WEC
The BMW M Hybrid V8 has taken to the track and will be at Le Mans in 2024
The BMW M V8 Hybrid took to the track (Photo: BMW Motorsport)
One more: after Cadillac, Ferrari and Acura, it was the BMW Hypercar which took to the track for the first time this Monday, July 25. The German made her first laps in Italy at the Varano de Melegari circuit (Emilia-Romagna), the test track of the Dallara factory where the chassis of the BMW M Hybrid V8 was built. The brand took the opportunity to confirm its commitments in competition with theIMSA in 2023 and the WEC, and therefore the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in 2024 only. Connor de Phillippi and Sheldon van der Linde took turns at the wheel of the beast over these several days.
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« It was an honor and a pleasure to complete the first laps of the BMW M Hybrid V8, De Phillippi said. It was a historic day for BMW M Motorsport within the LMDh project. Step by step we went through all the functions of the car and at the end of the day we were able to do a few laps almost at full power, which is a good result for a deployment. A big thank you to everyone working so hard on this project at BMW M Motorsport, BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Team RMG and Dallara! »
BMW will be in WEC in 2024
Other European tests are planned for August. Team RLL will take over the specific preparations for IMSA in the United States from September. The factory drivers of the propeller firm will take turns before deciding who will sit behind the wheel in competition.
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“The decision to use the BMW M Hybrid V8 in the IMSA series from 2023 and the WEC from 2024 is an important step for the project, said Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. I was amazed by the extraordinary atmosphere of the 24 Hours of Le Mans during my first term as CEO of BMW M. I am therefore very happy to fight for the overall victory as BMW M Motorsport again in this classic and throughout the world championship. The BMW M Hybrid V8 represents a turning point towards electrification for BMW M. The IMSA series in North America and the WEC, which takes place around the world, are the ideal platforms on which to use our prototype. »
The BMW M Hybrid V8 drove on the Dallara circuit in Italy (Photo: BMW Motorsport)
“Due to the very tight schedule of the LMDh project, the plan has always been to focus on one application area during the first season in 2023, adds Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport. The IMSA series is perfectly suited for this. However, our mid-term goal is obviously to race on two fronts with the BMW M Hybrid V8, and also to use the major platform offered by the WEC and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. We are now working on this with determination, alongside our program in North America. We took the next big step on Monday. The car successfully completed its deployment at the Dallara circuit in Varano de Melegari. We are now beginning intensive testing ahead of the race debut in January 2023 at Daytona. »
For participation in the WEC in 2024, the WRT name returns with insistence in the world championship paddock.
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Valentin GLO
Journalist. Endurance reporter (WEC, IMSA, ELMS, ALMS) and sometimes F1 or IndyCar.
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