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Detail shot of the 20th BMW Art Car by Julie Mehretu in the creation process. Photo: André Josselin and Tina Paffen © BMW AG

FIA WEC: The BMW M Hybrid V8 Art Car will bear the starting number 20 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Tuesday February 6, 2024

The countdown for the unveiling of the 20th BMW Art Car is underway. On 21st May, the BMW M Hybrid V8, designed by artist Julie Mehretu and set to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15th/16th June, will be presented at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. The artist is already providing glimpses into her work. Additionally, it is now confirmed that the Art Car will carry the starting number 20.

Munich. The countdown for the unveiling of the 20th BMW Art Car is underway. On 21st May, the BMW M Hybrid V8, designed by artist Julie Mehretu and set to compete at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on 15th/16th June, will be presented at the Centre Pompidou in Paris, France. The artist is already providing glimpses into her work. Additionally, it is now confirmed that the Art Car will carry the starting number 20 and will be driven by Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Robin Frijns (NED), and René Rast (GER).

The #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 will be the first Art Car since the 2017 season, where the BMW M6 GTLM designed by John Baldessari raced at the 24 Hours of Daytona (USA), followed by the virtual BMW M6 GT3 Art Car by Cao Fei at the FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN). In the past, the most famous BMW Art Cars have participated in Le Mans: in 1975, Alexander Calder’s BMW 3.0 CSL, in 1976, Frank Stella’s BMW 3.0 CSL, in 1977, Roy Lichtenstein’s BMW 320i Turbo, in 1979, Andy Warhol’s BMW M1, in 1999, Jenny Holzer’s BMW V12 LMR, and in 2010, Jeff Koons’ BMW M3 GT2. This illustrious collection is now enriched by Julie Mehretu’s BMW M Hybrid V8.

BMW M Motorsport, Ahmad Al-Harthy (OMA)

BMW M Team WRT presents BMW M4 GT3 drivers for the FIA WEC and GT World Challenge Europe.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday February 2, 2024

During a media event at Spa (BEL), BMW M Team WRT introduced the BMW M4 GT3 drivers for the 2024 season in the LMGT3 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS (GTWC).

Spa. During a media event at Spa (BEL), BMW M Team WRT introduced the BMW M4 GT3 drivers for the 2024 season in the LMGT3 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS (GTWC). BMW M works driver Maxime Martin (BEL) will participate in both the FIA WEC and GTWC alongside Valentino Rossi (ITA). In the LMGT3 class, the line-up is completed by three drivers: Sean Gelael (INA), Ahmad Al-Harthy (OMA), and Darren Leung (GBR). In the GTWC, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) will contest the entire season, joined by Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Jens Klingmann (GER) in the Endurance Cup.

The FIA WEC regulations stipulate that each LMGT3 car must have drivers from all FIA categories. Specifically, this means that in addition to a driver with Platinum or Gold status, a Silver and a Bronze-rated driver must form the crew of a car. In the BMW M Team WRT #31 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M factory driver Augusto Farfus (BRA) shares the cockpit with Silver driver Sean Gelael, BMW M Ambassador for Indonesia, and Bronze driver Darren Leung. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, alongside Silver-rated Valentino Rossi (ITA), Maxime Martin and Ahmad Al-Harthy will be in action.

In the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts, as an established duo, are aiming for the title. They participate in both the Sprint Cup and the Endurance Cup. For the endurance races, including the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), they will be supported by Sheldon van der Linde. Valentino Rossi, Maxime Martin, and Raffaele Marciello compete in the Endurance Cup, with Rossi and Martin also participating in selected Sprint Cup events. Klingmann will compete in the Bronze class of the Endurance Cup together with Al-Harthy and Sam de Haan (GBR).

