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Bahrain International Circuit (BRN), 30th October - 2nd November 2024. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, 8 Hours of Bahrain, Season Finale, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann.

FIA WEC Bahrain: BMW M Hybrid V8 fights for podium again in turbulent season finale.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Saturday November 2, 2024

At the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Japan’s Fuji, BMW M Team WRT celebrated the first podium finish for the BMW M Hybrid V8, and during the finale of its debut season in the FIA WEC, the hypercar once again proved its potential for top positions.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Sakhir. At the penultimate round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) in Japan’s Fuji, BMW M Team WRT celebrated the first podium finish for the BMW M Hybrid V8, and during the finale of its debut season in the FIA WEC, the hypercar once again proved its potential for top positions. In the 8 Hours of Bahrain (BRN), the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 dropped out of podium positions only in the eventful final stages, finishing the race in sixth place. Due to a penalty for a competitor, the car was subsequently promoted to fifth position. The #20 car, which also had a strong start to the race, was forced to retire due to a technical issue.

Nürburgring-Nordschleife (GER), 19th October 2024, BMW M Motorsport, Customer Racing, NLS5 - 55. Adenauer ADAC Rundstrecken-Trophy, testing & development BMW M2 Racing, Max Hesse, Jens Klingmann (GER).

BMW M Motorsport News, 29th October 2024.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Tuesday October 29, 2024

In our BMW M Motorsport News, we regularly offer you a selection of photos as well as a compact and informative overview of the racing action 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:

"The 2024 motorsport season is entering the home stretch – and for our BMW M Motorsport drivers and teams, it's about securing the last crucial points for the BMW M Sports Trophy Awards. In December, we will continue our tradition of more than 50 years and once again honour the most successful participants in the BMW M Sports Trophy. In addition, we will launch a new exciting project in 2025, for which there will be more information in the coming weeks. Looking back at the past racing events, I congratulate all the successful crews who have represented for BMW M Motorsport around the world with their victories and podium finishes."

Fuji (JPN), 12-15 September 2024. BMW M Motorsport, FIA World Endurance Championship, 6 Hours of Fuji, Fuji International Speedway, BMW M Team WRT, Hypercar, LMDh, hybrid, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann.

FIA WEC season finale: Double duty for Valentino Rossi in Bahrain – LMGT3 race and Rookie Test in Hypercar.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Thursday October 24, 2024

The 8 Hours of Bahrain on 2nd November marks the end of BMW M Motorsport's debut season in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). On the Sunday following the race, the FIA WEC Rookie Test is scheduled, where Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) will take the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Munich. The 8 Hours of Bahrain on 2^nd November marks the end of BMW M Motorsport's debut season in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). The goals for the season finale are to add to the first podium finish recently achieved in Fuji (JPN) with the BMW M Hybrid V8 through another top result and to secure second place in the World Championship standings in the LMGT3 class with the #31 BMW M4 GT3 driven by Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR). On the Sunday following the race, the FIA WEC Rookie Test is scheduled, where Valentino Rossi (ITA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) will take the wheel of the BMW M Hybrid V8 .

The trio has prepared for their Rookie Test in the BMW M Motorsport simulator in Munich (GER). Hesse was involved in the development work during the season. He and Harper have also previously completed an aerodynamics test. For Rossi, it will be his premiere in the cockpit of the LMDh car.

The day before the Rookie Test, Team WRT will enter the race with two BMW M Hybrid V8s, two BMW M4 GT3s, and the goal of ending the 2024 season with a highlight. In the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) are aiming for another podium after their second place at Fuji a few weeks ago. The same goes for Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) in the sister #20 car.

In the LMGT3 class, Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael, and Darren Leung are in third place in the drivers' standings with 85 points. Second place is only five points away and can still be captured with a good race result. In car #46, Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi will compete, the trio having stood on the Fuji podium, finishing third.

The 8 Hours of Bahrain will start on Saturday, 2^nd November, at 12:00 CET (14:00 local time).

Comments before the 8 Hours of Bahrain:

Macau, 16-19 November 2023. FIA GT World Cup, Guia Circuit, #32 BMW M4 GT3, Sheldon van der Linde, BMW M Team WRT, Shell.

FIA GT World Cup Macau: BMW M Motorsport assembles an exceptional line-up with four BMW M4 GT3s, four works drivers, and two former winners.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA GT World Cup Tuesday October 22, 2024

The FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN) is a highlight at the end of a racing season – and this year, BMW M Motorsport will approach this highlight on the legendary Guia Circuit with an exceptional line-up. Four BMW M4 GT3s will be driven through the narrow streets of the Asian metropolis by four BMW M works drivers on 16th/17th November.

Andrea Schwab
BMW Group

Munich. The FIA GT World Cup in Macau (CHN) is a highlight at the end of a racing season – and this year, BMW M Motorsport will approach this highlight on the legendary Guia Circuit with an exceptional line-up. Four BMW M4 GT3s will be driven through the narrow streets of the Asian metropolis by four BMW M works drivers on 16th/17th November. Included in the line-up are the two-time Macau winner and defending champion Raffaele Marciello (SUI), the 2018 Macau winner Augusto Farfus (BRA), as well as Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL).

This year marks Raffaele Marciello's Macau debut with BMW M Motorsport. In 2023, he achieved his second-double of winning the qualification and main races on the Guia Circuit, following his first in 2019. It was also his farewell weekend with Mercedes. Last year, Augusto Farfus finished third in the main race driving the BMW M4 GT3 entered by ROWE Racing, also making it to the podium. The Brazilian celebrated his major triumph in 2018 with the BMW M6 GT3, clinching the qualifying and main race double. He also had a podium finish in the qualifying race in 2017 as the runner-up.

Sheldon van der Linde is set for his second appearance in Macau following his debut last year. He will once again compete in the BMW M4 GT3 adorned with an exceptional Manhua design from BMW M Motorsport's Premium Technology Partner Shell. In 2023, the South African claimed a strong fifth place in the qualifying race but unfortunately retired from the main race due to a tyre issue while in contention for a podium finish. Vanthoor participated in Macau in 2018 and 2019, notably recording the second-fastest qualifying time in 2019.