BMW delivers 100 years of spectacular cars and bikes, including touring cars, Art cars, Elvis Presley's 507 and many more.

During the Monterey Car Week and the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, BMW Group Classic is celebrating not only the rebirth of the roadster once driven in Germany by the “King of Rock’n’Roll”, but also the motor racing history of the BMW brand and the company’s 100th anniversary in 2016.

From 18 to 21 August 2016, during the Monterey Car Week and the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, BMW Group Classic will be celebrating under the Californian sun the company’s 100th anniversary and the most  significant successes in the racing history of the BMW brand. 

The event held on the US west coast is popular with classic car enthusiasts all over the world and provides a perfect stage for numerous milestones in BMW’s history – including the brand’s first motorcycle and the legendary BMW 328 sports car, the BMW 2002 – an ambassador of driving pleasure in the USA too, the racetrack-proven works of art from the BMW Art Cars Collection and several models currently used in  racing. 

The presentation of classic competition vehicles at the “BMW Living Legends Garage” is in the focus of the show on the premises of the Laguna Seca racetrack, which is serving as the location for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. 

One of the highlights of the Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach is the presentation of the BMW 507 that was once driven by Elvis Presley during his term of military service in Germany and can now be seen for the first time by the general public following its complete restoration. 

For many decades, the roadster of the “King of Rock’n’Roll” was regarded as a mystery on wheels. Not until after painstaking investigation by the US journalist Jackie Jouret and enquiries made by experts from the archives of BMW Group Classic was it possible to solve the mystery of the identity and whereabouts of the car. 

For many years, Elvis’s BMW 507 had been “dormant” at a warehouse in Half Moon Bay, south of San Francisco, and thus not far from the location at which its rebirth is now being celebrated. 

And it has an eventful history in which the “King” played the most crucial role, but not the only major one.

It begins at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, where the BMW 507 was exhibited in September 1957, having being produced shortly beforehand. 

The works driver Hans Stuck, also known as the “Bergmeister”, then completed several races in the white two-seater car, which was also used for press test drives and film shots. 

In December 1958, a BMW dealer in Frankfurt mediated the sale of the roadster to probably the most prominent US soldier ever stationed in Germany. Elvis Presley drove the BMW 507 until he finished his term of service in March 1960. 

After that, the car, which by then had been painted red, was transferred to the USA, where it changed owners several times and was converted for further racing use, only to soon be forgotten.

In 1968, engineer Jack Castor bought the car and decided to put it into storage for restoration at a later time. By means of the chassis number 70079, the avid classic car enthusiast was able to see the connection to Hans Stuck. 

However, it wasn’t until many years later that this connection introduced him to BMW Group Classic, and a comparison with historic documents then gave him the certainty that not only the “Bergmeister”, but also the “King” had once sat behind the wheel of his BMW 507. 

Castor and BMW Group Classic concluded an agreement that regulated not only the purchase, but also restoration of the roadster in Munich. 

Thus, around two years of restoration work produced a reconstruction that has preserved as much of the original substance as possible and restored the overall vehicle to its former condition in the year 1958.

In Pebble Beach, the BMW 507 will shine in Feather White, with a black and white interior, just like when it was sold to Elvis Presley. 

This was Jack Castor’s wish and is now his legacy, as the keeper of Elvis’s BMW 507 died in November 2014 shortly before restoration work commenced, which in addition to the “King’s” roadster also comprises a further project – Castor owned a second BMW 507. 

The blue car bearing the chassis number 70089 had also waited for many years alongside Elvis Presley’s car to be rediscovered. 

Likewise, this car was completely restored under the direction of BMW Group Classic and will now be handed over at the start of the Concours d’Elegance to Ron Gilmartin, a long-time friend and companion of Jack Castor.

Many other vehicles being displayed in Pebble Beach take an important place in the 100-year history of BMW. 

These include the BMW 328 Touring Coupe, in which Fritz Huschke von Hanstein and Walter Bäumer became overall winners of the Mille Miglia in1940, and the BMW 328, also known as the “Bügelfalten-Roadster” and already the fastest in its class in the same race in 1938. 

Furthermore, the general public will be able to see the first and latest models to date in the BMW Art Cars Collection. Both the BMW 3.0 CSL designed by Alexander Calder in 1975 and the BMW M3 GT2 from 2010, upon which Jeff Koons left his artistic handwriting, were on the starting grid in the 24-hour race at Le Mans. 

