2024 FIA WEC

Bahrain International Circuit (BRN), 3rd November 2024. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, Bahrain Rookie Test, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, Valentino Rossi, Dan Harper, Max Hesse, Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse.

FIA WEC Rookie Test: Rossi, Harper, and Hesse enthusiastic about the BMW M Hybrid V8.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Sunday November 3, 2024

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.

Bahrain International Circuit (BRN), 30th October - 2nd November 2024. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, 8 Hours of Bahrain, Season Finale, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann.

FIA WEC Bahrain: BMW M Hybrid V8 fights for podium again in turbulent season finale.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Saturday November 2, 2024

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.

Fuji (JPN), 12-15 September 2024. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, 6 Hours of Fuji, Fuji International Speedway, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann.

FIA WEC season finale: Double duty for Valentino Rossi in Bahrain – LMGT3 race and Rookie Test in Hypercar.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Thursday October 24, 2024

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 2^nd 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, 2^nd November, at 12:00 CET (14:00 local time).

Comments before the 8 Hours of Bahrain:

Huge cheers in Fuji! BMW M Team WRT celebrates first podium for the BMW M Hybrid V8 in FIA WEC.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Sunday September 15, 2024

Sensational Sunday for BMW M Team WRT in Fuji (JPN)! In the seventh and penultimate race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 achieved the first overall podium for BMW M Motorsport in the history of the World Endurance Championship.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Fuji. Sensational Sunday for BMW M Team WRT in Fuji (JPN)! In the seventh and penultimate race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 achieved the first overall podium for BMW M Motorsport in the history of the World Endurance Championship. Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) first celebrated second place together on the podium and then with the entire team, which did a perfect job over the weekend. There was also a champagne shower in the LMGT3 class. Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi (ITA) topped off a spectacular comeback from twelfth on the grid to third place on the podium.

Austin (USA), 30 August - 1 September 2024. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, Lone Star Le Mans, Circuit of The Americas, COTA, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, Robin Frijns, René Rast, Sheldon van der Linde.

FIA WEC: BMW M Team WRT shows strong pace in Austin with both BMW M Hybrid V8.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Tuesday September 3, 2024

BMW M Team WRT showed strong pace with both BMW M Hybrid V8s at the third-to-last race of the season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), battling for a podium position over long stretches. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 fell back to 14th place late in the race due to two penalties. The sister car, number 15, achieved its best result of the season so far, finishing in eighth place.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Austin. BMW M Team WRT showed strong pace with both BMW M Hybrid V8s at the third-to-last race of the season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), battling for a podium position over long stretches. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 fell back to 14th place late in the race due to two penalties. The sister car, number 15, achieved its best result of the season so far, finishing in eighth place. In the LMGT3 class, the #31 BMW M4 GT3 crossed the finish line in fifth place. The number 46 car, after a strong performance, retired shortly before the end with a technical failure.