ROWE Racing to compete in GT World Challenge Europe and the 24h Nürburgring again in 2024.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Thursday February 1, 2024

ROWE Racing will once again represent BMW M Motorsport in the 2024 season at the two major endurance classics at the Nürburgring (GER) and Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The goal is defending the title in the Ardennes and, after finishing second in 2023, launching an assault on the second Nürburgring triumph after 2020

Munich. ROWE Racing will once again represent BMW M Motorsport in the 2024 season at the two major endurance classics at the Nürburgring (GER) and Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). The goal is defending the title in the Ardennes and, after finishing second in 2023, launching an assault on the second Nürburgring triumph after 2020. Similar to last year, the team led by team manager Hans-Peter Naundorf will compete in the five races of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup with two BMW M4 GT3s. Two cars will also be in action on the Nordschleife.

In the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) aim to defend their jointly achieved victory at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in 2023. They will share the cockpit of a BMW M4 GT3 in four races of the Fanatec GT Endurance Cup. Due to a schedule clash between the event at Monza (ITA) in September and the IMSA Indianapolis (USA) race, Eng and Yelloly cannot compete together with Wittmann that weekend. The driver line-up for that race will be announced at a later date.

In the team’s other BMW M4 GT3, Dan Harper (GBR) and Max Hesse (GER) will once again hit the track. Augusto Farfus (BRA) joins as the third driver, returning to ROWE Racing. He first raced with the squad in 2022 and in 2023, he competed for the team at the Nürburgring and in Macau (CHN). Farfus reunites with Hesse and Harper, with whom he previously shared the cockpit as a mentor of the BMW Junior Team on the Nordschleife.

For the 24 Hours at the Nürburgring, seven BMW M works drivers will compete in the two BMW M4 GT3s. Alongside GTWC drivers Wittmann and Farfus, these are Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Maxime Martin, Dries Vanthoor (both BEL), and the two new additions Robin Frijns (NED) and Raffaele Marciello (SUI).

GTD PRO podium for the BMW M4 GT3 – Technical problems set back BMW M Hybrid V8s.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Tuesday January 30, 2024

At the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series), the Daytona 24 Hours (USA), the BMW M Team RLL missed the hoped-for podium finishes with the BMW M Hybrid V8.

Daytona. At the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series), the Daytona 24 Hours (USA), the BMW M Team RLL missed the hoped-for podium finishes with the BMW M Hybrid V8. Although the two LMDh cars were able to keep up with the speed of their competitors and stay in the leading group of the GTP category until into the night, technical problems then set both prototypes back. Paul Miller Racing had reason to celebrate. The North American BMW M Motorsport team finished third on the podium in the GTD PRO class

Laguna Seca (USA), 29 April - 1st May. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, BMW M4 GT3, GTD class, Turner Motorsport, Bill Auberlen.

BMW M Motorsport introduces the works driver line-up for the 2024 season.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday January 19, 2024

The BMW M Motorsport works driver line-up for the 2024 season has been confirmed. A total of 22 top-rated drivers from twelve nations will be racing around the world as BMW M works drivers.

Munich. The BMW M Motorsport works driver line-up for the 2024 season has been confirmed. A total of 22 top-rated drivers from twelve nations will be racing around the world as BMW M works drivers. Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Robin Frijns (NED) are the two top-quality newcomers. The North American works drivers Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley and Madison Snow (all USA) are also fixtures in the line-up for 2024.

Having recorded numerous successes in endurance racing and titles in a number of race series, Marciello and Frijns are now joining BMW M Motorsport. In addition to battling for overall wins with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the FIA World Endurance Championship, they will prove to be valuable additions in GT3 racing. This versatility is a defining feature of the whole line-up of BMW M works drivers.

FIA WEC – Hypercar class: BMW M Motorsport completes its squad of BMW M works drivers for the 2024 season.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Wednesday January 17, 2024

BMW M Motorsport has completed its squad of BMW M works drivers who will line up in the Hypercar class when the manufacturer returns to the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in 2024.

Munich. BMW M Motorsport has completed its squad of BMW M works drivers who will line up in the Hypercar class when the manufacturer returns to the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in 2024. Dries Vanthoor (BEL) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) had already been confirmed, and are now joined in the top class of the FIA WEC by Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Marco Wittmann (GER), Robin Frijns (NED) and René Rast (GER) in the two BMW M Hybrid V8s run by BMW M Team WRT.

