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Munich (GER), 24 June 2024. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, Intercontintental GT Challenge, 24h Spa-Francorchamps, BMW M Team WRT, BMW M4 GT3, centenary, livery, design.

100 Years of 24h Spa-Francorchamps: Record winner BMW M Motorsport begins mission to defend title.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Monday June 24, 2024

25 victories in 100 years: BMW M Motorsport has an impressive history of success at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). At the anniversary of the endurance classic, four BMW M4 GT3s are competing in the Pro category to achieve the 26th triumph for the BMW brand

Munich. 25 victories in 100 years: BMW M Motorsport has an impressive history of success at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). At the anniversary of the endurance classic, four BMW M4 GT3s are competing in the Pro category to achieve the 26th triumph for the BMW brand. For ROWE Racing, the #98 BMW M4 GT3, and the driver trio of Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR), the goal is to repeat last year's victory. BMW M Team WRT celebrates its home race in the Ardennes with cars in special designs. As part of the supporting programme, BMW M Motorsport will display winning cars from the past.

In total, the two BMW M Motorsport teams competing in the Pro category have already achieved five Spa victories – ROWE Racing three (2016, 2020, 2023) and BMW M Team WRT two (2011, 2014). While ROWE Racing is focused on defending its title, BMW M Team WRT aims to end a long dry spell at its home race and celebrate the first victory with the BMW M4 GT3 at one of the major endurance classics.

The trio that was victorious in 2023 remains unchanged. The cockpit of the ROWE Racing #98 BMW M4 GT3 will be shared by Eng, Wittmann, and Yelloly. The sister car with the #998, in the design of BMW M Motorsport partner MultiBank Group, will be driven by Augusto Farfus (BRA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER). These three won the season opener of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup in Le Castellet (FRA) in April and head to the Ardennes leading the overall standings.

For BMW M Team WRT, as in 2023, Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL) will race in the #32 BMW M4 GT3. In the number 46 car, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi (ITA) will take turns. The two cars in the Pro category will feature a special design to commemorate the event's 100th anniversary. The team is fielding a third car in the Bronze category. The #30 BMW M4 GT3 will be driven by BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER), Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Sam De Haan (GBR), and Calan Williams (AUS). In the Team Century Motorsport #991 BMW M4 GT3, which is also starting in the Bronze class, BMW M works driver Connor De Phillippi (USA) will race with Pedro Ebrahim (BRA), Darren Leung, and Toby Sowery (both GBR).

The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps starts on Saturday at 16:30 CEST. Ahead of the race, BMW M Motorsport and BMW Group Classic will present some historic winning cars during the traditional parade into the town of Spa, giving fans a glimpse of a BMW 635 CSi, a BMW 3.0 CSL and a BMW 1800 TI/SA.

Watkins Glen (USA), 21-23 June 2024. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, GTP, LMDh, #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team RLL, Nick Yelloly, Connor De Phillippi.

IMSA Watkins Glen: Turbulent weekend ends with fifth and sixth places for BMW M Team RLL.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Monday June 24, 2024

At the scene of the first victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship a year ago, the BMW M Team RLL #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 was once again in the spotlight – this time, however, for a different reason. After a practice accident on Saturday, the team managed a great feat by completely rebuilding the car overnight and sending it into the 6-hour race at “Watkins Glen International” (USA).

Watkins Glen. At the scene of the first victory in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship a year ago, the BMW M Team RLL #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 was once again in the spotlight – this time, however, for a different reason. After a practice accident on Saturday, the team managed a great feat by completely rebuilding the car overnight and sending it into the 6-hour race at “Watkins Glen International” (USA). After a turbulent race with numerous yellow phases, rain showers and a race interruption, the #25 car finished in sixth place – right behind the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8, which came in fifth .

Connor De Phillippi (USA) lost control of his car during practice and crashed into the track barrier. The BMW M Hybrid V8 was so heavily damaged that BMW M Team RLL had to resort to a different chassis and completely rebuild it overnight. Just minutes before the start the car rolled to the end of the pit lane, from where it started the race. Despite a drive-through penalty as a result of missing the formation lap, De Phillippi and Nick Yelloly (GBR) staged an impressive comeback that ended in sixth place. Philipp Eng (AUT) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) started from eighth place and worked their way up to fifth.

