BMW M Hybrid V8: more than a racing car
- Camilla Coletta
- Jan 5, 2023
- 3 min read
The BMW M Hybrid has been defined by Andreas Roos, head of BMW Motorsport, as more than just a racing car because this car is the beginning of an electric future for BMW M. Here is the car that will take part in the 24h of Daytona in January and throughout the IMSA season, parallel to the 50th birthday of BMW M.
Unlike the other cars that we have presented in previous articles, the BMW LMDh will not take part in the WEC in 2023, but in the IMSA championship. Something has been mentioned about the World Endurance Championship but for now nothing official.
The Chassis and The Engine
The BMW LMDh has a 4-stroke V8 biturbo engine and a hybrid system, as required by the category, of maximum power added between the two engines of 500KW equal to 680 horsepower. Also the weight is established by the regulation and is equal to 1030kg. The chassis is provided by Dallara.
A huge teamwork has been done in this project started from scratch, the team prefers to keep expectations moderate but the hope that success will come is high. There will be contingencies, that could play in favor or against BMW but the team wants to be ready to be able to welcome and face both.
The Livery
The provisional livery that has been presented has the iconic colors of the German House: white base with red and navy blue along with the sky blue. Recalling the liveries of the past, this camouflage design is also "covering" the curves of the car, at the time of the first appearance, when it was yet to be officially presented.
In Los Angeles BMW presented the official livery of the car that’ll hit the track in January. The colors remain the same as the temporary one: white, red, navy blue and black; what immediately catches the eye is big detail on the rear: an M that is also represented on the trunk in the front of the car.
The scheme of the Icons of IMSA, the camouflage livery, was a scheme that recalled, as we said, the history of the brand in motorsport and celebrated the 50 years of BMW.
The new design is the encounter between history and future, just like the one chosen by Ferrari and Porsche, the triangular geometric shapes perfectly incorporate the M on both the front and the rear. Among the colors listed above we also find blue and purple, colors that refer to the electric motor. All the black parts of the car will remain in carbon fiber in order to reduce weight, the only black part painted opaque will be in front of the cockpit and on the windshield in the left, creating a vision that improves the concentration of the driver.
The Drivers
The drivers who will take part in the 2023 season starting end of January will be Connor De Philippi and Nick Yelloly in the car number 24 and Augusto Farfus and Philipp Eng in the number 25.
"I am looking forward to this challenge and I am grateful to BMW for the trust it they’ve given me"
said Eng.
Colton Herta will join them for the Endurance Cup IMSA races.
BMW and WEC?
Currently those on the season in the Endurance World Championship are only rumors that the Bavarian House has never confirmed; therefore, currently there is no feedback of BMW participation in the WEC but not even disproof.
The Team
The team that will follow BMW for the IMSA season is Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, better known as RLL Team. The American team was founded in 1992 by Bobby Rahal and later joined by David Letterman and Mike Lanigan, respectively the winner of the Indianapolis 500, television host and businessman. The team famous for winning the Indianapolis 500 in 2004 and 2020 and for winning the 1992 CART championship. Currently RLL competes in the weathertech sportscar Championship and indycar Series. The team also competed in the ALMS as an official BMW team in 2010, the same year they won the Petit Le Mans.
The words of RLL Team Director Bobby Rahal:
"BMW M Motorsport is providing us with an excellent car, engine and driver training, which we are very satisfied with"
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