Vanthoor will alternate at the wheel of the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 with BMW M Motorsport newcomer Marciello and Wittmann. Van der Linde shares the driving duties in the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 with Frijns and Rast.

Quotes on the FIA WEC line-up:

Bathurst (AUS), 2nd to 5th February 2023. BMW M Motorsport, Bathurst 12 Hour, Intercontinental GT Challenge. BMW M Team WRT, #32 Shell BMW M4 GT3, Dries Vanthoor (BEL), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Charles Weerts (BEL).

BMW M Team WRT returns to Bathurst.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Friday January 12, 2024

BMW M Team WRT has a score to settle with the Bathurst 12 Hour (AUS) – and is back in 2024 for a second shot at victory with the BMW M4 GT3. The Belgian team competes at the opening round of this season’s Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC), at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit, with two cars and six BMW M works drivers.

Munich. BMW M Team WRT has a score to settle with the Bathurst 12 Hour (AUS) – and is back in 2024 for a second shot at victory with the BMW M4 GT3. The Belgian team competes at the opening round of this season’s Intercontinental GT Challenge (IGTC), at the iconic Mount Panorama Circuit, with two cars and six BMW M works drivers. Valentino Rossi (ITA) is back in Australia, one year after making his debut there. Joining him behind the wheel will be Raffaele Marciello (SUI), for whom this will be his first race in BMW M Motorsport colours.

Roughly one year ago, BMW M Team WRT’s first race as an official works team ended with fourth and sixth place. A solid start, but not what the ambitious team from Belgium had hoped for. They now have another chance to challenge for victory with the BMW M4 GT3 at the legendary 12-hour race at Bathurst. Boosting their chances of success are two strong crews of BMW M works drivers.

Sharing the driving duties in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 are Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL). The same trio came home fourth in 2023, narrowly missing out on the podium. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Valentino Rossi and Maxime Martin (BEL) are another established duo. New to the team is Raffaele Marciello, who will be racing for BMW M Motorsport for the first time at Bathurst.

Macau (CHN), 13-17 November 2024. FIA GT World Cup, Guia Circuit, #89 BMW M4 GT3, Team KRC, Augusto Farfus.

FIA GT World Cup Macau: Victory in the qualification race, two podium finishes in the main race at the Guia Circuit.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA GT World Cup Sunday November 17, 2024

Mixed emotions for the BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers after the FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN). Throughout much of the weekend, the pace of the four BMW M4 GT3s on the Guia Circuit was very strong, culminating in a one-two finish for Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) in Saturday's qualification race. Consequently, the duo started the main race from the front row.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Macau. Mixed emotions for the BMW M Motorsport teams and drivers after the FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN). Throughout much of the weekend, the pace of the four BMW M4 GT3s on the Guia Circuit was very strong, culminating in a one-two finish for Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) in Saturday's qualification race. Consequently, the duo started the main race from the front row. However, under very challenging conditions due to the rain, they were unable to capitalise on the strengths of their cars. Both were eliminated following incidents. This time, it was Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) who celebrated on the podium, finishing second and third, respectively.

Barcelona (ESP), 11-13 October 2024. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, Sprint Cup, GTWC, Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3, Dries Vanthoor, Charles Weerts.

GT World Challenge Europe: Sprint Cup Titles for Team WRT and Paradine Competition.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sunday October 13, 2024

The first titles of the season in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe have been awarded – and BMW M Motorsport drivers played the leading roles. At the Sprint Cup season finale at Barcelona, Calan Williams and Team WRT celebrated winning the title in the Silver Cup with the #30 BMW M4 GT3. In the Bronze Cup, the title went to BMW M works driver Dan Harper and Darren Leung in the Paradine Competition #991 BMW M4 GT3 entered by Century Motorsport.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Barcelona. The first titles of the season in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS have been awarded – and BMW M Motorsport drivers played the leading roles. At the Sprint Cup season finale at Barcelona (ESP), Calan Williams (AUS) and Team WRT celebrated winning the title in the Silver Cup with the #30 BMW M4 GT3. In the Bronze Cup, the title went to BMW M works driver Dan Harper and Darren Leung (both GBR) in the Paradine Competition #991 BMW M4 GT3 entered by Century Motorsport. Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) battled in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 for the crown in the Pro-Cup standings of the Sprint Cup but ultimately had to settle for second place. However, the duo defended their lead in the overall GT World Challenge Europe standings from the Sprint and Endurance Cup.

