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BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert produced a strong display on its final race weekend of the season, but was unable to convert a promising performance into good results. Dominik Baumann (AT) and Jens Klingmann (DE) were initially among the fastest in all the qualifying sessions at the final round of the Blancpain Sprint Series in Baku (AZ), but were then robbed of any chance of a good result by a penalty and a crash, which they could do nothing to avoid, on the opening lap of the qualifying race. 

Baumann and Klingmann came out on top in the first qualifying and were third fastest in the second session. Despite minor problems with the brakes in the third qualifying, they still managed to secure the sixth place on the grid for the qualifying race. Unfortunately they were subsequently penalised for a procedural error, for which they were relegated to the last row. 

In the race, the number 76 BMW Z4 GT3 was hit by a rival car which had spun out of control in turn four of the narrow street circuit. The Schubert car collided heavily with the wall. Although the team did manage to repair the severely damaged car in time for the main race, Baumann and Klingmann had to retire after nine laps. 

Stefan Wendl (Team Manager Schubert Motorsport): “Things were looking really good for us here until the end of qualifying. We were very quick and were counting on a good result. Unfortunately we, as a team, made a small mistake in qualifying, for which we were penalised by having all our times scratched. That was obviously a major blow, as it was clear that it would be very risky to try to come from the back of the field on such a narrow track. Just a few corners in we were involved in a big collision, which left the car virtually irreparable. Despite this, our team did a fantastic job to get the car up and running by the main race. I would like to say a big thank you to the ROAL Motorsport team, who helped us out with some spare parts. Unfortunately we discovered during the main race that the chassis was more seriously damaged than we had hoped, and had to retire from the race for safety reasons.”

Dominik Baumann (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 76): “It is a shame it ended that way, as we had the speed to be right up among the front-runners here. After our grid relegation, I tried to make up places as quickly as possible at the start of the qualifying race. That worked very well in the first corner too. However, I was then unable to avoid the car spinning in front of me. The damage to the car was pretty serious, but we wanted to at least try to line up for the main race. We managed that, thanks to the team’s hard work, but it soon became clear that there was no point in continuing for the entire race.” 

Jens Klingmann (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 76): “That is obviously a disappointing way to end what was actually a very promising weekend. It was my first time in Baku, and we coped well right from the first practice session. We could definitely have done really well, had we started the qualifying race from sixth place on the grid. When you see who ended up on the podium: we were on a par with those guys all weekend.”

BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert impressed again with another strong performance at the penultimate race weekend of the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series in Zolder (BE). However, their good work went unrewarded on Sunday, as the main race came to a premature end after just one corner for drivers Thomas Jäger (AT) and Dominik Baumann (AT). 

Right from the outset the team from Oschersleben’s (DE) BMW Z4 GT3 was among the fastest cars in the field. Jäger and Baumann qualified sixth for the qualifying race on Saturday morning. They then started Saturday afternoon’s qualifying race from the same position. Baumann was behind the wheel for the first half of the race and handed the car over to Jäger in fifth place. However, a number of cars were relegated positions for completing their mandatory pit stops during a safety car period. BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert dropped back down the field, but Jäger was able to fight back into eighth. This made the Schubert BMW Z4 GT3 the best-placed BMW. 

The team started Sunday’s main race from a promising eighth on the grid. However, after a rolling start, their race came to an abrupt end in the chaos in turn one. Jäger was hit by another car, and it was game over for the number 76 BMW Z4 GT3. The season finale of the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series will be held on 1st and 2nd November in Baku (AZ). 

Stefan Wendl (Team Manager Schubert Motorsport): “As far as the performance is concerned, we actually made a better start to the weekend than I expected. The set-up we had simulated in the run-up to the event worked superbly from the word go. That allowed us to focus on details, which in turn led to us being the best-placed BMW in qualifying and the qualifying race. We could have done even better, had we not lost places for stopping during the safety car period. However, that is racing for you. Unfortunately we were very unlucky in the main race today. It was a great shame that we were hit and our race was over. The car was not all that badly damaged, but the performance would no longer have been there, so it made no sense to continue.” 

