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Le Mans (FRA), 7-16 June 2024. FIA World Endurance Championship, 24h Le Mans, Team WRT, LMGT3, #46 BMW M4 GT3, Maxime Martin, Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harthy.

FIA WEC: Start into the second half of the season with the home game for Augusto Farfus in São Paulo, Brazil.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 FIA WEC Tuesday July 9, 2024

Following the mega-event of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) heads into the second half of the season this coming weekend with the 6 Hours of São Paulo (BRA).

São Paulo. Following the mega-event of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (FRA), the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) heads into the second half of the season this coming weekend with the 6 Hours of São Paulo (BRA). In the Hypercar class, BMW M Team WRT will compete with two BMW M Hybrid V8 cars. The goal is to translate the strong pace shown by the car at Le Mans into good results and to collect important points for the overall standings. In the LMGT3 category, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) are aiming for the World Championship title after their victory at Imola (ITA) and a second place at Le Mans most recently. For Farfus, who was born in Curitiba (BRA), a very special home race awaits.

It has been 14 years since Farfus last competed in races for BMW in his home country of Brazil – in 2010 in the FIA World Touring Car Championship (FIA WTCC). Now he returns with his fellow drivers in the #31 BMW M4 GT3 to fight for the World Championship lead in the LMGT3 class. The trio is just two points behind the leaders with 73 points. In the #46 BMW M4 GT3, Maxime Martin (BEL), Valentino Rossi (ITA), and Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA) will take turns.

In the Hypercar class, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, as well as Robin Frijns (NED), René Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) in the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, aim to achieve good positions after disappointing results at Le Mans. With the fastest qualifying time at Le Mans, the car has proved it can keep up with the best, and now the team aims to regain the consistency in the race that was lacking last time.

The 6 Hours of São Paulo will start on Sunday, 14^th July, at 16:30 CEST (11:30 local time).

Note to editors.

On Friday, at 18:15 local time in the paddock, there will be a ‘Meet the Team’ event with all drivers, Head of BMW M Motorsport Andreas Roos, and WRT Team Principal Vincent Vosse. All accredited media representatives are invited.

Comments before the 6 Hours of São Paulo:

Nuremberg (GER), 05-07 July 2024. DTM, ADAC, Norisring, Round 4, René Rast, #33 BMW M4 GT3, Schubert Motorsport, RoboMarkets, DTM

DTM Norisring: René Rast shines with victory on Saturday and sensational comeback on Sunday.

Jeff Seabrook 2024 DTM Sunday July 7, 2024

The fourth DTM race event of the season at the Norisring (GER) was German René Rast’s weekend. In the Saturday race, he used his full experience in the rain gamble of Nürnberg (GER), made the right tyre choice, and celebrated his first season victory in the Schubert Motorsport #33 BMW M4 GT3.

Norisring. The fourth DTM race event of the season at the Norisring (GER) was German René Rast’s weekend. In the Saturday race, he used his full experience in the rain gamble of Nürnberg (GER), made the right tyre choice, and celebrated his first season victory in the Schubert Motorsport #33 BMW M4 GT3. His performance on Sunday was equally strong. Starting from 19th place and with 20 kilograms of success ballast, he stormed up to fifth position and collected valuable points in the DTM title race. At the halfway point of the season, Rast is third in the drivers' standings with 93 points, while Schubert Motorsport leads the team standings with 186 points. Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Marco Wittmann (GER) also scored points .

Before full stands on the city circuit at the Dutzendteich, Rast drove from seventh on the grid to victory in the first race, because when the rain began, unlike nearly all the other drivers, he did not come in for a tyre change but instead weathered the brief shower on slicks. Thanks to the saved pit stop, he was unstoppable on his way to his 27th DTM win. After two third-places in 2022 and two second-places in 2023, it was the fifth consecutive podium for Rast at the Norisring. Although the series ended with a fifth place on Sunday, his comeback over 14 positions was such strong damage limitation that it felt like another podium. After eight of 16 season races, Rast is just eleven points behind the leader in the overall standings with his 93 points. Schubert Motorsport has a 16-point advantage over second place in the team standings.

For Rast’s teammates Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Marco Wittmann (GER), the weekend did not go optimally. Van der Linde had strong pace in the #31 BMW M4 GT3 and started the Saturday race from the front row. However, he fell back to seventh place in the rain gamble with victory in sight. On Sunday, the 2022 DTM champion was classified in 14th place after a penalty. Wittmann, celebrated by fans at his home game in Nürnberg, could not match his great victory at Zandvoort (NED) a few weeks ago. He finished in twelfth and eleventh places in the #11 BMW M4 GT3.

Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), 26-30 June 2024. 24 Hours of Spa, Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe, GTWC, Intercontinental GT Challenge, IGTC, BMW M Team WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3, Raffaele Marciello, Maxime Martin, Valentino Rossi.