Monza (ITA), 20-22 September 2024. Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, GTWC, Endurance Cup, Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3, Raffaele Marciello, Maxime Martin, Valentino Rossi.

GT World Challenge Europe: Sensational double victory for Team WRT after chaotic Monza race – Bronze car makes history with overall win.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sunday September 22, 2024

The fourth season race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Monza (ITA) made history. For the first time in the history of the race series, a car not competing in the Pro class clinched the overall victory. The sensational winners were Jens Klingmann (GER), Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), and Sam De Haan (GBR) in the #30 BMW M4 GT3 from OQ by Oman Racing run by WRT.

Laura Claesgens
BMW Group

Monza. The fourth season race of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup at Monza (ITA) made history. For the first time in the history of the race series, a car not competing in the Pro class clinched the overall victory. The sensational winners were Jens Klingmann (GER), Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), and Sam De Haan (GBR) in the #30 BMW M4 GT3 from OQ by Oman Racing run by WRT. At the end of the chaotic three-hour race, the Bronze Cup trio triumphed over the #32 BMW M4 GT3 driven by Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL). This meant not only a one-two result for Team WRT but also a win in the Pro Cup, securing crucial overall standings points in the GT World Challenge Europe title fight.

The one-two resultwas all the more extraordinary because both cars were involved in start collisions and had almost a lap deficit within minutes. Thanks to outstanding strategy, both crews fought their way back to the front during the race. In the final laps, Klingmann, under immense pressure from Vanthoor and the third-placed Ferrari, drove to victory with nerves of steel. The #46 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi (ITA), also gave a strong performance, finishing in fifth place.

GT World Challenge Europe: Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts defend the overall lead with a win and a podium finish.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe Sunday August 25, 2024

The battle for the title in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS intensified at the penultimate race weekend of the Sprint Cup at Magny-Cours (FRA). BMW M Team WRT drivers Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 secured a win and a second-place finish, thereby defending their narrow lead in the overall standings.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Magny-Cours. The battle for the title in the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS intensified at the penultimate race weekend of the Sprint Cup at Magny-Cours (FRA). BMW M Team WRT drivers Dries Vanthoor and Charles Weerts (both BEL) in the #32 BMW M4 GT3 secured a win and a second-place finish, thereby defending their narrow lead in the overall standings. BMW M Motorsport teams also celebrated podium finishes in the Silver and Bronze classes. The Sprint Cup season finale will take place from 11^th-13^th October at Barcelona (ESP).

Vanthoor and Weerts demonstrated strong comebacks in both races. On Saturday, they moved up from sixth to second place, which became a win after a post-race time penalty was applied to the first-placed Porsche. On Sunday, they climbed from eighth to second place. In both instances, they had close battles with the #48 Mercedes driven by Lucas Auer (AUT) and Maro Engel (GER). In the end, both duos had a win and a second place to their names, meaning Vanthoor and Weerts could defend their two-point lead in the Sprint Cup driver standings. The same narrow margin separates the two crews in the overall standings combining the Sprint and Endurance Cups.

BMW M works driver Dan Harper (GBR), along with Darren Leung (GBR) in the #991 BMW M4 GT3 from Century Motorsport, finished third in the Bronze Cup in both races. Particularly on Saturday, Harper put on an impressive show, starting from second place and fighting for the lead for a long time during his stint. Ultimately, Leung crossed the finish line first in class, but as Harper had pushed an opponent into the gravel during a duel, the duo received a post-race 10-second penalty and were classified third. Harper and Leung lead the driver standings in the Bronze Cup, just as Calan Williams (AUS) and Sam de Haan (GBR) lead the Silver Cup. The Team WRT duo finished in fifth and third place in the Silver class at Magny-Cours with the #30 BMW M4 GT3.

Comments after the races: