Charly Lamm 1955 – 2019

British Touring Car Championship boss Alan Gow led tributes to Charly Lamm, the head of the BMW Schnitzer team that was part of the UK’S showpiece series in the 1990s, who passed away last week aged 63.

The Schnitzer team, the factoryblessed arm of the German marque, was created in the 1960s.

Lamm joined the operation in the 1970s and he progressed to become team manager.

Schnitzer was a powerhouse in the European Touring Car Championship in the 1980s before enjoying glory in the German-based DTM category.

The team first ran the factory BMWS in the BTCC in 1993 and was a success, with Jo Winkelhock claiming the title at his first attempt, while team-mate Steve Soper was runner-up.

The team switched to sportscar racing, which led to victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1999 with the V12 LMR machine.

Lamm worked on BMW projects in the USA and also oversaw its attack on the World Touring Car Championship. He also spearheaded a return to the DTM in 2012.

Gow said: “I’m shocked and incredibly saddened to hear about Charly. He was one of the kindest and most thoughtful people I have ever dealt with. And he was a brilliant team manager, whose workethic, knowledge and passion was boundless. The world of touring car racing has lost a true legend.”