BMW formalizes its commitment to GTE from 2018

For several weeks, AUTOhebdo reported to you about BMW's intentions regarding a potential entry into the World Championship.Endurance (see in particular Ah n°2068), passing through the GTE category. The propeller firm has indeed confirmed its intentions by formalizing a GTE program in WEC as of 2018.

This announcement will also allow BMW to make its return to 24 Hours of Le Mans after an absence since 2011, with the commitments of the M3. Note that BMW won in Sarthe in 1999 with the BMW V12 LMR.

The WEC, just like theIMSA, where the brand is already present with the M6 ​​GTLM and M6 GT3, will be major axes of the Motorsport program from 2018.

“We want to expand our activities in GT and participate in the FIA ​​World Endurance Championship, at the same time as the IMSA championship, underlines Jens Marquardt, boss of BMW Motorsport.

This obviously also includes our return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The way the WEC has developed reinforces our belief that there is a great future for GT. This is also the motivation behind our further expansion of our customer program (notably in GT3 in Blancpain, Editor’s note).

The BMW M6 GT3 is the standard bearer. In 2018, we will also be very well represented by the BMW M4 in the GT4 category, which is currently experiencing considerable growth. It goes without saying that we will also successfully continue our Junior program, in which we prepare young talents in GT, in touring, for the challenges to come. »

No information on the car model that will be used, as well as on the structuring of the commitment, has been communicated.