behind Spengler in sixth. DTM champion Marco Wittmann (DE, Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM) finished his home event in ninth place, behind fellow BMW driver Augusto Farfus (BR, Shell BMW M4 DTM).

António Félix da Costa (PT, Red Bull BMW M4 DTM) and Timo Glock (DE, DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM) missed out on the points, as they finished twelfth and thirteenth. Tom Blomqvist (GB, BMW M4 DTM) and Maxime Martin (BE, SAMSUNG BMW M4 DTM) retired from the race.

Reactions to the fifth race of the 2015 DTM season:

Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director): “The weather lottery we were expecting is exactly what we got. We performed well and four of our cars finished in the top ten. By finishing fifth and sixth in unsettled conditions, Bruno Spengler and Martin Tomczyk were particularly impressive – although they both started the race on different tyres. Overall, our speed was okay on a drying track. We have improved since the opening races and can build on this. I wish to congratulate Mercedes who, once again, were victorious here at the Norisring.”

Bruno Spengler (BMW Team MTEK, 5th place): “Track conditions were difficult to work out today. As such, we needed to choose the correct tyre strategy before the race. My engineer selected slicks, which was precisely the right choice as I came through the field well. A big thank you to my team and well done to everyone – you all did a great job. I’m very satisfied with how my race panned out, but I do know that we have a lot of work ahead of us. I’m pleased we were able to score points today.”

Facts and Figures:

Circuit/length/duration:
Norisring, 2.3 kilometres, 40 minutes plus 1 lap

Conditions:
Heavy cloud, 23 degrees Celsius

BMW Motorsport results:
#7 Bruno Spengler (CA), BMW Team MTEK, BMW Bank M4 DTM – 5th place
#77 Martin Tomczyk (DE), BMW Team Schnitzer, BMW M Performance Parts M4 DTM – 6th place
#18 Augusto Farfus (BR), BMW Team RBM, Shell BMW M4 DTM – 8th place
#1 Marco Wittmann (DE), BMW Team RMG, Ice-Watch BMW M4 DTM – 9th place
#13 António Félix da Costa (PT), BMW Team Schnitzer, Red Bull BMW M4 DTM – 12th place
#16 Timo Glock (DE), BMW Team MTEK, DEUTSCHE POST BMW M4 DTM – 16th place
#31 Tom Blomqvist (GB), BMW Team RBM, BMW M4 DTM – DNF
#36 Maxime Martin (BE), BMW Team RMG, SAMSUNG BMW M4 DTM – DNF

Useful information:
The weather situation at the beginning of the race was so uncertain that some drivers chose wet tyres, while others opted for dry tyres. Martin Tomczyk was the only BMW driver to begin the race on wet tyres. The track had dried up so much about fifteen minutes into the race that all drivers had to change to slicks.

Maxime Martin was involved in a collision in turn one and had to withdraw from the race.

Due to contact with another car in turn one, Tom Blomqvist had to make an unscheduled pit stop. After twelve laps, he had to pit again and retire his BMW M4 DTM.

Fifth place was Bruno Spengler's best result this season. The same is also true for Augusto Farfus, who finished eighth.

The second qualifying session begins at 11:40 on Sunday. Before that, the 15-minute warm-up is scheduled for 09:50.