BMW announces driver pairings for DTM 2012

BMW has revealed the assignment of drivers to the three teams Schnitzer RBM and RMG. Bruno Spengler and Dirk Werner is going to drive for Schnitzer, Andy Priaulx and Augusto Farfus for RBM and Martin Tomczyk and Joey Hand at RMG.

“In allocating our six DTM drivers to the three teams we have completed another stage of our planning for the 2012 season,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.

“The test programme so far has primarily focussed on evaluating control parts, performing basic set-up work on our BMW M3 DTM, and familiarising ourselves with the DTM processes, which are new to us all. However, we now enter the crucial phase ahead of the start of the season in which the focus switches to performance. In order for us to be able to push ourselves to the limit and exploit the full potential of the car, it is essential that the cooperation between the driver, his race engineer, and the entire team is perfect.”

While both Schnitzer and RBM has got a long history with BMW in the DTM, WTCC and BTCC, team RMG is a BMW newcomer. While the team is new, the majority of the staff comes from GT racing, WRC, DTM and Formula One.

“To find the ideal driver/team combinations, every one of our six drivers has driven for each of the teams. After many discussions with all those involved, we are confident we have found the optimal line-ups, which will allow us to get the best out of the individual strengths of the drivers and teams. The drivers and teams can now continue to grow together and prepare for the season, which begins in just three months,” said Marquardt.

Next up for the five BMW drivers and three teams is a DTM test at Estoril from 7th to 9th February. The sixth driver, Joey Hand, will not take part in the test as he is going to take part in a ALMS test for BMW in the USA.