The presentation of the concept car BMW 2002 Homage underscores the ongoing effective impact of the BMW 02 introduced 50 years ago. This is complemented by a reunion with many successful models on two wheels. 

An early version of the BMW R 32 reminds us of BMW’s debut as a motorcycle manufacturer in the year 1923, and numerous other models describe motorcycle development up to the present day.

In addition to the show presenting exclusive and spectacular rarities in Pebble Beach, the programme at the Monterey Car Week also comprises a review of outstanding eras and vehicles in motor racing history. 

And together with BMW of North America, BMW Group Classic is also making a special contribution this year. On the occasion of the company’s anniversary, BMW will be honoured as “featured marque” at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. 

More than 60 historic and current racing cars of the brand are being presented at the “BMW Living Legends Garage” and at the Laguna Seca circuit.

A field of BMW M1 models from the 1979 and 1980 European Procar Series as well as five works cars of the type BMW 3.0 CSL, which took part in the US IMSA series in 1975 and 1976, will provide for that authentic racetrack feel in the style of yesteryear. Moreover, several versions of the BMW M3 will be present. 

Their series of touring car racing successes began in 1987, remained ongoing over several model generations and are now being continued by the BMW M4. Three legendary vehicles featuring a BMW twelve-cylinder power unit will set both a visual and acoustic highlight. 

Not only does the BMW V12 LMR, winner of the 12-hour race at Sebring in 1999, meet up with a McLaren F1 GTR used at Le Mans in 1996, but also with the prototype of a BMW X5 with V12 engine. In 2002, Hans-Joachim Stuck drove round the Nürburgring-Nordschleife in a BMW X5 in less than eight minutes, a time previously only considered achievable by high-calibre sports cars.

1966-2016 - Fifty years of racing from Volkswagen, and in all those years they continue winning, and delivering great cars.

• 11th July 1966: Volkswagen Motorsport is founded as “Verband Formel V Europa e. V.”
• Tradition: From Formula V to three-times world rally champions
• Comprehensive information package on history, available to download

Exactly 50 years ago, on 11th July 1966, a group of Munich-based traders and importers who shared an interest in sport founded the “Verband Formel V Europa e. V.” – this was the birth of Volkswagen Motorsport. 

However, it all started in the USA back in 1963: it was here that the car maker from Wolfsburg’s technology was used to launch the Formula Vee junior racing series. 

The small, single-seater racing cars – with components from the iconic Volkswagen Beetle – also made a name for themselves in Germany as re-imports. 

As well as the national championships and competitions between the USA and Europe, there was also an unofficial world championship. By 1971 the philosophy had developed into the Formula Super Vee series, which produced eventual world champions including Jochen Rindt (A), Niki Lauda (A) and Keke Rosberg (FIN).

Tradition: Volkswagen puts great emphasis on promoting youngsters

Still very small, the association relocated in October 1973. It moved from the Bavarian capital Munich to Hannover, where Volkswagen Motorsport GmbH entered the Commercial Register in 2004. 

To this day, the company is still based in Hannover. After the successful Formula Vee era, Volkswagen proceeded to make a name for itself when it came to promoting talented young drivers: record Formula One world champion Michael Schumacher (D) and Le Mans legend Tom Kristensen (DK) both started their career in Formula 3, powered by Volkswagen.

Milestones: From the touring car school to the Dakar and WRC treble

Volkswagen also made its mark in touring car racing and, of course, rallying. From 1988 to 2014, many young drivers learned the A to Z of motor racing in the touring car school. On top of this came class victories at the Nürburgring 24 Hours with a natural gas-powered Scirocco GT24. 

And let’s not forget Volkswagen’s unique run of success at the iconic Dakar Rally, at which the team claimed a hat-trick of wins with the Race Touareg from 2009 to 2011. The pinnacle of the manufacturer’s success on the motorsport scene followed when it entered the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). 

Three years in a row – from 2013 to 2015 – Volkswagen won all three titles with the Polo R WRC: the Manufacturers’ Championship plus the Driver and Co-Drivers’ Championships with works drivers Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (F/F). 

Volkswagen is keen to continue this success story in the future.

Jost Capito, Volkswagen Motorsport Director

“As it celebrates its 50th birthday, Volkswagen is better placed on the motorsport scene than ever before. 

And it boasts a very well-balanced programme: a global commitment with the Polo R WRC in the World Rally Championship, in circuit racing with the young drivers in Formula 3, and with the Golf GTI TCR in the various international TCR series. 

