Perfect season finale for Farfus: Victory in China

Augusto Farfus and BMW Motorsport concluded the 2011 racing season with a magnificent victory in Zhuhai, China: Sharing the wheel of the no. 55 BMW M3 GT with Jörg Müller, the 28-year-old claimed LM GTE victory in the final round of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup. Starting from pole position, the pairing put in a flawless performance, crossing the line after six hours and 221 laps with a 1-lap lead over their team-mates, Andy Priaulx and Uwe Alzen.

“It’s fantastic to finish the 2011 season on a high,” commented a delighted Farfus after the race at the Zhuhai International Circuit. “Racing in the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup has been a great experience for me, and I have got to know so many fantastic circuits. I think I can say that after many years in touring car racing, I’m now feeling thoroughly at home in GT racing as well. On many occasions this year we couldn’t make the most of our opportunities and finished second or third where we normally should have won. This time it was different, and we got the reward for the hard work put in by everyone in the team.”

Farfus’ 2011 season kicked off with a highlight, when he won the Dubai 24-hour race in a BMW Z4 GT3 in January. He went on to finish second in the GT class at the classic Sebring 12 Hours, podiums in Imola and Road Atlanta were to follow in the ILMC season. At the Nürburgring Farfus claimed one VLN victory and another podium, narrowly missing out on his second 24-hour victory in “Green Hell” by finishing second. In Le Mans he put the BMW M3 GT on pole position, although technical problems meant he didn’t make it to the finish at this epic event.

Farfus added: “Overall I’m happy with the way this season has gone. It started with a victory and has now come to an end with another one, this is very nice. A big thank you goes to BMW Motorsport, BMW Team RLL and BMW Team Schnitzer: The guys did a great job over the whole year. It was great fun working with them. This also goes for my fellow BMW drivers. I particularly enjoyed sharing the wheel with Jörg Müller. Winning the final race of the season together with him was something really special.”

Now Farfus’ focus completely shifts to DTM preparations. Next up is a three-day test with the BMW M3 DTM in Monteblanco, Spain, which will be held from 15 to 17 November. Farfus will form part of BMW’s driver line-up for the brand’s return to DTM racing in 2012.