The BMW AG board has decided to strategically realign its automobile racing activities, and in doing so has confirmed a full FIA World Endurance Championship GT programme from 2018 among other racing expansions.
“Starting with the 2018 season, we want to further expand our activities in GT racing and compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship, as well as the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “This obviously also includes our return to Le Mans, which we are particularly looking forward to.
“The way the WEC has developed so well makes us confident that there is a big future for GT racing. This is also the motivation behind our further expansion in the customer racing sector.
“Our range is already spearheaded by a successful representative, in the form of the BMW M6 GT3. As of 2018, we will also be excellently represented by the BMW M4 GT4 in the GT4 class, which is currently experiencing something of a boom. It goes without saying that we will also continue our successful junior programme, in which we prepare talented youngsters in GT and touring car racing for the bigger challenges ahead.
“All in all, the BMW Group’s motorsport programme is virtually unique in terms of its scope and diversity.”
While there’s no official word on the model that will be used for the new GTE car, German media sources are suggesting the car will be based on either the M6 replacement or a new 7 Series platformed Z8.
