The M8 GTE, BMW’s 2018 WEC and IMSA challenger, took to the track for the first time in a three-day test session at the Lausitzring. BMW works driver Martin Tomczyk, who is racing for Team RLL in IMSA this season, and BMW DTM racer Maxime Martin took turns at the wheel of the new car.
BMW Team MTEK is slated to run the car in the World Endurance Championship in 2018, with BMW’s return to Le Mans a highlight of the program. BMW says that the car will run in IMSA as well. Team RLL’s contract is up this year, but they are a strong contender to return. According to SporstCar365.com Andretti Autosport, BMW’s partner in Formula E is expected to bid on the IMSA program along with other teams.
After the three-day test Martin Tomczyk said, “Firstly, I feel very honored to have been able to drive at the first real test of the BMW M8 GTE on the racetrack. I had great fun with the car. The BMW M8 GTE is good to drive from the outset, and it is easy for us drivers to work out the way it handles, which is important. We got a lot of kilometers under our belt, and gathered a lot of data. We also took our first steps with regard to performance, which is by no means a given at a first test. We will obviously work more intensively on that at the coming tests, and will build on the strong basis we established here at the Lausitzring.”
BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt said, “To see the BMW M8 GTE on the racetrack makes me very proud. Everyone involved has done a magnificent job in recent months to allow us to reach this milestone in the development of our new flagship for the GT racing scene. In the first instance, the purpose of a test like this is obviously to get to know the car. In this regard, greater emphasis is placed on the safety aspect than performance. However, the first impression of the BMW M8 GTE out on the track is a very positive one.”
Testing will continue this year to ensure that the car is ready for its debut at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in January.—Brian S. Morgan
