Vale: BMW legend Charly Lamm

THE Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour and fans of endurance racing at Mount Panorama were saddened to hear of the passing of famed BMW Motorsport team owner, Charly Lamm. 

The 63 year-old, who for four decades led the famed Team Schnitzer outfit, passed suddenly on Thursday following a brief illness.

Lamm had only recently stood down from his post following the team's victory in the FIA GT World Cup in Macau last November - an event his team won.

The iconic Schnitzer team, still led by Lamm, made their Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour debut last year - returning the famous outfit to Bathurst more than 20 years after their previous start in the late 1980s.

Schnitzer will return to Mount Panorama next week, having last year won the Allan Simonsen Pole Award and led the opening stages of the race.

"We mourn the loss of Charly Lamm," read a statement posted on the BMW Motorsport social media accounts this morning, Australian time.

"Totally unexpectedly we received the news from the Lamm family that Charly Lamm died on Thursday. Our sincere condolences go to the Lamm family and the Schnitzer family.

"It is incredibly difficult to accept that Charly is no longer with us. He had a significant impact on racing at BMW for decades, celebrated major successes with his team, and wowed fans around the world with his unique passion for racing.

"Losing him so suddenly is a shock and a tragedy – particularly because Charly was just about to start a brand new chapter of his life. We mourn the loss of a character who was both valued and loved internationally, who will always be closely linked with BMW Motorsport.

"Thank you for everything Charly. We will miss you forever."

Schnitzer will field a BMW M6 GT3 with drivers Chaz Mostert, Martin Tomczyk and Augusto Farfus next weekend at Mount Panorama.

The Bathurst 12 Hour team extends their condolences to the Lamm family and friends.

IMAGE: BMW Motorsport