2024 FIA WEC

Detail shot of the 20th BMW Art Car by Julie Mehretu in the creation process. Photo: André Josselin and Tina Paffen © BMW AG

FIA WEC: The BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car will bear the starting number 20 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Tuesday February 6, 2024

The countdown for the unveiling of the 20th BMW Art Car is underway. On 21st May, the BMW M Hybrid V8, designed by artist Julie Mehretu and set to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15th/16th June, will be presented at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. The artist is already providing glimpses into her work. Additionally, it is now confirmed that the Art Car will carry the starting number 20.

Munich. The countdown for the unveiling of the 20th BMW Art Car is underway. On 21st May, the BMW M Hybrid V8, designed by artist Julie Mehretu and set to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15th/16th June, will be presented at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. The artist is already providing glimpses into her work. Additionally, it is now confirmed that the Art Car will carry the starting number 20 and will be driven by Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Robin Frijns (NED), and René Rast (GER).

The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 will be the first Art Car since the 2017 season, where the BMW M6 GTLM designed by John Baldessari raced at the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA), followed by the virtual BMW M6 GT3 Art Car by Cao Fei at the FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN). In the past, the most famous BMW Art Cars have participated in Le Mans: in 1975, Alexander Calder’s BMW 3.0 CSL, in 1976, Frank Stella’s BMW 3.0 CSL, in 1977, Roy Lichtenstein’s BMW 320i Turbo, in 1979, Andy Warhol’s BMW M1, in 1999, Jenny Holzer’s BMW V12 LMR, and in 2010, Jeff Koons’ BMW M3 GT2. This illustrious collection is now enriched by Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8.

BMW M Motorsport, Ahmad Al-Harthy (OMA)

BMW M Team WRT presents BMW M4 GT3 drivers for the FIA WEC and GT World Challenge Europe.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday February 2, 2024

During a media event at Spa (BEL), BMW M Team WRT introduced the BMW M4 GT3 drivers for the 2024 season in the LMGT3 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS (GTWC).

Spa. During a media event at Spa (BEL), BMW M Team WRT introduced the BMW M4 GT3 drivers for the 2024 season in the LMGT3 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS (GTWC). BMW M works driver Maxime Martin (BEL) will participate in both the FIA WEC and GTWC alongside Valentino Rossi (ITA). In the LMGT3 class, the line-up is completed by three drivers: Sean Gelael (INA), Ahmad Al-Harthy (OMA), and Darren Leung (GBR). In the GTWC, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) will contest the entire season, joined by Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Jens Klingmann (GER) in the Endurance Cup.

The FIA WEC regulations stipulate that each LMGT3 car must have drivers from all FIA categories. Specifically, this means that in addition to a driver with Platinum or Gold status, a Silver and a Bronze-rated driver must form the crew of a car. In the BMW M Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M factory driver Augusto Farfus (BRA) shares the cockpit with Silver driver Sean Gelael, BMW M Ambassador for Indonesia, and Bronze driver Darren Leung. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, alongside Silver-rated Valentino Rossi (ITA), Maxime Martin and Ahmad Al-Harthy will be in action.

In the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts, as an established duo, are aiming for the title. They participate in both the Sprint Cup and the Endurance Cup. For the endurance races, including the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), they will be supported by Sheldon van der Linde. Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Raffaele Marciello compete in the Endurance Cup, with Rossi and Martin also participating in selected Sprint Cup events. Klingmann will compete in the Bronze class of the Endurance Cup together with Al-Harthy and Sam de Haan (GBR).

ROWE Racing to compete in GT World Challenge Europe and the 24h Nürburgring again in 2024.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Thursday February 1, 2024

ROWE Racing will once again represent BMW M Motorsport in the 2024 season at the two major endurance classics at the Nürburgring (GER) and Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The goal is defending the title in the Ardennes and, after finishing second in 2023, launching an assault on the second Nürburgring triumph after 2020

Munich. ROWE Racing will once again represent BMW M Motorsport in the 2024 season at the two major endurance classics at the Nürburgring (GER) and Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The goal is defending the title in the Ardennes and, after finishing second in 2023, launching an assault on the second Nürburgring triumph after 2020. Similar to last year, the team led by team manager Hans-Peter Naundorf will compete in the five races of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup with two BMW M4 GT3s. Two cars will also be in action on the Nordschleife.

In the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) aim to defend their jointly achieved victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 2023. They will share the cockpit of a BMW M4 GT3 in four races of the Fanatec GT Endurance Cup. Due to a schedule clash between the event at Monza (ITA) in September and the IMSA Indianapolis (USA) race, Eng and Yelloly cannot compete together with Wittmann that weekend. The driver line-up for that race will be announced at a later date.

In the team’s other BMW M4 GT3, Dan Harper (GBR) and Max Hesse (GER) will once again hit the track. Augusto Farfus (BRA) joins as the third driver, returning to ROWE Racing. He first raced with the squad in 2022 and in 2023, he competed for the team at the Nürburgring and in Macau (CHN). Farfus reunites with Hesse and Harper, with whom he previously shared the cockpit as a mentor of the BMW Junior Team on the Nordschleife.

For the 24 Hours at the Nürburgring, seven BMW M works drivers will compete in the two BMW M4 GT3s. Alongside GTWC drivers Wittmann and Farfus, these are Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Maxime Martin, Dries Vanthoor (both BEL), and the two new additions Robin Frijns (NED) and Raffaele Marciello (SUI).

GTD PRO podium for the BMW M4 GT3 – Technical problems set back BMW M Hybrid V8s.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Tuesday January 30, 2024

At the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series), the Daytona 24 Hours (USA), the BMW M Team RLL missed the hoped-for podium finishes with the BMW M Hybrid V8.

Daytona. At the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series), the Daytona 24 Hours (USA), the BMW M Team RLL missed the hoped-for podium finishes with the BMW M Hybrid V8. Although the two LMDh cars were able to keep up with the speed of their competitors and stay in the leading group of the GTP category until into the night, technical problems then set both prototypes back. Paul Miller Racing had reason to celebrate. The North American BMW M Motorsport team finished third on the podium in the GTD PRO class

Laguna Seca (USA), 29 April - 1st May. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, BMW M4 GT3, GTD class, Turner Motorsport, Bill Auberlen.

BMW M Motorsport introduces the works driver line-up for the 2024 season.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday January 19, 2024

The BMW M Motorsport works driver line-up for the 2024 season has been confirmed. A total of 22 top-rated drivers from twelve nations will be racing around the world as BMW M works drivers.

Munich. The BMW M Motorsport works driver line-up for the 2024 season has been confirmed. A total of 22 top-rated drivers from twelve nations will be racing around the world as BMW M works drivers. Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Robin Frijns (NED) are the two top-quality newcomers. The North American works drivers Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley and Madison Snow (all USA) are also fixtures in the line-up for 2024.

Having recorded numerous successes in endurance racing and titles in a number of race series, Marciello and Frijns are now joining BMW M Motorsport. In addition to battling for overall wins with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the FIA World Endurance Championship, they will prove to be valuable additions in GT3 racing. This versatility is a defining feature of the whole line-up of BMW M works drivers.