BMW M Hybrid V8 LMDh to race at Le Mans from 2024

BMW will enter its new M Hybrid V8 race car within the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2024, the automaker mentioned on Tuesday.

This might be addition to BMW’s beforehand introduced participation within the IMSA SportsCar Championship ranging from 2023.

The M Hybrid V8 has been designed to fulfill new LMDh (Le Mans Daytona hybrid) laws, with the automobiles eligible for each the GTP and Hypercar courses, the respective premier courses of the World Endurance and Sports activities Automobile Championships. Likewise, automobiles designed to fulfill present LMH (Le Mans Hypercar) laws are additionally eligible for each courses. Stability of Efficiency guidelines might be used to make sure a fair enjoying subject.

Crucially, the M Hybrid V8’s entry within the World Endurance Championship means BMW will compete on the prime stage within the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the premier occasion on the World Endurance Championship calendar. It is going to be the primary time for BMW since 1999, again when its V12 LMR sports activities prototype secured the automaker’s first and solely total victory within the French traditional. In the identical yr, the automotive additionally triumphed on the 12 Hours of Sebring.

Acura, Alpine, Audi (perhaps), Cadillac, Lamborghini and Porsche are all growing LMDh race automobiles, whereas ByKolles, Ferrari, Glickenhaus, Peugeot and Toyota are all growing or have developed LMH automobiles.

The M Hybrid V8 makes use of a chassis sourced from Italy’s Dallara, one among 4 companies supplying chassis for the class. The automotive might want to tip the scales at a minimal 1,030 kilograms (2,270 kilos), and its powertrain, a hybrid setup utilizing a twin-turbocharged version of a 4.0-liter V-8 from a former DTM racing program, can generate at any time a most output of round 670 hp.

BMW M will run its LMDh marketing campaign with America’s Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, below the BMW Workforce RLL banner. The present plan is to subject two of the automobiles within the 2023 SportsCar Championship. Bobby Rahal, co-owner of RLL Racing, will function group principal. He’ll work carefully with Maurizio Leschiutta, challenge chief at BMW for the LMDh program. It is not clear whether or not Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing may even be tapped for the World Endurance Championship entry. BMW can also be but to call any drivers for its LMDh program.

The M Hybrid V8 underwent its preliminary shakedown check on Monday at Italy’s Varano de Melegari circuit. Extra assessments will happen in Europe all through August earlier than this system switches to the U.S. in September.

The primary race would be the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona subsequent January. The race is the opening spherical of the 2023 SportsCar Championship, and the primary for LMDh.