Blomqvist Set for Increased GT Role With BMW

Photo: BMW

Tom Blomqvist is set to shift his focus to BMW’s GT racing activities, according to BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt, in the wake of his exit from the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.

The 24-year-old BMW factory driver has been replaced by Stephane Sarrazin in Andretti’s Formula E lineup for the remainder of the season, in what Marquardt confirmed was a decision made entirely by the American squad.

“Andretti is obviously in charge for Season Four on the Formula E side,” Marqaurdt told Sportscar365. “We will have Tom now, that he doesn’t have any more clashes, for full focus on the GT side.

“We’ll see throughout the year where we can now have him more included than we had normally anticipated.”

Despite the Andretti press release stating that Blomqvist was released from his Formula E duties to “focus on the BMW GTE program in the World Endurance Championship” a BMW spokesperson told Sportscar365 that he’s only confirmed for the Fuji round, as previously announced.

It’s understood BMW’s Le Mans lineup has already been locked in and will not include Blomqvist, who starred in his GTE-Pro debut in last weekend’s WEC season-opening Total Six Hours of Spa.

The German manufacturer, however, has yet to finalize its WEC lineups beyond the 2018 calendar year, with multiple clashes possible between its programs in DTM and Formula E next year.

When asked about potential additional WEC outings, Marquardt said it hasn’t yet been determined. 

“We’ll have a look at that, but obviously at the moment the focus is Fuji and we’ll go from there,” he said. “We’re obviously happy that we have him on our roster and now here on the GT side of things.

“I think we will definitely have him in more GT races involved this year.”

Blomqvist, who is taking part in this weekend’s Nürburgring 24 with ROWE Racing, is believed to also be in the frame for additional outings in BMW M6 GT3 cars this year.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John