BMW, Porsche, Audi Get Post-Qualifying Weight Reductions

BMW, Porsche and Audi have received weight reductions in a Balance of Performance update issued on the morning of the Nürburgring 24.

A new BoP table for the SP9 category was issued after Top Qualifying which saw Mercedes-AMG lock out the front row of the grid for the 51st edition of the Eifel enduro.

Although the Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evos are unchanged, their German rivals have been made lighter along with some other adjustments.

The BMW M4 GT3 and Porsche 911 GT3 R have received 15 kg reductions, while the Audi R8 LMS GT3 Evo II has been made 10 kg lighter.

Porsche has also been given a 1-degree reduction in rear wing angle.

It comes after several Porsches using different tire suppliers encountered punctures during the third qualifying practice session on Friday aternoon.

The manufacturer promptly held a meeting with teams to address the issue, which is understood to have been partly related to a 20 kg weight increase and rear wing angle adjustment imposed in an earlier BoP change on Thursday night.

The Thursday adjustment also included a 1 mm increase in the naturally-aspirated Type-992’s air restrictor diameter, however that parameter remains unchanged after the latest post-qualifying update.

In addition to its weight reduction, the BMW M4 GT3 has been given a turbo boost pressure increase in the lower portion of the rev range.

Augusto Farfus was the highest-placed BMW driver in Top Qualifying 2, putting the No. 99 ROWE Racing car 11th on the grid.

It was an eventful session for BMW as the sister ROWE machine and the No. 102 Walkenhorst Motorsport car failed to set lap times due to accidents.

Walkenhorst, which had the most damage after Christian Krognes’ heavy crash at Hatzenbach, worked through the night until 5 a.m. to repair the extensive left-front damage.

Audi’s best-qualifying car was the No. 1 Phoenix-operated example in fifth with Frank Stippler behind the wheel.

The sole Lamborghini Huracan GT3 EVO2 in the field from ABT Sportsline was also adjusted in the post-qualifying BoP change, in the form of a 2-liter fuel capacity increase.