The announcement of the 2014 programme for the BMW Z4 GT3 included a pair of new names being added to the BMW GT roster.
Lucas Luhr has already had factory experience with Audi, Nissan and Porsche and has perhaps more experience, in more different cars, than almost any other active Pro driver.
Alexander Sims meanwhile is the new ‘Young Gun’, but he has already seen Sportscar racing action in LMP2 and GT with Status GP and with the McLaren GT3 factory roster.
Both will form part of the BMW team for the 2014 Nurburgring 24 Hours
How does it feel to be a part of the BMW family?
Lucas Luhr: “I am happy and proud to represent BMW this year. In the past, whenever I was asked who would be my strongest rivals on the Nordschleife, I always put BMW as the clear number one in my list of favourites. As such, I am delighted to be part of the BMW family. I have already won the Nürburgring 24 Hours twice, and also claimed several podiums. I have now set my sights on being successful there with BMW.”
Alexander Sims: “I have been racing on the GT circuit for two years. With BMW, I will now be able to show the GT scene what I am capable of. It is awesome to be a part of the team with such a highly-regarded manufacturer as BMW. This is a fantastic opportunity for me, and I am absolutely delighted. I will try my very best all year, and want to repay BMW for the faith it has put in me in the form of good performances.”
What does the Nürburgring-Nordschleife mean to you?
Luhr: “It means everything to me. I grew up not far from the Nürburgring and, as a kid, was always to be found up there on the Nordschleife with my father and grandfather. I have been involved in a lot of races over the course of my career, but lining up there is always something very special. That goes for both the 24-hour race and the VLN. The circuit itself is unique and the atmosphere around it, with all the many fans, is sensational. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world.”
Sims: “The Nordschleife is known around the world as probably the most difficult and dangerous racetrack of all. I am really looking forward to driving there. It will be a great challenge. I have already done a lot of laps on the games console and in a simulator, in order to familiarise myself with the track. However, it is always a bit different when you drive the actual circuit itself. I think the first few laps there in the BMW Z4 GT3 will be a fantastic experience.”
How do you like your new equipment, the BMW Z4 GT3?
Luhr: “I have not actually driven the BMW Z4 GT3 yet, but I obviously know a fair bit about the car. After all, I have frequently found myself going head to head against it as an opponent in the past. The BMW Z4 GT3 is basically a very good car, particularly on the Nordschleife, which winds about all over the place. It has a very good basic speed and a lot of downforce. I am really looking forward to getting to know it from behind the wheel.”
Sims: “I don’t know the car that well yet, but I did test the BMW Z4 GTE last year. I assume that many aspects of the BMW Z4 GT3 are similar. Also, I spent all last season racing against it, and my impression was that this is a great racing car. You have a lot of downforce, which allows you to brake very late into corners. That could really suit me, as I have spent the majority of my career so far driving in single-seater cars. Therefore, I am used to using the downforce and braking very late.”
With Thanks to BMW Sport
