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Austin (USA), 17-19 May 2024. Circuit of the Americas, COTA, Fanatec GT World Challenge America, SRO, #38 BMW M4 GT3, ST Racing, Neil Verhagen, Samantha Tan.

BMW M Motorsport News, 22nd May 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Wednesday May 22, 2024

In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.

Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:

"The success stories of our BMW M Motorsport teams thankfully continue around the world. The BMW M4 GT3 had an impressive weekend in the GT World Challenge Europe at Misano and was also at the top of the podium in the USA. The same goes for the BMW M4 GT4. It was unbeatable at both Misano and in Austin. Additionally, it's enjoyable to see the BMW M2 CS Racing continue to set the standard in TC America. It's something quite special to see how high-class BMW M Motorsport is represented in Automotive Gaming as well. BMW M Team Redline celebrated two extremely prestigious victories in one weekend. The fact that the reigning Formula 1 World Champion was behind the wheel of the virtual BMW M4 GT3 for one of those wins is, of course, a great thing. Congratulations to all the winners of the past weeks!"

BMW Art Car #20 by artist Julie Mehretu. Photo: Tereza Mundilová © BMW AG (05/2024)

World premiere in Paris: The BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car by Julie Mehretu for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Tuesday May 21, 2024

The 20th BMW Art Car celebrated its world premiere on Tuesday evening at the Centre Pompidou in the French capital, Paris. The internationally renowned New York artist Julie Mehretu designed the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, which will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) on 15th/16th June, as a “performative painting” based on one of her artworks.

Paris. The 20^th BMW Art Car celebrated its world premiere on Tuesday evening at the Centre Pompidou in the French capital, Paris. The internationally renowned New York artist Julie Mehretu designed the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, which will compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) on 15^th/16^th June, as a “performative painting” based on one of her artworks. The event, attended by several hundred invited guests, was also attended by the artist, as well as Oliver Zipse, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, and Ilka Horstmeier, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources and Real Estate.

“The BMW Art Cars are an essential part of our global cultural commitment. For almost 50 years, we have been collaborating with artists who are just as fascinated by mobility and design as they are by technology and motorsports. Julie Mehretu's vision for a racing car is an extraordinarily strong contribution to our BMW Art Cars series,” said Zipse.

Mehretu explained her approach: “The whole BMW Art Car project is about invention, about imagination, about pushing limits of what can be possible. I don’t think of this car as something you would exhibit. I am thinking of it as something that will race at Le Mans. It’s a performative painting. My BMW Art Car was created in close collaboration with motorsport and engineering teams. It is only completed once the race is over.”

A performative painting is created.

Misano (ITA), 17-18 May 2024. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, GTWC, Sprint Cup, Century Motorsport, #991 BMW M4 GT3, Dan Harper, Darren Leung.

GT World Challenge Europe: BMW M Team WRT triumphs at Misano – Valentino Rossi celebrates home victory in Italy.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sunday May 19, 2024

What a race weekend for BMW M Team WRT! The Belgian team dominated the second season event in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup at Misano (ITA) and celebrated victory in both races.

Misano. What a race weekend for BMW M Team WRT! The Belgian team dominated the second season event in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup at Misano (ITA) and celebrated victory in both races. In the first run in the afternoon, Valentino Rossi (ITA) repeated his home victory from last season together with Maxime Martin (BEL). Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) completed the one-two result for the BMW M4 GT3. In the second race, which was held in the evening under darkness, Vanthoor and Weerts were unbeatable. Rossi and Martin finished third. In the Sprint Cup overall standings, Vanthoor and Weerts have taken the lead after two of five season events.

In qualifying on Friday, pole positions in both sessions hinted that BMW M Team WRT and the BMW M4 GT3 were very strong in Misano. That was confirmed in the races. While Vanthoor and Weerts secured a very good position in the title fight with their second season victory after the opening race at Brands Hatch (GBR), the #46 BMW M4 GT3 will only compete in the Endurance Cup for the rest of the season after its two guest starts in the Sprint Cup.

In the Silver Cup, Calan Williams (AUS) and Sam De Haan (GBR) in the Team WRT #30 BMW M4 GT3 also achieved two victories at Misano and significantly extended their lead in the overall standings. In addition, Century Motorsport, in its debut season in the GT World Challenge Europe, finished second in the Bronze Cup in race two. BMW M works driver Dan Harper and Darren Leung (both GBR) shared the cockpit of the #991 BMW M4 GT3.

Comments after the races:

Laguna Seca (USA), 8-12 May 2024. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, BMW M Team RLL, GTP, LMDh, #25 BMW M Hybrid V8, Connor De Phillippi, Nick Yelloly.

IMSA Laguna Seca: Podium for Turner Motorsport at milestone race – BMW M Team RLL faces issues.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Monday May 13, 2024

Turner Motorsport celebrated second place in the GTD class at the fourth race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Laguna Seca (USA), concluding its milestone weekend on the podium. BMW M Team RLL showed good pace in qualifying with the two BMW M Hybrid V8s but fell back in the race after incidents and missed the podium.

Laguna Seca. Turner Motorsport celebrated second place in the GTD class at the fourth race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at Laguna Seca (USA), concluding its milestone weekend on the podium. The team, led by Will Turner, completed its 557th race in a BMW car – more than any other BMW M Motorsport customer team. BMW M Team RLL showed good pace in qualifying with the two BMW M Hybrid V8s but fell back in the race after incidents and missed the podium .

Philipp Eng (AUT) started the race in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 from third place after a strong qualifying session on Saturday. He held that position until the driver change to Jesse Krohn (FIN). However, a slip in the final hour of the race resulted in a damaged rear that had to be changed in the pits. Krohn finished the race in ninth place in the GTP class. Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) started in the sister car from fifth place and finished in seventh after losing time during a pit stop and also slipping off the track.

Robby Foley and Patrick Gallagher (both USA) took the lead in the GTD class in their #557 BMW M4 GT3 after the first yellow phase of the race from the second start position and had victory in sight. However, a few laps before the end, there was an unfortunate contact with a lapping GTP car which caused Foley to fall from first to second place. In the GTD PRO category, Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers (both USA) in the #1 BMW M4 GT3 from Paul Miller Racing finished in seventh place.

Comments after the race: