Manthey Racing suspects BMW of having the ability to entry extra energy within the M4 GT3 Evo through the DTM finale at Hockenheim, with Abt additionally supporting its declare.
With works BMW driver Rene Rast lacking out on the 2025 DTM title after retiring following a a fierce duel with eventual champion Ayhancan Guven in Hockenheim, tensions are operating excessive between BMW and high Porsche staff Manthey.
The controversy, which first surfaced on the Nurburgring with claims that the BMW may out of the blue ship extra energy in sure conditions, has flared up as soon as once more.
“What occurred within the hairpin, I’ve to say, I can not perceive, as a result of this isn’t the way in which we wish to race within the final race of the championship,” mentioned BMW Motorsport Director Andreas Roos, irritated by Guven’s manoeuvre.
After shedding the drag race to Rast, Guven braked notably late on the within of the nook, which meant that Rast was unable to show in and have become the sufferer of a sequence response.
“It was good to see so many vehicles within the title sport,” mentioned Roos. “Sadly, we’re out, and I am actually sorry, however to be trustworthy, it isn’t what I wish to see within the first lap and particularly on this nook.”
‘I see excessive, shocking acceleration from the BMW’
However how does Manthey Managing Director Nicolas Raeder reply to the criticism from BMW Motorsport Director?
“We do not wish to race like this,” he mentioned, repeating Roos’ phrases in an interview with Motorsport.com’s sister title Motorsport-Whole.com. “For me, it was as soon as once more a particularly shocking acceleration from the BMW, identical to on the Nurburgring after they overtook us.”
His driver Guven was to not blame for Rast’s retirement.
“‘Can’ did an excellent job, letting him keep on the skin,” says Raeder of the controversial duel. “It was simply unhealthy luck that he was then taken out.”
What does Raeder imply by the acceleration functionality of the M4 GT3 Evo?
“You may should ask BMW,” he says, with out going into element. However one factor is definite for him: “Rene would have gained simply.”
Accusations towards BMW already on the 24-hour race
This isn’t the primary time that such accusations have come from the Manthey camp: Porsche works driver Kevin Estre already made a transparent assertion on the press convention after this 12 months’s 24-hour race on the Nurburgring, the place the Rowe BMW shot previous the ‘Grello’ on the Dottinger Hohe at considerably increased velocity.
“We noticed some very unusual energy distribution. They out of the blue had a number of energy after which none on the finish,” mentioned the Frenchman, who missed out on the “Grello” victory resulting from a time penalty, calling for an in depth evaluation of the info throughout technical inspection. This was as a result of he had observed “some very very excessive high velocity sooner or later [and] very excessive acceleration.”
Daniel Abt detects ‘magic mapping’ at BMW
It’s fascinating to notice that others additionally turned suspicious of BMW after the DTM finale.
“I believe Guven already knew at that time how essential this overtaking manoeuvre was,’ mentioned former driver Daniel Abt, who now heads up the advertising and marketing division at Abt. Like Raeder, he’s satisfied that Rast would have gained the race.
“Firstly, as a result of he is aware of easy methods to compete in a remaining race like this. And secondly, as a result of the BMW – and I discover this horrifying – nonetheless has a magic mapping typically, in my view,” he mentioned.
Engine maps make it doable to particularly affect engine efficiency. Nonetheless, in a collection such because the DTM, the place the completely different car ideas are artificially balanced with the assistance of a Steadiness of Efficiency (BoP) system, that is problematic, particularly since quite a few parameters, comparable to ignition angle, are already specified by homologation.
“The best way Wittmann was flying: he is a superb driver – no query about it – however we noticed on the 24 Hours of Nurburgring that BMW is able to conjuring up some magical tempo at instances,” mentioned Abt, drawing parallels between the controversial Eifel triumph and Marco Wittmann’s comeback from seventeenth to second place.
Marco Wittmann, Schubert Motorsport BMW M4 GT3
Photograph by: Alexander Trienitz
‘One thing wasn’t proper’: BMW responds to Manthey’s suspicions
However how does BMW reply to Raeder’s assertion that he has as soon as once more observed ‘extraordinarily shocking acceleration functionality’ within the M4 GT3 Evo?
“I do not know what he is referring to,’ Roos instructed Motorsport-Whole.com. “The best way Guven braked, he would usually have torpedoed Gilles Magnus. However he was lengthy gone. Which means one thing wasn’t proper.”
What Roos means by that is that, given polesitter Magnus’s lead within the Aston Martin on the finish of the full-throttle part, “we are able to assume that Guven’s exit wasn’t so good and that is why Rene was capable of move him.”
The truth is, TV footage reveals that Magnus already had a lead of a number of automobile lengths over Rast and Guven when braking for the hairpin bend. Nonetheless, as a result of BoP for Hockenheim circumstances, the Aston Martin was additionally operating with notably excessive increase strain.
Porsche information reveals no driver error by Guven
Aside from that, the info doesn’t point out any driver error on Guven’s half. Though the Porsche driver had a barely much less beneficial entry angle into the Parabolica, the 911 GT3 R can also be extra manoeuvrable than the M4 GT3 Evo. Rast’s acceleration curve seems a little bit cleaner, however there isn’t a proof of a mistake.
The car information recorded and out there to DTM officers reveals a high velocity distinction of 6km/h between Guven and Rast within the first lap earlier than braking for the hairpin. Because the race progressed, the distinction between BMW and Porsche at this level ranged between 6-8km/h. Acceleration information, which might be extra significant on this regard, is at present not out there.
Quickest lap for Guven: BMW exonerated?
Nonetheless, what at first look speaks towards Manthey’s suspicion is that the quickest lap in Sunday’s race at Hockenheim was not set by Wittmann, however by Guven. And that although the 911 GT3 R had a restrictor that was two millimetres smaller than on Saturday, plus 20 kilograms extra ballast on board.
The Porsche driver clocked a time of 1m37.529s, which was 0.035 seconds sooner than the Schubert BMW driver who set the second-fastest lap.
Nonetheless, in case you line up one of the best sector instances, the image seems completely different: BMW driver Wittmann set the theoretical quickest time of 1m37.357s. This implies he was 0.172 seconds sooner than the 2025 champion, who accomplished his three greatest sector instances in a single lap. Nobody else achieved a greater theoretical lap time.
Based on data from Motorsport-Whole.com, the technical officers discovered no irregularities within the vehicles after the season finale. “With out torque sensors, nonetheless, that is tough in such a case,” mentioned one insider. In contrast to another collection that use GT3 equipment, the DTM does not use torque sensors to equalise the efficiency of various vehicles.
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