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BMW Recognizes Extraordinary Performances with Sport Trophy Awards

 Every year, after the DTM and all other Motorsport competitions in which BMW in involved are over, the German company takes its time to recognize outstanding results. This year, the ceremony was held on December 5th in Maisach.
Alex Zanardi 25 photos
Photo: BMW
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Needless to say that all the big names to this year’s Motorsport endeavors were there, from across the globe. For the first time since BMW hands out BMW Sport Trophy Awards, Jens Marquardt, the BMW Motorsport Director handed over more than just the trophies for the most successful privateer BMW drivers and teams this year. Other awards were also handed out in other categories.
 
“When drawing up the programme for our BMW Motorsport Season Review, we took inspiration from the kind of award ceremonies we are familiar with from the entertainment industry,” said Marquardt, who hosted the evening alongside TV presenter Maren Braun (DE).
 
“We have always placed great emphasis on paying special attention to our privateer BMW Sports Trophy drivers and teams at this event, and on thanking them for their commitment. At the same time, it was obviously also nice to be able to look back at the success we enjoyed with our works programme,” he added.
 
As far as tradition went, this year’s awards for the most successful privateer driver and the most successful team went to Markus Palttala from Finland and the Adrenalin Motorsport team. This was the second time the team principal Matthias Unger claimed such an award.
 
As far as the DTM was involved, Marco Wittmann was praised alongside the ‘Rookie of the year’, Maxime Martin and the BMW Team RMG for the titles they won this year.
 
“This has been a fantastic end to a dream season,” said Wittmann after the award ceremony. “Some busy weeks are behind me – but I have thoroughly enjoyed every day as the DTM champion. Now we must focus on 2015. I can hardly wait until we get going again.”
 
Altruism was also rewarded last night, when Jens Klingmann received a special award for the “Sporting Gesture of the Year”. The German driver was the first one to respond to an emergency during the ADAC GT Masters race in Oschersleben. He immediately jumped out of his car and rushed to help other drivers get out of theirs after a mass collision during a race.
 
Alex Zanardi was also amongst the ones praised by BMW this year, leaving the event with the trophy for “Comeback of the year” in his hands. That’s because he made a successful return to motorsport with BMW in the 2014 Blancpain Sprint Series.
 
He also amazed the world with his performances in various sporting events around the world, including the Hawaii triathlon which he had to complete basically using only his hands.
 
“This is a truly special award for me. It just shows how much my friends at BMW Motorsport who have supported over the years believe in me. On the track my comeback season could have gone better. But that’s exactly why I will compete again in 2015,” he said when receiving the award.
 
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