BMW Sports Pokal

stedevil · 4 Dec 2008, 11:58 (Ref:2347172)

Well, this time of year we usually have the BMW event that rewards the best non factory BMW drivers of the year. However it seems to be one of the best kept secrets in motorsports, with only bits of info leaking out here and there about who got which place/points/amount of races/etc

I remember googling already last year, without more success either. The best I managed to scrap together sofar this year is a top 10 list. Surely people around here should be able to provide info and links to more details?

BMW Sports Pokal 2008
1. Frank Engstler, Germany, 678 p
2. Richard Göransson, Sweden, 654 p
3. Mat Jackson, Britain, 520 p
4. Colin Turkington, Britain, 515 p
5. Fredrik Ekblom, Sweden, 505 p
6. Kristian Paulsen, Denmark, 454 p
7. Sergio Hernandez, Spain, 452 p
8. Jan Magnussen, Denmark, 445 p
9. Stefano D´Aste, Italy, 433 p
10. Robin Rudholm, Sweden, 425 p

werner · 4 Dec 2008, 12:25 (Ref:2347193)

Why are Hernandez and D'Aste be so far down? Hernandez has beat the Sh1t out of Engstler, and yet he is only 7th, while Engstler has won?
I am really interested how points where given.

stedevil · 4 Dec 2008, 12:39 (Ref:2347205)

Engstler, AFAIK, have participated also in both Procar & Asia, scoring a bunch of "bonus" points relative other drivers. But it's one of those things I would like to know more about as well.

gregc · 4 Dec 2008, 12:42 (Ref:2347207)

It got a mention on the btcc website a few days ago, but obviously they were mainly interested in the brit guys - http://btcc.net/html/generalnews_det...6015cf9e63cf0a

stedevil · 4 Dec 2008, 12:46 (Ref:2347210)

Yeah, the STCC website (and pretty much anything else I found elsewhere) is the same. Only focuses on a few of specific interest, and nowhere a big overview.

http://www.stcc.se/379/?tx_ttnews[tt_news]=4873&tx_ttnews[backPid]=81&cHash=cb0f98f69e

JMeissner · 4 Dec 2008, 12:46 (Ref:2347211)

You get points for each race weekend and the final finish in the championship.

I think winning STCC gives 60 points.

Aslak Vind · 4 Dec 2008, 13:09 (Ref:2347228)

Jan Magnussen won the DTC Championship.

But he had to dump a few rounds, due to his ALMS obligations with Corvette Racing.

redshoes · 4 Dec 2008, 13:44 (Ref:2347265)

It's more of a BMW promotional thing which is why it gets so little media coverage.

Engstler picked up points for WTCC, Asia TCC, Procar, Nurburging 24hrs and Dubai 24hrs. Most of the other only did one series so had less chance to score points.

There's some details at www.bmw-motorsport.com/sportstrophy

stedevil · 4 Dec 2008, 14:25 (Ref:2347296)

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshoes

It's more of a BMW promotional thing which is why it gets so little media coverage.

Yeah, but that is also what is so weird about it. It's a promotional thing... without promotion... Even the BMW site itself has abysmal little information/promotion.

And 141 drivers from 20 different championships, that is still a list of whos who and potential up and coming future WTCC drivers. And the numbers 141 and 20 can't even be found on BMW own site, let alone a listing of more than the top 3 drivers.

Confusing IMO.

gregc · 4 Dec 2008, 15:55 (Ref:2347346)

Have to agree it's a bit odd how little they publicise it, even more so given that they are handing out reasonable sums of cash too - you'd think they would try to get more out of it.

As it stands, a mention on the various national championship sites where, lets face it, only existing fans are going to see it isn't much return on their investment. On the other hand, good on them for the support they give the indies that use their cars - they could very easily just sell the cars and forget about it. I'm not a particular BMW fan, but they do set a great example when it comes to looking after their customers

the sniper · 4 Dec 2008, 16:49 (Ref:2347376)

Quote:

Originally Posted by redshoes

It's more of a BMW promotional thing which is why it gets so little media coverage.

That's a contradiction if ever there was one.

redshoes · 4 Dec 2008, 18:09 (Ref:2347408)

What I meant was that it's an internal BMW promotion. If you were a BMW Motorsports customer then I'm sure there are regular news bulletins that aren't made available to the general public.

