FIA WEC at Imola, IMSA at Long Beach: BMW M Hybrid V8 faces an eventful double-header weekend.
| Published date | 17 April 2024 |
M2 PRESSWIRE-April 17, 2024-: FIA WEC at Imola, IMSA at Long Beach: BMW M Hybrid V8 faces an eventful double-header weekend.
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RDATE:16042024
Imola/Long Beach. Four BMW M Hybrid V8s, two continents. The BMW M Motorsport LMDh prototypes are facing an intense racing weekend. While BMW M Team WRT competes at Imola (ITA) with two Hypercars in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) for the second race of the season, BMW M Team RLL is aiming for the season's first podium in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA series) at Long Beach (USA). The BMW M4 GT3 is targeting the podium in both Italy and California.
FIA WEC: BMW M Team WRT competes at Imola.
At the 6 Hours of Imola, the FIA WEC is making its first European stop this year. BMW M Motorsport engineers and BMW M Team WRT have analysed the challenging season opener in Qatar with the two BMW M Hybrid V8s over the past weeks and have worked intensively to improve the car. Behind the wheel of car #15 are Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER). The sister car, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, is shared by Robin Frijns (NED), Rene Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA).
In the LMGT3 class, Team WRT made a strong impression in Qatar, with the #46 BMW M4 GT3 narrowly missing the podium at the opener. At Imola, the crew will be carried by a special tailwind; Valentino Rossi (ITA) starts his home race, with the Imola track being less than two hours' drive from his birthplace Urbino (ITA). The 45-year-old Italian will join Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) and BMW M works driver Maxime Martin (BEL) for the 6 Hours of Imola. Driven by numerous Tifosi expected along the track, the local hero and his team-mates are aiming for a podium finish. In the sister car, the #31 BMW M4 GT3, BMW M works driver Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) will take turns.
The Imola race starts on Sunday at 13:00 CEST.
IMSA series: Street circuit at Long Beach as a good omen.
Two BMW M Hybrid V8s are also required in the IMSA series this coming weekend. BMW M Team RLL starts with good memories on the Long Beach street circuit. Last year, Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) celebrated second place on the podium in the #25 BMW M Hybrid V8. Philipp Eng (AUT) and Augusto Farfus (BRA) completed the strong team result in the GTP class with a fourth place.
With the momentum from 2023 results, the team and drivers want to underline the strong...
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