BMW wins Best Manufacturer Award
BMW has been voted the 2009 Best Manufacturer by the readers of TouringCarTimes in the off season polls. The award was handed over to Rudolf Gmeiner, BMW Motorsport, and Nils Simonsson, BMW Sweden.
“It is very meaningful to accept an award where the most initiated touring car fans have had their say,” said Simonsson.
BMW got 32 % of the votes, beating last years winners SEAT by 3 %. Volvo and Audi followed in third and fourth with 21 % and 19 % respectively of the votes.
BMW had a mixed touring car year in 2009. They clinched the title of the British Touring Car Championship in form of Colin Turkington and West Surrey Racing, beating Vauxhall and Chevrolet.
Augusto Farfus claimed third overall in the FIA World Touring Car Championship, with two SEAT’s in front of him after a season of hard fighting.
The Swedish Touring Car Championship gave BMW a silver medal with Thed Björk of Flash Engineering ending up second on the same points as champion and Volvo-driver Tommy Rustad after a controversial season end.
BMW has got a long tradition of competing in motorsport and especially within touring car racing. BMW Sweden Corporate Sales Manager emphasizes the importance of touring car racing.
“BMW has got racing as a one of the cornerstones in their marketing strategy. BMW Sweden has been supporting teams for close to 20 years, we were partners to “Peggen” Andersson long before STCC was introduced. It is a strength to be able to show our cars that has got optimal conditions as racing cars from the start with rear-wheel-drive and 50/50 weight distribution,” said Simonsson.
