BMW: Returning to the big stage 🎥
IMSA, WRC AND LE MANS After 25 years, BMW will once again be competing for overall victory at Le Mans the year after next with the hybrid sports car developed in accordance with new regulations. The race will make its debut in the USA in 2023.
BMW M Motorsport returns to Le Mans the year after next with a prototype for the first time since 1999. Back then, Joachim Winkelhock, Pierluigi Martini and Yannick Dalmas celebrated overall victory after 24 hours in the BMW V12 LMR (center gallery). In the same year, the car also triumphed at the 12 Hours of Sebring, where its successor will also compete.
First the USA, then the whole world
The new BMW M Hybrid V8 will make its debut in the North American IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in January 2023. After that, the Munich-based company will face top-class competition in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), including in the top hypercar category.
On Monday, July 25, BMW M Motorsport's first prototype since the legendary BMW V12 LMR turned its first laps at the rollout in Varano de Melegari (I).
Franciscus van Meel, Managing Director of BMW M GmbH: "The decision to use the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the IMSA series from 2023 and also in the WEC in 2024 is a milestone for the project. It represents a turning point at BMW M in the direction of electrification. The IMSA series in North America and the WEC, which is starting worldwide, are the perfect platforms for our prototype to show just how exciting electrified BMW M vehicles will be in the future."
Intensive test work
Due to the very tight schedule for the project under the new regulations, BMW wants to focus on one area of operation in the first season in 2023. The IMSA series is perfectly suited for this. The medium-term goal has always been to run the BMW M Hybrid V8 on two tracks and also to use the large WEC platform with the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport: "We are now working towards this with full motivation in parallel with our program in North America. The vehicle has successfully completed its rollout. Now it's time for intensive testing for the race premiere in Daytona in January 2023."
Driver and team selection still open
The BMW M Hybrid V8 used Dallara's test track near Parma for a functional test lasting several days. At the wheel were factory drivers Connor De Phillippi and Sheldon van der Linde.
Further testing in Europe is scheduled for August before BMW M Team RLL and a BMW M Motorsport expert crew in North America begin specific preparations for the IMSA season and the 24 Hours of Daytona (January 26-29, 2023) from September.
The cockpit lineups will be decided at a later date. The same applies to the choice of the entry team for the WEC and the drivers for the 2024 season.
