The Sunday following the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season finale at the Bahrain International Circuit was dedicated to the FIA WEC Rookie Test. BMW M Motorsport gave three of its BMW M works drivers from the GT3 programmes the opportunity to complete their first laps in the BMW M Hybrid V8 of BMW M Team WRT: Valentino Rossi...
The Sunday following the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season finale at the Bahrain International Circuit was dedicated to the FIA WEC Rookie Test. BMW M Motorsport gave three of its BMW M works drivers from the GT3 programmes the opportunity to complete their first laps in the BMW M Hybrid V8 of BMW M Team WRT: Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER).
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Sakhir . The Sunday following the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season finale at the Bahrain International Circuit was dedicated to the FIA WEC Rookie Test. BMW M Motorsport gave three of its BMW M works drivers from the GT3 programmes the opportunity to complete their first laps in the BMW M Hybrid V8 of BMW M Team WRT: Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER).
All three had prepared for the Rookie Test in advance in the BMW M Motorsport simulator in Munich (GER). Hesse had already contributed to development work there during the season, and both he and Harper had previously taken part in an aerodynamic test in the cockpit of the BMW M Hybrid V8. For Rossi, it was his debut in the BMW M Motorsport Hypercar. In two sessions over a total duration of five hours, the trio had the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the Hypercar on the racetrack. Rossi was driving the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, Harper and Hesse shared duties in the #15 car.
At the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Japan’s Fuji, BMW M Team WRT celebrated the first podium finish for the BMW M Hybrid V8, and during the finale of its debut season in the FIA WEC, the hypercar once again proved its potential for top positions.
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Sakhir. At the...
At the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Japan’s Fuji, BMW M Team WRT celebrated the first podium finish for the BMW M Hybrid V8, and during the finale of its debut season in the FIA WEC, the hypercar once again proved its potential for top positions.
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Sakhir. At the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Japan’s Fuji, BMW M Team WRT celebrated the first podium finish for the BMW M Hybrid V8, and during the finale of its debut season in the FIA WEC, the hypercar once again proved its potential for top positions. In the 8 Hours of Bahrain (BRN), the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 dropped out of podium positions only in the eventful final stages, finishing the race in sixth place. Due to a penalty for a competitor, the car was subsequently promoted to fifth position. The #20 car, which also had a strong start to the race, was forced to retire due to a technical issue.
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"The 2024 motorsport...
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"The 2024 motorsport season is entering the home stretch – and for our BMW M Motorsport drivers and teams, it's about securing the last crucial points for the BMW M Sports Trophy Awards. In December, we will continue our tradition of more than 50 years and once again honour the most successful participants in the BMW M Sports Trophy. In addition, we will launch a new exciting project in 2025, for which there will be more information in the coming weeks. Looking back at the past racing events, I congratulate all the successful crews who have represented for BMW M Motorsport around the world with their victories and podium finishes."
The 8 Hours of Bahrain on 2nd November marks the end of BMW M Motorsport's debut season in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). On the Sunday following the race, the FIA WEC Rookie Test is scheduled, where Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) will take the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8.
The 8 Hours of Bahrain on 2nd November marks the end of BMW M Motorsport's debut season in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). On the Sunday following the race, the FIA WEC Rookie Test is scheduled, where Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) will take the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8.
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Munich. The 8 Hours of Bahrain on 2nd November marks the end of BMW M Motorsport's debut season in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). The goals for the season finale are to add to the first podium finish recently achieved in Fuji (JPN) with the BMW M Hybrid V8 through another top result and to secure second place in the World Championship standings in the LMGT3 class with the #31 BMW M4 GT3 driven by Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR). On the Sunday following the race, the FIA WEC Rookie Test is scheduled, where Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) will take the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8 .
The trio has prepared for their Rookie Test in the BMW M Motorsport simulator in Munich (GER). Hesse was involved in the development work during the season. He and Harper have also previously completed an aerodynamics test. For Rossi, it will be his premiere in the cockpit of the LMDh car.
The day before the Rookie Test, Team WRT will enter the race with two BMW M Hybrid V8s, two BMW M4 GT3s, and the goal of ending the 2024 season with a highlight. In the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) are aiming for another podium after their second place at Fuji a few weeks ago. The same goes for Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) in the sister #20 car.
In the LMGT3 class, Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael, and Darren Leung are in third place in the drivers' standings with 85 points. Second place is only five points away and can still be captured with a good race result. In car #46, Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi will compete, the trio having stood on the Fuji podium, finishing third.
The 8 Hours of Bahrain will start on Saturday, 2nd November, at 12:00 CET (14:00 local time).
Comments before the 8 Hours of Bahrain:
The FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN) is a highlight at the end of a racing season – and this year, BMW M Motorsport will approach this highlight on the legendary Guia Circuit with an exceptional line-up. Four BMW M4 GT3s will be driven through the narrow streets of the Asian metropolis by four BMW M works drivers on 16th/17th November.
Andrea...
The FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN) is a highlight at the end of a racing season – and this year, BMW M Motorsport will approach this highlight on the legendary Guia Circuit with an exceptional line-up. Four BMW M4 GT3s will be driven through the narrow streets of the Asian metropolis by four BMW M works drivers on 16th/17th November.
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Munich. The FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN) is a highlight at the end of a racing season – and this year, BMW M Motorsport will approach this highlight on the legendary Guia Circuit with an exceptional line-up. Four BMW M4 GT3s will be driven through the narrow streets of the Asian metropolis by four BMW M works drivers on 16th/17th November. Included in the line-up are the two-time Macau winner and defending champion Raffaele Marciello (SUI), the 2018 Macau winner Augusto Farfus (BRA), as well as Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL).
This year marks Raffaele Marciello's Macau debut with BMW M Motorsport. In 2023, he achieved his second-double of winning the qualification and main races on the Guia Circuit, following his first in 2019. It was also his farewell weekend with Mercedes. Last year, Augusto Farfus finished third in the main race driving the BMW M4 GT3 entered by ROWE Racing, also making it to the podium. The Brazilian celebrated his major triumph in 2018 with the BMW M6 GT3, clinching the qualifying and main race double. He also had a podium finish in the qualifying race in 2017 as the runner-up.
Sheldon van der Linde is set for his second appearance in Macau following his debut last year. He will once again compete in the BMW M4 GT3 adorned with an exceptional Manhua design from BMW M Motorsport's Premium Technology Partner Shell. In 2023, the South African claimed a strong fifth place in the qualifying race but unfortunately retired from the main race due to a tyre issue while in contention for a podium finish. Vanthoor participated in Macau in 2018 and 2019, notably recording the second-fastest qualifying time in 2019.
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