BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt has revealed that an objection by at least one other manufacturer to a waiver for a lower side profile led to a redesign of the M8 GTE. The profile had been given an initial approval, and aerodynamic testing had been done before the objection surfaced.
Marquardt told sportscar365.com, the website that broke the story, that the redesign set development back four or five months.
The story also indicates that BMW has asked IMSA for a balance of performance adjustment to the M8 for the Rolex 24. The quickest M8 GTE lap in the Roar Before the Rolex 24 test days, set by Alexander Sims, was 1.4 seconds off the pace set by Joey Hand in the Ford GT that led the GTLM class.
The complete story appears on sportscar365.com. The story does not provide any detail on the specifics of the redesign, and does not indicate which manufacturer or manufacturers objected.—Brian S. Morgan
