The BMW M3 DTM: a year old and already a big success.
Munich, 4th July 2012. 4th July is a special date for BMW: It is exactly one year to the day since the BMW M3 DTM completed its first laps at the test site in Aschheim (DE). Five races and thousands of kilometres later, this car already has one victory, five further podium finishes, a pole position, a fastest lap and 145 points to its name.

We have put together a brief summary of what has happened over the past twelve months.

4th July 2011.

Roll-out at the test site in Aschheim. The BMW M3 DTM takes to the track for the first time with Augusto Farfus (BR) at the wheel.

6th/7th July 2011.

The BMW M3 DTM completes its first programme of testing in Oschersleben (DE).

15th July 2011.

The BMW M3 DTM Concept Car is presented at BMW Welt.

12th/13th September 2011.

The BMW M3 DTM meets the opposition for the first time – at the joint test with all the manufacturers represented in the 2012 DTM at the Lausitzring (DE).

23rd October 2011.

The BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM takes to the track for a series of demonstration laps at the season finale in Hockenheim (DE).

13th January 2012.

All the BMW M3 DTM seats are taken. Dirk Werner (DE) is confirmed as the sixth driver – alongside Andy Priaulx (GB), Augusto Farfus (BR), Bruno Spengler (CA), Martin Tomczyk (DE) and Joey Hand (US).

1st March 2012.

BMW Motorsport submits the documents for the homologation of the BMW M3 DTM to the Deutscher Motor Sport Bund (DMSB). From this point, no further modifications can be made to certain key areas on the car.

22nd April 2012.

The calm before the storm: BMW and the DTM are presented to the fans at the official DTM Presentation in Wiesbaden (DE).

29th April 2012.

BMW lines up at the opening race of the DTM season for the first time for almost 20 years. BMW makes a successful return, with Priaulx finishing sixth in the Crowne Plaza Hotels BMW M3 DTM. 142,000 spectators witness the start of a new DTM era.

6th May 2012.

The BMW Bank M3 DTM and Spengler, who started from pole position, present BMW with its 50th DTM victory at the Lausitzring. BMW is back on the top step of the podium just two races into its comeback season. Farfus is third.

20th May 2012.

Another strong result in Brands Hatch (GB): After 97 laps Spengler crosses the finish line in second place at the wheel of his BMW Bank M3 DTM. Tomczyk sets the fastest lap time of 42.138 seconds.

3rd June 2012.

Thrilling duels, excitement right up to the final lap. The fourth DTM race of the year in Spielberg (AT) is a real thriller. Tomczyk comes home second in the BMW M Performance Parts M3 DTM.

1st July 2012.

In the final corner of a dramatic wet race at the Norisring (DE), Tomczyk loses the lead. However, BMW Motorsport has two reasons to celebrate: Tomczyk claims his second consecutive podium, followed by Spengler in third.

14th/15th July 2012.

We have come full circle. When the DTM visits Munich’s Olympic Stadium, the fans are able to experience the BMW M3 DTM not far from its birthplace.