+++ Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, Raffaele Marciello, and Kelvin van der Linde celebrate BMW's 21st overall victory at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring
+++ ROWE Racing drives a flawless race in front of a record crowd with the only BMW M4 GT3 EVO in the field, rewarding itself for a remarkable comeback from 17th on the grid
+++ BMW M2 Racing...
+++ Augusto Farfus, Jesse Krohn, Raffaele Marciello, and Kelvin van der Linde celebrate BMW's 21st overall victory at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring
+++ ROWE Racing drives a flawless race in front of a record crowd with the only BMW M4 GT3 EVO in the field, rewarding itself for a remarkable comeback from 17th on the grid
+++ BMW M2 Racing concludes an impressive test race with a victory in the SP 3T class
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Nürburgring. Victory for BMW M Motorsport and ROWE Racing at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (GER)! In front of a record crowd in the "Green Hell", Kelvin van der Linde (RSA), Augusto Farfus (BRA), Jesse Krohn (FIN), and Raffaele Marciello (SUI) crowned an outstanding comeback with BMW's 21st overall victory at the endurance classic on the Nordschleife. Additionally, the new BMW M2 Racing impressed as in its final endurance test, the new entry-level race car – fielded by Team FK Performance Motorsport – celebrated a class victory.
ROWE Racing had a challenging start to the weekend in the Eifel region. After the #98 BMW M4 GT3 EVO missed out on the top qualifying session, the BMW M works driver quartet started the race from 17th position. However, under perfect weather conditions, Farfus made a dream start, moving into the top ten within the first lap. After an hour and a half, a power outage in the paddock caused a red flag. Following a 2-hour and 15-minute interruption, van der Linde stormed through the field during the restart, advancing the #98 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from ninth to third in just two laps.
Subsequently, Marciello and Krohn solidified their positions in the podium ranks, with ROWE Racing navigating the night flawlessly and steadily in second place, building a comfortable gap to the cars behind. As the sun rose over the Nordschleife, the #98 BMW M4 GT3 EVO closed a gap of over two minutes to the leader. By the morning, the race turned into a true thriller in the "Green Hell". Three and a half hours before the finish, Farfus claimed the lead for ROWE Racing for the first time.
+++ BMW M Team WRT takes its second shot at the podium with the BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
+++ The BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO are prepared for the season highlight during the official test day
+++ Video interviews ahead of the 24h Le Mans for editorial use: https://b.mw/Interviews_24h_Le_Mans
+++ Public Viewing:...
+++ BMW M Team WRT takes its second shot at the podium with the BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 24 Hours of Le Mans
+++ The BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO are prepared for the season highlight during the official test day
+++ Video interviews ahead of the 24h Le Mans for editorial use: https://b.mw/Interviews_24h_Le_Mans
+++ Public Viewing: BMW Welt in Munich streams the 24h Le Mans live
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Le Mans. The month of endurance racing highlights has begun. With the scrutineering in the city centre and the official test day, BMW M Motorsport has kicked off the mega event of the year, the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA, 14th/15th June). BMW M Team WRT is fielding two BMW M Hybrid V8s in the Hypercar class. In the LMGT3 class, the EVO version of the BMW M4 GT3 is making its debut. The goal for both cars is the podium. Around the race, which is once again expected to draw more than 300,000 spectators, BMW M Motorsport is offering an extensive support programme. At BMW Welt in Munich (GER), there will be a public viewing event. The Le Mans race week will be immediately followed by two more 24-hour classics at the Nürburgring (GER, 21st/22nd June) and Spa-Francorchamps (BEL, 28th/29th June).
The weekend before the actual race is traditionally a highlight for Le Mans fans. The reason for this is the scrutineering. The technical inspection of the cars takes place right in the city centre, and the drivers take plenty of time to interact with the fans. Last Sunday, the only test day on the Circuit de la Sarthe was on the schedule. BMW M Team WRT used this opportunity to complete a total of 130 laps with the two BMW M Hybrid V8s. The two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs managed 125 laps on the 13.626-kilometre circuit.
In the cockpit of the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Kevin Magnussen (DEN), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) will alternate. The #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 will be driven by Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA). As reserve drivers for the two hypercars, Philipp Eng (AUT) and Marco Wittmann (GER) are on-site in Le Mans. The Bend Team WRT BMW M4 GT3 EVO, car #31, will be shared by Augusto Farfus (BRA), Timur Boguslavskiy, and Yasser Shahin (AUS). In the #46 car of Team WRT, Kelvin van der Linde (RSA), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) will compete. The 24 Hours of Le Mans will start next Saturday at 16:00 CEST.
Team WRT is also represented in the Road to Le Mans support races with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Samantha Tan (CAN) and Gustav Bergström (SWE) will race in the #38 car.
For the three BMW M works drivers Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello, and Kelvin van der Linde, the journey continues directly from Le Mans to the Nürburgring and then to Spa-Francorchamps. This driver trio faces the unique challenge of competing in all three endurance classics.
+++ The BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO perform well for a long time but then suffer technical issues
+++ BMW M Team WRT was on course for a top-five finish in the Hypercar class for much of the race but experienced a frustrating final stage
+++ The #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO leads the race in the LMGT3 category but retires during the night...
