BMW M Motorsport is gearing up for an electrifying racing weekend as its LMDh prototypes hit the track on two continents simultaneously. With four BMW M Hybrid V8s ready to roar, the stakes are high as the teams set their sights on podium glory at the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Imola, Italy, and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Long Beach, USA.
FIA WEC: BMW M Team WRT Takes on Imola
At the 6 Hours of Imola, BMW M Motorsport joins forces with BMW M Team WRT for a thrilling showdown in the European leg of the FIA WEC. Following a rigorous analysis of the season opener in Qatar, BMW M engineers have fine-tuned the BMW M Hybrid V8s for improved performance. The #15 car will be piloted by Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, and Marco Wittmann, while Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde will take the wheel of the #20 car.
In the LMGT3 class, the #46 BMW M4 GT3, led by Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harthy, and Maxime Martin, aims to capitalize on Rossi’s home advantage and secure a podium finish. The #31 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael, and Darren Leung, also eyes a strong performance at the iconic Italian circuit.
IMSA Series: BMW M Team RLL Takes on Long Beach
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, BMW M Team RLL is ready to tackle the challenging Long Beach street circuit in the IMSA series. Buoyed by past successes at Long Beach, including a second-place finish in 2023, the team is determined to clinch its first podium of the season. Connor De Phillippi, Nick Yelloly, Philipp Eng, and Jesse Krohn will lead the charge in the #25 and #24 BMW M Hybrid V8s, respectively.
In the GTD class, Turner Motorsport fields the #96 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher, aiming to replicate last year’s triumph at Long Beach.
Statement from Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport:
“We are facing the first race weekend where we are competing with the BMW M Hybrid V8 at two major events on two continents simultaneously. It’s spectacular and exactly the challenge we’ve been looking forward to since BMW M Motorsport’s entry into the LMDh category was confirmed. In both the FIA WEC and IMSA series, we expect to showcase the competitiveness of the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3. I expect our teams to have a chance of winning in both racing series.”
As anticipation builds for the thrilling dual continent showdowns, BMW M Motorsport is poised to deliver exhilarating performances on both the European and American racing stages.