Dominik Baumann (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 76): “We did a good job. We had a fast car, and showed in qualifying what we are capable of. We progressed to the third and final qualifying session for the first time, and finished up sixth. I was really happy with my stint in the qualifying race. Unfortunately we lost a few positions in the pits thanks to the safety car period. On the whole, however, we were happy with eighth place on the grid for the main race. Unfortunately that came to a premature end in turn one. It is a shame, as we could have been up there with the front-runners. That is life though. It was a racing incident.” 

Thomas Jäger (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 76): “The weekend actually started well. We were very competitive in qualifying and were right up there. We started the qualifying race from sixth on the grid, and Dominik immediately found himself back in the leading group. Everyone came into the pits during the safety car period, and it was obviously a bit chaotic. Unfortunately we lost a few places, but eighth place was actually a good starting position for the main race. It could have worked out really well for us, but unfortunately our race was over in turn one. We will now concentrate on ending the season with a good result in Baku.”

After two dream race weekends to kick off its involvement in the Blancpain Sprint Series, BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert failed to come away from the third round in Portimão (PT) with a top result for the first time. Dominik Baumann (AT) and Thomas Jäger (AT) finished 13th in both the qualifying race on Saturday and Sunday’s main race. 

On Saturday, the team was denied a far better result by an unfortunate spin while battling for position on the final lap of the race. Sunday’s race was compromised early on when the team suffered a puncture resulting from a collision after the start of the race. The subsequent pit stop cost Jäger and Baumann about a minute and, despite fighting back strongly, they were unable to climb back into the top ten. 

Stefan Wendl (Team Manager, Schubert Motorsport): “We knew that the weekend would come when we would not be stood on the podium for the first time. It came about this weekend because we did not get everything spot on. Above all, we are still too slow in qualifying. We must work on that, as it is important to start the race from a better position. A spin like the one Thomas suffered on Saturday is the sort of thing that can happen when battling for position. I do not blame him for that. We found ourselves well down the field on Sunday, but showed very good basic pace during our comeback. Our pit stops are getting faster and faster too. All this makes me optimistic about the coming race in Zolder.” 

Dominik Baumann: “The car was very good and I was able to lap quickly. However, we were simply too far back in Sunday’s race. Despite this, we gained valuable experience this weekend with regard to the set-up of the car, and this will hopefully help us to improve next time out.” 

Thomas Jäger: “I am obviously disappointed that things did not work out this time, after a win and a second place in the previous two races. It did not go to plan on Saturday or Sunday. However, even with perfect performances it would have been difficult to finish on the podium at this circuit, given the additional weight we were carrying after the win at the Slovakia Ring. We must now move on from this weekend and ensure that we do better next time.”

BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert produced a sensational fightback to win the main race in the Blancpain Sprint Series at the Slovakia Ring (SK). The team from Oschersleben (DE) was making its second appearance in the series. Dominik Baumann (AT) and Thomas Jäger (AT) finished second in the BMW Z4 GT3 to claim a place on the podium at the team’s debut in Zandvoort (NL) at the start of July. They have now gone one better with victory in a thrilling race. 

Their starting position was far from ideal. Baumann crashed out of Saturday’s qualifying race after spinning on an extremely wet track in pouring rain. Because of this, they had to start Sunday’s main race from 19th on the grid. However, this did not prevent Jäger and Baumann from setting their sights on victory. 

While several cars at the front of the field were forced to retire following a collision in turn one, Jäger immediately worked his way up into fifth place. Half an hour later he handed the BMW Z4 GT3 over to Baumann. The young Austrian did a great job of continuing the charge. He first climbed into second place, before gradually closing on leader Sergio Jimenez (BR) in a BMW Z4 GT3 run by BMW Sports Trophy Team Brazil. With just three minutes to go, Baumann pulled off the all-important overtaking manoeuvre: he passed Jimenez to put himself and the team on course for the win. He crossed the finish line 1.557 seconds ahead of Jimenez in second place. The next round of the Blancpain Sprint Series will take place in Portimão (PT) from 5th to 7th September. 

