Just a few weeks after finishing fifth in the new BMW M6 GT3 in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring, ROWE RACING is already looking ahead to the second highlight of the endurance racing season: the 24-hour race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium (30th/31st July). New partner BMW is returning to the Ardennes to defend the title won last year, when the BMW Z4 GT3 triumphed in its last major 24-hour race. ROWE RACING will compete in the classic marathon event with two BMW M6 GT3s.

“Returning to Spa-Francorchamps is a bit special after our win there last year,” says BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “It was a great way for the BMW Z4 GT3 2015 to leave endurance racing and now we want to celebrate a successful start for the BMW M6 GT3 in Spa-Francorchamps. ROWE Racing is competing with six fast and experienced drivers. We are really looking forward to this challenge in the Ardennes.”

At the highlight of the Blancpain GT Series, the BMW works drivers and regular ROWE RACING duo of Philipp Eng from Austria and Alexander Sims from Great Britain will share driving duties in the number 99 car with Belgium’s Maxime Martin. This is a home race for BMW DTM driver Martin. The Dutchmen Nick Catsburg and Stef Dusseldorp will be behind the wheel of the number 98 car, alongside former DTM driver Dirk Werner from Germany. In 2015, Catsburg was part of the victorious team in the BMW Z4 GT3. Sunday’s home Blancpain GT Series race at the Nürburgring will be followed on Tuesday (5th July) by the official test day in Spa.

ROWE RACING team principal Hans-Peter Naundorf: “We are really looking forward to the second 24-hour classic of the season. Last year, BMW bade farewell to the Z4 at Spa-Francorchamps, so it would be perfect if we could follow on from this success with the debut of the new BMW M6 GT3 at this wonderful circuit. Our top-quality driving line-up should mean that we will be challenging for the win in Spa.”