The first BMW M6 GT3 touched down in Australia earlier this week with BMW Team SRM’s new machine also confirmed for a full season of Australian GT Championship action, the team bolstering an initial plan for limited outings in year one with the new car to include both Sprint and Endurance races on the Aussie GT calendar.
The running of the BMW M6 GT3 program in Australia has been entrusted to motorsport legend Steve Richards, the reigning Bathurst 1000 winner and the car will run the #100 for the season celebrating 100 years of the Bavarian marque.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited,” said Richards.
“I’ve had a few new race cars in my time, but this one takes the cake.
“We’re really lucky to have this program up and running with BMW Group Australia, and to be involved in the Australian GT Championship with something that is so new. I’m really looking forward to sinking my teeth into it.
“I think we all got pretty excited when we found out we were allocated a car for January, and that moved the goal posts for us,” Richards explained.
“It gave us the opportunity to work towards a full programme for 2016, and it was an opportunity we didn’t want to miss.
“The extra races will be hugely beneficial when it comes to learning the idiosyncrasies of the new car, as well as how to best utilise the fantastic technical support we will have from Germany.
“The earlier we can sink our teeth into the programme, the better off we’ll be when it comes to those endurance races later in the year.”
“The arrival of the new M6 GT3 is a very big part of the centennial celebrations,” added Marc Werner, CEO of BMW Group Australia, “and we have been able to confirm the number of the car with the Australian GT Championship organisers.
“This is the icing on the cake for us. “I am proud to announce that the official number designation of the BMW Team SRM M6 GT3 will be vehicle number 100. We believe this is a perfect fit for BMW, emphasising our performance heritage and the motorsport DNA that is inherent in our brand.”
Richards will have his first taste of the BMW Team SRM M6 GT3 at the car’s debut test session at Winton next week.
