[The_Bear_Yid]

Seeing as BMW have made their come back in this years DTM, I thought I'd pop along to the event. Today was the Practice day. I went to this as a bit of a recon to help us for race day.

First thing I will say is how loud they are! The exhaust comes out of one of the doors and the noise is unreal. It's something that you have to experience in person to appreciate. Needless to say I got the missus to pick up some ear plugs for the rest of the weekend.

The race commentator was saying how fast they were lapping (about 42s). Which was 10s faster than the VW Racing Cup cars and only 1s off of the single seater Formula 3 series car, which apparently are half the weight of the DTM cars.

Anyway, on with the pics. I took about 240 but am only putting up a handful atm. I'll say the obligatory 'I'm not a photographer, the camera quality' blah blah if anyone thinks the shots are pap.

I was very happy to be greeted first by this fine selection:






I didn't wait for her to bend over, honest:


New SL63 AMG:


New A-class. Prefer this to the 1-series tbh...




...until I saw this and thought again:




Poor interior shot due to trying to cover up reflection:




Liked this, whether I would want to own it is another thing though:


This was an attempt to show the gradient of Brands, which it doesn't! It's again something you have to see to appreciate if you've never been to Brands:


All of, and only, the BMWs seemed to be scraping the floor and producing sparks after the Paddock Hill Bend. Not surprising given the drop I mentioned above:






The Mercs fought back with a bit of fire works of their own:


Mind out, woman driver coming through:






This was where I had a wonder down the Paddock behind the pits. I found it quite funny to see wheels being cleaned. I know someone must do it but it's not something I've ever given thought to:


If the weather doesn't hold out, which it won't:


Pace 'Taxi', I wouldn't have minded a ride. It went out before the practice to apparently help the TV cameras with the pace:


A typically efficient German wheel and tyre assembly set up:


The end... for now.

[zltm089]

nice one mate!!!! thanks for sharing!!!

[F31-340i]

Nice photos

The race cars and the E30 look great.

The 1 series looks awful to me I'm afraid.

Wish we could watch Dtm on the telly.

[dxb335d]

Nice one mate, love the pics. I went in 2009 and saw Di Resta win! Epic sounding machines.

The Merc's when I went won the sound off against the Audi's. How does the BM compare?

[The_Bear_Yid]

Cheers for the nice comments guys.

ajd - The M collection was nice. The new A-class and 1-series both look like turtles lol. I like them though. I believe that's a M135i? I believe the DTM series is on ESPN now. I think Sky may show it a few weeks after.

dxb - They all sounded like monsters tbh! I'll have to listen out tmo to see if I can note any difference. Not sure how long I'll last before needing the ear plugs though lol.

[335ier]

There good photos mate, thanks for sharing. I know what you mean trying to get the gradient it was the same when I took photos of the nurburgring, everything just looked flat!

Looked like a proper good day out

[The_Bear_Yid]

Thanks mate. Yes it is weird. I kept thinking 'right, that shot will convey the gradient' then I was just so underwhelmed when I saw the results. I'm yet to go to the 'Ring, but I remember seeing a biker on TV saying that he'd done loads of laps on the 'Ring on a computer game but it did not prepare him at all for the gradients on the actual track.

Laguna Seca is one that I'd like to experience. That has always seemed mad on all GT games. It must be insane in real life.

[dopper99]

Great pics there, looked like a fun day.
I drove around Brands a few years back on a Vauxhall VXR track day - great fun and a few scary bends with gradients as you say.

[Hotcoupe]

Terrific pics Bear, and Brands is a great track to go round.

Your right about PHB,it's a deceptive corner,get it wrong and it could end in disaster.

[rogerxp]

Thanks for posting this, great shots, looks like a great day.

[The_Bear_Yid]

Thanks again guys. It was fun. I'm glad I went today, learnt some good tips.

I can't wait to drive at Brands again. PHB through to Druids is so much fun, like a rollercoaster. That was in my 325, must be great fun in the M3 and single seater.

[Gibbo]

Great pics, E30

[The_Bear_Yid]

Cheers Gibbo, I think that was the last time BMW was in the DTM?!

Shall I do a Qualifying day update?

[DarkAnt335i]

Update with more pics!!

I was there today and got quiet a few shots. Might add to yours if thats OK?

DTM is amazing, the cars look good, are stupendously loud and seriously quick. Fastest ones Lapping in the 41s today!!

But have to say we really enjoyed the Nascar racing as well, simply for the amount of crashes. Managed to get a few shots of that as well. Not my type of thing when they are going round and round in an oval but at brands it was decent racing.

[The_Bear_Yid]

Yeah mate add them, the more the merrier. Was you in the *cough* BMW car park?

The NASCAR was my nephews favourite too and as you said provided a fair bit of action. I was sat on the grass at PHB.

[1sh@Crystalwhite]

Awesome Pics! Some absolute beauties there!

[DarkAnt335i]

Was just about to post about the BMW only car parking. Gotta love DTM. Dedicated Merc, Audi and BMW parking. Brilliant

Images aren't great, but cant be bothered to sort them atm.

Just a few;

BMW only on the left :-)







Nascar + Corner =
















And i know you have posted this, but its may favourite BMW of all time

[The_Bear_Yid]

Your first photo, my car was about one row back.

Your third photo, I was sat about ten yards to the right on the bank off shot lol.

Local lad Paffett got pole for Mercedes didn't he.

[DarkAnt335i]

Haha i probably walked past it a couple of times.
Might even have a photo of you somewhere, not that i would know. lol
Did you see the M3 GTS parked up near the front?
He certainly did @ 41.266, but i was impressed with all of the driving i think the whole lot of 22 was separated by only about 6 or 7 tenths.
Also the fact that the slowest car there is about 6-7 seconds quicker that a BTCC car. Which for a 1.1mile track is IMO impressive.

Like you i would LOVE to do Seca and will do at some point.

[The_Bear_Yid]

I didn't see the GTS no. Surprised I didn't though.

Ha yeah, you probably do have some of me in. Just look for the guy ashamed of his gfs pink camera.

I'm not surprised it was close, Brands is such a short circuit and they have to have so many uniform parts amongst the cars.

I spoke briefly to Priaulx about the BMWs sparking so much after PHB and he said it was because their first time back and they've made some adjustments to compensate.

[sherlockBMW]

We were there all weekend, you can see our car just in front of the 5 series. Great weekend, BMW in 2nd place. Some great show cars. BMW owners club there on Sunday, with a practically lovely 1973 CSL. Will try and upload pictures when I've downloaded from the camera. The M3 GTS was lovely, wife liked it I take that as permission to get one :-)