Mills “Very Likely” to Upgrade to BMW M6 GT3 for 2017

Photo: Brian Cleary/BCPix.com

Mills Racing is set to return to Pirelli World Challenge next year with a new-generation GT3 car, “very likely” to be BMW’s M6 GT3, according to team boss Michael Mills.

The family-run team, in its first year of PWC competition, has focused primarily on the new-for-2016 SprintX series with its BMW Z4 GT3, scoring wins at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and leading the teams’ championship after two events.

“We want to be in the game, so whatever decision we have to make we’ll make,” Mills told Sportscar365. “Victor [Leleu, BMW of North America Motorsports Manager] has been very good to us.

“If we can get what we need to be done, we’ll be in a BMW.”

Mills, the 2014 GTA class champion, has paired with BMW North America factory driver Kuno Wittmer in the SprintX series this year, while also having taken part in the Sprint season-opener at Circuit of The Americas in March.

A final decision on the team’s exact 2017 schedule is still being determined and could depend on the finalization of the series’ class structure and format.

“The minimum would be a full season of SprintX, for a championship,” Mills said. “The rest of that would be based on resources and what makes the best sense for me as a driver.

“I think based on what we’ve had and the resources we have, we’ve done a lot [this year]. We’re for sure on the bottom end of the scale and I think the results are on the top end of the scale.

“I feel we’ve gotten the best return on our investment emotionally and financially. I’m happy with it.”

While keeping the door open for other new GT3 cars, including the Porsche 911 GT3 R, Mercedes-AMG GT3 and Bentley Continental GT3, Mills admitted his desire to continue with the Bavarian brand with its new turbocharged offering.

The BMW M6 GT3 recently scored its first major endurance victory in the Total 24 Hours of Spa and is also already a race winner in North America, with Turner Motorsport in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

“We’re a family team. These guys are my close friends, and BMW has treated us like a family,” Mills said.

“I consider Kuno like family. I never expected BMW to treat us anything like that; it was beyond what we would ever have anticipated. They could not have been better to us. It gives us the motivation to continue with them.”

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