BMW M Motorsport Ends 17-Year Partnership with Team RLL
BMW M Motorsport has officially announced the conclusion of its 17-year partnership with Team RLL at the end of the current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season, a shift anticipated following recent discussions in the industry.
This decision aligns with BMW’s broader strategy to advance its FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) Hypercar and IMSA GTP programs. While no successor to Team RLL has been named, sources suggest an enhanced role for Belgian-based Team WRT, currently servicing BMW in the FIA WEC.
Despite the impending split, BMW is reportedly engaged in discussions with Bobby Rahal’s team regarding future collaborations in different capacities.
Throughout their alliance, BMW M Motorsport and Team RLL celebrated significant achievements, securing 24 IMSA race and class wins along with over 100 podium finishes. Notably, the team clinched five GT class titles with the BMW M3 GT in 2010 and 2011, and captured back-to-back Rolex 24 GTLM class victories in 2019 and 2020 with the BMW M8 GTE.
In 2023, the team transitioned to the new premier GTP class, utilizing the BMW M Hybrid V8. In its inaugural season, car No. 25 delivered five podiums, including a victory at the six-hour race in Watkins Glen, and marked a notable one-two finish at the Indianapolis race in the following season.
Andreas Roos, head of BMW M Motorsport, expressed appreciation for the partnership, stating, “Their loyalty to our brand over such a long period is exceptional. Together, we made the bold move from GT racing to the GTP class and celebrated several successes there.”
While the joint IMSA program concludes, BMW aims to maintain a partnership with Team RLL in North America for other endeavors, reaffirming ongoing discussions about their new IMSA race team, details of which will be announced in due course.