It's like being Ten-Tenths' poster of the month, outside of 10-10ths it's a pretty meaningless award.

**FIRE** · 4 Dec 2008, 19:04 (Ref:2347443)

This year the BMW event was very low profile. No public or even journalists were invited.

By racing with BMW's in national and international series the BMW brand is promoted. This is free promotion for BMW. To reward this free promotion BMW gives prize money to the best drivers.

BMW Süchtige · 4 Dec 2008, 19:41 (Ref:2347466)

BMW Press Release:

BMW Motorsport Party and Sports Trophy 2008.

Munich, 29th November 2008. The BMW Motorsport squad of Formula One drivers (Robert Kubica, Nick Heidfeld and Christian Klien), FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) works drivers and the junior racers from Formula BMW were joined by over 500 guests at the Postpalast venue in central Munich on Saturday evening for the end-of-year party and Sports Trophy presentation.

As BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen explained: "This event gives us the opportunity to thank our partners, drivers and associates for their commitment during the 2008 season. However, for some of us the season is not yet over; the Formula BMW World Final will take place in Mexico City this coming weekend. Plus, the BMW Sauber F1 Team will have little in the way of a winter break – further testing in Jerez is scheduled for December and preparations for 2009 are already in full swing at the factories."

Looking back at 2008, Theissen reflected: "We're proud that we achieved our goals once again in the third year of our Formula One team. We were aiming to record our maiden victory, and we did so with a 1-2. Plus, we collected our first pole position and two fastest race laps. In the WTCC we took six victories, but had to concede the title to our rivals for the first time. And Formula BMW Europe enjoyed a good debut season with its races on the Formula One support programme. However, this evening is traditionally an occasion for honouring those drivers and teams who have competed internationally at a high level of motor racing without works support and have served as crucial ambassadors for the performance capability of our products."

Record entry list for BMW Sports Trophy; Franz Engstler tops the rankings.

With 141 independent drivers signing up, the entry list for the BMW Sports Trophy was longer in 2008 that at any time in its 40-year history. The previous year, 98 amateur racing drivers applied – also a record at the time. In 2008 the privateers picked up points in more than 20 race series around the world at the wheel of various BMW models. The candidates for the € 250,000 prize fund came from almost 20 different countries.

At the end of the day, it was Franz Engstler (47) who fended off the international field to claim the spoils. The former DTM driver from the Allgäu region of Germany had already won the Sports Trophy in 2005, and amassed his points this year in the WTCC, Asian Touring Car Series, ADAC Procar Series, and in the Nürburgring and Dubai 24-hour races. Engstler lined up in a BMW 320si, BMW 320i and BMW Z4 M Coupé in the various competitions and picked up a cheque for € 30,000 in Munich.

The runner's-up prize (€ 25,000) went to the Swedish Touring Car Championship winner Richard Göransson. The Swede won the Sports Trophy back in 2004 and finished third last year. Mat Jackson (GB) claimed third place (€ 21,000) this time around, as well as finishing second in the British Touring Car Championship.

The BMW Sports Trophy now also has an online platform:
bmw-motorsport.com/sportstrophy

BMW Sports Trophy 2008: placings

1. Engstler, Franz
2. Göransson, Richard
3. Jackson, Matt
4. Turkington, Colin
5. Ekblom, Fredrik
6. Poulsen, Kristian
7. Hernández, Sergio
8. Magnussen, Jan
9. D'Aste, Stefano
10. Rudholm, Robin
11.Campanico,César
12. Nykjaer, Michael
13. Nilsson, Jan
14. Cappellari, Luca
15. Romanov, Andrey
16. Lemvard, Jack
17. Sørlie, Stian
18. Bertozzi, Davide
19. Bernasconi, Alessandro
20. Unger, Matthias
21. Böhm, Alexander
22. Gabellini, Stefano
23. Herwerth, Andreas
24. Keil, Konstantin
25. Thiele, Robert

PDS · 4 Dec 2008, 19:55 (Ref:2347474)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

This year the BMW event was very low profile. No public or even journalists were invited.

By racing with BMW's in national and international series the BMW brand is promoted. This is free promotion for BMW. To reward this free promotion BMW gives prize money to the best drivers.

Yes. But the drivers have to register for the award!

Only two BTCC drivers registered I think.