We are also well-established in the USA, with the Andretti Autosport team enjoying success on the Rallycross scene – a modern and emerging form of motor racing. As such, Volkswagen enjoys a solid and future-oriented basis in motorsport. 

That is cause for celebration. At the same time, it is also an obligation and motivation. We want to be successful, wherever we compete.”

GOODWOOD REVIVAL - With record crowds, and decent weather, this years event was a huge success.

A record sell-out crowd of 149,000 enjoyed a sensational 18^th Goodwood Revival Meeting during the weekend of September 11-13 at the iconic Goodwood Motor Circuit.

The outstanding on-track moments of the weekend included the first gathering in history of all six original Shelby Daytona Coupes – on the 50^th anniversary of the organisation’s World Sportscar title – and the honouring of the career of legendary racer, team boss and constructor Bruce McLaren.

Race highlights included the annual RAC TT Celebration race for early-1960s GT cars, which was won by the JD Classics-prepared Jaguar E-type of former British Touring Car Champion Gordon Shedden and Chris Ward, and a back-to-front victory in the St Mary’s Trophy for 1960s saloons for the mighty Ford Fairlane Thunderbolt of ‘Mr Le Mans’ Tom Kristensen and Henry Mann.

Picture below are Owned by Jon Mower and only to be used elsewhere with Permission.

Seventeen-year-old Peter de la Roche, on his first visit to Goodwood, secured victory in the Earl of March Trophy for post-war 500cc single-seaters, taking the lead at the final corner of a scintillating race, while success in the Lavant Cup, held exclusively for 1950s Ferrari sports prototypes, went the way of James Cottingham’s Ferrari 500 TRC.

The 75^th anniversary of the Battle of Britain was commemorated with a poignant on-track moment on Sunday afternoon that featured 94-year-old Wing Commander Tom Neil, a Royal Air Force veteran who saw active service during the battle, and with an evocative 12-Spitfire flypast.

Track displays included a collection of over 50 ‘Series’ Land Rovers and more than 25 US ‘Gassers’ that lit up their tyres with a series of spectacular burn-outs each morning, while the Earls Court Motor Show central concours celebrated Ferrari through the ages.

Off-track, the 60^th anniversary of the Fish Finger was marked with an authentic trawler while 50 years of Youthquake was marked with a 3D billboard featuring live models in Miniskirts.

Bonhams’ Saturday sale of historic cars and automobilia resulted in £763,000 being achieved for Keith Richards’ Bentley ‘Blue Lena’ while the Revival High Street featured period stores from Tesco, Kenwood, Bendicks and more, and the March Motor Works presented by BMW Group took the form of a trendy London Mews garage and celebrated coachbuilt specials from BMW, Rolls-Royce and MINI.

Lord March said: “The 18^th Goodwood Revival drew a record sell-out crowd, who not only witnessed some of the most iconic racing cars ever built dicing wheel-to-wheel, but also celebrated the career of motor racing legend Bruce McLaren, saw - for the first time in history - all six original Shelby Daytona Coupes together on track and joined an incredibly poignant and fitting tribute to the bravery of all those who fought in the Battle of Britain. 

My sincere thanks to everyone who came for their support and enthusiasm for the event, which continues to be cherished by enthusiasts of motor racing and vintage culture across the world.”

AUDI achieves pioneering feat with new e-Tron quattro four wheel drive

• Trendsetter Audi: four-wheel drive also established in LMP1 sport 
• New development of e-tron quattro four-wheel drive system for 2014
• 34 years of four-wheel drive expertise in production and motorsport

Audi has set another trend in motorsport. After the brand revolutionised rally racing with quattro four-wheel drive in the nineteen-eighties and significantly shaped touring car racing with this system in the nineties, four-wheel drive has been making its way into LMP1 sports prototypes as well. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro now aims to extend ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ with a system featuring an all-new development.

In 2012, Audi became the first manufacturer to win the Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with a four-wheel-drive LMP1 sports car. Equipped with the innovative e-tron quattro four-wheel drive, the R18 has won ten WEC rounds to date including the 2012 and 2013 Le Mans 24 Hours plus the WEC World Champion’s titles in the same years. In 2014, for the first time, Audi’s two LMP1 challengers on the manufacturers’ side are also relying on LMP1 sports prototypes with four-wheel drive.

“Innovations only become pioneering achievements when they’re successfully used and others start to adopt them,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Audi, like no other manufacturer, has repeatedly achieved such feats ever since the debut of quattro four-wheel drive in 1980.” In the DTM, as well, Audi was the first team in 1990 to use four-wheel drive in racing, just like in Super Touring Cars, starting in 1993. In the past two years, on achieving the string of success in the WEC, the brand proved that e-tron quattro – the combination of a hybrid system with four-wheel drive – offers significant advantages.

