First in the Mercedes-AMG SLS GT3, followed by the BMW M6 GT3 and currently with the BMW M4 GT3. At the 51st edition, ROWE RACING celebrated the new BMW M4 GT3's first overall podium at the ADAC 24h Nürburgring.
The weekend didn't start particularly promisingly for the team from St. Ingbert. At the prestigious top qualifying on Saturday evening, starting number 98 only placed 31st overall after a slip-up.
But the starting position was just a further incentive for the quartet around the two DTM champions Marco Wittmann and Sheldon van der Linde, who were already on the overall podium together with ROWE RACING in 2021, as well as the two Belgians Maxime Martin and Dries Vanthoor.
So the #98 team, starting with starting driver Marco Wittmann, worked its way up position by position over the course of the first few hours of racing. The team was soon in the top group. During the night and especially on Sunday, the BMW team was the toughest competitor to Ferrari, who later won.
The overall lead changed back and forth between the two vehicles several times due to the pit stops. In the end, the #98 BMW M4 GT3 had to admit defeat to the victorious Ferrari by just 26 seconds.
Overall, the 24h Nürburgring 2023 was an extremely high-paced race. And so ROWE RACING and the other vehicles in the top positions set the distance record set in 2014 and 2022 by completing 162 laps when crossing the finish line - a full three laps more than the previous distance record.
“It was an eventful 24-hour race for us. Second place with the #98 BMW M4 GT3 from ROWE RACING is a fantastic result. Congratulations and a big thank you to everyone! Our drivers did a flawless job and worked their way from outside the top 30 to the top group,” says Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport.
The sister vehicle with starting number 99 was less lucky. After a good qualifying, Philipp Eng, Connor de Phillippi, Augusto Farfus and Nick Yelloly held on to a good position for a long time until they had an accident in lapping traffic and then parked the car had to.
For ROWE RACING, the second place at the 24h Nürburgring 2023 was already the sixth overall podium in the team's history. The team led by founders Hans-Peter Naundorf and Michael Zehe achieved their first two podiums in 2013 and 2014, back then in the Mercedes-AMG SLS GT3. The two third places were followed by a second place after switching to the BMW M6 GT3 in 2017, as well as in 2021. The team celebrated its greatest success in 2020 when they put their stamp on the long-distance classic in the Eifel as overall winners.
The two BMW M4 GT3s from 2023 were produced exclusively for ck-modelcars in a limited edition in the usual high-quality Minichamps quality and reflect the original as best as possible. The models in scale 1:18 feature a faithful cockpit replica, a detailed engine compartment, steerable front wheels and an opening hood, doors and trunk.
BMW M4 GT3 #98 2nd 24h Nürburgring 2023 Rowe Racing 1:18 Minichamps, RRP €149.95, item-no.: 113232098
BMW M4 GT3 #99 24h Nürburgring 2023 Rowe Racing 1:18 Minichamps, RRP €149.95, item-no.: 113232099
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![]() | BMW M4 GT3 #98 2do 24h Nürburgring 2023 Rowe Racing 1:18 Minichamps | 149,95 € |
![]() | BMW M4 GT3 #99 24h Nürburgring 2023 Rowe Racing 1:18 Minichamps | 149,95 € |