After the 2024 season, an era comes to an end at BMW M Motorsport with Bruno Spengler leaving after 13 years as a BMW M works driver, at his own request, to face new professional challenges. By winning the DTM title in the comeback year in 2012, he secured his place in BMW M Motorsport history books. With Spengler's departure, a true fan favourite and a great ambassador for the BMW brand is leaving.
At the end of 2011, Bruno Spengler joined BMW M Motorsport to play a key role in the brand's return to the DTM for the 2012 season. He celebrated his first victory in just the second race at the Lausitzring in his matte black BMW M3 DTM. Spengler won a total of four races in 2012 and was crowned champion in a thrilling season finale at Hockenheim. At the same time, BMW M Team Schnitzer and BMW M Motorsport celebrated winning the team and manufacturer championships. The “Black Beast” became his trademark in the following years. Between 2012 and 2019, Spengler competed in 122 DTM races for BMW M Motorsport, achieving seven victories and 24 podium finishes.
Spengler was also successful in GT racing. He achieved podium finishes at both the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring. In 2015, he formed a trio with Alessandro Zanardi and Timo Glock at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, driving the now legendary BMW Z4 GT3 in Michel Vaillant design. In 2023, alongside Jens Klingmann, Spengler won the title in the Italian GT Sprint Championship driving the BMW M4 GT3. Outside the cockpit, Spengler served, inter alia, as an ambassador for BMW M Motorsport Automotive Gaming.
In Bruno Spengler, a legend in the history of BMW M Motorsport is leaving us. Since I've been at BMW M Motorsport, I've come to know him as an extremely pleasant and valuable member of the BMW M Motorsport family, far beyond just racing. His sporting achievements speak for themselves, but his positive nature has also made him a big fan favourite to this day.
I would like to sincerely thank the entire BMW M Motorsport family, all the engineers, and all the mechanics for the past 13 years. I had the privilege of driving incredibly fantastic racing cars all over the world – it was a great time. It was not an easy decision for me to leave the BMW M Motorsport family, but I am at a point in my career where a new challenge with a long-term perspective was important to me. That's why I decided to take this step.