Bruno Spengler (born August 23, 1983) is an Alsatian-born Canadian racing driver, currently racing for the BMW factory/works team. Nicknamed 'The Secret Canadian', he won the 2012 DTM Drivers' Championship.[1]

Bruno Spengler
At the Nürburgring in 2006, as a DTM driver.
NationalityCanada Canadian
Born (1983-08-23) August 23, 1983 (age 41)
Schiltigheim, France
DTM career
Debut season2005
Current teamBMW Team RMG
Racing licence FIA Platinum
Car number7
Former teamsPersson Motorsport
HWA Team
Schnitzer Motorsport
Team MTEK
Team RBM
Starts195
Championships1 (2012)
Wins16
Podiums51
Poles18
Fastest laps15
Finished last season9th (106 pts)
Previous series
200304
200102
Formula 3 Euro Series
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0
Championship titles
2012Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters

Career

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Early career

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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]

 
Spengler driving for Mercedes-Benz in the 2006 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters season.

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.

 
Spengler competing in the 2014 DTM 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

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Spengler became, alongside Beitske Visser, one of the test and reserve drivers for Andretti Autosport ahead of the 2018–19 Formula E season.[9]

Racing record

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Complete Formula 3 Euro Series results

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(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

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(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos. Pts
2005 Persson Motorsport AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2004 HOC
12
LAU
15†
SPA
Ret
BRN
11
OSC
16
NOR
13†
NÜR
15
ZAN
9
LAU
6
IST
8
HOC
8
16th 5
2006 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2006 HOC
9
LAU
5
OSC
2
BRH
7
NOR
1
NÜR
1
ZAN
4
CAT
5
BUG
1
HOC
1
2nd 63
2007 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2007 HOC
14
OSC
Ret
LAU
3
BRH
5
NOR
1
MUG
4
ZAN
5
NÜR
2
CAT
2
HOC
4
2nd 47
2008 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2008 HOC
4
OSC
3
MUG
9
LAU
6
NOR
2
ZAN
5
NÜR
7
BRH
6
CAT
Ret
BUG
7
HOC
4
5th 38
2009 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2009 HOC
Ret
LAU
2
NOR
2
ZAN
5
OSC
6
NÜR
6
BRH
6
CAT
5
DIJ
3
HOC
7
4th 41
2010 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2009 HOC
2
VAL
2
LAU
1
NOR
3
NÜR
1
ZAN
7
BRH
2
OSC
2
HOC
Ret
ADR
3
SHA
13
3rd 66
2011 HWA Team AMG-Mercedes C-Klasse 2009 HOC
1
ZAN
2
SPL
4
LAU
3
NOR
1
NÜR
2
BRH
7
OSC
13†
VAL
7
HOC
9
3rd 51
2012 BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M3 DTM HOC
Ret
LAU
1
BRH
2
SPL
Ret
NOR
3
NÜR
1
ZAN
6
OSC
1
VAL
6
HOC
1
1st 149
2013 BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M3 DTM HOC
5
BRH
2
SPL
1
LAU
7
NOR
6
MSC
19
NÜR
14
OSC
21†
ZAN
20
HOC
3
3rd 82
2014 BMW Team Schnitzer BMW M4 DTM HOC
6
OSC
12
HUN
3
NOR
11
MSC
2
SPL
10
NÜR
12
LAU
15
ZAN
16
HOC
12
11th 42
2015 BMW Team MTEK BMW M4 DTM HOC
1

11
HOC
2

9
LAU
1

11
LAU
2

19
NOR
1

5
NOR
2

3
ZAN
1

5
ZAN
2

3
SPL
1

15
SPL
2

15
MSC
1

3
MSC
2

2
OSC
1

2
OSC
2

10
NÜR
1

19†
NÜR
2

3
HOC
1

19†
HOC
2

8
5th 123
2016 BMW Team MTEK BMW M4 DTM HOC
1

6
HOC
2

Ret
SPL
1

13
SPL
2

9
LAU
1

11
LAU
2

9
NOR
1

5
NOR
2

7
ZAN
1

13
ZAN
2

14
MSC
1

15
MSC
2

3
NÜR
1

18
NÜR
2

6
HUN
1

14
HUN
2

12
HOC
1

14
HOC
2

12
15th 51
2017 BMW Team RBM BMW M4 DTM HOC
1

12
HOC
2

9
LAU
1

14
LAU
2

16
HUN
1

3
HUN
2

14
NOR
1

1
NOR
2

12
MSC
1

12
MSC
2

3
ZAN
1

14
ZAN
2

10
NÜR
1

13
NÜR
2

4
SPL
1

12
SPL
2

16
HOC
1

10
HOC
2

14
13th 75
2018 BMW Team RBM BMW M4 DTM HOC
1

6
HOC
2

8
LAU
1

5
LAU
2

15
HUN
1

12
HUN
2

DSQ
NOR
1

6
NOR
2

4
ZAN
1

12
ZAN
2

13
BRH
1

17
BRH
2

14
MIS
1

Ret
MIS
2

11
NÜR
1

2
NÜR
2

4
SPL
1

Ret
SPL
2

15
HOC
1

9
HOC
2

6
12th 85
2019 BMW Team RMG BMW M4 Turbo DTM HOC
1

7
HOC
2

5
ZOL
1

10
ZOL
2

7
MIS
1

4
MIS
2

8
NOR
1

5
NOR
2

1
ASS
1

15
ASS
2

Ret
BRH
1

12
BRH
2

Ret
LAU
1

9
LAU
2

14
NÜR
1

2
NÜR
2

10
HOC
1

8
HOC
2

9
9th 106

Driver did not finish, but completed 75% of the race distance.

24 Hours of Daytona results

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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

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(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

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(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

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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

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(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
15th* 16*

* Season still in progress.

References

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  1. ^ "DTM | Bruno Spengler claims DTM championship crown with victory". Archived from the original on 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2012-10-21.
  2. ^ a b c d e "The case for Bruno Spengler". F1 News. November 6, 2007. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  3. ^ a b Jeff Pappone (November 9, 2010). "Spengler now closer to his Formula One dream". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 2010-08-13.
  4. ^ http://racing.auto123.com/en/racing/news/index,view.spy?artid=72368[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "DTM Barcelona: Scandal as Audi withdraw — Maximum Motorsport". Archived from the original on 2008-01-02. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
  6. ^ http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns19837.html
  7. ^ "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.
  8. ^ Johan Meissner (October 21, 2012). ""Sensational" triple title for BMW and Bruno Spengler". Touring Car Times. Retrieved 2012-10-21.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "VISSER, SPENGLER NAMED BMW ANDRETTI 2018/19 FORMULA E RESERVE". FormulaRapida.net. Retrieved 8 December 2018.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
Champion

2012
Succeeded by