+++ The BMW M Hybrid V8 and the BMW M4 GT3 EVO perform well for a long time but then suffer technical issues
+++ BMW M Team WRT was on course for a top-five finish in the Hypercar class for much of the race but experienced a frustrating final stage
+++ The #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO leads the race in the LMGT3 category but retires during the night due to a technical failure
Andrea Schwab
BMW Group
Le Mans. BMW M Motorsport experienced just how relentless the legendary endurance classic can be during the 93rd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA). The two BMW M Hybrid V8 cars demonstrated strong pace, as they have throughout the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season, and were in contention for a top-five result for much of the race. However, a frustrating final stage saw both cars suffer technical issues. While they managed to finish the race, they did not achieve the positions they deserved. The BMW M4 GT3 EVO led the LMGT3 class for many hours, but both cars retired during the night.
The two BMW M Team WRT Hypercars reached Hyperpole 2 in qualifying and started the race from fourth and sixth positions. Over the first 22 hours, they ran without major issues, apart from a drive-through penalty for car #20, and consistently hovered around fifth place. However, technical problems in the final hours dashed their hopes for top results. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Kevin Magnussen (DEN), Raffaele Marciello (SUI), and Dries Vanthoor (BEL), suffered a cooling issue with the hybrid system. Meanwhile, the sister car, driven by Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), encountered an engine problem. Both cars crossed the finish line after repairs but were classified only in 18th and 19th positions.
In the LMGT3 class, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, driven by Kelvin van der Linde (RSA), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), shone in qualifying with fastest laps set by Al Harthy and van der Linde, as well as a third-place starting position secured by Rossi in Hyperpole 2. During the race, the car led for long stretches thanks to consistent performances by the drivers and excellent work by Team WRT. However, around 3 a.m., the car retired due to an as-yet-unknown electrical issue, which caused the power steering to fail and van der Linde to roll straight into the gravel trap. Although he managed to return to the pits after some time, the team decided to retire the car for safety reasons. The #31 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from The Bend Team WRT, driven by Augusto Farfus (BRA), Timur Boguslavskiy, and Yasser Shahin (AUS), steadily moved up from 16th on the grid and was already in the top-eight when it hit a rabbit on track. The collision caused severe damage to the radiator and other components, making repairs impossible.
+++ René Rast wins the Sunday race at Zandvoort ahead of Marco Wittmann, completing a 1-2 for Schubert Motorsport in the Netherlands
+++ Rast is the new DTM record holder with 26 pole positions
+++ Wittmann is the eighth driver in DTM history to reach the milestone of 200 races
+++ FK Performance Motorsport celebrates a 1-2 finish in the...
+++ René Rast wins the Sunday race at Zandvoort ahead of Marco Wittmann, completing a 1-2 for Schubert Motorsport in the Netherlands
+++ Rast is the new DTM record holder with 26 pole positions
+++ Wittmann is the eighth driver in DTM history to reach the milestone of 200 races
+++ FK Performance Motorsport celebrates a 1-2 finish in the ADAC GT Masters
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
Zandvoort. What a weekend for the BMW M4 GT3 EVO at Zandvoort (NED)! René Rast and Marco Wittmann (both GER) celebrated a 1-2 finish in the Sunday race at the third DTM event of the season. Rast set a new DTM record with his pole position for the race. With 26 career poles, he surpassed Bernd Schneider (GER) to become the sole record holder. Wittmann also reached a significant milestone, competing in his 200th DTM race on Sunday – a mark achieved by only seven other drivers in the series' history. His second-place finish on the podium was a fitting reward. In the ADAC GT Masters, the BMW M4 GT3 EVO achieved a 1-2 result and a total of four podium finishes.
Schubert Motorsport started the weekend strongly with first and third places in qualifying for the Sunday race, which was held on Friday due to the simultaneous Le Mans test. On Saturday, both drivers struggled on a wet track during the second qualifying session but made impressive comebacks in the race under changing weather conditions. Rast’s comeback ended with a retirement after an accident on a damp track, while Wittmann gained 14 positions to finish sixth.
Sunday’s race remained dry, and both Rast and Wittmann had excellent starts. Wittmann slotted into second place right behind Rast and was able to apply pressure in the final third of the race. However, the order remained unchanged, and both drivers celebrated the 1-2 result together. After the race, Rast complained of headaches and dizziness and was examined at the medical centre and later at a clinic in Haarlem (NED) as a precaution. This examination has given him the green light for his onward journey to Le Mans (FRA). He had hit his head before the race. In the drivers' standings, Rast moved up to second place with 75 points, 16 points behind leader Lucas Auer (AUT, Mercedes). Wittmann is sixth with 70 points. In the team standings, Schubert Motorsport is third with 139 points.
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly provide you with a compact and informative overview of the racing events in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"Last weekend, the European focus for our...
In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly provide you with a compact and informative overview of the racing events in various championships worldwide and the successes of the BMW M Motorsport teams.
Laura Claesgens
BMW Group
Björn Lellmann, Head of Customer Racing at BMW M Motorsport:
"Last weekend, the European focus for our customer teams was on the GT World Challenge Europe. At Monza, AlManar Racing by WRT and Century Motorsport celebrated fantastic class victories with the BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Beyond that, there was even more reason for us to celebrate. It’s fantastic that our BMW M Racing Academy member Nerea Martí secured her first win of the season with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO in Spain. There were also two class victories with our GT4 car in GT4 Australia. And in the GT World Challenge Asia, Team KRC’s impressive streak continues with an overall podium and a class victory. Congratulations to everyone involved!"
GT World Challenge Asia: Overall podium and class victory for Team KRC.
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