NLS 1: First official outing for the BMW M4 GT3 on the Nordschleife and class wins 29.03.2022: The wheels are rolling again at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER). The 2022 Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) opened on Saturday with the 67th ADAC Westfalenfahrt. It also marked the first time that the new BMW M4 GT3 had officially started in the NLS.

The wheels are rolling again at the Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER). The 2022 Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) opened on Saturday with the 67th ADAC Westfalenfahrt. It also marked the first time that the new BMW M4 GT3 had officially started in the NLS.

 

The best-placed BMW M Motorsport team at the end of the four-hour race was Schubert Motorsport with the #20 BMW M4 GT3. BMW M Motorsport works drivers Jesse Krohn (FIN) and Alexander Sims (GBR) finished fifth overall, together with Niklas Krütten (GER).

 

The BMW Junior Team also started with the BMW M4 GT3 on the Nordschleife for the first time. The #44 car was once again run by BMW M Team RMG. After four hours of racing, Dan Harper (GBR), Max Hesse (GER) and Neil Verhagen (USA) crossed the finish line in ninth place overall.


“It is great to be working with BMW M Team RMG again and to contest our first race with the BMW M4 GT3 on the Nordschleife. Qualifying was very positive. We had very good pace, the car felt great, and second place on the grid put us in a very good position going into the race.




Unfortunately, we were unable to convert that into a top result. However, we have learned a lot and will come back stronger in the next race. On the whole, the race was important for everyone, in order to gather a lot of valuable information with the BMW M4 GT3 in preparation for the next races and the Nürburgring 24 Hours.”

 

Walkenhorst Motorsport won the SP9 Am class with the BMW M4 GT3. Henry Walkenhorst, Friedrich von Bohlen and Jörg Breuer (all GER) competed in the #36 car.



The #35 Walkenhorst Motorsport BMW M4 GT3 started in the SP9 Pro class and finished 13th in both the overall standings and its class. Alternating at the wheel were Jörg Müller, Mario von Bohlen (both GER) and Ben Tuck (GBR).

 


 

NLS 1: The other class winners

 

As well as Walkenhorst Motorsport’s victory in the SP9 Am class with the #36 BMW M4 GT3, a host of other BMW M Motorsport teams were also successful in their respective categories. In total, there were six class victories at round one of the 2022 Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS).

 

The 2021 NLS champions, Adrenalin Motorsport Team Alzner Automotive, tasted success in no fewer than four classes at the opening round of the new season. Victory in the V4 class went to the team’s #1 BMW 325i, driven by Philipp Leisen, Oliver Frisse and Jacob Erlbacher (all GER).


The #500 BMW 330i won the VT2-R+4WD class. At the wheel were Daniel Zils, Oskar Sandberg (both GER) and Sindre Setsaas (NOR).



The team also triumphed in the BMW M240i class, with Yvan Muller and Yann Ehrlacher (both FRA) taking victory in the #651 BMW M240i Racing. Adrenalin Motorsport Team Alzner Automotive also won in the BMW M2 CS Racing Cup NLS (see below for more information).

 

Victory in the SP8 T class went to the #160 BMW M Motorsport BMW M2 Competition, driven by Erik Johansson (SWE) and Jörg Weidinger (GER).

 




- Andrea Schwab, photo BMW