RBM team seeks motorsport future without BMW

The cascading effects continue on the competition side at BMW. A few days after the end of the association between the German manufacturer and the famous Schnitzer structure, the Bavarian brand is ending its partnership with Racing Bart Mampaey (RBM).

This is the end of a 25-year-long story, initiated in 1995 through the BMW Compact Cup, then continued with European (ETCC) and World Tourism in the 2000s. At the turn of the 2010s, RBM occupied the front of the DTM until the official program ends at the end of 2020.

In the context of the coronavirus crisis, the RBM team is unable to find other partners for the 2021 season. Consequence: we will not see RBM on the circuits again in the immediate future.

“It was certainly a very difficult decision to make, indicates the founder and boss of the team, Bart Mampaey. Racing has always been at the center of my concerns, it's my life, just like my racing team.

The team currently has 30 employees who have worked with the DTM program until the end of the current season under the BMW Team RBM banner. I cannot operate a full team with all 30 employees without being able to confirm 100% that we will be engaged in a championship in 2021 and that all jobs are preserved.

My staff is very important to me, they have been like family for 25 years and I don't want them to live with uncertainties. 

It was therefore preferable to make the difficult decision to restructure the team and reduce racing activities and see what other opportunities present themselves outside of motorsport. And my colleagues fully support me in this decision. I would like to thank them all for all these great years, all their hard work and commitment, whether in ETCC, WTCC or DTM. »

Bart Mampaey's favorite moment remains the crowning of world touring car champion won by Andy Priaulx in the streets of Macau in November 2005. “It was a fantastic time! »

The future therefore remains foggy, but Bart Mampaey does not lose his enthusiasm. “ We want to keep racing and see what options we have. At the moment I am looking for other opportunities in which we can bring our RBM values ​​and skills.

We contacted external partners with this idea and they are excited and think it could be interesting. As they say: when one door closes, another door opens. So I'm excited to see what options present themselves in the future. »

RBM main results: 

1998: winner of the 24 Hours of Spa

2004: European Champion (ETCC) with Andy Priaulx

2005 to 2007: World Champion (WTCC) with Andy Priaulx

2011: Development of the DTM program => 9 victories, vice-champion in 2013 with Augusto Farfus