BMW MOTORSPORT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

The development of young racing drivers enjoys a long tradition at BMW. It goes back more than 40 years and is inextricably linked with one name: Jochen Neerpasch. As Managing Director of BMW M GmbH at the time, Neerpasch formed the first BMW Junior team in 1977. In doing so, he set a milestone in the promotion of young motorsport talent. His ethos was “Only the combination of driver and technology can be successful.” As such, it was just as important to him to invest in the drivers as it was to invest in technology. He used workshops, training and sport psychologists to press ahead with the development of youngsters, before launching the first BMW Junior Team in 1977 and offering young drivers Marc Surer, Manfred Winkelhock and Eddie Cheever the vital springboard to the rest of their careers. Over the following years, the youth development programme was optimised with different concepts and constant adjustments. The result remains the same; many talented youngsters have used this unique youth development to gain a foothold in motorsport. New life has been breathed into the idea of BMW Junior Team in 2020, with drivers Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen the first to benefit. Alongside the Juniors, just as he was back in 1977, is Jochen Neerpasch.

Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Neil Verhagen also receive media and social media coaching, as well as insights into the BMW Group and BMW M GmbH. They are supported by mentors, who advise, train and help them to cope within the environment of a large concern like BMW. One of these mentors is Jochen Neerpasch, who finds himself coming full circle after more than 40 years. In 1977, it was Neerpasch who, as Managing Director of BMW Motorsport GmbH at the time, formed the first BMW Junior team and thus paved the way for many talented youngsters to become racing drivers. He is joined in the role of mentor by Dirk Adorf, BMW works driver Philipp Eng, and Riccardo Ceccarelli, Head of Formula Medicine.

The goal of the training programme is to develop the Juniors together in many different areas, to support them individually and holistically and, in doing so, to make them better and, above all, more mature racing drivers. To achieve this goal, BMW will focus on five different pillars, which will feature in the training. At the heart of the programme are comprehensive race training on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, fitness and mental training camps at Formula Medicine over the course of several months, and team building through the Juniors living together in shared accommodation. 

At the heart of the Juniors’ training is the racing on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife, where the Juniors will contest the full season in the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS), as well as the legendary 24-hour race. Having enjoyed success last season in the BMW M240i Racing and the BMW BMW M4 GT4, the talented trio are now stepping up to the GT3 class in 2021, and will be racing at the wheel of the BMW M6 GT3 in both the NLS and the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The car is run by BMW Team RMG, who are now flying the flag for BMW Motorsport in GT racing, after many successful years in the DTM. To develop their skills at the wheel, the Juniors are given their own simulators for training purposes and regularly take part in sim racing events.

However, the young drivers are not only supported at the wheel of a BMW car or a race simulator. They are prepared intensively for the physical and mental demands of motor racing at training camps, which last several weeks and are run by Formula Medicine. The holistic approach to training also includes content outside motor racing, within the environment of BMW Motorsport, BMW M GmbH and the BMW Group. The Juniors also receive a lot of media and social media training. Last but not least, team building also forms an integral part of the training and development. To encourage team spirit, the Juniors share accommodation both at the Nürburgring and at the Formula Medicine training camp.