Following an intensive selection process, twelve candidates were chosen from a large pool of applicants last year to compete for a place in the BMW M Racing Academy's “Class of 2026”. After a series of exercises, including driving and racing simulator challenges as well as mental and fitness tests conducted by experts from Formula Medicine, a jury of experts and mentors selected three drivers for the “Class of 2026”. They now face a demanding training program to prepare them for the racing season in the cockpit of the BMW M4 GT4.
COMPETITIVE SELECTION.
COMPETITIVE SELECTION.
Following the successful completion of the “Class of 2025,” which consisted of Berkay Besler (TUR), Nerea Martí (ESP), Matt Million (USA), and Niels Tröger (GER), a panel of experts and BMW M works drivers from BMW M Motorsport set about assessing the candidates for the second round of the BMW M Racing Academy. Twelve young talents who want to drive the BMW M4 GT4 in the upcoming customer racing season were shortlisted for the “Class of 2026”. The group of young talents was selected from a large number of applicants and came together in Munich in October 2025 to undergo further demanding tests, at the end of which the best three participants were selected for the “Class of 2026”.
To this end, candidates completed practical driving assessments in BMW M models under the guidance of the BMW M Driving Experience and an esports challenge on the racing simulator. The programme also featured mental and fitness evaluations by Formula Medicine specialists, plus driver interviews and media training to prepare participants for public relations duties. The expert jury, which included the Academy’s three mentors — BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann (GER), Max Hesse (GER) and Robby Foley (USA) — selected three promising talents.
Our ‘Class of 2026’ now has the unique opportunity to spend a year gaining insights into the work of BMW M Motorsport, which can significantly advance their own racing careers.
Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport
THE NEW “CLASS OF 2026”.
THE NEW “CLASS OF 2026”.
The three drivers selected for the “Class of 2026” are Josh Green (USA), Ryder Quinn (AUS), and Thomas Rackl (GER).
At 17, Germany’s Thomas “Thomie” Rackl is the youngest member of the BMW M Racing Academy’s trio of young drivers and already has two active seasons with the ME Motorsport Team in ADAC GT4 Germany to his name.
Ryder Quinn is the first Australian participant in the BMW M Racing Academy training program. The 20-year-old has just completed a successful season in the cockpit of the BMW M4 GT4 in GT4 Australia and has been racing since 2021, when he made his debut in Formula Ford.
Josh Green, 23, can look back with pride on his first full and very successful GT4 season behind the wheel of the BMW M4 GT4 EVO in 2025. As part of the Random Vandals Racing team in GT4 America, Green won the Pro-Am category title alongside his teammate Sam Craven (USA) with five wins and nine podium finishes.
All three young drivers look forward to their training program in the “Class of 2026”.
I am very excited to work with Josh, Ryder, and Thomas in 2026. We mentors are there for them, always accessible and ready to share our knowledge and experience. Our goal is to improve their foundation, enabling them to take the next steps in their careers.
BMW M works driver & mentor BMW M Racing Academy
“CLASS OF 2025”.
“CLASS OF 2025”.
The “Class of 2025”, the first cohort of the support program for talented young drivers in customer racing, recently completed their training at the BMW M Racing Academy. Berkay Besler (TUR), Nerea Martí (ESP), Matt Million (USA), and Niels Tröger (GER) underwent an intensive and comprehensive support program that ranged from psychological tests and driver trainings in Miramas (FRA) and Varano (ITA) to visits to the BMW M Motorsport teams at FIA WEC and IMSA races. Throughout the entire period, the four young talents were closely supervised by their mentors, former racing driver Dirk Adorf (GER) and BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann (GER), Max Hesse (GER), and Robby Foley (USA).
