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Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), 26-30 June 2024. 24 Hours of Spa, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, GTWC, Intercontinental GT Challenge, IGTC, BMW M Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3, Raffaele Marciello, Maxime Martin, Valentino Rossi.

24h Spa-Francorchamps: BMW M Team WRT reaches the podium at the anniversary of their home race.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Sunday June 30, 2024

BMW M Motorsport reached the podium with the BMW M4 GT3 at all three major 24-hour races in June. Following third place at the Nürburgring (GER) and second at Le Mans (FRA), the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) saw Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL) finish in third place.

Spa-Francorchamps. BMW M Motorsport reached the podium with the BMW M4 GT3 at all three major 24-hour races in June. Following third place at the Nürburgring (GER) and second at Le Mans (FRA), the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) saw Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL) finish in third place. The trio secured the first BMW M Team WRT podium at their home race together with BMW M Motorsport. The ROWE Racing #998 BMW M4 GT3 was in second position until just before the end but fell back to sixth place due to a late additional pit stop.

During the 24-hour race, which began in warmth and sunshine but had to be neutralised for several hours behind the safety car at night due to heavy rain showers, the #998 BMW M4 GT3 was strong. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) led the race despite a drive-through penalty during the night and fought for the win, however a slow puncture forced the ROWE Racing team to bring forward the last planned pit stop. Since the final driver Hesse would have exceeded the maximum allowed duration of a stint by about a minute, he had to enter the pit lane shortly before the finish, dropping from second to sixth place.

The #32 crew moved from 23rd on the grid to the front with strong driving and good strategy amid the numerous difficult tyre choices. In the final sprint, van der Linde, Vanthoor, and Weerts were in fifth place, but after the #998 pit stop and a time penalty for a competitor the trio was able to secure third place. It was the first podium for BMW M Team WRT at their home race in Belgium with the BMW M4 GT3 – and that at the 100th anniversary of the Ardennes endurance classic.

The #46 BMW M4 GT3 was also in contention for the podium for a long time, but an accident involving Valentino Rossi (ITA), combined with a repair break and a penalty, pushed him and his teammates Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Maxime Martin (BEL) back to 24th place. The second ROWE Racing car of the defending champions Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) retired after about three hours with a technical defect in the cooling system.

In the Bronze category, Connor De Phillippi (USA), Pedro Ebrahim (BRA), Darren Leung (GBR), and Toby Sowery (GBR) in the #991 BMW M4 GT3 from Century Motorsport crossed the finish line in ninth place after a challenging weekend. The #30 BMW M4 GT3 from Team WRT with Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Sam De Haan (GBR), Jens Klingmann (GER), and Calan Williams (AUS) at the wheel was doing well and in bronze podium contention but retired due to a technical issue, which has to be evaluated later.

Video statements of Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, Hans-Peter Naundorf, Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde: https://b.mw/24h_Spa_Interviews.(link invalid at the time this article was published)

Comments after the 24h Spa-Francorchamps:

Munich (GER), 28 June 2024. BMW M4 GT4 EVO, photoshoot.

Tailored updates: BMW M4 GT4 EVO responds to feedback from BMW M Motorsport customers.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Friday June 28, 2024

With 77 victories and numerous title wins, the BMW M4 GT4 was already a guarantor of success in its first year of competition in 2023. Although the car continues to race from success to success worldwide in the current season, BMW M Motorsport is not resting on its laurels but is presenting details of the EVO version of the BMW M4 GT4 on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and is set to provide even better driving experiences from 2025.

Spa-Francorchamps. With 77 victories and numerous title wins, the BMW M4 GT4 was already a guarantor of success in its first year of competition in 2023. Although the car continues to race from success to success worldwide in the current season, BMW M Motorsport is not resting on its laurels but is presenting details of the EVO version of the BMW M4 GT4 on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), and is set to provide even better driving experiences from 2025. Thanks to close coordination with customer teams, it has been possible to further optimise the already very strong car to an even higher level.

Reliability and improved drivability are the two areas where the BMW M4 GT4 EVO has received the most significant updates. The front splitter has been revised to improve long-term durability, and the entire attachment concept has been overhauled, making the entire front end much more maintenance-friendly. Reinforced wheel bearings on the rear axle and new front flicks also increase durability.

The engineers made adjustments in terms of performance and drivability; drivers now have the option to temporarily deactivate the traction control via a button on the steering wheel. This gives the drivers another way to optimise lap times. That was a requirement brought to the BMW M Motorsport engineers and the development drivers Jens Klingmann, Max Hesse (both GER), and Dan Harper (GBR) by numerous customers.

In terms of design, the BMW M4 GT4 EVO follows its big brother from the GT3 category. It also adopts the LCI update of the BMW M road vehicles and receives new front and rear headlights. The price for the BMW M4 GT4 EVO complete package is 219,000 euros net. The individual price for the EVO package is 16,000 euros net.

The car will be on display in the paddock at Spa-Francorchamps over the weekend and can be closely inspected by everyone. During the fourth quarter of 2024, both the complete packages and the individual EVO kits will be delivered to customer teams to ensure that starts with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO are possible from the first race of the 2025 season.

Comments:

Vallelunga (ITA), 15-16 June 2024. Italian GT Championship, Endurance Cup, Team BMW Italia Ceccato Racing, BMW M4 GT3, BMW M Team BS+COMPETITION, Automotive Gaming, Philippe Denes, Stefano Comandini, Francesco Guerra, livery, design, zebra.

BMW M Motorsport News, 25th June 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Tuesday June 25, 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:

"We are in the midst of the month of the great 24-hour classics, where we are prominently and successfully represented with our GT cars. But besides that, there are numerous other racing series worldwide in which our cars, teams, and drivers are celebrating successes. In the NLS, even without a participant in the GT3 category, we demonstrated our full range as a manufacturer and achieved class victories with seven cars from various generations. The BMW M4 GT3 and BMW M4 GT4 have also achieved victories and podium places in Italy, the USA, Japan, and Belgium. I congratulate all participants on their outstanding performances! Now we look forward to the 24-hour race and the GT4 European Series at Spa-Francorchamps, where we will present further details about the BMW M4 GT4 EVO."

NLS (22^nd June): BMW M Motorsport Teams celebrate seven class victories.

Following the season highlight, the 24-hour race, the Nürburgring Endurance Series (NLS) season continued last weekend with the 69th ADAC Westfalenfahrt. At the 4-hour race on the Nordschleife (GER), BMW M Motorsport teams celebrated seven class victories. In the BMW M4 GT4, Samantha Tan (CAN) and Jon Miller (USA) from Team ST Racing triumphed in the SP8T class. The BMW M2 CS Racing and the BMW M240i Racing each competed in their own Cup classes. Victories went to Hofor Racing by Bonk Motorsport and the Adrenalin Motorsport Team Mainhatten Wheels. In the VT3 class, Team Keeevin Sports and Racing triumphed in a BMW 335i. The BMW 325i of Desiree Müller, Tim Lukas Müller (both GER), and Michael Fischer (AUT) won the V4 category, the BMW E46 of Ingo Oepen, Henrik Launhardt, and Thorsten Köppert (all GER) the SP4 class, and the BMW M3 E92 GTR of Bernd Kleeschulte, Florian Quante, and Andreas Schmidt (all GER) the H4 category.

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.