BMW to join FIA WEC in 2018

BMW is coming back to Le Mans and also joining the FIA WEC after the stint of the M3 E92 GT2 during the class shift from GT2 to LMGTE, as part of a huge motorsport plan that involves various categories, with increased focus in GT racing.

Alongside the FIA World Endurance Championship, continued participation in the DTM, IMSA WeatherTech Sportscar Championship, Rally Dakar and GT3 and GT4 racing, including also a partnership with the Andretti Formula E Team as classic racing and sustainability are mentioned as the main pillars of the renewed BMW Motorsport program.

The BMW history after the BMW M3 E92 GT2 in the LMGTE class had the BMW Z4 GTE and currently has the BMW M6 GTLM, but both cars were only homologated to the more open IMSA specifications, what kept the German manufacturer away from coming back to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The new car would take the global and the American duties in proper LMGTE specification, although no model was mentioned it is said that it will not be based in any of the platforms that are in the market now, with suggestions pointing out to the coming Z8 model.

With BMW joining the LMGTE-Pro party in 2018, the class will have its most diverse grid since the start of the FIA WEC, as the Germans will fight against Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche and Ford as well Corvette in their Le Mans only effort, and recent rumors also link Lamborghini to a potential LMGTE-Pro effort with a car based in the Huracán platform, which is already a successful one in GT3 racing.

PHOTO: BMW Motorsport