António Félix da Costa and Jens Klingmann, who recently tested BMW’s Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters M3 DTM, both enjoyed a productive test session at Jerez as the marque evaluates its options for 2014.
As well as da Costa and Klingmann, BMW’s regular DTM drivers Augusto Farfus, Bruno Spengler, Timo Glock, Joey Hand, Martin Tomczyk and Maxime Martin were also in action. Only Dirk Werner and Andy Priaulx were absent from the final DTM test of the year.
Da Costa admitted that he was impressed with the performance of the DTM car, with the Red Bull Junior driver feeling comfortable with BMW during the test at the Circuito de Velocidad.
“That was a very good experience,” admitted da Costa. “The standard in the DTM is incredibly high, and BMW Motorsport is extremely professional. That much was clear from the word go. The BMW M3 DTM is great fun – and is much quicker than I expected. It generates an awful lot of downforce for a car with a roof. That surprised me.
“We made progress with every stint, and I felt more and more at home. The conditions were perfect for getting to know a new car for the first time. The team made me feel very welcome and the engineers supported me really well. All in all, it was a really productive test.”
Also behind the wheel of one of the marque’s 2013 cars was German Klingmann, who has been competing at the wheel of a BMW Z4 GT3 in 2013 from which he admitted it took some time to adjust.
“It required quite a big adjustment from the BMW Z4 GT3 to the BMW M3 DTM at first,” admitted Klingmann. “However you progress with every lap, so you improve step by step. The biggest difference was the carbon brakes. I had never driven with anything like that before. Therefore, I had to guess the braking points a bit at first. That aspect improved all the time, until I was actually very happy by the end of the day. After a time, you are then able to drive the car consistently and at a certain level.
“I have often been present at DTM races for BMW and am sure that made the test easier, as I already knew everyone in the team. To then climb in behind the wheel myself was a great experience.”
BMW have yet to confirm their driver line-up for the 2014 season.