Tim Tramnitz is still in the early stages of his first season as a BMW works driver, but his transition to GT3 racing has already brought signs of progress.
The German joined BMW’s factory line-up for 2026 after two seasons in Formula 3 with MP Motorsport. Before that, Tramnitz built a strong junior single-seater record. He claimed multiple German karting titles, stepped up to ADAC Formula 4 in 2020 and finished runner-up in the championship one year later. During the same season, he also contested Italian F4 and finished second there too. He then moved into Formula Regional European Championship by Alpine in 2022, before returning in 2023 and finishing third overall.
His 2025 Formula 3 campaign marked a clear step forward. After finishing 12th as a rookie in 2024, Tramnitz returned to the Dutch team and became one of the regular frontrunners in his second season. He ended the year fourth in the standings, giving him a strong platform before switching from single-seaters to GT3 racing with BMW.
At Monza, during the GTWC Endurance Cup weekend, Tramnitz spoke exclusively to Pit Debrief about his move from single-seaters to GT3 racing, his first months with BMW and the mindset shaping his rookie GT campaign.
Vettel title sparked motorsport dream
For Tramnitz, the connection to racing began before he could think seriously about a career, or much at all. When asked about the moment he fell in love with motorsport, when he first sensed it could become more than a hobby, he traced it back to a single childhood memory: his first time in a Bobby Car, an iconic little ride-on toy that has quietly planted the same seed in so many young German racers before him.
“I think before I even thought about it. I think from a really young age, the first time I ever sat on a Bobby Car. Or for my second birthday, I got an electric quad and I just drove around with it all the time at home. And from that point on, there was no stopping me.”
“The first time, I seriously started thinking about pursuing a career in professional motorsport was when Sebastian Vettel won his first title and I was still very young. That was the moment where I always thought, well, that’s something I want to do someday too.”
For many young German drivers, Vettel’s rise became a powerful reference point. His first Formula 1 world title showed Tramnitz that a path from German karting and junior racing to the very top of motorsport could be more than just a dream.
BMW support eases GT3 switch
Tramnitz now faces a very different challenge. After years in open-wheel machinery, he has moved into GT3 racing as the youngest driver in BMW’s factory line-up, succeeding Ugo de Wilde.
The step has brought a new car, a new working environment and a new style of racing. However, Tramnitz said BMW has helped him settle into the programme.
“First of all, I’m obviously happy about the opportunity I’ve been given. And I have to say, the transition from formula cars to a GT3 car is definitely not easy. It’s a pretty big step.”
“But everyone at BMW is making that transition much easier for me because I simply feel really comfortable and very welcome with everyone. You can tell that everyone is pushing and everyone is genuinely eager to work hard. That’s just very motivating.”
GT3 systems require new approach
The technical demands of GT3 racing have forced Tramnitz to adjust quickly. Unlike in Formula 3, he now has to work with systems such as ABS and traction control, which play an important role in how a driver extracts lap time from the car.
“I would say that you have to work with all the systems in a GT3 car. You have ABS and traction control, for example. Learning how to use all of those systems is definitely something new because in a formula car you don’t have any of that.”
“At first, getting to know them as actual tools that you can use to go faster feels a bit strange, but once you get used to them, you really understand how to make use of them. And the other point is definitely the racing itself. It’s sometimes a bit more aggressive, especially when you don’t have as much visibility.”
When Pit Debrief pointed out that Tramnitz had also raced aggressively in Formula 3, he agreed, but explained that GT racing allows a different kind of wheel-to-wheel approach.
“Yes, that’s true, but it’s definitely different because you can really lean on the other cars. And I’d say everything is a bit more robust. But that is actually something that suits me quite well.”
Tramnitz sees strong future for GT3 racing
Tramnitz also believes GT racing offers young drivers an increasingly attractive professional path. While many junior drivers still grow up chasing Formula 1, he sees GT3 racing gaining more attention, especially as high-profile names show interest in the category.
“I think that, on the one hand, the accessibility for the fans is simply really cool. And I think what’s actually very good for GT3 racing as a whole is that many Formula 1 drivers now want to move over to it. [Max] Verstappen, [Kimi] Antonelli, or Lance Stroll, who was there in Paul Ricard.”
“And I think, that if you then take a look at what we GT3 drivers are capable of compared to Formula 1 drivers, you can also see the level at which things are done here. That’s why I definitely believe that GT3 racing has a huge chance in the future to eventually being able to keep up with Formula 1.”
Paul Ricard podium brings early encouragement
Tramnitz started his 2026 GTWC Endurance Cup season with a Gold Cup podium at Paul Ricard. Although the result offered early confirmation that his adaptation is progressing, he took even more confidence from the way the team recovered during the weekend.
“I think we were actually able to take away quite a lot of positives. Of course, getting onto the podium in the Gold class was great, but I think what was even more interesting was that we actually struggled a bit more at the beginning of the weekend overall.”
“Then, by Qualifying on Saturday, we were able to turn things around and ended up being pretty strong. I also felt really comfortable during my race stint and I’d say that’s probably that’s most positive thing I can take away from the weekend.”
That comfort in the car matters as Tramnitz continues to build experience in a discipline that demands consistency, traffic management and teamwork across long races.
Experience remains the priority
Despite the positive start, Tramnitz is keeping his expectations measured. He wants to use his first GT season to learn as much as possible and build towards stronger results as his experience grows.
“I think in the first year it’s very important to gain experience and simply try to maximise everything I can. And I think if I’ve done that, then I’ll already be pretty satisfied. I’m also sure that if we manage to do that, the results will naturally move in a very positive direction as well.”
“Overall, it would of course, be nice to fight for a top-ten or top-five finish and, if things go really well, maybe even an overall podium.”
“But that’s still a long way. First, what’s important to me is gaining as much experience as possible.”
For Tramnitz, success in 2026 does not need to arrive all at once. His first GT3 season is about building confidence weekend by weekend, and the early signs suggest he has found the right environment to do exactly that.
