Imola. The long-awaited season opener of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) can begin. BMW M Motorsport and Team WRT prepared intensively for the "6 Hours of Imola" (ITA) next weekend on the official test day. The aerodynamically revised BMW M Hybrid V8s completed 345 laps, while the two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs completed a total of 310 laps on Tuesday. All the car crews and drivers took the opportunity to optimise the cars and processes with a view to the first race of the season.
Kevin Magnussen (DEN) and Raffaele Marciello (SUI, both #15) as well as Robin Frijns (NED) and René Rast (GER, both #20) took turns in the two BMW M Hybrid V8s of BMW M Team WRT. While the #20 crew was able to complete its test programme without any problems, the engine of the #15 had to be changed in the morning due to a technical problem for safety reasons. In the afternoon, Magnussen and Marciello made up some of their test work despite the changeable weather. Dries Vanthoor (BEL) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) are competing in the third race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at Long Beach (USA) at the same time and will therefore not be on the Imola grid.
As in 2025, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 will sport the Inception design in the iconic BMW M colours. The sister car will race in the Inception design in the colours of Premium Technology Partner Shell. BMW M Motorsport is also delighted to have the support of numerous strong partners: Akrapovič, Champion, XPEL, H&R, OZ Racing, KYB and PUMA. Champion is expanding its involvement in the FIA WEC in the third year of the collaboration and is supplying BMW M Team WRT with high-performance racing spark plugs and ignition coils as a technology partner. KYB supports BMW M Team WRT both in the IMSA Series and in the FIA WEC.
XPEL, the world's leading manufacturer of protective films for vehicles, is a new member of the BMW M Motorsport family. The collaboration includes the FIA WEC and the spectacular BMW M3 Touring 24H community project at the Nürburgring 24 Hours. "We’re extremely proud to partner with BMW M Motorsport," said Michael Mejia, Senior Director of Global Marketing at XPEL. "Endurance racing is the ultimate proving ground for performance, durability and engineering excellence – values that are deeply aligned with the XPEL brand."
In the LMGT3 class, Team WRT will compete with two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs. In the #32 car, BMW M works driver Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA) and Darren Leung (GBR) celebrate their reunion in the FIA WEC after a one-year break. BMW M works driver Dan Harper (GBR), Parker Thompson (CAN) and Anthony McIntosh (USA) will take turns in the car #69, which will be given a new, unique design for each race.
Quotes ahead of the "6 Hours of Imola":
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): "The season finally got underway with the test day. Despite the difficult weather conditions and the technical problem with the car #15, we were able to collect a lot of test kilometres and data, which we are now evaluating with a view to the race weekend. We are looking forward to the first season with the aerodynamically revised BMW M Hybrid V8 and again with our BMW M4 GT3 EVO. Our Hypercar showed its potential at Daytona with third place, as did the GT3 car with a class win. Our goal for the season is to be able to regularly fight for podium places and take victories."
Vincent Vosse (Team Principal BMW M Team WRT): "All in all, that was a good day. Our guys on the Hypercar side worked well and we have found a basis on which we can build. Unfortunately, we had to change the engine in car #15 for safety reasons. Nevertheless, we were still able to do a lot of driving in the afternoon and were up there with fourth place for the car #20. However, we still lack a bit of performance on the Ferraris. On the LMGT3 side, we focused on race pace and are also doing well. We've been strong here in recent years and want to finish on the podium again this time."
Kevin Magnussen (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8): "We drove a good number of laps – both in the wet and in the dry – and I have the impression that we have learnt a lot and gathered important information for the weekend. Nevertheless, it's difficult to make a prediction after this test. The Ferraris are very fast, but apart from that, we are right up there."
René Rast (BMW M Team WRT, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8): "We can be satisfied. Of course, it was a bit difficult with the changeable weather, which affected our plan. But we completed our programme and can certainly take a few things away with us. And then we'll see where we stand at the weekend."
Augusto Farfus (Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO): "Despite the track being wet in parts, we were able to cover all the test areas we had set out to and got what we wanted. We are in strong shape – as a team and as a driver trio. I'm really looking forward to driving with Darren and Sean again. It feels like coming home. Even though we didn't drive together last year, we spent a lot of time together. It's great to be able to pick up where we left off. The last time we raced here together we won, so we're hoping for a clean and good race with a good result. When you compete in a world championship with a team like WRT and these team-mates, the aim has to be to win races and become champions. We are up for that challenge."
Dan Harper (Team WRT, #69 BMW M4 GT3 EVO): "It was a good test in different conditions. The car feels very good and we are very pleased with the start to the week. It was nice to drive with Anthony, Parker and Team WRT in the Asian Le Mans Series over the winter. In a way it's been our pre-season and it helps that it's been a successful one. I'm really looking forward to my first race in the WEC, the track suits our car and we're ready to go. Anthony's idea of having a different livery for each race is really nice and something I've never experienced before. The designs look fantastic. I'm happy to be a part of it – also because they are always based on the past and thus bring back a piece of history. It's also nice for the fans."
BMW Group PressClub Global
