BMW M Division & MotoGP continues their partnership, with the M2 being utilised as the safety car for the 2016 season.

MotoGP and BMW M Division: these two partners have formed an ideal combination for almost two decades. MotoGP is the pinnacle of motorcycle racing and features the best riders in the world on high-performance racing prototypes, in the development of which the manufacturers implement their latest technological ideas. 

High-performance and motorsport genes – attributes, with which BMW M Division is also synonymous. Since 1999, BMW M has been a permanent member of the international MotoGP family. The successful partnership with organiser Dorna Sports has grown consistently over the years, and is set to continue to run well into the future. In 2014, 

Dorna Sports and BMW M Division extended their cooperation up to and including 2020. Partnerships like this, which span decades, are extremely rare in top-class international sport.

At the heart of the commitment is the provision of the Safety Car fleet. BMW M implements the latest technology in order to guarantee the safety of the MotoGP riders, whatever the conditions. 

The Safety Cars are high-performance BMW M cars, whose outstanding driving properties make them the perfect foil to any challenges out on the racetrack. The latest example is the BMW M2 MotoGP Safety Car, which makes its debut this season. 

The Safety Cars are specially modified at the BMW M factory for their use as lead cars on the motorcycle racing scene. The same goes for all the other vehicles in the fleet.

BMW M Division’s commitment to MotoGP also includes numerous other activities. Since 2003, the BMW M Award has been presented at the end of the season to the best MotoGP qualifier. 

The BMW M MotoGP Experience allows visitors to experience the fascinating world of MotoGP up close and personal. BMW M MotoGP experts offer exclusive, first-hand insights. On selected Grand Prix weekends, BMW M Division presents its latest models and products with on-site campaigns.

BMW M2 MotoGP SAFETY CAR. 

Technical Data. 

Engine: Inline six-cylinder engine 

Capacity: 2,979 cc Output: 272/370 kW/bhp 

Acceleration: 0–100 km/h: 4.3 seconds (with M DTC) (Fuel consumption, combined (M DTC): 7.9 l/100 km; 

CO2 emissions, combined: 185 g/km 

Modifications for the BMW M2 MotoGP Safety Car. 

•  BMW M Performance exhaust system with carbon finishers 
•  BMW M Performance carbon side skirts 
•  BMW M Performance front grille high-gloss black 
•  BMW M Performance Air Breather high-gloss black 
•  BMW M Performance carbon mirror caps 
•  BMW M Performance carbon aerodynamic kit front (blades) 
•  BMW M Performance carbon rear diffusor 
•  Front flap CFK/GFK underframe (newly developed) 
•  Carbon rear wing with closed mounts 
•  BMW M Performance coilover suspension 
•  Carbon ceramic brake (prototype) 
•  Michelin Cup tyres 
•  Bonnet with "motorsport lock" 
•  Fuel suction pump 
•  Battery master switch 
•  Flashing corona headlight rings 
•  LED lights on the roof with bracket (newly developed) 
•  LED lights in the front grille 
•  LED lights in the rear lights 
•  RECARO racing seats with Schroth belts 
•  Roll cage  Fire extinguisher with bracket 
•  BMW M Performance alcantara steering wheel 
•  BMW M Performance carbon fibre interior trim 
•  BMW M Performance stainless steel pedal pads 
•  BMW M Performance floor mats

Ginetta Juniors Race one Oulton Park 2014 - 2nd For James Kellett.

2014 Ginetta Junior Championship
QUALIFYING - ROUND 7 - CLASSIFICATION

1 19 Jack MITCHELL GBR JHR Developments 2:09.396
2 55 Jamie CHADWICK GBR JHR Developments 2:09.541
3 13 James KELLETT GBR HHC Motorsport 2:09.628
4 27 Alex SEDGWICK (R) GBR JHR Developments 2:09
5 44 Ryan HADFIELD GBR R&J Motorsport 2:10.007
6 11 Lando NORRIS (R) GBR HHC Motorsport 2:10.288
7 66 Senna PROCTOR (R) GBR JHR Developments 2:10.422
8 42 Jonathan HADFIELD (R) GBR R&J Motorsport 2:10.487
9 46 Jack RAWLES GBR Tollbar Racing 2:10.535
10 21 William TAYLFORTH (R) GBR HHC Motorsport 2:10.80
12 17 Matt CHAPMAN (R) GBR TCR 2:11.207
13 39 Lewis BROWN (R) GBR Privateer 2:11.227
14 23 Billy MONGER (R) GBR Privateer 2:11.371
15 8 Ben PEARSON GBR R&J Motorsport 2:12.407
16 38 Jamie CAROLINE (R) GBR TCR 2:12.902
17 24 Harry MAILER (R) GBR Hillspeed 2:13.422
18 43 Pedro CARDOSO (R) * GBR Hillspeed 2:14.242
19 25 Flashman FINNERAN (R) GBR Privateer 2:16.059
20 33 Tom BROWN (R) GBR TollBar Racing 2:17.124
Car 43 - times disallowed - track limits

Oulton Park is the venue for round 7 and 8 of the 2014 Ginetta Juniors championship, and after the early summer break, the drivers are back and ready to fight to get control of the championship, Jack Mitchell continues to dominate taking pole in both round 7 & 8, With Jamie Chadwick taking 2nd in qualifying one and Ryan Hadfield 2nd for race two

Jamie Caroline failed to build on his race win at Thruxton with a spin that hindered James Kellet, yet Kellet was able to continue and take third position for both races at Oulton Park, whereas Caroline struggled to get back to the pits and that is where he stayed until the end of the session.

