BMW Motorsport was in Jerez this week to participate in the first joint pre-season test of the year, with the focus on their new engine, although bad weather hampered their progress.

Timo Glock and Bruno Spengler took turns at the wheel of the M4 DTM, fitted with the new 600 CV, four-cylinder, two-litre turbo powerplant.

BMW will celebrate a special milestone as 50 years have passed since the Bavarian manufacturer first used a turbo engine in motorsport.

“I was very excited about our new turbocharged BMW M4 DTM,” said Glock. “I have to say that it lived up to all my expectations. You can really feel the extra engine power and torque. The modifications to the aerodynamics mean that the car behaves differently. These are things that we, as drivers, must adapt to, and for which we must fine-tune our driving style.”

Spengler added: “Although the unsettled weather meant the conditions could have been better, we were able to work through many points on our test programme and made further progress with the development of the car.

“We still have a bit more work to do between now and the start of the season, but we will have plenty of opportunity for that out on the track at the Lausitzring test. We will go into greater detail there, in preparation for Hockenheim, and will continue to optimise the car for the opening races,” concluded the Canadian.

The next opportunity the DTM teams will have to take to the track will be the official pre-season test at the Lausitzring, from the 15th to the 18th of April, where all six BMW drivers will drive the car.