BMW is rolling out a long-term motorsport strategy that includes a return to the World Endurance championship—which means Le Mans—in 2018; an extended commitment to Formula E, in partnership with Michael Andretti; and continued commitments to DTM, IMSA, and Sven Quandt's Mini program that contests the Dakar rally.
The strategy emphasizes both sustainability and classic motor racing. The classic motor racing side of the equation will focus on production-based cars, including the ongoing DTM and IMSA programs, customer racing in GT3 and GT4, and a return to the World Endurance Series in 2018 in a yet-to-be-announced car.
BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt says, “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. 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 (depicted here, ed.) in the GT4 class, which is currently experiencing something of a boom.”
The cornerstone of the sustainability focus is a partnership with the Andretti Formula E team in the FIA Formula E Championship. For now BMW will work closely with Andretti in the electric car championship series with an eye on what BMW says is a “possible works involvement in the future.” BMW factory driver António Félix da Costa, who runs in DTM, will drive for Andretti.
Continued commitment to young driver development via the Motorsport Junior program is also part of the new program.—Brian S. Morgan