Racing for all his worth Alex Sedgwick produced a great lap taking fourth in Q1 and 7th in Q2, the 4th position meant JHR has three cars in the top four, with James Kellett spoiling a one-two-three first race start, Ryan Hadfield has a commendable 5th for Q1, followed by Lando Norris, 

For Round Eight, Jack Mitchell is on pole, with Hadfield an improved second, James Kellett will line-up third again, with Chadwick fourth followed by Rawles & Jonathan Hadfield. Sedgewick, Norris, Taylforth and Matt Chapman round out the top ten.

-------------------------

The cars are lining up on a warm track and humid condition's, with the crowd still on a high from a brilliant first round of BTCC which saw Collin Turkington start and finish in first place, followed by team mate Rob Collard and Jason Plato drops from 2nd on the grid to third at the finish.

The drivers for the Ginetta Juniors are all lined up and just waiting for the green light, and off they go , Mitchell gets nudged and Kellett gets up to second, as Sedgewick shoots off into the sand, the top three are starting to pull ahead, as Chadwick take a long line and Nealy lost third, but as the come to the chicane another push from behind does not lose a place, first and second are now pulling away from third, an they finish the first lap, 

over the line and a bonnet starts flapping or a black flag will get waved, off down the hill and a large incident with bots and cars flying in all directions, but the does not hinder first and second, No, a large incident means a safety car, Brown gets punted due to a car malfunction, and two other cars all plough into the siding, Chadwick remains in third, with James still second, but the lead they have on the others will now be lost due to the safety car.

There will be a long delay as the Marshall's attempt to remove the three cars, and all the bits laying around and then rebuild some of the tyres, as the safety car continues Flasherman Finneran (what a great name) pulls off, and another car, #25,  with significant damage drives around, to the pits, the cars are all now bunched up behind the safety car, as the Marshall's continue to get the cars and safety wall sorted as quickly as possible.

The lights are off on the safety car and now onto lap 4, with Johnny Hadfield goes off, immediately, and NO, the safety car has stopped on track, with another car, pulling in front of the others just missing a huge accident, James is still second, and the racers are just ignoring the others and going for it, the race has been extended to nine laps, and back to the race leaders, with the top two now pulling away,a with the safety car just pulling on the side of the track, this will need to be investigated, the guys are really racing hard now, with Caroline's bonnet flapping well, into lap six and the cars are all starting to spread out a bit, hopefully there wont be anymore issues.

James is still right up close to Mitchel, but James is not giving anything away to him, third place is between three drivers, and they are banging each other to get past as Chadwick remains in third, great racing between these youngsters,, as they come to "Shell oils" James is getting closer, and a lunge will be on the cards, maybe at Lodge or Kinckerbrook, James is looking, and is closer than ever, the final lap in nearly over, and James is getting ready to go for a pass, but a small error means James stays too far back to get , with Mitchell 1st, James 2nd and Jamie Caroline 3rd, with James taking fastest lap too, what a great race, and a testament to the guts these youngster have.

Race two will be at the end of the day after the final BTCC race, unfortunately I will be unable to report that.

Ginetta Juniors - James Kellett at Brands Hatch

James Kellett is used to making history, he became the 2013 Ginetta Winter Series Champion, and did this by winning all of the races, and this huge achievement,  has made him a face that's becoming very well known around the paddocks of all the race tracks in the UK...

Not only did James win the Winter Series Championship he also took the 2013 Ginetta Junior Rookie Cup, but that's not all, James, was also the 2010 British Super Cadet Champion, 2011 World Manufactures Cup, (Daytona, USA) Champion, 2012 British KF3 Open Champion he even went on to win the coveted Kartmasters GP trophy the same year.

But it was 2013 that took James into car racing with Ginetta  and the Juniors Championship, where he gained top Rookie status with 7 podiums that included his first Ginetta win at Rockingham and a credible 6th place finish at the end of the season.

The entire Ginetta series from the Juniors and GT4 Supercup,  follows the British Touring Car Championships around the UK, along with the Clio cup, and other great wheel to wheel race series.

Now, It brings us to 2014, and another season with the Ginetta, and the first race at Brands hatch on the small Indi circuit, with one race on the Saturday and live showings of all races on Sunday, James was back to good form with a great 2nd place in Race 1 (Saturday).

Race 2, well, not as good, with a great 5th grid position James was was up there with a perfect chance of getting to the front, but with a nudge on the rear just after the drop of the flag, James, and two other drivers were forced into the barriers and it did not look too good for James in the 2nd race of the weekend.

After a few more corners the Safety Car was launched which gave James the ideal chance to get back into the Frey and after a few laps under the SC James was right on the tail end of the pack. A dogged determination saw James slowly work his way through the field and into the top ten.

Just as thoughts of a decent points finish after the dire start, a spin dropped James further down the pack and a final place finish at 15th. So, after the first weekend James managed to gain a 2nd and 15th and a total points haul of 36 with currently puts him 6th position in the Ginetta Juniors league table, a deficit of 38 points on the leader, Jack Mitchell, however, James will not allow this to remain this way, and will fight back in the next race meeting, Donington Park on the 19th April.

We Wish James well in this season of Juniors, and with any luck, and a decent points haul this year, a move to another championship next year, and hopefully to BTCC. James has amazing support from his parents, and hopefully I will be able to report his racing triumphs for the rest of this season.