6 BMWcar
NEWS
BMW
News
The 3 Series will return to Britain's
premier motor racing series this year,
with BMW confirming it's to bring its
best-selling model back to the Kwik Fit
British Touring Car Championship (BTCC).
A prolific winner virtually from the
outset, the story of the BMW 3 Series
in the BTCC is a long and distinguished
one, yielding five drivers' titles and two
manufacturers' crowns between 1988
and 2009; from Frank Sytner's success
with the M3, to Colin Turkington's
triumph with the 320Si E90. In between,
there were back-to-back championships
for Will Hoy (1991), Tim Harvey (1992)
and Joachim Winkelhock (1993).
The 3 Series was superseded by the
125i M Sport in 2013; since then, BMWhas clinched two further drivers' trophies
(both with Turkington – in 2014 and
2018), three more manufacturers' laurels
and team honours in each of the last
three seasons. Now, the 3 Series is back,
with a refreshed driver line-up for Team
BMW and designs on future glory.
Coinciding with the launch of the
seventh-generation 3 Series in March, the
race-tuned 330i M Sport will join the fray
in the 2019 BTCC curtain-raiser around
Brands Hatch's Indy Circuit on April 6-7th.
It will be driven by three-time title-winner
Turkington – the most successful driver
in the brand's illustrious BTCC history- and new signing, Tom Oliphant, who
impressed over the course of his rookie
campaign in the series last year.
The cars will be entered by long-time
BMW partner, West Surrey Racing, with
a third 330i M Sport for 2013 BTCC
Champion Andrew Jordan, who will
run out of the same WSR stable, but
under the BMW Pirtek Racing banner in
deference to his title sponsor.
Graeme Grieve, CEO, BMW UK,
said: "The BMW 3 Series has a rich
and successful history competing
in the BTCC and we are extremely
proud to see that tradition continue.
This all-new BMW 3 Series is the
road-going dynamic benchmark, and
we have a great track record working
with our partners at West Surrey Racing,
so 2019 looks set to be a very exciting
year for us in the BTCC."3 SERIES
BACK ON TRACK
BMW is expecting great things
as the 3 Series makes a welcome
return to the popular, BTCC
Championship this season.AC SCHNITZER'S SPECIAL X
German tuning guru, AC Schnitzer, has
revealed its version of the X4 which,
as you would expect, adds power and
style to this already accomplished
performer.
Headline figures include power
increases for the X4 xDrive 30d from
265 to 315hp (export only), and from
326 to 380hp for the xDriveM40d
model. But, as usual with AC Schnitzer,
it's not all about the power, and the
other enhancements to these vehicles
are all-encompassing.
Just some of the detail touches
available include ‘Sport' carbon
exhaust trims (also available in chrome
or black finishes), an AC Schnitzer
downpipe with sports catalytic
converter for the M40i xDrive (without
OPF) and a 20-25mm lowered
suspension spring kit.
As far as the body is concerned,
customers can specify front spoiler
elements, rear roof spoiler, rear spoilerand even a carbon ‘Racing' rear wing
(for export only). Cosmetically, there
is AC Schnitzer rear skirt protection
foil and the side emblems (160mm
right and left), as well as AC Schnitzer
branded engine optics.Inside the cars, customers can order
aluminium pedals, footrest, keyholder
and cover for the iDrive Controller.
There's also a full range of sporty wheels
available. For more information,
visit: ac-schnitzer.de/enAC Schnitzer's work is
always beautifully executed
and very effective; its X
offering is no exception.