BMW Confirms Return; Two Walkenhorst Cars After Bathurst

Photo: BMW

BMW has confirmed its expected return to the Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli for a second season, and that Walkenhorst Motorsport will run two M6 GT3s for the majority of the campaign.

While Walkenhorst will only run one car at this weekend’s season-opening Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, it will add a second car for the remainder of the season, beginning at the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

Augusto Farfus, Nicky Catsburg and Chaz Mostert will share the field’s only BMW M6 GT3 at Bathurst, as confirmed late last week. Logistical difficulties have been confirmed as the reason for the lack of the second car.

It’s unclear if that exact lineup will contest the remainder of the IGTC season, which comprises races at Spa, Suzuka, Indianapolis and Kyalami.

The second car, which will race at the four races beginning at Spa, is set to be driven by Martin Tomczyk, Nick Yelloly and David Pittard for the remainder of the year.

“The International GT Challenge is one of the most important GT race series in the world, so it is a logical step for us to also contest the 2020 season of this series with the BMW M6 GT3,” said BMW Group motorsport director Jens Marquardt.

“With Walkenhorst Motorsport, we are backing a race team with a wealth of experience which, with successes such as the 2018 victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps and second place at the IGTC finale 2019 at Kyalami, has already demonstrated its prowess in international GT racing.

“We are confident that Henry Walkenhorst’s team, along with our squad of strong BMW works drivers, will stay on the road to success in the 2020 IGTC. We’re looking forward to a fantastic season with five gripping races on five continents.”

Walkenhorst and BMW Team Schnitzer each ran one car all season last year, for BMW’s maiden IGTC campaign, but Schnitzer has been reassigned to development work on the upcoming 2022 M4 GT3.

Jake Kilshaw

Jake Kilshaw is a UK-based journalist. He is a graduate of Politics and International Relations.