In the GTD class, Robby Foley, Patrick Gallagher and Jake Walker (all USA) drove the Turner Motorsport #96 BMW M4 GT3 into fifth place. In the GTD-PRO category, the Paul Miller Racing #1 BMW M4 GT3 with drivers Madison Snow, Bryan Sellers, and Neil Verhagen (all USA) was running well in the race for a long time, but fell to eighth place due to penalties in the restart phase just before the end.

Comments after the race:

Le Mans (FRA), 7-16 June 2024. FIA World Endurance Championship, 24h Le Mans, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann.

Emotional rollercoaster at Le Mans: #31 BMW M4 GT3 on the LMGT3 podium.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Sunday June 16, 2024

BMW M Motorsport experienced the full range of emotions that this legendary event has to offer during its comeback in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) after 25 years. After a turbulent race under challenging weather conditions, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) in the Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3 celebrated second place on the LMGT3 podium.

Le Mans. BMW M Motorsport experienced the full range of emotions that this legendary event has to offer during its comeback in the top class at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) after 25 years. After a turbulent race under challenging weather conditions, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) in the Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3 celebrated second place on the LMGT3 podium. It was the first time since 2011 that a BMW crew has celebrated on the podium at Le Mans. In the Hypercar class, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 and the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car had strong pace but were – like the #46 BMW M4 GT3 – taken out of the race by accidents .

Video: Statements from Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, and the #31 drivers: https://b.mw/Le_Mans_Interviews (secure connection failed at the time of publishing this article)

BMW M Motorsport celebrated its return to the mecca of endurance racing with an extensive programme for fans and guests. The focus was on the 20th BMW Art Car, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 designed by artist Julie Mehretu, and on the sporting performance of BMW M Team WRT, which is fielding two Hypercars and two LMGT3 cars at Le Mans and throughout the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season.

A spectacular week began with scrutineering in the city centre and ended on Sunday after 24 turbulent racing hours with a podium for the #31 BMW M4 GT3 in the LMGT3 category. Farfus, Gelael, and Leung maintained their composure despite adverse weather conditions including occasional heavy rain showers that even led to a multi-hour safety car period during the night. They made no mistakes and were rewarded with second place. The trio, which won the 6 Hours of Imola (ITA) earlier this season, is the first BMW crew since 2011 to make it onto the podium at Le Mans. The sister #46 car, driven by Maxime Martin (BEL), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), was very well placed in the race for the LMGT3 victory before Al Harthy slid into the track barrier on a wet track during the night.

In the Hypercar class, both car crews, after strong pace in all sessions, could not fulfill hopes for top places. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, which had made it to Hyperpole thanks to Dries Vanthoor's (BEL) fastest qualifying time, retired after a severe accident on Saturday evening. Vanthoor was pushed off the track by a Ferrari at around 300 km/h on the straight and hit the track barrier hard. Fortunately, Vanthoor was unharmed, but the race was over for the car, which had been making its way back into the top ten after an early spin. The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car had also fought its way into the top ten from 16th on the grid when Robin Frijns (NED) lost control and crashed into the tyre barriers. To honour the Art Car project and reward the WRT team for their hard work, the car returned to the track shortly before the end after a long repair break and crossed the finish line.

Comments after the 24 Hours of Le Mans:

Le Mans (FRA), 7-16 June 2024. FIA World Endurance Championship, 24h Le Mans, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann.

24h Le Mans: #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 reaches Hyperpole and starts the race from sixth on the grid.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday June 14, 2024

First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured sixth place on the grid for the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the battle for pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA).

Le Mans. First an impressive performance in qualifying, then a slip in the Hyperpole: Dries Vanthoor (BEL) secured sixth place on the grid for the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the battle for pole position at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA). With first place and the fastest time after an outstanding lap on Wednesday, Vanthoor exceeded all expectations. On Thursday, he was fast again in the Hyperpole but had a slip into the tyre barriers that ended his time chase. Nonetheless, he put himself and his driving colleagues Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Marco Wittmann (GER) in a good starting position for the race.

Video Interviews: Current statements from Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, and Dries Vanthoor on qualifying: https://b.mw/Le_Mans_Interviews (link fails secure connection at the time of publishing this article)

While Vanthoor managed to qualify the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 for the Hyperpole, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car will start the race from the 16th position on the grid. In the LMGT3 category, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 qualified in twelfth place, while the #31 BMW M4 GT3 took the 15th spot.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans begin on Saturday at 16:00 CEST. On Friday afternoon, the famous drivers' parade will take place in the city center of Le Mans.

Comments on the qualifying for the 24 Hours of Le Mans: