The BMW M Motorsport Media Guide presents the technology and design behind the BMW M Hybrid V8, as well as the team and drivers in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
In a meeting on 10th June 2021, the BMW Group Board of Management gave the green light for BMW M Motorsport to enter a new era of racing, the LMDh...
The BMW M Motorsport Media Guide presents the technology and design behind the BMW M Hybrid V8, as well as the team and drivers in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
In a meeting on 10th June 2021, the BMW Group Board of Management gave the green light for BMW M Motorsport to enter a new era of racing, the LMDh prototype class. From 2023, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will compete for overall victories in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and from 2024, the first BMW M Motorsport prototype since the legendary BMW V12 LMR will race in the FIA World Endurance Championship and return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans – exactly 25 years after the last BMW victory at the most famous endurance race in the world.
Continuing the BMW M Motorsport success story on the racetrack is only one driving force behind the BMW M Hybrid V8. The development of the first high-performance hybrid powertrain by BMW M makes the BMW M Hybrid V8 the flagship project for the transformation of BMW M cars towards electric mobility. It showcases the aim of the developers to not only preserve the unmistakable performance characteristics of BMW M models, but at the same time enrich them with new facets of driving pleasure. Driving a BMW M car, be it on the road or on the racetrack, will always remain an emotive experience, also with hybrid or fully electric powertrains.
The Management Board’s decision in favour of the LMDh project kicked off a very short and intensive development phase. BMW M Motorsport chose Dallara as chassis partner and decided which combustion engine to use as the base model for the hybrid powertrain. The roll-out of the BMW M Hybrid V8 took place on 25th July 2022 on the Dallara test track at Varano de’ Melegari followed by an intensive test programme, first in Europe and from September 2022 in North America, where BMW M Team RLL will race with two cars in 2023. During a launch event at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles on 22nd September 2022, the works livery and the drivers for the 2023 IMSA season were presented to the public.
While BMW M Team RLL will race the BMW M Hybrid V8 in North America from 2023, BMW M Team WRT will prepare for the debut of the car in the FIA WEC in 2024.
The preparation of the BMW M Hybrid V8 for its entry into the FIA WEC in 2024 continued this week with three days of testing at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The BMW M Team WRT gained further valuable insights on its home track from Wednesday to Friday. Simultaneously, BMW M Motorsport tested the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, the improved successor to the current...
The preparation of the BMW M Hybrid V8 for its entry into the FIA WEC in 2024 continued this week with three days of testing at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The BMW M Team WRT gained further valuable insights on its home track from Wednesday to Friday. Simultaneously, BMW M Motorsport tested the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, the improved successor to the current BMW M4 GT3. This upgraded version of the vehicle will compete from the 2025 season onwards.
Spa-Francorchamps. The preparation of the BMW M Hybrid V8 for its entry into the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in 2024 continued this week with three days of testing at Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The BMW M Team WRT gained further valuable insights on its home track from Wednesday to Friday. Simultaneously, BMW M Motorsport tested the BMW M4 GT3 EVO, the improved successor to the current BMW M4 GT3. This upgraded version of the vehicle will compete from the 2025 season onwards .
In total, eight BMW M works drivers shared the testing duties with both vehicles. Robin Frijns (NED), Maxime Martin (BEL), René Rast (GER), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) were behind the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8. Particularly Yelloly, as regular driver, and Wittmann, who participated at Daytona and Sebring (both USA), brought their experience from the race outings of the LMDh prototype in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2023. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Jens Klingmann (GER) and Bruno Spengler (CAN) shared duties testing the BMW M4 GT3 EVO.
The efforts of the BMW M Team WRT with the carbon-black BMW M Hybrid V8 focused on optimising systems and performance. Like most drivers, the Belgian team is still at the stage of getting acquainted with and understanding the intricacies of the complex vehicle.
The BMW M4 GT3 EVO starts its testing phase early. BMW M Motorsport will utilise the remainder of the 2023 season and the entirety of the 2024 season for intensive work on refining the already highly successful BMW M4 GT3. Emphasis will be on expanding vehicle functionalities, enhancing component reliability, improving handling for the teams, and further enhancing drivability.
Reactions after the test:
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“Over the past weekend, the focus was clearly on the IMSA race weekend in Virginia. It's incredible how successful the BMW M Motorsport teams presented themselves in all the racing series there. Congratulations to Paul Miller Racing and Turner Motorsport for their one-two result...
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“Over the past weekend, the focus was clearly on the IMSA race weekend in Virginia. It's incredible how successful the BMW M Motorsport teams presented themselves in all the racing series there. Congratulations to Paul Miller Racing and Turner Motorsport for their one-two result in the GTD class with the BMW M4 GT3! This marks the fifth class win for Paul Miller Racing in this IMSA season, which is a fantastic record that all team members can be very proud of. Now, in the final two races, the goal is to clinch the well-deserved championship title. I wish them the best of luck for that! I was also greatly pleased with the wins and podium finishes for the BMW M4 GT4 in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge and the VP Racing SportsCar Challenge. Congratulations to Turner Motorsport and Stephen Cameron Racing!”
