After the race debut with the new BMW M6 GT3 in the VLN Endurance Championship, ROWE RACING is now set for its international debut with new partner BMW Motorsport. The team from St. Ingbert fields two cars at the opening round of this season’s Blancpain GT Series in Misano, Italy (8th – 10th April). Having previously contested the endurance races, the team now competes in the Blancpain Sprint Series for the first time. The weekend in Italy also marks the first outing in the team’s history at the 4.2-kilometre Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, not far from Rimini on the Adriatic coast.

BMW works drivers Philipp Eng from Austria and Alexander Sims from Great Britain will also make their common race debut for ROWE RACING. The two drivers will share the cockpit of the #99 BMW M6 GT3 in the one-hour race. The #98 car will be driven by an all-Dutch pairing, with Stef Dusseldorp and Nick Catsburg at the wheel. The race starts at 14:15 on Sunday 10th April.

ROWE RACING team principal Hans-Peter Naundorf: “This will be the first outing in the Blancpain Sprint Series for our team, and our debut in Misano. Our goal for the 2016 season in the Blancpain GT Series is clear: like last year, when we were in contention right down to the final race, we want to challenge for the title.”

Philipp Eng: “I have tested once in Misano, but this will be the first time I race there. The first part of the track is very winding and slow, while the second sector is very quick – particularly in the triple right-hander. You have to find a good compromise with the set-up. I am looking forward to driving in the Blancpain Series again – especially in this particularly cool combination, with ROWE RACING, BMW Motorsport and the new BMW M6 GT3. I followed all the races by livestream last year.”