World Touring Car Championship regular Tom Coronel recently tested a BMW M3 DTM car in Jerez as part of his prize for winning the BMW Sports Trophy in 2013.
Coronel beat fellow WTCC racers Stefano D’Aste and Mehid Bennani to the regular BMW accolade which has been running since the 1960s, earning him a test in a contemporary DTM car. The prize is awarded annually to the top privateer drivers racing at the wheel of BMW machinery aroudn the world.
In addition, Coronel was presented with a prize of €30,000 from BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt and long-time BMW driver Alessandro Zanardi at BMW Welt in Munich.
Coronel, 41, admitted that he was thrilled to win the award, which was presented to him on Saturday 7th December after he had already carried out the secret test session.
“Of course, this is a great reward for all that we have accomplished as a team in the past few years, especially when victory in the BMW Sports Trophy is the result,” said Coronel. “This prize has been on my wish list for a long time and I am finally able to tick it off.
“I am the best of the circa 250 privateer drivers who are competing in motorsport with a BMW. Moreover, I had a unique experience when I was allowed to drive the BMW M3 DTM last week.”
The Dutchman added that it had been some time since he had driven a racing car with as much downforce as the M3 DTM.
“With a team of top-level people, I was able to complete 49 laps, including two sets of fresh tires and all the support from the team that comes with such an event. It was a great experience, and it all went very well, too! My lap times were good and better than expected. I can’t say too much about that, either, but the engineers were quite happy with the way the test went. Moreover, it is a fantastic car to drive, of course.
“From my point of view, the best way to compare it is with Japanese GT, Formula Nippon and the Le Mans Series in which I raced before. A car with an incredible amount of downforce. When you push the throttle, something is really happening.”
Regarding the fact that the test was a secret affair, Coronel added that it had been especially difficult for him not to tell anyone.
“It was quite difficult, because it was a secret affair,” added Coronel. “I wasn’t allowed to talk about it with anyone and everyone who knows me will understand that that wasn’t easy for me. However, I managed and I can look back upon a fantastic test.”
Coronel’s WTCC outfit ROAL Motorsport won the team’s award, which featured for the first time in 2013. Fellow WTCC squad Team Engstler came second in the category.
“The new Team Competition was a great success in its first year and has been very well received by our privateers,” said Marquardt. “BMW Motorsport is well aware of the enormous importance of its ambassadors all over the world. Therefore, it is important to us that we not only honour the drivers at the end of the 52nd year of the BMW Sports Trophy, but also the teams. Congratulations to Roberto Ravaglia and his team.”