Following the cessation of activities in Endurance Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, BMW needed another team to operate its two GTPs in IMSA next season. The German brand didn't have to look far, as it entrusted this mission to Team WRT, which already entered the two M Hybrid V8s in WEC since 2024.
As Vincent Vosse revealed on RTBF during Lone Star Le Mans In Austin, Team WRT has taken possession of a base of nearly 2,000 square meters near Charlotte, North Carolina. It is precisely on the Kannapolis side that the team has established itself, in premises rented from the team of NASCAR from Gene Haas. These premises therefore complement the brand new base opened earlier this year in Bierset, Belgium.
"We have never hidden our interest in racing in North America, and in particular in IMSA. This wish is now becoming a reality, and it is simply fantastic to open this new chapter in the history of Team WRT.", explained Vincent Vosse. “We are embarking on an exciting championship, one we have only had a taste of in the past, thanks to our successes in the American rounds of the Intercontinental GT Challenge and our two appearances in the GT class at the 24 Hours of Daytona, both of which resulted in podium finishes. However, we have never contested the full IMSA season. We are facing a significant challenge, but our team has gained a lot of experience on a global scale over the past ten years, and we feel ready for this challenge. We know the BMW M Hybrid V8, we know the drivers, and we can’t wait to get started. A big thank you to BMW M Motorsport for their confidence and this fantastic opportunity!”
In IMSA, BMWs are renowned for their speed in qualifying, particularly in the hands of Dries Vanthoor, who for example secured the first four pole positions of the season, including those at the prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona and 12 Hours of Sebring. The 2026 IMSA season will kick off, as it does every year, in Florida at the Daytona circuit on January 24 and 25.
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