THE BMW M HYBRID V8.

Back in the top class and back on the big stage, BMW M Motorsport is returning to international prototype racing with the BMW M Hybrid V8. As of the 2023 season, the new car will be battling it out for overall victory in the new GTP class of the IMSA series, at such prestigious classics as the 24 Hours of Daytona, the 12 Hours of Sebring, and the iconic Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. From 2024, BMW M Motorsport will also compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship again with the car. The last big victory for a BMW prototype came back in 1999, when the BMW V12 LMR won the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That car had also triumphed in the 12 Hours of Sebring in the same season. Regulations specify that LMDh race cars have a combustion engine and an electric motor. While each manufacturer can use their own combustion engine, the electric motor, battery and transmission are standard parts. The BMW M Hybrid V8 is powered by the P66/3 eight-cylinder turbo engine with supplementary electric drive. The combustion engine is based on the DTM unit used in the BMW M4 DTM in 2017 and 2018. During two phases of reconstruction, it underwent comprehensive adjustments to meet the stringent requirements of the LMDh hybrid drive system. The chassis is built by an external partner. For the BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Motorsport is working closely with the legendary Italian race car specialist Dallara.

BMW M Team RLL, with whom BMW M Motorsport has enjoyed success in North America since 2009, will run the two LMDh prototypes from 2023. The team can call on decades of experience in motorsport. Behind Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing are Bobby Rahal, IndyCar driver, comedian David Letterman, himself a longstanding Indy fan and businessman Mike Lanigan. As the years progressed, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing expanded its involvement in motorsport and moved into the sports car category. As well as intensive testing with the BMW M Hybrid V8, BMW M Team RLL also starts in the new GTD-PRO class with the BMW M4 GT3.

The chassis for the two prototype cars is being built in collaboration with world-renowned and successful manufacturer Dallara. The Italian designers are among the most successful manufacturers of race cars in the world. The contract with Dallara was signed in September 2021, just months after BMW M Motorsport announced that it would be entering the class. The first test car is being built in Italy with close working between BMW M Motorsport engineers and a team of Dallara engineers assembled exclusively for the BMW M LMDh project.