The "Class of 2026".
BMW M RACING ACADEMY.
The BMW M Motorsport customer racing support program kicked off its second season. During the first week, the “Class of 2026” undertook a challenging programme comprising mental coaching, fitness training and sessions on the BMW M Motorsport racing simulator.
23 April 2026
The “Class of 2026”—comprising Josh Green (USA), Thomi Rackl (GER), and Ryder Quinn (AUS)—traveled to Italy at the start of the development program, where they were able to work on their physical and mental performance under the guidance of experts from Formula Medicine. Following that, the young drivers had the unique opportunity to train on the BMW M Motorsport simulator in Munich.
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 the US national Josh Green (24), the Australian Ryder Quinn (21) and the German Thomi Rackl (18).
We’ve had a very exciting week with the 'Class of 2026'. We are very satisfied with the guys and very proud to have them on board. It’s important for us to observe how they develop and grow.
THE “CLASS OF 2026”.
THE “CLASS OF 2026”.
The three drivers selected for the “Class of 2026” are Josh Green (USA), Ryder Quinn (AUS), and Thomas Rackl (GER).
At 18, German driver Thomas “Thomie” Rackl is the youngest member of the BMW M Racing Academy’s trio of young drivers, but he already has two full seasons under his belt with the ME Motorsport Team in the ADAC GT4 Germany series.
Ryder Quinn is the first Australian participant in the BMW M Racing Academy training program. The 21-year-old has just completed a successful season 2025 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, 24, 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. Driving for Random Vandals Racing in GT4 America, Green won the Pro-Am category title alongside his teammate Sam Craven (USA) with five wins and nine podium finishes.
The three young drivers are now participating together in the “Class of 2026” training program, which recently entered its active phase with the physical and mental training program at Formula Medicine in Italy.
NEWBIES GO FULL THROTTLE.
NEWBIES GO FULL THROTTLE.
The “Class of 2026” was accompanied throughout their training program at Formula Medicine by their mentors, BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann (GER) and Robby Foley (USA). The leading institute for sports medicine and psychophysical support in motorsports, headed by expert Dr. Riccardo Ceccarelli, helped the young drivers improve their mental and physical fitness.
Back in Munich, the “Class of 2026” was given the rare opportunity to train in the BMW M Motorsport Simulator. Much to the delight of the young racers, the simulator was configured for the pinnacle of motorsport, the BMW M Hybrid V8 Hypercar. This was followed by constructive feedback from Klingmann, Foley, and the engineers at BMW M Motorsport. In addition to Klingmann and Foley, BMW M works driver Max Hesse (GER) is the third mentor at the BMW M Racing Academy. The trio has already successfully supported the “Class of 2025.”
We are extremely satisfied with the ‘Class of 2026’. All three are very strong young drivers with their own personalities. I’m impressed by the maturity they show at such an early stage of their careers.
“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).
