BMW M Motorsport Commits to Hypercar Category, Ends 17-Year Partnership with Team RLL
Munich, Germany – BMW M Motorsport has confirmed its long-term commitment to the Hypercar category in both the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, signaling a strategic pivot in its racing endeavors.
Effective immediately, BMW has officially announced the conclusion of its collaboration with BMW M Team RLL after 17 successful years. Discussions regarding potential future partnerships with Bobby Rahal’s team in other capacities are reportedly ongoing.
The partnership with BMW M Team RLL has yielded notable success, including 24 IMSA race and class wins, and over 100 podium finishes. The pinnacle of their success came in 2010 and 2011 when they secured five GT-class titles with the BMW M3 GT. The duo celebrated back-to-back GTLM class victories at the 24 Hours of Daytona in 2019 and 2020 with the BMW M8 GTE, while drivers John Edwards and Jesse Krohn clinched the GTLM title in the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup in 2020.
Transitioning from GT racing to the GTP class in 2023 with the BMW M Hybrid V8, the team has amassed five podium finishes and a victory at the 6-hour race in Watkins Glen. The second season showcased a dominant performance, featuring a 1-2 finish at Indianapolis, alongside consecutive pole positions and podiums at Long Beach and Laguna Seca.
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, expressed optimism regarding the future, stating, “I am very pleased that we will continue our successful Hypercar programme long-term… We’ve learned a great deal about our BMW M Hybrid V8 and established ourselves among the front-runners in both championships.”
Roos acknowledged the significance of the partnership with Team RLL, stating, “I want to thank Bobby Rahal and his team for 17 fantastic years… They have played a crucial role in building BMW M Motorsport’s strong fanbase in North America.”
The identity of the new IMSA race team for the BMW M Hybrid V8 will be announced later. As BMW M Motorsport prepares for the season finale at Road Atlanta this October, the strategic realignment marks a new phase in their racing program.
