BMW M4 GT3 drives in a low‑point slump after a lackluster performance at the Norisring, with the car’s Balance of Performance (BoP) adjustments sparking intense criticism from its back‑seat driver.
BMW M4 GT3 stumbles at Norisring
Kelvin van der Linde was unable to start on Sunday after a crash the day before, and Marco Wittmann’s eighth‑place finish left him at the bottom of the standings. The M4 GT3 was only offered marginal boosts in pressure after two BoP tweaks, although the car was also made ten kilograms lighter during the event.
Wittmann noted, “We were seven tenths behind from Practice 1,” and that this gap persisted through qualifying and the race. “That was the same at the Lausitzring.” His frustration boiled over when that same “artificial interference” slowed the car “extremely.”
BoP changes widen the points deficit
Entering the weekend seven points behind the leader, Wittmann could only score six points from his tenth‑place finish. The result widened the lead of the nearest BMW rival from seven to a terminal 40‑point gap in the overall championship.
Those points are critical: a poor run at Oschersleben could cost the M4 GT3 driver a chance to remain in the title fight.
Tire strategy raises questions
During Friday’s free practice, Wittmann did not conduct a qualifying simulation, a rare decision on the city circuit where overtaking is difficult. The driver had a new set of DTM‑spec tires fitted in the second session, though it was replaced by a used set after one lap.
A BMW spokesperson said the set was “saved for the race” as a strategic move after Kelvin’s qualifying run. This statement clashes with DTM rules that separate free‑practice tires from race sets.
A senior competitor explained that a Friday set could be used as a “puncture set” if a tire is damaged during the race, but it would almost surely compromise performance if the car needs a second stop. Other teams argue that the new set would typically warm up faster than a fresh race set, making it an unlikely advantage.
Grid positions highlight an ongoing problem
On Saturday the M4 GT3’s best starting positions were 17th and 18th, and on Sunday Wittmann began the race from 18th again. During a previous weekend at Lausitzring, the car started 8th and 11th on Sunday, illustrating a persistent difficulty in finding the front of the grid.
Wittmann’s team concludes that the car’s pace improves as the weekend progresses, but the late‑day closings are still far behind rival machines.
Looking forward to Oschersleben
The M4 GT3 will need a strong showing at Schubert’s home track to maintain a position close to the championship leaders. The car’s current struggle makes the task daunting, yet the driver and team are determined not to let their position slip any further.
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