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:
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “In Bahrain, our debut season with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the FIA WEC comes to an end. We look back on a year with ups and downs but can see a clear upward trend in the last races. The first podium at Fuji was a great motivation for the entire team, and we will do everything we can to set another highlight in Bahrain. This also applies to our BMW M4 GT3, which is still fighting for second place in the overall standings. I am also looking forward to seeing how our three 'rookies' will perform on Sunday. They have prepared as best as they can in the BMW M Motorsport simulator. We are very pleased to be able to offer the three drivers this opportunity in the cockpit of the BMW M Hybrid V8.”
Marco Wittmann (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8): “I am really looking forward to my premiere in Bahrain. Especially the fact that we will be driving into the night is sure to create a great atmosphere. Since the track is new to me, it's hard to predict the race, but our goal is definitely to continue our upward trend in the last races and end the season with a strong result.”
Robin Frijns (BMW M Team WRT, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8): “It was an exciting first year for me with BMW M Motorsport in the FIA WEC. We have improved very strongly over the course of the season. We proved this with the podium for our sister car at Fuji and also before that in Austin with our strong performance in the race. In Bahrain, we want to take another small step and hopefully fight for a podium again. On this track traction and tyre management will be key. But it also offers overtaking opportunities, which will surely lead to some good duels. I'm looking forward to it.”
Valentino Rossi: “I am thrilled that I can test the Hypercar. We have been looking for a date for a long time, and now it has finally worked out. I really wanted to do this test to get a feel for what the BMW M Hybrid V8 can do. Many thanks to BMW M Motorsport for this opportunity. For me, the Hypercars are the MotoGP of prototype racing. They have a lot of power and are very impressive. I prepared in the BMW M Motorsport simulator and already got a first impression, but Sunday in Bahrain in the real car will be even more exciting. I am very curious to see what potential I have in the BMW M Hybrid V8.”
Dan Harper: “I am incredibly excited about the chance to drive the BMW M Hybrid V8 for the first time in a real test. I have already been at the wheel for an aerodynamics test, but that was really just straight-line driving. Many thanks to BMW M Motorsport for this fantastic opportunity and the trust in me. Honestly, I have not had any experience with prototypes or open-wheel cars in my career so this will be a big change for me. I have already noticed in the simulator how much higher the speeds are compared to the GT3. I'm not putting too much pressure on myself; I'm just trying to enjoy the test day as much as possible. To do this test with Max is something very special for both of us, as we have been on this path together through the BMW Junior Team from day one.”
Max Hesse: “I am also very excited to be able to take this step together with Dan after all our joint steps since 2020. During the season, I sat in the BMW M Motorsport simulator very often and contributed to the further development of the BMW M Hybrid V8 so it is of course very exciting for me to now be able to compare it to the real race car. I think that will bring me forward personally a lot, but it will also provide us with important insights for the upcoming simulator sessions to prepare the car for the 2025 season. I think it's important that we spend the entire week in Bahrain with the team and attend all the meetings. That way, we won't be starting from scratch on test day.”
