BMW Returns to Le Mans with the BMW M Hybrid V8: WEC involvement from 2024

• From the 2024 period, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will compete in the FIA Globe Stamina Championship, as properly as the IMSA sequence.
• This will mark the initial time a BMW M Motorsport prototype has challenged for general victory at Le Mans since the famous BMW V12 LMR triumphed there 25 many years back.
• The BMW M Hybrid V8 efficiently accomplished its roll-out on Monday, 25th July, in Varano, and now enters an intense period of tests.

Munich, Germany- July 26, 2022… BMW M Motorsport returns to the FIA Planet Stamina Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) in 2024. 1 calendar year after its debut period in the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023, the new BMW M Hybrid V8 will also get on the topclass opposition in the Hypercars class in the official FIA World Endurance Championship. On Monday, 25th July, the initially BMW M Motorsport prototype because the famous BMW V12 LMR finished its very first laps at the roll-out in Varano de Melegari (ITA).

“The choice to operate the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the IMSA sequence from 2023, and the WEC from 2024, is a milestone for the project,” reported Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “I sampled and marvelled at the amazing aptitude of the 24 Hours of Le Mans all through my 1st phrase as CEO of BMW M so I am pretty psyched to be hard for all round victory as BMW M Motorsport all over again at this typical and in the whole World Stamina Championship for the to start with time for decades. The BMW M Hybrid V8 signifies a turning issue in the direction of electrification for BMW M. The IMSA series in North The us and the WEC, which usually takes put all around the planet, are the fantastic platforms, on which to use our prototype to clearly show how enjoyable electrified BMW M cars and trucks will be in the long term.”

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, mentioned: “Due to the really restricted plan for the LMDh task, the approach has always been to target on just one subject of software in the initially period in 2023. The IMSA sequence is correctly suited for this. Nonetheless, our mid-phrase aim was definitely to race on two fronts with the BMW M Hybrid V8, and also to use the big platform furnished by the WEC and the 24 Hrs of Le Mans. We are now doing the job determinedly toward this, at the same time as our programme in North The us. We took the subsequent vital stage on Monday. The auto productively done its roll-out at Dallara in Varano de Melegari. We now get started the intense examination work right before the race debut in January 2023 at Daytona.”

The BMW M Hybrid V8 not only employed the Dallara exam monitor for its initially practical exam, but also spends a number of times on the keep track of there this 7 days. BMW M works drivers Connor De Phillippi (United states of america) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) alternate at the wheel. “It’s been an honour and a satisfaction to total the to start with laps of the BMW M Hybrid V8”, mentioned De Phillippi following Monday’s roll-out. “This was a historic day for BMW M Motorsport inside of the LMDh challenge. Phase by stage we went through all capabilities of the auto and by the close of the working day we have been in a position to do some laps with nearly full ability, which is a good outcome for a roll-out. A huge thank you to everybody doing the job so tricky for this project at BMW M Motorsport, BMW M Group RLL, BMW M Staff RMG and Dallara!”

A lot more European assessments are scheduled for August in advance of BMW M Staff RLL and a crew of BMW M Motorsport specialists commence IMSA-unique preparations with testing in the United states of america from September. Over the study course of the test phase, quite a few BMW M functions motorists will be at the wheel. Who occupies the cockpits for the 2023 IMSA period will be determined at a later day. The exact same goes for the functions workforce for the WEC and the motorists for the 2024 season.

The calendar year soon after following, BMW M Motorsport returns to Le Mans with a prototype for the initial time given that 1999. Back again then, Joachim Winkelhock (GER), Pierluigi Martini (ITA) and Yannick Dalmas (FRA) took over-all victory right after 24 hours of racing in the BMW V12 LMR. In the very same yr, the car or truck also triumphed at the 12 Several hours of Sebring (Usa), in which its successor, the BMW M Hybrid V8, will contend in 2023.