Charly Lamm, a long-time BMW Team Schnitzer team boss, has died unexpectedly at the age of 63, just two months after retiring from the family team.
Lamm worked as the Team Manager for the successful race team, guiding the team to success in the European Touring Car Championship in the 1980s. He oversaw yet more victories in the DTM, Italian Touring Cars and the German Super Touring Cup (STW) in the late 1980s and 1990s.
He also managed the team when it raced in the British Touring Car Championship in the mid-1990s, before moving into sportscars as Team Schnitzer diversified its programmes in the 2000s.
His successes continued in touring cars in the re-formed ETCC and subsequent World Touring Car Championship, before returning to winning ways with the team when BMW returned to the DTM in 2012.
A statement from BMW read that “the long-standing team principal of BMW Team Schnitzer passed away on 24th January 2019 unexpectedly after a very short and grave illness at 63 years of age.”
BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt paid tribute to his long-time colleague at Schnitzer.
“Totally unexpectedly we received the news from the Lamm family that Charly Lamm died on Thursday,” said Marquardt. “Our sincere condolences go to the Lamm family and the Schnitzer family.
“It is incredibly difficult to accept that Charly is no longer with us. He had a significant impact on racing at BMW for decades, celebrated major successes with his team, and wowed fans around the world with his unique passion for racing.
“Losing him so suddenly is a shock and a tragedy – particularly because Charly was just about to start a brand new chapter of his life.
“We mourn the loss of a character who was both valued and loved internationally, who will always be closely linked with BMW Motorsport.
“Thank you for everything Charly. We will miss you forever.”