24h Le Mans
Over the course of BMW M Team WRT's first season in the FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar category, the BMW M Hybrid V8 steadily improved, quickly going from newcomer to serious competition for the podium. This first year laid the foundation for an ambitious future in the top endurance class.
Like all new teams and cars, BMW's debut in the FIA WEC was peppered with adjustments on the back of a relatively steep learning curve. BMW M Team WRT first sought to make it into the top 10, but after mid-season, its performances were noticeably improved. The BMW M Hybrid V8 became a regular among the frontrunners and a dependable contender for a podium finish.
This consistent progress allowed BMW to finish 2024 in fifth place in the FIA Endurance Hypercar Manufacturers Championship, an impressive accomplishment for a team's rookie year in the FIA WEC. BMW beat out Peugeot, Cadillac and Lamborghini, demonstrating its desire and ability to face off against Hypercar's elite.
The most highly anticipated race of this year, the 92nd 24 Hours of Le Mans, was no walk in the park for BMW M Team WRT's two cars. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 was forced to retire after going off-track, a significant blow for an outfit that held big ambitions for its first participation. The #20 finished the race without making it into the classification, further adding to what was described by BMW as a real whirlwind of emotions.
Despite the setbacks, BMW M Team WRT can be proud of its 2024 season. In addition to a noteworthy performance at the 6 Hours of Fuji where the BMW M Hybrid V8 clinched second place, the outfit racked up four top 10 finishes and took part in seven Hyperpoles, clear proof of its increasing competitiveness.
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): A long season in the FIA WEC came to an end here in Bahrain […] but overall, we can look back positively on the season, considering where we started in our first FIA WEC appearance in Qatar and where we are now in this fiercely contested world championship. A big thank you to everyone at BMW M Motorsport, BMW M Team WRT, all our drivers and everyone involved in development. We’ll take this into the winter break and work hard to come back stronger next year.
Expectations are high for the 2025 season. René Rast, one of BMW M Team WRT’s star drivers, is optimistic: So, we can look positively at our performance. We can fight for the top spots on our own strength. That is a great motivation for the 2025 season!
BMW M Team WRT and the BMW M Hybrid V8 have proven they're ready to fight on the front lines of a highly competitive Hypercar field, taking on next season with confidence and aiming for the podium to write a new chapter in BMW's history in endurance racing.