24h Spa-Francorchamps: BMW M Team WRT reaches the podium at the anniversary of their home race.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Sunday June 30, 2024

BMW M Motorsport reached the podium with the BMW M4 GT3 at all three major 24-hour races in June. Following third place at the Nürburgring (GER) and second at Le Mans (FRA), the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) saw Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL) finish in third place.

Spa-Francorchamps. BMW M Motorsport reached the podium with the BMW M4 GT3 at all three major 24-hour races in June. Following third place at the Nürburgring (GER) and second at Le Mans (FRA), the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL) saw Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL) finish in third place. The trio secured the first BMW M Team WRT podium at their home race together with BMW M Motorsport. The ROWE Racing #998 BMW M4 GT3 was in second position until just before the end but fell back to sixth place due to a late additional pit stop.

During the 24-hour race, which began in warmth and sunshine but had to be neutralised for several hours behind the safety car at night due to heavy rain showers, the #998 BMW M4 GT3 was strong. Augusto Farfus (BRA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER) led the race despite a drive-through penalty during the night and fought for the win, however a slow puncture forced the ROWE Racing team to bring forward the last planned pit stop. Since the final driver Hesse would have exceeded the maximum allowed duration of a stint by about a minute, he had to enter the pit lane shortly before the finish, dropping from second to sixth place.

The #32 crew moved from 23rd on the grid to the front with strong driving and good strategy amid the numerous difficult tyre choices. In the final sprint, van der Linde, Vanthoor, and Weerts were in fifth place, but after the #998 pit stop and a time penalty for a competitor the trio was able to secure third place. It was the first podium for BMW M Team WRT at their home race in Belgium with the BMW M4 GT3 – and that at the 100th anniversary of the Ardennes endurance classic.

The #46 BMW M4 GT3 was also in contention for the podium for a long time, but an accident involving Valentino Rossi (ITA), combined with a repair break and a penalty, pushed him and his teammates Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Maxime Martin (BEL) back to 24th place. The second ROWE Racing car of the defending champions Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR) retired after about three hours with a technical defect in the cooling system.

In the Bronze category, Connor De Phillippi (USA), Pedro Ebrahim (BRA), Darren Leung (GBR), and Toby Sowery (GBR) in the #991 BMW M4 GT3 from Century Motorsport crossed the finish line in ninth place after a challenging weekend. The #30 BMW M4 GT3 from Team WRT with Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Sam De Haan (GBR), Jens Klingmann (GER), and Calan Williams (AUS) at the wheel was doing well and in bronze podium contention but retired due to a technical issue, which has to be evaluated later.

Video statements of Andreas Roos, Vincent Vosse, Hans-Peter Naundorf, Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde: https://b.mw/24h_Spa_Interviews.(link invalid at the time this article was published)

Comments after the 24h Spa-Francorchamps:

Munich (GER), 28 June 2024. BMW M4 GT4 EVO, photoshoot.

Tailored updates: BMW M4 GT4 EVO responds to feedback from BMW M Motorsport customers.

Jeff Seabrook BMW Motorsport News Friday June 28, 2024

With 77 victories and numerous title wins, the BMW M4 GT4 was already a guarantor of success in its first year of competition in 2023. Although the car continues to race from success to success worldwide in the current season, BMW M Motorsport is not resting on its laurels but is presenting details of the EVO version of the BMW M4 GT4 on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, and is set to provide even better driving experiences from 2025.

Spa-Francorchamps. With 77 victories and numerous title wins, the BMW M4 GT4 was already a guarantor of success in its first year of competition in 2023. Although the car continues to race from success to success worldwide in the current season, BMW M Motorsport is not resting on its laurels but is presenting details of the EVO version of the BMW M4 GT4 on the sidelines of the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL), and is set to provide even better driving experiences from 2025. Thanks to close coordination with customer teams, it has been possible to further optimise the already very strong car to an even higher level.

Reliability and improved drivability are the two areas where the BMW M4 GT4 EVO has received the most significant updates. The front splitter has been revised to improve long-term durability, and the entire attachment concept has been overhauled, making the entire front end much more maintenance-friendly. Reinforced wheel bearings on the rear axle and new front flicks also increase durability.

The engineers made adjustments in terms of performance and drivability; drivers now have the option to temporarily deactivate the traction control via a button on the steering wheel. This gives the drivers another way to optimise lap times. That was a requirement brought to the BMW M Motorsport engineers and the development drivers Jens Klingmann, Max Hesse (both GER), and Dan Harper (GBR) by numerous customers.

In terms of design, the BMW M4 GT4 EVO follows its big brother from the GT3 category. It also adopts the LCI update of the BMW M road vehicles and receives new front and rear headlights. The price for the BMW M4 GT4 EVO complete package is 219,000 euros net. The individual price for the EVO package is 16,000 euros net.

The car will be on display in the paddock at Spa-Francorchamps over the weekend and can be closely inspected by everyone. During the fourth quarter of 2024, both the complete packages and the individual EVO kits will be delivered to customer teams to ensure that starts with the BMW M4 GT4 EVO are possible from the first race of the 2025 season.

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