BMW M Motorsport experienced the full range of emotions that this legendary event has to offer during its comeback in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) after 25 years. After a turbulent race under challenging weather conditions, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) in the Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3...
BMW M Motorsport experienced the full range of emotions that this legendary event has to offer during its comeback in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) after 25 years. After a turbulent race under challenging weather conditions, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) in the Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3 celebrated second place on the LMGT3 podium.
Le Mans. BMW M Motorsport experienced the full range of emotions that this legendary event has to offer during its comeback in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) after 25 years. After a turbulent race under challenging weather conditions, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) in the Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3 celebrated second place on the LMGT3 podium. It was the first time since 2011 that a BMW crew has celebrated on the podium at Le Mans. In the Hypercar class, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 and the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car had strong pace but were – like the #46 BMW M4 GT3 – taken out of the race by accidents .
Video: Statements from Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, and the #31 drivers: https://b.mw/Le_Mans_Interviews (secure connection failed at the time of publishing this article)
BMW M Motorsport celebrated its return to the mecca of endurance racing with an extensive programme for fans and guests. The focus was on the 20th BMW Art Car, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 designed by artist Julie Mehretu, and on the sporting performance of BMW M Team WRT, which is fielding two Hypercars and two LMGT3 cars at Le Mans and throughout the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season.
A spectacular week began with scrutineering in the city centre and ended on Sunday after 24 turbulent racing hours with a podium for the #31 BMW M4 GT3 in the LMGT3 category. Farfus, Gelael, and Leung maintained their composure despite adverse weather conditions including occasional heavy rain showers that even led to a multi-hour safety car period during the night. They made no mistakes and were rewarded with second place. The trio, which won the 6 Hours of Imola (ITA) earlier this season, is the first BMW crew since 2011 to make it onto the podium at Le Mans. The sister #46 car, driven by Maxime Martin (BEL), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), was very well placed in the race for the LMGT3 victory before Al Harthy slid into the track barrier on a wet track during the night.
In the Hypercar class, both car crews, after strong pace in all sessions, could not fulfill hopes for top places. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, which had made it to Hyperpole thanks to Dries Vanthoor's (BEL) fastest qualifying time, retired after a severe accident on Saturday evening. Vanthoor was pushed off the track by a Ferrari at around 300 km/h on the straight and hit the track barrier hard. Fortunately, Vanthoor was unharmed, but the race was over for the car, which had been making its way back into the top ten after an early spin. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car had also fought its way into the top ten from 16th on the grid when Robin Frijns (NED) lost control and crashed into the tyre barriers. To honour the Art Car project and reward the WRT team for their hard work, the car returned to the track shortly before the end after a long repair break and crossed the finish line.
Comments after the 24 Hours of Le Mans:
First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured sixth place on the grid for the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the battle for pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA).
Le Mans. First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured...
First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured sixth place on the grid for the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the battle for pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA).
Le Mans. First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured sixth place on the grid for the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the battle for pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA). With first place and the fastest time after an outstanding lap on Wednesday, Vanthoor exceeded all expectations. On Thursday, he was fast again in the Hyperpole but had a slip into the tyre barriers that ended his time chase. Nonetheless, he put himself and his driving colleagues Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Marco Wittmann (GER) in a good starting position for the race.
Video Interviews: Current statements from Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, and Dries Vanthoor on qualifying: https://b.mw/Le_Mans_Interviews (link fails secure connection at the time of publishing this article)
While Vanthoor managed to qualify the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 for the Hyperpole, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car will start the race from the 16th position on the grid. In the LMGT3 category, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 qualified in twelfth place, while the #31 BMW M4 GT3 took the 15th spot.
The 24 Hours of Le Mans begin on Saturday at 16:00 CEST. On Friday afternoon, the famous drivers' parade will take place in the city center of Le Mans.
Comments on the qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans:
Setting out its stall as a textbook purveyor of driving pleasure for the purist, the new BMW M2 (fuel consumption, combined: 9.8 – 9.6 l/ 100 km [28.8 – 29.4 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions, combined: 223 – 218 g/km in the WLTP cycle, CO2 class: G) raises the bar for compact high-performance sports cars in the premium segment. Indeed, it elevates the...
Setting out its stall as a textbook purveyor of driving pleasure for the purist, the new BMW M2 (fuel consumption, combined: 9.8 – 9.6 l/ 100 km [28.8 – 29.4 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions, combined: 223 – 218 g/km in the WLTP cycle, CO2 class: G) raises the bar for compact high-performance sports cars in the premium segment. Indeed, it elevates the performance experience in this vehicle class to a whole new level. The new BMW M2 lines up with even more power, greater visual impact than ever and innovative equipment features. Front and centre of this fresh round of updates to the car is the 15 kW/20 hp added to its output: the high-revving six-cylinder in-line petrol engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology now tops out at 353 kW/480 hp. And then there are the new design accents for the exterior, an updated interior and the introduction of BMW Operating System 8.5 to underpin the latest generation of BMW iDrive.
