BMW Motorsport wishes Herbert Schnitzer a happy 70

“I would like to congratulate Herbert Schnitzer on his 70th birthday and thank him for his tireless efforts,” says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. “BMW Motorsport and the Schnitzer company share a partnership and success story that is unique in the world of motorsport. Under the leadership of Herbert Schnitzer, the team has enjoyed countless triumphs and titles – and always with BMW racing cars. Even after almost five decades the team is still hungry for success. I hope we are able to celebrate together again at the forthcoming 24-hour races in Le Mans and at the Nürburgring.”

The BMW dealership overseen by Herbert Schnitzer and the Schnitzer Motorsport GmbH are located in the Bavarian town of Freilassing. His half-brothers Karl (a.k.a. Charly) and Dieter Lamm are responsible for race operations. Charly the strategist, who is in command in the pit, regularly sets the course for another Schnitzer victory.

The success story of Schnitzer Motorsport in the international racing arena is as long as it is illustrious. The team was founded in 1963 by Herbert and his brother Josef and celebrated its debut one year later at the Hillclimb in Bad Neuenahr (DE) with a BMW 1800 TI. Its early years were marked by a string of successes until the Schnitzer family was devastated by Josef’s fatal accident on the way to a race in Zolder. Since then, Herbert and his half-brothers have continued the success of Schnitzer Motorsport.

Over the course of almost 50 years, Schnitzer has won a total 16 championships with BMW – including the 1987 World Touring Car Championship, the DTM in 1989, three European Touring Car Championships and national championships in Germany, England, Italy, Japan, North America and South-East Asia. In 1999, the team scored overall victory at the Le Mans 24 Hours with the BMW V12 LMR prototype. Schnitzer Motorsport has already won the 24-hour races at both the Nürburgring (DE) and in Spa (BE) on five occasions.