His target this year is defined – the position right on top of the podium! Uwe Alzen who comes from Betzdorf/Germany is this year again striving for high goals. This charismatic, through and through race driver and lap record holder at the Nürburgring Nordschleife will compete in the 2014 season again with his own team.
The team “Uwe Alzen Automotive” will fight about day victories in the VLN endurance racing championship with their BMW Z4 GT3 on not less than ten occasions in the coming season. The 46 years old professional racing driver had participated with the more than 500 HP strong race car last year already but had to suffer a few set-backs with the new car in terms of retirements in the first part of the championship season. It was towards the end of the season only when Uwe Alzen and his team partners
Philipp Wlazik (Gladbeck/ Germany) and Niclas Kentenich (Neuss/ Germany) met their own expectations with two positions on the podium in the overall classification. The man from Betzdorf/ Germany hereby demonstrated the true potential of his BMW Z4 GT3 with four pole positions, amongst those one practice record lap with a time of 8:01.069 minutes around the 24.369 kilometres long track. For the nine races of the season, the team did however not have that necessary bit of luck for most of the time in order to score the results which would have been appropriate to his performance. This should change this year. Together with his partner Philipp Wlazik, Alzen will rely upon his well experienced team and certainly be amongst those fighting for day victories.
After the prolongation of his contract with BMW Motorsport, the experienced man from Betzdorf will this year in June again compete at the huge Nürbrurgring ADAC 24 Hour Race event as works driver for the car manufacturer from Munich. The double winner of this prestigious classical race in the Eifel region will again compete in a works BMW Z4 GT3 and fight for the victory. The battle at the “Green Hell” on the more than 25 kilometres long combination of the Grand Prix track and the Nordschleife will be tougher than ever. Alzen scored his last win in the year 2010 in a Schnitzer BMW M3 GT2. Last year he suffered an early retirement with the BMW Z4 GT3 after an accident. He will go for a top position again this year.
Uwe Alzen: It is our goal to be on the winner’s podium as often as possible. We wish to complete this season with constantly fast times and without any technical problems or even accidents.
In which way can in your opinion the BMW Z4 GT3 stand against the very strong competitors such as Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, Ferrari and Aston Martin? Which points have you been able to improve compared to 2013?
Uwe Alzen: I believe that the BMW Z4 GT3 still is a top car to compete at the Nürburgring Nordschleife. It will finally of course also be the BOP (balance of performance) classification to be an important factor. We have been able to improve the car in terms of weight balance. Furthermore we hope to gain another advantage with regard to lap times and constant times due to our new tyre partner Michelin.
An own team, this implies much more than just to compete in races. Can you please explain for our readers the most significant tasks of the team manager Uwe Alzen.
Uwe Alzen: The tasks of a team manager are really very comprehensive. In first instance, they comprise the complete funding of the team, the co-ordination of the staff, the planning of the complete season, decisions on strategies regarding the races, etc.
You have furthermore renewed your contract as BMW works driver. How shall we understand this? What does this mean for you?
Uwe Alzen: I have been a BMW works driver since 2013 and competed in various races all around the world for BMW Motorsport. The actual races also include tests and PR activities. For me, the renewal of the contract means a great reliability for my planning and I am of course delighted about the confidence placed in me by BMW. The status “works driver” is something really special for me and I hope that my co-operation with BMW will continue for another few years.
A third place overall at the Nürburgring 24 Hour Race would be really nice in your palmares. What is the significance of this race for you?
Uwe Alzen: For me, the 24 Hour race at the Nürburgring has always been and still is the most spectacular race worldwide, followed by the two classical races at Le Mans and Spa. There is no similar format as the one of the 24 Hour Race at the Nürburgring worldwide (with more than 200 cars on a track with a distance of more than 25 kilometres). The Nürburgring Nordschleife is considered to be one of the most difficult race tracks of the world and it is a very special feeling to win there. Man and material are subject to extreme requirements and that is why a victory on this legendary track always is of a very high significance.
46 years, quite a good age for a touring car driver – or do you already think about retiring from racing activities? What would you do if you did not compete in any races starting from tomorrow?
Uwe Alzen: I have been involved in professional motorsport activities since two decades now, I have competed in may race series and gained a lot of victories and positions on the winners’ podium. Furthermore, I have won almost all of the 24 hour classical races. Despite my age, racing on the circuits all around the world still is great fun for me. I would like to continue as a driver for BMW Motorsport and in my own team for another few years. When the time has come that I will no longer participate in races, I will fully and exclusively concentrate onto my tasks as team manager.
