BMW Team Brasil Confirms Expansion to BES, First Drivers

BMW Team Brasil has confirmed it will expand into the Blancpain Endurance Series this season, already signing Caca Bueno, Sergio Jimenez and Valdeno Brito for the entire 12-round GT series.

After two years of competing in the Sprint Series, the team, which has the support of BMW Brasil, starts its third season in an SRO-organized series with the goal of fighting for overall victories and titles.

Bueno and Jimenez will continue their successful Sprint partnership in the No. 0 BMW Z4 GT3, with the announcement of the third driver for the Endurance races expected in the coming days.

“To race both championships is a natural development for the team. 2013 was a learning year and, in my view, with the conditions we had in 2014, we did a great job,” said Bueno.

“We already have more experience with the tracks. We know our opponents [better] and I’m pretty excited, especially with the long races, where our car should have better chance of fighting for victories.”

Brito is the only driver confirmed on the No. 77 car so far; the two-time GT Brasil champion made a good impression during his two guest appearances last year.

“The expectation is to get the best possible results. We will try to fight for the title in 2015,” said team principal Antonio Hermann.

However, the Brazilian team still feels SRO’s Balance of Performance disadvantages the BMW Z4.

Hermann and Washington Bezerra were in Germany last week to discus possible improvements with BMW Motorsport engineers.

“We discussed various aspects of [improvements to the] car and we will take the proposal to SRO. We are confident, the car is competitive but suffers in the BOP,” Hermann added.