- View all photos in the gallery: The New BMW M2
Setting out its stall as a textbook purveyor of driving pleasure for the purist, the new BMW M2 (fuel consumption, combined: 9.8 – 9.6 l/ 100 km [28.8 – 29.4 mpg imp]; CO2 emissions, combined: 223 – 218 g/km in the WLTP cycle, CO2 class: G) raises the bar for compact high-performance sports cars in the premium segment. Indeed, it elevates the performance experience in this vehicle class to a whole new level. The new BMW M2 lines up with even more power, greater visual impact than ever and innovative equipment features. Front and centre of this fresh round of updates to the car is the 15 kW/20 hp added to its output: the high-revving six-cylinder in-line petrol engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology now tops out at 353 kW/480 hp. And then there are the new design accents for the exterior, an updated interior and the introduction of BMW Operating System 8.5 to underpin the latest generation of BMW iDrive.
The package of updates for the elite compact sports car makes the first step into the world of high-performance models at BMW M GmbH even more attractive. The new BMW M2 takes its drive concept of a straight-six engine, six-speed manual gearbox (optional) and classical rear-wheel drive – a unique proposition among its rivals – to a new stage of evolution. In combination with its compact dimensions, chassis technology tuned perfectly for both everyday road driving and track use, and a state-of-the-art operating concept allowing individualisation of the car setup, this makes the new M2 ideally equipped to write the next chapter in the BMW M brand’s history of success in this segment.
The new BMW M2 will be built alongside the new BMW 2 Series Coupé at BMW Group Plant San Luis Potosí in Mexico. It will be launched worldwide with a production phase-in from August 2024. More than 40 per cent of total sales will be recorded in Europe. The most important single market will be the USA, followed by Germany, China, Great Britain and Japan.
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.
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"Over the past weeks, we had many successes of the...
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.
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"Over the past weeks, we had many successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers to celebrate at the 24h Nürburgring as well as in renowned GT series such as the DTM, ADAC GT Masters, and ADAC GT4 Germany. There was also plenty of reason for joy in numerous other racing series worldwide. The BMW Italia Ceccato Racing team impressively continued its successful streak in the Italian GT Championship with the BMW M4 GT3. In North America, things did not go as well as usual, but we were able to witness strong results of the BMW M4 GT4 in Asia and Australia. I congratulate all participants! Off the racetrack, our highlight was the presentation of the EVO models of the BMW M4 GT3 and BMW M4 GT4 at the Nürburgring. We look forward to being able to provide more details about the new BMW M4 GT4 model in just a few weeks on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps."
The spell is broken! Marco Wittmann (GER) celebrated his first victory since the season finale in 2022 at Hockenheim (GER) after a dramatic comeback in Sunday's DTM race at Zandvoort (NED). Wittmann fought his way from 14th on the grid to the front and defended his lead in spectacular fashion. It was also the first season win for Schubert...
The spell is broken! Marco Wittmann (GER) celebrated his first victory since the season finale in 2022 at Hockenheim (GER) after a dramatic comeback in Sunday's DTM race at Zandvoort (NED). Wittmann fought his way from 14th on the grid to the front and defended his lead in spectacular fashion. It was also the first season win for Schubert Motorsport and the BMW M4 GT3.
Zandvoort. The spell is broken! Marco Wittmann (GER) celebrated his first victory since the season finale in 2022 at Hockenheim (GER) after a dramatic comeback in Sunday's DTM race at Zandvoort (NED). Wittmann fought his way from 14th on the grid to the front and defended his lead in spectacular fashion. It was also the first season win for Schubert Motorsport and the BMW M4 GT3. In Saturday's race, René Rast (GER) secured the team's first podium of the year with a second-place finish. Wittmann's victory marked the crowning conclusion of an extraordinary weekend for the BMW M Motorsport DTM drivers .
Zandvoort, Le Mans, Zandvoort. For Wittmann, Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), the race weekend was marked by two highlights: the DTM races in Zandvoort and the test for the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA). Immediately after the trio's return from France on Sunday, Wittmann clinched his 19th victory in the DTM. Rast stood on the podium for the 51st time in his DTM career on Saturday.
Wittmann started Sunday from position 14 but was able to use the strong performance of the BMW M4 GT3 to work his way forward. After his pit stop, he was in the lead, which he defended in a hard duel against Mirko Bortolotti (ITA, Lamborghini). His car’s left rear tyre was damaged and smoke developed. Fortunately, the tyre held up until the end of the race, and Wittmann was able to celebrate on the podium. In Saturday's race, the two-time DTM champion had driven from 17th on the grid to seventh.
Rast fought his way up from seventh position to second place on the podium on Saturday. A day later, he finished seventh from the last starting position. Van der Linde finished both races in sixth and eighth places. On Sunday, he made up nine places in his #31 BMW M4 GT3.
In the ADAC GT Masters, the FK Performance Motorsport duo of Maxime Oosten (NED) and Leon Köhler (GER) in the #54 BMW M4 GT3 celebrated their second season victory. On Sunday, they drove from fifth on the grid to the front and reduced their deficit in the overall standings to just eight points. In the first race on Saturday, Oosten and Köhler had fought their way forward from the last starting position to fifth after problems in qualifying. In the sister #10 car, Gregory de Sybourg (SUI) and Eduardo Coseteng (PHI) finished twelfth and ninth.
Comments after the races:
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