The four lucky candidates for the BMW M Racing Academy were selected from twelve candidates invited to Munich (Germany) at the beginning of November. The candidates took part in a session in the BMW M Motorsport simulator, normally reserved for BMW M factory drivers. Experts tested their physical and mental abilities. The programme also included a set-up session using the car game simulator on the iRacing platform and an interview with BMW M Motorsport communication experts.
The results of the selection process determined the four members of the 2025 class: Nerea Martí, Berkay Besler, Matthew Million and Niels Tröger. The prerequisite for participation in the BMW M Racing Academy was to drive the BMW M4 GT4 to underline the importance of customer racing.
Martí, 22, currently competes for BMW Spain in the Iberian Supercars Series. In 2023, she won the Spanish GT Championship title with the BMW M4 GT4. Martí has also made a name for herself in recent years in car in W Series and in F1 Academy
Since 2021, Besler, 25, has been racing for Borusan Otomotiv Motorsport in the GT4 European Series with the BMW M4 GT4. He had his best season in 2023, finishing third in the Silver class. In 2022, he became champion of the Prototype Cup Germany.
Million, 24, completed his first season in 2024 with AutoTechnic Racing in GT4 America, driving the BMW M4 GT4. Before that, he enjoyed success with the BMW M3 E36 in various American amateur series. Since 2023, he has also been active as a driver coach.
Tröger, 22, won the 2023 World Championship karting, becoming the first German to achieve this feat since Bernd Schneider (GER) 43 years ago. In the last one, he moved up to the GT4 class, competing with FK Performance Motorsport at the wheel of the BMW M4 GT4 in ADAC GT4 Germany.
All four riders will be mentored by factory rider Bruno Spengler, while Dirk Adorf (GER) will bring his extensive experience from previous talent development initiatives, including within the BMW Junior Team.
« I am extremely proud that with the BMW M Racing Academy we are offering our customer drivers a unique and exclusive development programme that money cannot buy, explains Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport. Our customers have always played an exceptionally important role for us and with the BMW M Racing Academy we are further strengthening our commitment. Congratulations to our four selected members of the “Class of 2025” – Nerea Martí, Berkay Besler, Matthew Million and Niels Tröger. They will benefit from a programme next year that will offer them prospects previously reserved for factory 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 difficult. However, I am delighted with the pool of talent from which we had to choose. »
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