 Up to now, Audi had been allowed to use four-wheel drive only above 120 km/h. But four driven wheels promise to deliver traction advantages particularly at low speed, for instance when the driver accelerates on exiting a tight corner. This year, this speed-related rule no longer applies. 

 

A fundamentally new Motor Generator Unit (MGU), together with a differential, sits in the monocoque at the level of the front axle. Two drive shafts connect the system with the front wheels. Under braking, the kinetic energy of the race car is converted into electric current which flows into an optimised flywheel energy storage device located in the cockpit next to the driver. During acceleration, the recovered energy is converted again by the MGU and powers the front wheels.
 

“We’ve developed the entire hybrid drive from scratch again for 2014,” explains Dr. Martin Mühlmeier, Head of Technology at Audi Sport. “Specifically, it’s become even lighter and more efficient than before.” As of 2014, a single e-machine connected to a front-axle differential is longitudinally mounted. Furthermore, these front-wheel drive components are completely integrated into the monocoque of the R18 e-tron quattro. The recuperated energy is stored in a newly designed flywheel energy storage system. 

 While the quattro systems of Audi’s factory-fielded rally models and touring cars between 1980 and 1997 used a mechanical connection in the form of a drive shaft between the front and rear axles, the power distribution to the front and rear wheels in the e-tron quattro four-wheel drive system is governed strictly by an electronic control unit. In addition, due to the new efficiency regulations, a modified strategy for the engine and drive system will be used in 2014. The e-tron quattro four-wheel drive with its sophisticated energy flow is characterised by optimum efficiency. 

AUDI DTM arrives in Russia for next race.

• Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller leads DTM standings
• Moscow Raceway is new territory for drivers and teams
• DMSB has scheduled appeal court session in Ekström case

Audi drivers visited Moscow on several occasions in the past few months to promote the DTM visit, which gave them the opportunity to intensively experience the enthusiasm of the fans on location. Now the race is just around the corner: From August 2 to August 4, the Audi RS 5 DTM and leader of the standings Mike Rockenfeller are making their race debut in Russia.

The DTM’s premiere in Russia is a calculation with many unknown quantities. None of the drivers has ever competed in a race at Moscow Raceway and the track layout with a length of only 2.555 kilometres has never been used by any racing series at all. Consequently, there is no experience available with respect to set-up or strategy on the third-shortest circuit featured on the 2013 DTM calendar. How fast the Audi Sport Teams Abt Sportsline, Phoenix and Rosberg and their drivers will be able to adjust to the new challenge will be a key success factor.

An Audi driver – Mike Rockenfeller – is travelling to Russia as the leader of the standings. The German has scored points in each race so far, claimed victory at one round and, at the beginning of the second half of the season, has a two-point advantage over the reigning Champion Bruno Spengler. The DTM has not experienced a season as thrilling and hard to predict as 2013 in a long time, with five different winners in the first five races – a tally like this at the season’s midpoint was last seen six years ago.

Before heading for Moscow, the Audi squad has another date on its agenda. The German Motorsport Federation (DMSB) has scheduled the court session to hear the appeal of Mattias Ekström’s exclusion from the fifth round of the season at the Norisring for July 30. The Swede had initially won the city street race in Nuremberg but was subsequently excluded due to an alleged breach of parc fermé rules. Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline immediately appealed this decision.

Tickets for all DTM races of the 2013 season are available at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm. Fans in many countries of the world can watch qualifying and the race live on the DTM’s new YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/dtmint live. A total of 39 TV channels air live DTM coverage in 141 countries.

In Germany, as usual, ARD will broadcast live on “Das Erste:” Qualifying on Saturday (August 3) starting at 14:30, the race on Sunday (August 4) starting at 13:15.

Citroën reveals its WTCC 2014 challenger – the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC

• Citroën reveals its WTCC 2014 challenger – the Citroën C-Elysée WTCC
• The Citroën C-Elysée WTCC will be the first vehicle to be designed in accordance with new regulations
• With a truly global audience, the WTCC provides an ideal platform to showcase the  Citroën C-Elysée to key markets
• Citroën C-Elysée WTCC to make its public debut at Frankfurt International Motor Show in September

One month after confirming that it would be entering the World Touring Car Championship in 2014, Citroën can now reveal the model that will be driven on the circuits by Sébastien Loeb. The Citroën C-Elysée WTCC will be the very first vehicle to be designed in accordance with the new regulations, currently being prepared by the FIA for the category next year.

