BMW factory racers’ string of wins in sim racing continued last week, with Nicky Catsburg winning in the IMSA iRacing Pro Series, Maximilian Günther winning the second race in the ABB Formula E Race At Home Challenge, and Bruno Spengler, along with a pair of co-drivers, winning the fourth race in the Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series powered by VCO.
Catsburg led the third consecutive M8 GTE podium sweep in the 90-minute IMSA race run for GTLM cars on a virtual Mid-Ohio circuit, finishing ahead of Turner Motorsport’s Robby Foley and Team RLL’s Connor de Phillippi. It was the first win in the series for Catsburg, and the third consecutive podium sweep for the M8 GTE in the series. Philipp Eng, who started 46th in the 49-car pack, moved up to fourth at the end, and Bruno Spengler, who won the March Sebring and April Laguna Seca sim races, started from the pole at Mid-Ohio and finished sixth after he was tagged by another racer. 
BMW iAndretti’s Maximilian Günther in a virtual iFE.20 won the fifteen-lap Formula E race run on the virtual Electric Docs circuit. Günther started second and moved into the lead when Mercedes’ Stoffel Vandoorne, the pole sitter, crashed out early in the race. Günther fought off a challenge from Mahindra’s Pascal Wehrlein, and then went on to build a substantial margin over the pack and cruise to the win. His teammate Alexander Sims finished fourteenth. Günther is now three for three in the series, winning both the test race and the first race of the season in advance of round two.
Kevin Siggy in an iFe.20 finished second in the challenge race for sim racers that accompanied the race for professional Formula E competitors. The finish moved Siggy into the lead in the sim racers’ point standings. Meanwhile, in the “real” track racing Formula E series, the July Brooklyn and London rounds have been canceled. Additional races may be scheduled.
Spengler teamed with Nils Koch and Kay Kaschube to win the fourth round of the Digital Nürburgring Endurance Series in a virtual Z4 GT3. The win came after a late-race battle with the Z4 GT3 of Philipp Eng, Alexander Voss, and Laurin Heinrich, winners of the digital Nurburgring 24 run a week earlier.—Brian Morgan
[Photos courtesy BMW Motorsport.]
