This week’s test is jam packed with new cars, and one of the biggest pieces of news concerning a new car going into this season was ROWE Racing moving to BMW from Mercedes.
ROWE are present at the test with two fully-liveried M6s, with a third M6 here from Boutsen Ginion. One Z4 is also running, in the hands of Classic and Modern Racing.
ROWE Racing – BMW M6 GT3 x 2 – Blancpain GT Series
ROWE Racing will be competing in the full Blancpain GT Series this year with two cars, with the hope that a good showing at Spa will give them a shot at the overall title.
The big thing for Rowe is getting used to a new car, and working with a new manufacturer after so many years running Mercedes SLS’.
“It’s a big change for the team as a whole really,” team manager Hans-Peter Naundorf told DSC. “But the main thing is, that since we decided to run BMWs, we can happily say that the car is two steps above the older GT3 cars. We’re really looking forward to racing with it.”
Outside of the Blancpain GT Series, ROWE Racing’s big commitment comes in the shape of a partial-season VLN programme with the N24 headlining its Nürburgring appearances. DSC will have a full feature interview with Naundorf in the coming days.
Boutsen Ginion Racing – BMW M6 GT3 x 1 – Blancpain GT Series
As previously announced Boutsen Ginion’s primary Blancpain GT programme is with a new BMW M6 GT3 for the Blancpain Endurance Series with Karim Ojjeh, Olivier Grotz and Julien Darras.
The team shook down the car last week at a wet and windy Zolder prior to travelling to Paul Ricard and had Maxime Martin on hand this morning to help establish a base set-up for the team.
Olivier Grotz, now in his third season with the team is now getting used to a third very different GT3 car after racing the team’s McLaren and then the Z4 GT3:
“It feels very good even from our first running, good balance, good grip and, for a turbo car, no noticeable lag.”
There is a BMW Z4 GT3 here too, in the Classic and Modern Racing pit, their 2015 Blancpain GT entry, now in newly repainted white, numbered #40, and looking for customer drivers.
