Following the mega-event of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) heads into the second half of the season this coming weekend with the 6 Hours of São Paulo (BRA).
São Paulo. Following the mega-event of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) heads into the second half of the season this coming weekend with the 6 Hours of São Paulo (BRA). In the Hypercar class, BMW M Team WRT will compete with two BMW M Hybrid V8 cars. The goal is to translate the strong pace shown by the car at Le Mans into good results and to collect important points for the overall standings. In the LMGT3 category, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) are aiming for the World Championship title after their victory at Imola (ITA) and a second place at Le Mans most recently. For Farfus, who was born in Curitiba (BRA), a very special home race awaits.
It has been 14 years since Farfus last competed in races for BMW in his home country of Brazil – in 2010 in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC). Now he returns with his fellow drivers in the #31 BMW M4 GT3 to fight for the World Championship lead in the LMGT3 class. The trio is just two points behind the leaders with 73 points. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Maxime Martin (BEL), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) will take turns.
In the Hypercar class, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, as well as Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) in the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, aim to achieve good positions after disappointing results at Le Mans. With the fastest qualifying time at Le Mans, the car has proved it can keep up with the best, and now the team aims to regain the consistency in the race that was lacking last time.
The 6 Hours of São Paulo will start on Sunday, 14th July, at 16:30 CEST (11:30 local time).
Note to editors.
On Friday, at 18:15 local time in the paddock, there will be a ‘Meet the Team’ event with all drivers, Head of BMW M Motorsport Andreas Roos, and WRT Team Principal Vincent Vosse. All accredited media representatives are invited.
Comments before the 6 Hours of São Paulo:
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “Even though we couldn't achieve the hoped-for good results in the Hypercar class at the highlight at Le Mans, we start optimistically into the second half of the FIA WEC season in São Paulo. The outcome of the Le Mans racewas disappointing, but the pace of the BMW M Hybrid V8 was encouraging. We have seen that if we get everything right as a team, we can keep up with the best already in our debut season. That is exactly our task for the remaining races. to get everything right. In the LMGT3 class, after the Le Mans podium with the #31 BMW M4 GT3, the goal is clear. If you are so close to the World Championship lead at the halfway point of the season, you naturally want to win the title.”
Vincent Vosse (Team Principal BMW M Team WRT): “The entire WRT team is very much looking forward to competing in South America for the first time – and at such an iconic place as Interlagos. With the BMW M Hybrid V8, it's about using the second half of the season for further progress and turning the significant performance improvements achieved since Qatar into results. From now on, our focus is also on the 2025 season. In the LMGT3 class, the mission for number 31 is clear: to win the World Championship title. For the #46 BMW M4 GT3, the goal is to achieve the first victory in the FIA WEC. The crew has not had the necessary racing luck so far this season. Hopefully, we can change that.”
Raffaele Marciello (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I am very much looking forward to racing at Interlagos for the first time. I have been there twice before, but as a reserve driver. The layout of the track is great, and I expect an interesting race. The weather conditions, which are predicted to be difficult, can also contribute to this. After the disappointing result at Le Mans, our goal is to have a solid race and score points.”
René Rast (BMW M Team WRT, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8): “A new track for me, which I only know from the gaming console. I am very excited to drive it now in the BMW M Hybrid V8, because for me personally, the layout is one of the best in the FIA WEC calendar. It is hard to assess where we stand sportingly. Le Mans was a setback, and it is supposed to rain next weekend. Therefore, the first thing will be to learn as much as possible under these new conditions. We will see what result we can achieve.”
Augusto Farfus (Team WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3): “This is a very eventful and emotional race week for me. I am extremely excited to race in my home country in front of my fans, friends, and family. The FIA WEC is currently very popular – also in Brazil. From a sporting perspective, we hope to maintain our strong momentum from our very strong race at Le Mans and to be able to achieve a similar – or even better – result. After all, we are fully involved in the fight for the World Championship title.”
