BMW Wins 2017 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Manufacturer's Championship

Podium for the Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Finale.   Image Credit: 2017 Cobb / BMW Group

2017 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Finale

By: Brandon J. O'Brien
Images By: Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images unless otherwise specified

Although Paul Holden had a posse of BMW M235iR's on his tail, led by the No. 20 Stephen Cameron Racing M235iR driven by Greg Liefooghe,  Holden was able to elude them through the rolling hills of Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for the final 2 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car sessions on Friday and Saturday.

Paul Holden using all the track exiting Turn 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on his way to the Driver's Championship in the C360 Racing Audi R3 LMS Club Sport.  Image Credit: 2017 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Holden in his C360 Racing Audi R3 LMS Club Sport came home with 2 victories which earned him the PWC Touring Car Driver's Championship.  BMW  having won 7 of the 12 events over the year took the coveted Manufacturer's Championship title.  BMW drivers finished in 6 of the top-10 positions of the Driver's Championship.

Greg Liefooghe of San Francisco finished up 2nd Place in the Driver's Championship with four season victories and two second place finishes, both at MRLS.

Greg Liefooghe heading up to Turn 6 in the No. 20 Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M235iR at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2017 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

"I certainly want to thank Stephen Cameron Racing for a great year,"  said Liefooghe. "If it were not for a forgetful weekend at Lime Rock where we only scored three points things could have turned out differently.  The M235iR is a surprising package.  On paper you would not think it as quick as it actually is.  The car generates incredible grip, is well-balanced and is quite easy to drive fast.  BMW Motorsport delivers a racing car that is well sorted allowing you to really focus on driving."

3rd Place for both races was captured by Pierre Kleinuberg in the No. 26 Classic BMW Motorsports car.

3rd Place finisher Pierre Kleinuberg in the No. 26 Classic BMW Motorsport M235iR leading the No.12 car driven by Mason Filippi to Turn 6 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit:  2017 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

The six BMW drivers within the top 10 driver's points included: 3rd Place Nick Wittmer in his No. 91 ST Racing M235iR, 4th Place Toby Grave in the No. 1 Classic BMW Motorsports M235iR, 5th Place Mason Fillippi in the No. 12 Winding Road Racing M235iR, 6th Place Anthony Magagnoli, No. 80 Rooster Hall Racing M235iR, and 9th Place Art Baloghi in the No. 19 Stephen Cameron Racing M235iR.

Nick Wittmer in the No. 91 ST Racing BMW M235iR at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2017 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Toby Grahovee in the No. 1 Classic BMW Motorsports BMW M235iR prior to entering Turn 6 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.  Image Credit: 2017 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Mason Filippi in the No. 12 Winding Road Racing BMW M235iR exiting Turn 5 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Image Credit: 2017 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Anthony Magagnoli in the No 80 Rooster Hall Racing BMW M235iR in the Corkscrew at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Image Credit: 2017 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Aristotle Balogh in the No. 19 Stephen Cameron Racing BMW M235iR being closely
followed by JT Coupal in the No. 009 BERG Racing Audi R3 LMS Club Sport.  Image Credit: 2017 Brandon O'Brien / Motor Driven Images

Victor Lelen, BMW of North America Motorsport Manager,  announced that the 2018 season would be campaigned by the all-new M4 GT4 in both PWC and IMSA events.



TAGS: Audi, BERG Racing, Brandon O'Brien, BMW,  BMW Motorsport, Classic BMW Motorsports,  Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, MRLS, M235i, M235iR, M235i Racing, Pirelli World Challenge, PWC, R3 LMS, Rooster Hall Racing, Stephen Cameron Racing,  ST Racing, Winding Road Racing