Bruno Spengler (born August 23, 1983) is an Alsatian-born Canadian racing driver. A long-term Mercedes-AMG and BMW factory driver, he currently works for Bugatti. He is the 2012 DTM champion.[1]
Career
Early career
Spengler was born near Strasbourg, France but moved with his parents to Saint-Hippolyte, Quebec, Canada, when he was 3.[2][3] He went to school in Canada but continued to go back to France where he started competing in kart racing in 1995.[2] Spengler continued karting in both France and Canada and then moved on to competing in the French Formula Renault.[2] Eventually this led to him being signed by Mercedes-Benz motorsport and in 2003 he was racing for ASM in the Formula Three Euroseries.[2]
DTM
From 2005 until the end of 2011, Spengler drove a Mercedes in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters in Germany. In 2005 he ran with Persson Motorsport and he convinced AMG directors to have an official car in 2006. That year he finished the 2006 season second behind his teammate and five times champion Bernd Schneider.[4] He completed the 2007 season campaign once again in second place, this time behind Audi driver Mattias Ekström, despite Audi's mass pull-out in Barcelona.[5]
In August 2007 he was mentioned in a possible move to the new Prodrive F1 team for 2008, and possibly for a drive with McLaren.[6] Spengler was a leading candidate for an F1 driver's seat based on his performances and also it was thought to help drive up interest in North America for Formula 1.[2] With Prodrive gone and Heikki Kovalainen signed for McLaren, this did not happen for 2008. While leading the DTM in points during the 2010 season, Spengler's name was again brought up as a possible candidate to drive in F1. Norbert Haug Mercedes motorsports director commented that if Spengler were to win the DTM championship he would earn a ride in F1.[3] However, he lost the championship in the last few races to Paul di Resta who went on to drive for Force India in the next F1 season.
For the 2012 season, Spengler left Mercedes and joined BMW Team Schnitzer for the latter's return to DTM.[7] Spengler had a strong season, coming into the last race at the Hockenheimring three points behind leader and Mercedes driver Gary Paffett. He overtook Paffett at the start and held on to win the race. With this victory, his fourth of the season, Spengler took the Driver's Championship by four points and helped Team Schnitzer to the Teams' Championship and BMW to the Manufacturers' Championship.[8]
Formula E
Spengler became, alongside Beitske Visser, one of the test and reserve drivers for Andretti Autosport ahead of the 2018–19 Formula E season.[9]
Sportscar racing
Spengler left the DTM after the 2019 season and switched focus to endurance racing. He debuted in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2020 for ByKolles Racing, won once for BMW Team RLL in the IMSA SportsCar Championship's GTLM class, and was crowned Italian GT Sprint champion in 2023. After two years in the Japanese Super GT Championship, he parted ways with BMW at the end of 2024.[10]
In 2025, Spengler joined Alsatian sports car manufacturer Bugatti in the role of "Pilote Officiel", taking over from Pierre-Henri Raphanel.[11]
Racing record
Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results
(key)
| Year | Entrant | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | ASM F3 | Dallara F303/016 | Mercedes | HOC 1 |
HOC 2 |
ADR 1 |
ADR 2 |
PAU 1 |
PAU 2 |
NOR 1 19† |
NOR 2 Ret |
LMS 1 11 |
LMS 2 3 |
NÜR 1 16 |
NÜR 2 4 |
A1R 1 3 |
A1R 2 7 |
ZAN 1 2 |
ZAN 2 Ret |
HOC 3 6 |
HOC 4 5 |
MAG 1 Ret |
MAG 2 21 |
10th | 34 |
| 2004 | ASL-Mücke Motorsport/ADAC Berlin-Brandenburg | Dallara F302/012 | Mercedes | HOC 1 7 |
HOC 2 Ret |
EST 1 10 |
EST 2 10 |
ADR 1 7 |
ADR 1 20 |
PAU 1 6 |
PAU 2 Ret |
NOR 1 8 |
NOR 1 6 |
MAG 1 5 |
MAG 2 3 |
NÜR 1 9 |
NÜR 2 7 |
ZAN 1 13 |
ZAN 2 11 |
BRN 1 11 |
BRN 2 5 |
HOC 1 21† |
HOC 2 9 |
11th | 27 |
† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.
Complete Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)
† Driver did not finish, but completed 75% of the race distance.
