BMW Racing News - BMWsport.net - BMW Racing News, Tech Articles and Race Photos

Qatar, 29 February to 2nd March 2024. BMW M Motorsport. FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, Lusail International Circuit, BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Hypercar, LMDh, Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello, Marco Wittmann, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, Hypercar, LMDh, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns.

FIA WEC in Qatar: Challenging season opener for BMW M Motorsport and BMW M Team WRT.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Sunday March 3, 2024

BMW M Motorsport commenced the 2024 season in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Qatar 1812 km at the Lusail International Circuit near Doha (UAE). In the Hypercar class, BMW M Team WRT enters two BMW M Hybrid V8s. However, the debut race of the prototype in the FIA WEC presented challenges.

Doha. BMW M Motorsport commenced the 2024 season in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Qatar 1812 km at the Lusail International Circuit near Doha (UAE). In the Hypercar class, BMW M Team WRT enters two BMW M Hybrid V8s. However, the debut race of the prototype in the FIA WEC presented challenges, and both cars finished outside the top ten after nearly ten hours of racing. In contrast, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 narrowly missed the podium in the new LMGT3 class by only a few seconds.

The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 concluded the season opener in 12th place. BMW M works drivers Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), René Rast (GER), and Robin Frijns (NED) took turns behind the wheel. Their teammates Dries Vanthoor (BEL), Raffaele Marciello (SUI), and Marco Wittmann (GER) finished in 16th position in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 after the car required a brief repair in the pitbox about an hour before the end.

The Team WRT #46 BMW M4 GT3, driven by BMW M works drivers Valentino Rossi (ITA) and Maxime Martin (BEL), along with Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), fought for the podium in the new LMGT3 class until the end. Ultimately, the trio finished in fourth place, just a few seconds behind the top three. The #31 BMW M4 GT3 reached the finish line in sixth position in class. In that car, BMW M works driver Augusto Farfus (BRA) shared the cockpit with Sean Gelael (INA) and Darren Leung (GBR).

The second of a total of eight races in the FIA WEC 2024, the 6 Hours of Imola (ITA), will take place on 21st April

Qatar, 26-27 February 2024. FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, prologue, Lusail International Circuit, BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Hypercar, LMDh, Dries Vanthoor, Raffaele Marciello, Marco Wittmann.

FIA WEC: BMW M Motorsport Media Guide, video interviews and initial impressions after the Prologue in Qatar.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday March 1, 2024

Next weekend will see BMW M Motorsport return to centre stage in endurance racing at the season-opener in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). The BMW M Team WRT will be racing with two BMW M Hybrid V8s in the Hypercar class at the Qatar 1812 km. A prototype from BMW M Motorsport will be battling for overall wins for the first time in 25 years.

Doha. Next weekend will see BMW M Motorsport return to centre stage in endurance racing at the season-opener in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). The BMW M Team WRT will be racing with two BMW M Hybrid V8s in the Hypercar class at the Qatar 1812 km. A prototype from BMW M Motorsport will be battling for overall wins for the first time in 25 years. The BMW M Motorsport Media Guide attached to this press release contains a detailed introduction to the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3, which will be competing in the LMGT3 category. It also features everything you need to know about teams, drivers, and the 20th BMW Art Car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) in June 2024.

On Monday and Tuesday, the two BMW M Hybrid V8s and the pair of BMW M4 GT3s each completed around 500 test laps during the Prologue at the Lusail International Circuit (QAT) as the team provided the best possible preparation for the first race on Saturday (start time: 09:00 CET).

Reactions to the Prologue:

Qatar, 26-27 February 2024. FIA World Endurance Championship, FIA WEC, prologue, Lusail International Circuit, BMW M Team WRT, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, Hypercar, LMDh, Sheldon van der Linde, René Rast, Robin Frijns.

BMW M Motorsport Media Guide - FIA World Endurance Championship 2024.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday March 1, 2024

The BMW M Motorsport Media Guide contains a detailed introduction to the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3, which will be competing in the LMGT3 category. It also features everything you need to know about teams, drivers, and the 20th BMW Art Car for the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA) in June 2024.

Attachments:
BMW M Motorsport Media Guide - FIA WEC	[BMW M Motorsport Media Guide - FIA WEC]	5048 kB

Add new comment

Bathurst (AUS), 15th to 18th February 2024. BMW M Motorsport, Bathurst 12 Hour, Intercontinental GT Challenge. BMW M Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3, Dries Vanthoor (BEL), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Charles Weerts (BEL), #46 BMW M4 GT3, Valentino Rossi (ITA), Maxime Martin (BEL), Raffaele Marciello (SUI).

Bathurst 12 Hour: BMW M Team WRT narrowly misses the podium in a turbulent race.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Intercontinental GT Challenge Sunday February 18, 2024

BMW M Team WRT showed strong speed at the season opener of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst (AUS), but was unable to reap the rewards in a race marked by incidents and changeable weather.

Bathurst. BMW M Team WRT showed strong speed at the season opener of the Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC) at the Mount Panorama Circuit in Bathurst (AUS), but was unable to reap the rewards in a race marked by incidents and changeable weather. Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Charles Weerts, and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) started the 12-hour race from pole position in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 but were forced to retire after an accident. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Valentino Rossi (ITA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Raffaele Marciello (SUI) fought for a podium spot in an exciting final stage up to the last lap but ultimately had to settle for fifth place.

Throughout the race the BMW XM Safety Car repeatedly led the field after accidents, for the last time about 40 minutes before the end. That ignited a fierce battle for the podium places in which Martin briefly moved into third place with a bold overtaking manoeuvre, but had to relinquish it immediately due to a slight braking error on the still-slippery track. Thunderstorms with heavy rain showers characterised the second half of the race. Only in the last hour did the asphalt dry up again.

For the sister #32 car, the weekend had started perfectly. On Saturday, van der Linde secured pole position for the #32 BMW M4 GT3 in the Top-10 Pole Shootout, giving the team reason to celebrate. Martin qualified the car #46 in eighth place.

The race started on Sunday morning at 5:45 a.m. local time in darkness. Car #32 maintained the lead in the early stages, while #46 continued to move forward. It wasn't long before both BMW M4 GT3s were in the top three. However, after nearly five hours of racing, there was a moment of shock for BMW M Team WRT when the #32 car crashed heavily into the wall after unfortunate contact with a lapped car. Weerts, who was driving at the time, was fortunately uninjured, but for him and his teammates van der Linde and Vanthoor, the race was over prematurely.