BMW and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing End Long-Term Partnership
The longstanding factory partnership between BMW and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (RLL), dating back to 2009, will conclude at the end of the current IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season. As IMSA fans anticipate BMW’s future plans, sources indicate that the brand has decided to consolidate its racing efforts with Belgium’s WRT as its exclusive service provider for the M Hybrid V8 program, which currently encompasses the FIA WEC Hypercar series.
RLL’s leadership has notified its IMSA team of the upcoming transition, actively pursuing potential engagements as they prepare to operate from their Indianapolis base. Bobby Rahal expressed his disappointment regarding the partnership’s end, stating, “It was a privilege and an honor to represent BMW… it’s time to move onto new things.”
The team is exploring options to remain competitive in IMSA, indicating interest in engaging discussions with various manufacturers for potential 2026 collaborations. “We have a turnkey team for a manufacturer to step into,” Rahal noted, underscoring their successful history with BMW over 17 years and the potential for a successful new partnership. Other possible ventures include involvement in LMP2, Indy NXT, and even NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, although Rahal recognizes a stronger alignment with IMSA or Indy NXT.
Historically, RLL has turned in impressive performances, clinching the ALMS Teams’ Championship for BMW in 2010 and achieving consecutive championships in 2011 with a dominant showing in the GT2 class. Transitioning through various vehicles, including the BMW Z4 and M6 GTLM, the team recorded notable victories including two wins at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring.
Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and a shift to a more limited IMSA program with a single M4 GT3 entry in 2022, RLL returned to competitive form in 2023. The M Hybrid V8 endured initial challenges against rivals like Acura and Cadillac but secured a significant victory at the Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen after a post-race technical inspection disqualification of a leading competitor.
Looking ahead, RLL aims to close their partnership with BMW on a high note, with three races remaining in the season: Road America on August 3, a six-hour endurance race back in Indianapolis on September 21, and the 10-hour finale at Road Atlanta on October 11. Rahal remains optimistic about the future, expressing confidence in finding a new program, be it in IMSA or potentially IndyCar.
