With the first brand new BMW M6 GT3 now landed in Australia, BMW Team SRM and BMW Group Australia have elected to expand the 2016 program to include all six rounds of the CAMS Australian GT Championship.
That means the stunning M6 GT3 will make its competitive debut at next month’s Clipsal 500.
The ‘sprint’ calendar also includes rounds at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, Barbagallo Raceway in Western Australia, Phillip Island, Townsville, and Highlands Park in New Zealand.
BMW Team SRM will also compete in all four rounds of the CAMS Australian Endurance Championship, which features two 101-lap races in Australia (Phillip Island and Sydney Motorsport Park) and two in New Zealand (Hampton Downs and Highlands Park).
“I think we all got pretty excited when we found out we were allocated a car for January, and that moved the goal posts for us,” said BMW Team SRM owner and driver Steve Richards.
“It gave us the opportunity to work towards a full program for 2016, and it was an opportunity we didn’t want to miss. So we all put our heads together and made it happen.
“The extra races will be hugely beneficial when it comes to learning the idiosyncrasies of the new car, as well as how to best utilise the fantastic technical support we will have from Germany.
“The earlier we sink our teeth into the program, the better off we’ll be when it comes to those endurance races later in the year.”
BMW Team SRM and BMW Group Australia are also delighted to confirm that the M6 GT3 will run number 100 for the 2016 season, in celebration of the BMW Group’s 100-year anniversary.
“The arrival of the new M6 GT3 is a very big part of the centennial celebrations, and we have been able to confirm the number of the car with the Australian GT Championship organisers,” said Marc Werner, CEO of BMW Group Australia.
“This is the icing on the cake for us.
“I am proud to announce that the official number designation of the BMW Team SRM M6 GT3 will be vehicle number 100. We believe this is a perfect fit for BMW, emphasising our performance heritage and the motorsport DNA that is inherent in our brand.”
CAMS Australian GT Championship
Round 1 – Clipsal 500 – March 3-6
Round 2 – Australian Grand Prix – March 17-20
Round 3 – Perth Super Sprint – May 6-8
Round 4 – Phillip Island – May 27-28
Round 5 – Townsville 400 – July 8-10
Round 6 – Highlands Park – November 11-12
CAMS Australian Endurance Championship
Round 1 – Phillip Island 101 – May 29
Round 2 – Sydney Motorsport Park – August 26-28
Round 3 – Hampton Downs – October 28-30
Round 4 – Highlands Park 101 – November 13