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

• From the 2024 season, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will contend in the FIA Earth Endurance Championship, as perfectly as the IMSA collection.
• This will mark the 1st time a BMW M Motorsport prototype has challenged for all round victory at Le Mans since the famous BMW V12 LMR triumphed there 25 yrs ago.
• The BMW M Hybrid V8 effectively done its roll-out on Monday, 25th July, in Varano, and now enters an intense phase of screening.

Munich, Germany- July 26, 2022… BMW M Motorsport returns to the FIA Environment Stamina Championship (WEC) and the 24 Hrs of Le Mans (FRA) in 2024. One 12 months just after its debut time in the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2023, the new BMW M Hybrid V8 will also choose on the topclass opposition in the Hypercars class in the formal FIA Earth Endurance Championship. On Monday, 25th July, the to start with BMW M Motorsport prototype considering that the famous BMW V12 LMR concluded its very first laps at the roll-out in Varano de Melegari (ITA).

“The selection to operate the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the IMSA series from 2023, and the WEC from 2024, is a milestone for the challenge,” explained Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “I sampled and marvelled at the remarkable flair of the 24 Hrs of Le Mans during my to start with term as CEO of BMW M so I am incredibly thrilled to be demanding for all round victory as BMW M Motorsport once again at this vintage and in the whole Entire world Endurance Championship for the to start with time for a long time. The BMW M Hybrid V8 signifies a turning position in direction of electrification for BMW M. The IMSA series in North The usa and the WEC, which will take position all over the entire world, are the ideal platforms, on which to use our prototype to clearly show how interesting electrified BMW M cars and trucks will be in the upcoming.”

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, claimed: “Due to the extremely limited routine for the LMDh task, the approach has normally been to focus on a single industry of software in the very first time in 2023. The IMSA sequence is flawlessly suited for this. Nevertheless, our mid-expression purpose was certainly to race on two fronts with the BMW M Hybrid V8, and also to use the key platform supplied by the WEC and the 24 Hrs of Le Mans. We are now doing work determinedly towards this, at the identical time as our programme in North The usa. We took the upcoming essential action on Monday. The automobile efficiently concluded its roll-out at Dallara in Varano de Melegari. We now begin the intensive test do the job ahead of the race debut in January 2023 at Daytona.”

The BMW M Hybrid V8 not only made use of the Dallara check track for its first useful take a look at, but also spends a number of times on the track there this 7 days. BMW M works drivers Connor De Phillippi (Usa) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) alternate at the wheel. “It’s been an honour and a enjoyment to comprehensive the initially laps of the BMW M Hybrid V8”, said De Phillippi right after Monday’s roll-out. “This was a historic day for BMW M Motorsport within the LMDh venture. Stage by step we went by all functions of the car and by the conclude of the day we had been equipped to do some laps with approximately entire energy, which is a fantastic result for a roll-out. A large thank you to most people working so challenging for this challenge at BMW M Motorsport, BMW M Staff RLL, BMW M Crew RMG and Dallara!”

Additional European assessments are scheduled for August just before BMW M Staff RLL and a crew of BMW M Motorsport gurus start out IMSA-precise preparations with screening in the United states from September. About the program of the check stage, numerous BMW M is effective motorists will be at the wheel. Who occupies the cockpits for the 2023 IMSA time will be made the decision at a later date. The similar goes for the operations workforce for the WEC and the motorists for the 2024 year.

The calendar year just after up coming, BMW M Motorsport returns to Le Mans with a prototype for the 1st time because 1999. Back then, Joachim Winkelhock (GER), Pierluigi Martini (ITA) and Yannick Dalmas (FRA) took overall victory after 24 hours of racing in the BMW V12 LMR. In the very same calendar year, the vehicle also triumphed at the 12 Hours of Sebring (Usa), exactly where its successor, the BMW M Hybrid V8, will compete in 2023.