Former DTM champion joins MARC GT at Phillip Island

Bruno Spengler will pilot MARC GT’s new BMW M6 GT3 in a one-off drive in the Australian GT Championship meeting at Phillip Island this weekend.

BMW has offered the services of the 2012 DTM champion to the Queensland operation for the competitive debut of its M6 GT3 at the Victorian venue.

MARC GT unveiled an expansion into Australian GT last week naming Jake Camilleri and Morgan Haber as its drivers for the four round endurance series campaign.

Following the unexpected offer from BMW, Spengler will now partner Haber at Phillip Island for the two sprint races and the opening round of the Australian Endurance Championship.

Camilleri set to return for the remainder of the season.

French-Canadian driver Spengler is regarded as one of the top European touring car drivers having competed in Germany’s hotly contested DTM series since 2005.

The 32-year-old has scored 14 DTM race wins and has been a factory BMW driver since 2012.

“I’m very excited because it is a lot of new stuff for me,” said Spengler.

“First of all I have never been in Australia, so I’m really looking forward to that. And, of course, I have never been to any racetrack in Australia, so there are a lot of new things to learn. I have to learn the track and get to know the drivers.

“There are drivers who are very experienced over there and very experienced on this track. Because of that it will not be an easy one for me, but I’m very much looking forward to it.

“I don’t think it is a big problem to switch from the DTM car to the BMW M6 GT3.

“I really enjoy driving the BMW M6 GT3 and also the GTLM version, which I drove in the US at the beginning of the season. It is a great car to drive and looks very aggressive. I can adapt to it very quickly.”

MARC GT boss Ryan McLeod is grateful for the support from BMW and is looking forward to working with Spengler.

“It is very exciting. To have someone of his calibre come in and drive in Australian GT let alone our team is fantastic,” McLeod told Speedcafe.com.

“It is a real bonus to hit the ground running with the car and get it up to speed.

“Jake has been very gracious about it. It is very difficult when a manufacturer like BMW Motorsport rings and says we want to send this driver and one of Bruno’s calibre. It is very hard to say no.

“It is for the better of our team. We want to get results sooner rather than later and Jake appreciates that. He will be with us at the Phillip Island weekend.

“We are all hoping we can learn lots from having Bruno in the car.”

MARC GT completed a shakedown of its new M6 GT3 at Queensland Raceway last week prior to its Phillip Island debut.