On 26 September of last year, at the opening of the 2012 Paris Motor Show, Frédéric Banzet, Yves Matton and Sébastien Loeb announced that Citroën was considering taking part in the World Touring Car Championship. A few minutes earlier, the C-Elysée had just been unveiled for the first time to the world’s media. Ten months on, these two events come together again with the release of the first pictures of Citroën C-Elysée WTCC!

Benefitting from the best of the Brand’s expertise in terms of style, development and quality, Citroën C-Elysée is a C-segment saloon aimed principally at high-growth, international markets such as those in Latin America, the Mediterranean region, China and Russia. Widely acclaimed by customers, Citroën C-Elysée is already 30% ahead of its initial sales target, with 30,000 orders placed.

“Choosing C-Elysée as the basis for our WTCC car reflects very clearly our determination to use racing as an active means of supporting our commercial development,”emphasised Frédéric Banzet, CEO of the Citroën Brand. “With rounds in Latin America, Morocco, China and Russia, the WTCC race calendar is genuinely global, and it will be a real advantage to run a C-Elysée, a key driver of our growth, in front of large crowds of enthusiastic motorsport fans.”

“From a strictly technical perspective, the choice of a three-box saloon body was ideal in terms of aerodynamics. C-Elysée was therefore the perfect choice,” added Xavier Mestelan-Pinon, Citroën Racing’s Technical Director. “Apart from this aspect, we were able to install the various components fairly easily. Insofar as this is our first track racing car, we constantly had to ask ourselves questions about the relevance of our choices, but that's what makes this a particularly exciting challenge.”

Firmly anchored to the tarmac on its 18-inch wheels, C-Elysée WTCC is, quite simply, formidable. Featuring an integrated aerodynamic splitter, the front bumper accentuates the radiator grille with its prominent double chevron. The widened front and rear wings lend the car's bodywork a decidedly racing feel. At the rear, the stylish rear wing will ensure that the car hugs the track.

Under the bonnet, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC is powered by the same 1.6-litre direct injection turbocharged engine as the DS3 WRC. With a wider booster flange, power output is now close to 380bhp. The car comes with a front-wheel drive transmission, controlled by a six-speed sequential gearbox.

After making its first track outing a few days ago, Citroën C-Elysée WTCC has now begun a programme of development tests. The car will make its first public appearance at the Frankfurt International Motor Show (12-22 September).

AUDI looks to victory in the next DTM round.

• DTM round about 130 kilometres south of Berlin
• Audi driver Mike Rockenfeller in second place of the standings
• DTM more thrilling than in a long time thanks to DRS and option tyres

Three races, three winners, eight different drivers on the podium: The 2013 DTM season has so far surpassed all expectations. From June 14 to 16, Europe’s fastest touring cars, including the Audi RS 5 DTM, will visit the Lausitzring, which is located about 130 kilometres south of Berlin.

72,000 spectators watched the DTM round at the Lausitzring last year. This year, the crowd may even be larger, as option tires and DRS wing flaps add further spice to the race. The DTM has not seen such a large number of really fierce duels, overtaking manoeuvres and tussles in a long time.

Particularly coveted are the seats in the grandstands at the end of the start-finish straight. At a speed of 240 km/h, the driver’s possibility to flatten the angle of the rear wing by pushing a button during the race should be particularly effective and make for plenty of overtaking action. The increase in speed that can be gained by the Drag Reduction System (DRS) amounts to around 6 km/h, according to simulations performed by the engineers at Audi Sport.

Among the eight drivers who are competing for Audi in the DTM this year are the three that have been on podium at the Lausitzring before: Mattias Ekström (winner in 2004 and 2005), Timo Scheider and Jamie Green. Mike Rockenfeller, the runner-up in the standings with his Schaeffler Audi RS 5 DTM after three races, was the best Audi driver in qualifying at Lausitz in 2012. His Audi Sport Team Phoenix, in 2011, celebrated one of four DTM victories so far.

Tickets for all DTM races of the 2013 are available at www.audi-motorsport.com/dtm. Fans around the world can watch qualifying and the race live on the DTM’s new YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/dtmint live. A total of 39 TV channels air live DTM coverage in 141 countries.

In Germany, as usual, ARD will broadcast live on “Das Erste:” Qualifying on Saturday (June 15) starting at 14:30, the race on Sunday (June 16) starting at 13:15.