BMW commits to full GT season
Australian GT Championship gets full tick of approval from BMW factory entryBMW Australia has signalled a serious tilt at the paired 2016 Australian GT titles with news it will compete in all rounds of both the sprint and endurance competitions.
The brand announced its intentions via its factory-supported BMW Team SRM squad earlier today.
The team will race its BMW M6 GT3 in every round of both the 2016 CAMS Australian GT Championship and the 2016 CAMS Australian Endurance Championship.
The car's first race will be at next month's Clipsal 500.
The 2016 GT 'sprint' calendar includes rounds at Albert Park (as part of the F1 carnival, Barbagallo Raceway (Perth), Phillip Island, Townsville (in conjunction with V8 Supercars), and Highlands Park, near Queenstown in New Zealand.
The CAMS Australian Endurance Championship is comprised of two 101-lap races in Australia (Phillip Island and Sydney Motorsport Park) and two in New Zealand (Hampton Downs and Highlands Park).
"The early arrival of the car gave us the opportunity to work towards a full program for 2016, and it was an opportunity we didn't want to miss," BMW Team SRM owner and driver Steve Richards told motoring.com.au.
"The extra races will be a help when it comes to learning about the new car – and learning how to work with Germany. The earlier we sink our teeth into the program, the better off we'll be when it comes to those endurance races later in the year – and the Bathurst 12 Hour in 2017," he explained.
Richards' M6 GT3 will run number 100 for the 2016 season, in celebration of the BMW Group's 100-year anniversary. But it may not be the only M6 GT3 to contest this year's titles.
"There's been incredible strong interest in the other car we have allocated to us," Richards told motoring.com.au.
"The program has really captured the imagination of those interested in GT racing. We'd love to see a number of M6 GT3s competing locally," he stated.
CAMS Australian GT Championship
Clipsal 500 – March 3-6
Australian Grand Prix – March 17-20
Perth Super Sprint – May 6-8
Phillip Island – May 27-28
Townsville 400 – July 8-10
Highlands Park – November 11-12
CAMS Australian Endurance Championship
Phillip Island 101 – May 29
Sydney Motorsport Park – August 26-28
Hampton Downs – October 28-30
Highlands Park 101 – November 13
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