The Belgian team will field two BMW Z4 GT3 and is putting its faith in a strong driver line-up. Jörg Müller and the two BMW DTM drivers Maxime Martin and Augusto Farfus will share one cockpit. In the second car, Team Principal Bas Leinders will share the driving duties with BMW works driver Dirk Werner and Markus Palttala.
The team performed well at the 2013 event, before technical issues curtailed their race. The race, scheduled for the 26th and 27th of July, is the home race for the squad. It is also the jewel in crown of the Blancpain Endurance Series, where they earned the team’s title last season.
Martin, Leinders and Palttala are all well used to racing with Marc VDS Team, including driving to second place in the Blancpain Endurance Series together in 2012, with two wins. Müller, too, is now used to the team having raced in the VLN this season, having missed the 24 Hours of Spa 2013 through injury. Farfus and Werner are both long term BMW Motorsport works pilots, and have both shown strongly in the DTM. Farfus finished runner up in the series in 2013.
Jens Marquardt, BMW Motorsport director: “The endurance classic in Spa-Francorchamps is not only a highlight of the season for BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS, but also for BMW Motorsport. After struggling with technical issues and not achieving the results we had hoped for last year, we are extremely motivated to succeed in this year’s race. You could say that the BMW Z4 GT3 has a score to settle with this classic. BMW Sports Trophy Team Marc VDS will be joined in the Ardennes by numerous other BMW customer teams. It will certainly be another exciting race.”
Bas Leinders (driver and Team Principal): “The 24-hour race in Spa is our home event, which obviously makes it a very special race for us. I am pleased that we are once again able to compete with two very strong driver line-ups this year, thanks to the support of BMW Motorsport. The BMW Z4 GT3 is extremely reliable this season. As a result, we are confident we can make it onto the podium this year, after finishing fourth in 2012 and last year’s misfortune.”
Maxime Martin: “I have been racing at the 24 Hours of Spa since 2006, so it is definitely my home race. I think I have a good chance alongside my team-mates Augusto and Jörg, as they have both experience and speed – everything you need to be successful in an endurance race.”
Augusto Farfus: “I am very much looking forward to taking part in one of the biggest races for GT cars. I see no reason why we shouldn’t have a chance of winning with the BMW Z4 GT3 and such a strong trio of drivers. This will be my first outing at this classic. It means an awful lot to me, as I will have competed at all the major 24-hour races in the world by the end of the weekend.”