Bruno Spengler to join BMW Team RLL in IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship
15 YEARS IN DTM, 195 RACES, 16WINS(7 WITH BMW), 18 POLES, 51 PODIUMS, 1024 POINTS AND DTM TITLE IN 2012, BMW AND SPENGLER AGREED IT WAS TIME TO MOVE ON
BMW has announced today Canadian ace Bruno Spengler will leave his DTM seat to join BMW Team RLL in IMSA WeatheTech SportsCar Championship to drive the BMW M8 GTE in the GTLM class.
Having driven in DTM initially for Mercedes from 2005-2011, Bruno joined BMW Motorsport in 2012 which marked the return of the manufacturer in DTM. Against all odds, Bruno went on to win the title for them in his first season.
“Very few drivers have had as big an influence on the DTM as Bruno Spengler has in the past 15 years,” said BMW Group Motorsports Director Jens Marquardt. “In winning the title in his first season for BMW in 2012, he achieved something that nobody believed possible at the time. In doing so, he earned a permanent place in the history of BMW Motorsport. The fact that he broke the 1000-point mark in his 15th season in 2019 underlines the outstanding status that Bruno has earned for himself in the DTM. Nevertheless, we were of the opinion that 2020 is the right time to head in a new direction together for the coming years. This decision was not an easy one for us.”
“Firstly, I am obviously disappointed that I will no longer be racing in the DTM in 2020,” said Spengler. “I had a fantastic time for 15 years, during which time the DTM became part of my family. I have been racing in the DTM for almost half of my life. In my 195 races, I have enjoyed some fantastic success – above all, of course, my title win with BMW at Hockenheim in 2012.”
Even though it has come as something of a surprise to me that I won’t be contesting my 16th DTM season, I’m looking ahead. I feel right at home in the BMW family and I am ready to write a new chapter in my career,” continued Spengler. “I know the BMW M8 GTE, BMW Team RLL and some of the circuits in North America. As such, I think I will find my feet quickly there. For me as a Canadian, it will certainly be a highlight to line up at a genuine home race for the first time in a long time, at the race at Mosport in the summer.
Indeed, it will be nice to see Bruno in action “closer to home” and very soon as the start of IMSA 2020 season is only a couple of weeks away. Certainly a lot of Canadian fans and friends will be looking forward to seeing him on track this season.
Mark your calendar as the IMSA round at CTMP will take place on July 3-5, 2020 for the Mobil 1 Sprotscar Grand Prix presented by Acura.
Although Bruno has signed for the entire season at BMW Team RLL, BMW Motorsport retains his services as a reserve and test driver for BMW I Andretti Motorsport in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
Images: BMW Motorsport media
