Vincent Vosse, the team boss of BMW WRT, expressed his gratitude for being chosen by the media. « It is a privilege, » he said before the start of the first practice session. Vosse, a passionate motorsport enthusiast, emphasized his team’s journey, from winning races in a championship to bigger challenges such as Macau, Nürburgring 24h, and WEC in the LMP2 category. Representing a manufacturer at Le Mans is a dream come true for Vosse, who acknowledged the support of his exceptional team. BMW’s participation in two categories further solidifies its position in the racing world, marking its remarkable progress since the early days as a GT3 team.
BMW’s initial success at Le Mans dates back to 1999 when it competed with the LMP900 regulations and two LMR V12s. Car #15, driven by Yannick Dalmas, Pierluigi Martini, and Joachim Winkelhock, claimed victory. The current lineup of BMW drivers in the FIA World Endurance Championship brings extensive experience in sports car racing, especially with the WRT team. In their debut season in the WEC, BMW aims to secure their second victory at Le Mans.
As a team with multiple championship titles, BMW ventured into the endurance prototype scene in 2021 with its LMP2 program. This move followed their exit from the DTM and the announcement of an LMDh project. In 2021, they achieved two wins in the European Le Mans Series races and claimed the LMP2 title in the WEC. Despite the dramatic incident on the final lap involving Robert Kubica’s Oreca 07 #41, which came to a stop, BMW WRT still managed to finish 1st and 2nd in their Le Mans debut, with the victory going to their sister car, the Oreca #31.
After their victories in the fiercely competitive LMP2 class, BMW WRT now finds themselves fighting for overall glory at Le Mans and the honors of LMGT3.