24 Hours of Daytona results
| Year | Team | Co-drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 |  BMW Team RLL
|
Bill Auberlen Dirk Werner Augusto Farfus
|
BMW Z4 GTLM | GTLM | 725 | 5th | 2nd |
| 2016 | BMW Team RLL
|
Bill Auberlen Dirk Werner Augusto Farfus
|
BMW M6 GTLM | GTLM | 721 | 11th | 5th |
| 2017 | BMW Team RLL
|
Bill Auberlen Alexander Sims Augusto Farfus
|
BMW M6 GTLM | GTLM | 651 | 12th | 8th |
Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Make | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | BMW Team RLL | GTLM | BMW Z4 GTE | BMW 4.4 L V8 | DAY 2 |
SEB | LBH | LGA | WGL | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | COA | PET | 21st | 33 |
| 2016 | BMW Team RLL | GTLM | BMW M6 GTLM | BMW 4.4 L V8 | DAY 5 |
SEB 2 |
LBH | LGA | WGL | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | COA | PET | 18th | 60 |
| 2017 | BMW Team RLL | GTLM | BMW M6 GTLM | BMW 4.4 L Turbo V8 | DAY 8 |
SEB | LBH | COA | WGL | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | LGA | PET | 26th | 23 |
| 2020 | BMW Team RLL | GTLM | BMW M8 GTE | BMW S63 4.0 L Turbo V8 | DAY 5 |
DAY 4 |
SEB 4 |
ELK 6 |
VIR 2 |
ATL 1 |
MDO 3 |
CLT 3 |
PET 6 |
LGA 5 |
SEB 4 |
4th | 313 |
| 2021 | BMW Team RLL | GTLM | BMW M8 GTE | BMW S63 4.0 L Turbo V8 | DAY 5 |
SEB 2 |
DET | WGL 3 |
WGL | LIM | ELK | LGA | LBH | VIR | PET 5 |
7th | 1251 |
| 2023 | Turner Motorsport | GTD Pro | BMW M4 GT3 | BMW S58B30T0 3.0 L Turbo I6 | DAY 9 |
SEB | LBH | LGA | WGL | MOS | LIM | ELK | VIR | IMS | PET | 27th | 245 |
* Season still in progress.
Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Entrant | Class | Chassis | Engine | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Rank | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018–19 | BMW Team MTEK | LMGTE Pro | BMW M8 GTE | BMW S63 4.0 L Turbo V8 | SPA | LMS | SIL | FUJ | SHA | SEB 7 |
SPA | LMS | 28th | 8 |
| 2019–20 | ByKolles Racing Team | LMP1 | ENSO CLM P1/01 | Gibson GL458 4.5 L V8 | SIL | FUJ | SHA | BHR | COA | SPA 11 |
LMS Ret |
BHR | NC† | 0† |
† As Spengler was a guest driver he was ineligible to score points.
Complete 24 Hours of Le Mans results
| Year | Team | Co-Drivers | Car | Class | Laps | Pos. | Class Pos. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |  ByKolles Racing Team
|
Oliver Webb Tom Dillmann
|
ENSO CLM P1/01-Gibson | LMP1 | 97 | DNF | DNF |
Complete Super GT results
(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)
| Year | Team | Car | Class | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | DC | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | BMW Team Studie x CRS | BMW M4 GT3 | GT300 | OKA 6 |
FUJ | SUZ | FUJ | SUZ 16 |
SUG 13 |
AUT 8 |
MOT 12 |
21st | 8 |
| 2024 | BMW M Team Studie x CRS | BMW M4 GT3 | GT300 | OKA | FUJ 11 |
SUZ 7 |
FUJ 7 |
SUG | AUT 4 |
MOT | SUZ 13 |
15th | 16 |
References
- ^ "DTM | Bruno Spengler claims DTM championship crown with victory". Archived from the original on 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
- ^ a b c d e "The case for Bruno Spengler". F1 News. November 6, 2007. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ a b Jeff Pappone (November 9, 2010). "Spengler now closer to his Formula One dream". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
- ^ Unknown[permanent dead link]
- ^ "DTM Barcelona: Scandal as Audi withdraw — Maximum Motorsport". Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
- ^ "Latest Formula 1 Breaking News - Grandprix.com". www.grandprix.com. Retrieved 2024-12-22.
- ^ "Bruno Spengler to drive for BMW in the DTM from 2012". Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters. ITR e.V. 26 October 2011. Archived from the original on 30 November 2011. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
- ^ Johan Meissner (October 21, 2012). ""Sensational" triple title for BMW and Bruno Spengler". Touring Car Times. Retrieved 2012-10-21.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "VISSER, SPENGLER NAMED BMW ANDRETTI 2018/19 FORMULA E RESERVE". FormulaRapida.net. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
- ^ "Goodbye, legend! DTM Champion Bruno Spengler leaves BMW M Motorsport after 13 years together". BMW Group. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
- ^ "Passing the torch: Bruno Spengler steps into Pierre-Henri Raphanel's role as Bugatti Pilote Officiel". Bugatti. 3 February 2025. Retrieved 3 February 2025.
External links
- Official website (in German)
- Bruno Spengler career summary at DriverDB.com
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