Stefan Wendl (Team Manager Schubert Motorsport): “This victory is something of a surprise, even to us. We could not have predicted a fightback like that in such a strong series as this. We were a little lucky at first to get through all the carnage at the start unscathed, but after that we showed our pure speed. That is what pleases me most. The one-two is also a fantastic result for BMW and shows just how good the BMW Z4 GT3 is.” 

Dominik Baumann (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 76): “It is hard to believe that we came through to win from 19th on the grid in one of the best GT series in the world. Everything came together for us in the race. We made up ten seconds on our rivals in the same car. I would never have thought that possible. This is a great day for the entire team.” 

Thomas Jäger (BMW Z4 GT3, car number 76): “The team just laughed at me yesterday when I said we could still finish on the podium. But I noticed on Friday that our car was the fastest in the field. Unfortunately we were unable to convert that pace in qualifying and the qualifying race, but our performance today was fantastic. We are all extremely happy with the outcome of this race.”

BMW Sports Trophy Team Schubert enjoyed a more than successful start to life in the Blancpain Sprint Series. The team from Oschersleben (DE) competed with a BMW Z4 GT3 for the first time on the third race weekend in Zandvoort (NL). In Sunday’s main race, Dominik Baumann (AT) and Thomas Jäger (AT) made it onto the podium at the first attempt: in a spectacular race in fluctuating weather conditions, the duo crossed the finish line in second place. 

Following the Nürburgring 24 Hours (DE), Schubert Motorsport decided to expand its programme for 2014 and contest the remaining races in the Blancpain Sprint Series, as well as the second half of the ADAC GT Masters. Stefan Wendl’s (DE) team made its first appearance in the series at the iconic “Circuit Park” (NL) on the North Sea coast. 

Baumann and Jäger attracted attention for the first time in Saturday’s qualifying race, which took place in difficult weather conditions. Starting from 12th, they launched an impressive fightback. After 20 minutes, the onset of rain made the race a real challenge for drivers and teams alike. However, Baumann and Jäger mastered the task superbly and came home fifth in the number 76 BMW Z4 GT3 after two safety car periods. 

Sunday’s main race was no less dramatic. A crash in turn one resulted in the safety car taking to the track. A few laps after the restart, Jäger pulled off a courageous overtaking manoeuvre to move into fourth place. He then came into the pits at the halfway point of the race. Baumann took over at the wheel of the number 76 BMW Z4 GT3 and made up another position in the pit lane. Baumann then profited from a spin by the car in front of him to move into second place. With the rain falling, the Austrian was able to gain up to 1.5 seconds per lap on the leader. However, with the track drying out he was unable to launch a decisive attack and eventually crossed the finish line in second place.

The next race takes place at the Slovakiaring (SK) on 24th August. That is followed by races in Portimao (PT), Zolder (BE) and Baku (AZ). 

Stefan Wendl (Team Manager Schubert Motorsport): “I am extremely happy with this success. Nobody could have predicted such a fantastic start coming into the race. We were still struggling with a minor technical problem in the qualifying race, which prevented us from getting the result we had possibly hoped for. In the race itself, however, everything went superbly in fluctuating conditions. Dominik Baumann produced an outstanding display of driving. However, I must also compliment Thomas Jäger. He is relatively unexperienced in a GT car, but improved from lap to lap. His performance this weekend was superb. The mechanics also deserve a lot of praise. They executed superb pit stops. This was a success earned by the entire team.” 

Dominik Baumann: “We are all totally happy. We could not have had a better debut in the series. We were not quite able to match the pace of the opposition in dry conditions. However, when the drizzle set in, we were able to take full advantage of the qualities possessed by the BMW Z4 GT3. Because of this, I was able to gradually close in on the leaders in the final phase of the race. Unfortunately the track then dried out slightly, meaning I was unable to launch a decisive overtaking manoeuvre. However, second place is a superb basis on which we can build for the next race.” 

Thomas Jäger: “I could hardly have had a better first weekend in GT3. I am mega happy and very satisfied with the result. We had a small technical issue at the start, but our mechanics did a great job of solving it. After that our car was really quick. I made a good start – my first in a GT3 car – and managed to make up a position immediately. However, I had to let a rival through in turn one and dropped back into fifth. A few laps later, I regained fourth place and then handed the car over to Dominik. He did a superb job and secured a spot on the podium for us.”