2025 FIA WEC

Abu Dhabi (UAE), 5 March 2025. BMW M Motorsport, Shell, partnership, contract, signature, Yas Marina Circuit, Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, Aysun Akik, Vice President of New Business Development and Global Key Accounts, Shell Lubricants
Abu Dhabi (UAE), 5 March 2025. BMW M Motorsport, Shell, partnership, contract, signature, Yas Marina Circuit, Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, Aysun Akik, Vice President of New Business Development and Global Key Accounts, Shell Lubricants

Joint venture into the second decade: Shell and BMW M Motorsport renew and expand partnership.

Since the 2015 season, Shell and BMW M Motorsport have been partners and have celebrated many successes together. Now, the collaboration is entering a new decade with the extension and simultaneous expansion of their joint contract.

Laura Claesgens
BMW Group

Munich. Since the 2015 season, Shell and BMW M Motorsport have been partners and have celebrated many successes together. Now, the collaboration is entering a new decade with the extension and simultaneous expansion of their joint contract. Shell is the Premium Technology, Innovation, and, in the future, also the Energy Partner of BMW M Motorsport. The partnership is visible worldwide in the biggest racing series, including the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IWSC). The collaboration extends far beyond just the racing events.

Abu Dhabi (UAE), 5 March 2025. BMW M Motorsport, Shell, partnership, contract, signature, Yas Marina Circuit, Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, Aysun Akik, Vice President of New Business Development and Global Key Accounts, Shell Lubricants
Abu Dhabi (UAE), 5 March 2025. BMW M Motorsport, Shell, partnership, contract, signature, Yas Marina Circuit, Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH, Aysun Akik, Vice President of New Business Development and Global Key Accounts, Shell Lubricants

Ten days ago, Shell and BMW M Motorsport celebrated the renewal of their partnership with the spectacular design of the #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 at the FIA WEC season opener in Qatar. The LMDh car will compete in the entire World Championship season, including the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), adorned in Shell's colours. BMW M works driver Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) remains the face of Shell in the cockpit of the BMW M Motorsport race cars. He will be a regular driver for the complete seasons in FIA WEC and IWSC. In both racing series, Shell prominently appears as a partner of BMW M Motorsport, highlighting the global dimension of the collaboration. Together with van der Linde, Shell celebrated its greatest sporting success in 2022 when the young South African became the DTM champion driving the Shell BMW M4 GT3.

Starting from the 2025 season, Shell will simultaneously be the Premium Technology, Innovation, and now also the Energy Partner of BMW M Motorsport. Accordingly, BMW M Motorsport exclusively uses and promotes Shell products such as Shell Helix and Shell EV Plus. As part of their technology and development partnership, Shell and BMW M Motorsport are working on joint future projects. These include more sustainable lubricants, e-fluids for electric vehicles, and innovative fuel and energy concepts for motorsport projects. As Shell is also the official partner of the BMW M Trackdays, BMW M customers also enjoy the Shell premium products.

Lusail (QAT), 21st to 22nd February 2025. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, Official Prologue, Qatar, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns.
Lusail (QAT), 21st to 22nd February 2025. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, Official Prologue, Qatar, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns.

Franciscus van Meel (CEO of BMW M GmbH): “Without strong partners like Shell, engagements by BMW M in series production and BMW M Motorsport in racing are unthinkable. The fact that we can look back on ten years of collaboration is extraordinary – and I am very pleased that we are now reaching the next level together. In addition to close collaboration within our current racing programmes, the development of new future technologies in both the racing and series production sectors is crucial. As mobility and thus the entire automotive industry are changing rapidly, it requires partners who share our pursuit of innovation and perfection. This is absolutely the case with Shell.“

Aysun Akik (Vice President of New Business Development and Global Key Accounts, Shell Lubricants): “This announcement marks an exciting milestone in our unwavering partnership with BMW M Motorsport. Over the last decade, we have been pushing the boundaries together celebrating successes in major race series all over the world. As the number one lubricants supplier, Shell will continue to deliver quality solutions and together with BMW M Motorsport, help bring the pleasure of driving to customers globally.”

Lusail (QAT), 25th to 28th February 2025. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, Qatar, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns.
Lusail (QAT), 25th to 28th February 2025. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, Qatar, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns.

FIA WEC: Strong season-opener for the BMW M Hybrid V8 – BMW M4 GT3 EVO scores podium at debut.

At the season-opener of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Qatar, the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO delivered strong performances, making a significant impact in the competition against the world's top manufacturers.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Doha. At the season-opener of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Qatar, the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO delivered strong performances, making a significant impact in the competition against the world's top manufacturers. The two BMW M Team WRT hypercars finished in fourth and seventh places respectively, earning valuable points for the World Championship standings. In the LMGT3 class, the #31 The Bend Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO achieved a podium finish, coming in third .

At the start of its second season in the FIA WEC, the BMW M Hybrid V8 demonstrated strong pace. In qualifying, Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured a spot on the front row with a second-place finish in 1:38.495 minutes – a first for the hypercar, missing pole position by just 0.136 seconds. Robin Frijns (NED) also made it into the top-ten Hyperpole with the sister car.

During the race, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 initially fell back, but the team, including Vanthoor, Kevin Magnussen (DEN), and Raffaele Marciello (SUI), fought their way back to the top positions with strong lap times over the ten-hour race. In the end, only the three Ferraris, which battled among themselves for the win, were faster. The #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Frijns, René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), was at one point in third place but finished seventh due to varying strategies.

In the LMGT3 class, a BMW M Motorsport crew celebrated a podium finish. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Timur Boguslavskiy, and Yasser Shahin (AUS) drove the #31 The Bend Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO to third place, mounting a remarkable comeback from 14th on the grid after a setback in qualifying. The #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, piloted by Kelvin van der Linde (RSA), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), faced challenges and finished eleventh in the LMGT3 class.

Comments after the race:

Lusail (QAT), 21st to 22nd February 2025. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, Official Prologue, Qatar, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns.
Lusail (QAT), 21st to 22nd February 2025. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, Official Prologue, Qatar, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns.

FIA WEC: BMW M Hybrid V8 and BMW M4 GT3 EVO complete many test laps at the Prologue in Qatar.

On the weekend before the season opener of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Qatar, four BMW M Motorsport cars completed numerous test laps during the Prologue at the Lusail Circuit. The BMW M Hybrid V8 made a strong impression and set the fastest time. The two hypercars and the two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs were presented for the first time in their new designs.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Doha. On the weekend before the season opener of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Qatar, four BMW M Motorsport cars completed numerous test laps during the Prologue at the Lusail Circuit. The BMW M Hybrid V8 made a strong impression and set the fastest time. The two hypercars and the two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs were presented for the first time in their new designs .


secure network sites

CORVETTEsport.net

the Deep House Podcast Archive

Corvette Brotherhood (Official)

Corvette Brotherhood (Page)

Corvette Brotherhood Social Club (Group)

LP Corvette

Stingray Painting

-Special Thanks-

Special thanks to Identifont for assistance re-acquiring the font used in the logo, Venus Rising.

    pageviews today: 1797 | yesterday: 3457 | this year: 173744 | since 02/01/2022: 1648678