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19th
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Auto123.com is pleased to present you the latest column of Canadian Bruno Spengler, official driver for BMW and reigning champion of the DTM German touring car series.
"Hello all,
Glad to be back for another column.
As you may know, the summer didn't turn out so good for me. Since June, our BMW M3 DTM has been down on performance.
I salvaged a few points at the Lausitzring and again at the Norisring, but the last three races have been a complete wash out because, on top of our set-up issues with the car, we've been involved in too many race incidents.
Let's rewind to early August.
We're at the Moscow Raceway, for the first ever visit of the DTM to Russia. The stakes are high for everyone, as all three manufacturers - and the series - want to make a good impression on this growing market.
My first impression of the place is good. The infrastructures are top notch, and the track is beautiful, smooth like a baby's face (it's something to be very proud of considering the winters they have in Russia).
And fans are very welcoming. Really, a great turnout. From the spectator point of view, I think the race was a complete success.
From my perspective however, less so. We were quick in qualifying; pole was within our reach. Unfortunately, an unforeseeable event forced the organizers to stop qualifying before the end. We couldn't do anything about it.
For the race, we took a chance with the Standard tire and lost a lot of ground to those who started on the Option. Then I was hit really hard by the Audi of Miguel Molina, who was trying a desperate move on me. I managed to stay in the race, but the car had suffered and 19th was the best I could do in those circumstances.
I was looking forward to the mid-August race at Nürburgring to put it all behind me. I've won twice there, including once last year with BMW, and the track has always suited me, so it was looking good.
Except I didn't have the car under me to challenge the front-runners: only seventh in qualifying. My start on slicks was good despite the drizzle, but the first lap was really rough. At the end of it, my car was already damaged.
As if that wasn't hard enough already, I got penalized with a drive-through for overstepping the circuit's marks during a battle with Audi's Adrien Tambay. I crossed the finish a distant and scoreless 14th.
Shortly afterwards, I went back to the Nürburgring to drive the BMW M3 Championship Edition.
That car is a huge honour (only 54 were made!) and a dream come true for me because it celebrates my DTM title of last year. I really enjoyed meeting the owners of the cars and coaching them on the legendary Nordschleife circuit over the two days of the event.
I spent the following week training in the Italian town of Viarregio, with the Formula Medecine staff and the good Dr. Cecarrelli. They have specific trainings for race car drivers, so I enjoy their help now and again.
Early September, I spent two days helping out BMW at the famous Frankfurt Auto Show, where the brand launched its new models. Myself, I got to drive my own BMW M3 DTM on the stage!
Before Oschersleben, the other BMW drivers and me took a trip to the BMW's Leipzig factory, where the electric i3 and i8 are manufactured. It was my first time at the wheel of the i8 and I must stay driving a vehicle that's 100% electric feels very special.
At Oschersleben, I was hoping to get back on the scoring board but it didn't happen despite a good start of the weekend with a pole position.
Because I used tires marked for Q4 during Q3, I had to go back five places on the grid. The mixup didn't give me any performance advantage because both sets were absolutely identical, so it was hard to take in. But that's the way it was.
By the second turn of the race, I was already up to third place thanks to a great start. But I didn't have the pace to stay up there. The front end of my car was particularly loose and I was wearing down my Option tires pretty quickly. Things didn't improve despite an early stop to get them out of the way. I was really having to defend my position.
At that point, Robert Wickens squeezed passed me in turn two. He then went wide, so I tried to cut underneath him, but he closed the door and we crashed. Those incidents happen in racing, but for me it meant a third consecutive down the drain.
Bottom line, the title is now out of my reach. I still want to end the year on a high, so hopefully I can win one more race either at Zandvoort or Hockenheim!
We'll find out in a few weeks!
Bruno Spengler
"Hello all,
Glad to be back for another column.
As you may know, the summer didn't turn out so good for me. Since June, our BMW M3 DTM has been down on performance.
I salvaged a few points at the Lausitzring and again at the Norisring, but the last three races have been a complete wash out because, on top of our set-up issues with the car, we've been involved in too many race incidents.
 |
| Bruno Spengler on pole position in Oschersleben. (Photo: BMW) |
Let's rewind to early August.
We're at the Moscow Raceway, for the first ever visit of the DTM to Russia. The stakes are high for everyone, as all three manufacturers - and the series - want to make a good impression on this growing market.
My first impression of the place is good. The infrastructures are top notch, and the track is beautiful, smooth like a baby's face (it's something to be very proud of considering the winters they have in Russia).
And fans are very welcoming. Really, a great turnout. From the spectator point of view, I think the race was a complete success.
From my perspective however, less so. We were quick in qualifying; pole was within our reach. Unfortunately, an unforeseeable event forced the organizers to stop qualifying before the end. We couldn't do anything about it.
For the race, we took a chance with the Standard tire and lost a lot of ground to those who started on the Option. Then I was hit really hard by the Audi of Miguel Molina, who was trying a desperate move on me. I managed to stay in the race, but the car had suffered and 19th was the best I could do in those circumstances.
I was looking forward to the mid-August race at Nürburgring to put it all behind me. I've won twice there, including once last year with BMW, and the track has always suited me, so it was looking good.
Except I didn't have the car under me to challenge the front-runners: only seventh in qualifying. My start on slicks was good despite the drizzle, but the first lap was really rough. At the end of it, my car was already damaged.
As if that wasn't hard enough already, I got penalized with a drive-through for overstepping the circuit's marks during a battle with Audi's Adrien Tambay. I crossed the finish a distant and scoreless 14th.
 |
| Visiting the BMW factory. (Photo: BMW) |
Shortly afterwards, I went back to the Nürburgring to drive the BMW M3 Championship Edition.
That car is a huge honour (only 54 were made!) and a dream come true for me because it celebrates my DTM title of last year. I really enjoyed meeting the owners of the cars and coaching them on the legendary Nordschleife circuit over the two days of the event.
I spent the following week training in the Italian town of Viarregio, with the Formula Medecine staff and the good Dr. Cecarrelli. They have specific trainings for race car drivers, so I enjoy their help now and again.
 |
| Bruno Spengler at the Frankfurt Auto Show with his BMW M3 DTM. (Photo: BMW) |
Early September, I spent two days helping out BMW at the famous Frankfurt Auto Show, where the brand launched its new models. Myself, I got to drive my own BMW M3 DTM on the stage!
Before Oschersleben, the other BMW drivers and me took a trip to the BMW's Leipzig factory, where the electric i3 and i8 are manufactured. It was my first time at the wheel of the i8 and I must stay driving a vehicle that's 100% electric feels very special.
 |
| Bruno Spengler aboard the BMW i8. (Photo: BMW) |
At Oschersleben, I was hoping to get back on the scoring board but it didn't happen despite a good start of the weekend with a pole position.
Because I used tires marked for Q4 during Q3, I had to go back five places on the grid. The mixup didn't give me any performance advantage because both sets were absolutely identical, so it was hard to take in. But that's the way it was.
By the second turn of the race, I was already up to third place thanks to a great start. But I didn't have the pace to stay up there. The front end of my car was particularly loose and I was wearing down my Option tires pretty quickly. Things didn't improve despite an early stop to get them out of the way. I was really having to defend my position.
At that point, Robert Wickens squeezed passed me in turn two. He then went wide, so I tried to cut underneath him, but he closed the door and we crashed. Those incidents happen in racing, but for me it meant a third consecutive down the drain.
Bottom line, the title is now out of my reach. I still want to end the year on a high, so hopefully I can win one more race either at Zandvoort or Hockenheim!
We'll find out in a few weeks!
Bruno Spengler