Customer racing has been a cornerstone of BMW M Motorsport’s program for decades. In the 2025 season, it gains a new dimension as the BMW M Racing Academy is launching as a development program for GT4-category racers. The “Class of 2025” includes Spain’s Nerea Martí, Turkey’s Berkay Besler, Matthew Million from the USA, and Germany’s Niels Tröger. This quartet impressed BMW M Motorsport’s decision-makers during a rigorous selection process and will undergo a unique development program in 2025, unparalleled in customer racing. BMW M works driver Bruno Spengler (CAN) will mentor the participants, while Dirk Adorf (GER) will contribute his extensive experience from previous talent development initiatives, including the BMW Junior Team.
In early November, twelve candidates were invited to Munich (GER) to participate in the selection process for the BMW M Racing Academy. The program offered unique challenges not typically accessible to customer racers. Candidates participated in the BMW M Motorsport simulator, which is normally reserved for BMW M work drivers. Formula Medicine experts tested their physical and mental capabilities. The program also included a setup session using the automotive gaming simulator on the iRacing platform and an interview with BMW M Motorsport’s communication experts.
The selection process results determined the four members of the “Class of 2025”: Nerea Martí, Berkay Besler, Matthew Million, and Niels Tröger. A prerequisite for participating in the BMW M Racing Academy is competing in the BMW M4 GT4, underscoring the program’s focus on customer racing.
22-year-old Martí is currently competing for BMW Spain in the Iberian Supercars Series. In 2023, she claimed the title in the Spanish GT Championship with the BMW M4 GT4. In recent years, Martí has also made a name for herself in single-seater racing through her performances in the W Series and the F1 Academy.
Nerea Martí, BMW M Racing Academy, Class of 2025
25-year-old Besler has been racing for Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport in the GT4 European Series with the BMW M4 GT4 since 2021. He achieved his best season in 2023, finishing third in the Silver class. In 2022, he became the champion of the Prototype Cup Germany.
Berkay Besler, BMW M Racing Academy, Class of 2025
24-year-old Million completed his debut season in 2024 with AutoTechnic Racing in GT4 America, driving the BMW M4 GT4. Prior to this, he enjoyed success with the BMW M3 E36 in various US amateur series. Since 2023, he has also been active as a driver coach.
Matthew Million, BMW M Racing Academy, Class of 2025
22-year-old Tröger made headlines in 2023 by winning the Karting World Championship, becoming the first German to achieve this feat since DTM record champion Bernd Schneider (GER) 43 years ago. In the most recent season, he transitioned to the GT4 category, competing with FK Performance Motorsport in the BMW M4 GT4 in ADAC GT4 Germany.
Niels Tröger, BMW M Racing Academy, Class of 2025
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport: “I am incredibly proud that with the BMW M Racing Academy, we are offering our customer racers a unique and exclusive development program that money cannot buy. Our customers have always played an exceptionally important role for us, and with the BMW M Racing Academy, we are further strengthening our commitment.”
Lellmann continues, “Congratulations to our four selected members of the ‘Class of 2025’ – Nerea Martí, Berkay Besler, Matthew Million, and Niels Tröger. They will experience a program next year that provides insights previously reserved for works racing. The selection process in Munich was an excellent preview of what is to come. I was impressed by the high level of all the candidates, which made the final decision a difficult one. However, I am delighted by the strong pool of talent we had to choose from.”
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing, BMW M Motorsport
Read the full press release here.