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IMSA Series: Paul Miller Racing and Turner Motorsport celebrate double victory.
During the past weekend, as part of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA Series), the GT3 cars exclusively took the stage for the second time this season at Virginia International Raceway (USA). In the GTD class, the BMW M4 GT3 was clearly dominant. Paul Miller Racing, with Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers (both USA), impressively secured their fifth class win of the season, setting a new IMSA record in the process. At the end of the 2 hour and 40 minutes race, the #1 BMW M4 GT3 finished third overall and as class winner, more than twelve seconds ahead of Turner Motorsport’s #96 BMW M4 GT3. Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (both USA) showcased their fuel-saving skills and sealed the one-two result for the BMW M Motorsport teams as the second-placed finishers. Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull (both USA) were positioned third in Turner Motorsport’s #97 BMW M4 GT3 until shortly before the finish, but had to concede one position, narrowly missing the GTD podium. With two races left in the season, Paul Miller Racing is on the verge of defending their title in the IMSA Sprint Cup and leads the GTD class driver and team standings significantly. BMW holds the top spot in the manufacturer standings. The next IMSA race is scheduled for 17th September at Indianapolis (USA), where BMW M Team RLL with the BMW M Hybrid V8 will rejoin the action.
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Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“After yet another fantastic weekend of racing, I am delighted to congratulate our BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers on wins with all our cars. Samantha Tan Racing recorded a first class win in the GT World Challenge America with the BMW M4 GT3 and Racing Trevor enjoyed success...
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
“After yet another fantastic weekend of racing, I am delighted to congratulate our BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers on wins with all our cars. Samantha Tan Racing recorded a first class win in the GT World Challenge America with the BMW M4 GT3 and Racing Trevor enjoyed success in the ESET Cup Series. The BMW M4 GT4 first set the scene of the weekend in the GT World Challenge Asia, before carrying BMW M Team Studie to the title on Sunday. The BMW M4 GT4 was also successful at Road America and at the Lausitzring. The BMW M2 CS Racing performed well in the BMW M2 Cup and in the TC America, delivering some thrilling race action. I am looking forward to even more in the weeks ahead!”
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GTWC/GT/GT4/TC America: Samantha Tan Racing celebrates first win.
At the race weekend in the Fanatec GT World Challenge America Powered by AWS at Road America (USA), Samantha Tan (CAN) celebrated her first class win in the competitive racing series. Alongside BMW M works driver and BMW Junior Team member Neil Verhagen (USA) in the Samantha Tan Racing #38 BMW M4 GT3, she claimed third place overall in the second race, which was victory in the Pro-Am category. The duo had secured fourth place in Saturday’s race, finishing second in their class. On Saturday, second place on the overall podium went to Bill Auberlen and Chandler Hull (USA) from the BimmerWorld team. They endured some very bad luck on Sunday, forced to retire from the lead just before the end of the race by a problem with their #94 BMW M4 GT3.
In the GT4 America, the BMW M4 GT4 claimed five out of a possible six spots on the podium and some class wins. Zac Anderson (USA) produced the performance of the weekend. In both races, he drove the Auto Technic Racing #51 BMW M4 GT4 on his own, as his team-mate John Capestro-Dubets (USA) was unable to compete due to a back injury. This additional burden did not impinge upon his success, as he won Sunday’s race and reached the rostrum again on Saturday by finishing third. Kevin Boehm and Kenton Koch (both USA) finished second in both races in the Random Vandals Racing #92 BMW M4 GT4. The BimmerWorld duo James Walker Jr. / Tyler McQuarrie (both USA) secured third place overall on Sunday, which was the Pro-Am class win. In both races, the BimmerWorld #36 BMW M4 GT4, driven by Charlie Postins and James Clay (both USA), proved unbeatable in the Am category. In the GT America, John Roberts (USA) finished seventh and tenth for Fast Track Racing in the GT4 class.
The BMW M2 CS Racing dominated proceedings once again in the TC America. Five cars were racing for the lead in the two races, with victory on both occasions going to Colin Garrett (USA) from the Rooster Hall Racing team. Lucas Catania (USA) from the Rigid Speed Company team finished behind him in second place in both races. The third podium spot went to Aaron Kaplan (USA) on Saturday and Kenny Schmied (USA) on Sunday.
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Back in the day (1999) there was a PC and Playstation video game called "Need for Speed" and it had quite a few versions, specifically version 3 (Hot Pursuit) and version 4 (High Stakes). I was making (as best I could, they weren't that good) cars that you could download and play in the game. Also, I was modifying tracks so that you could...
Back in the day (1999) there was a PC and Playstation video game called "Need for Speed" and it had quite a few versions, specifically version 3 (Hot Pursuit) and version 4 (High Stakes). I was making (as best I could, they weren't that good) cars that you could download and play in the game. Also, I was modifying tracks so that you could download and play a custom track in the game as well. I even did a track modeled after Sebring International Raceway (I'll have to see if I still have it). Also, there were good friends, NFS Will and Nicolas LaFortune whom both helped make me make cars and tracks. Going to be working on bringing this back over the next few days...standby...
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Special thanks to Identifont for assistance re-acquiring the font used in the logo, Venus Rising.
