24h Le Mans
BMW's participation in the LMGTE Pro class will be one of the big draws of the 86th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) 2018/2019 Super Season. For the first installment in this series, here is a look back at some highlights of the marque's involvement in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, namely the overall win in 1999.
For its big return, BMW has chosen one of its sports roadsters, the M8, to take on Ferrari, Aston Martin, Porsche and Ford on the track. This strategy of an immediate link between the road and the track is one of the cornerstones of the Bavarian manufacturer's committment to competition, true since its first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans at the end of the 1930s.
1939 - BMW placed as many as three cars in the top 10 at that year's edition of the 24 Hours, with fifth (and a class victory), seventh and ninth places. The German marque would not be seen again at Le Mans until 1972.
1973 - One year after its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, BMW clinched another class win, with 11th place overall for Austrian driver Dieter Quester and Dutchman Toine Hezemans.
1979 - The M1 decorated by American artist Andy Warhol scored the best result of a BMW "Art Car" at the 24 Hours. The initiator of this line in 1975, French auctioneer and gentleman-driver Hervé Poulain finished sixth along with Manfred Winkelhock and Marcel Mignot.
1997 - In the wake of the win at the 1995 24 Hours for the McLaren F1 GTR, powered by a BMW engine, the German manufacturer decided to field the car under its own banner. At the wheel, Eric Helary (winner at the 1993 24 Hours of Le Mans), finished third along with Dutch driver Peter Kox and the Italian Roberto Ravaglia.
1998-1999 - BMW decided to get involved in prototypes. On the heels of a double retirement for the V12 LM in 1998, the following year the V12 LMR made BMW the third German marque to win at Le Mans after Mercedes and Porsche.
2010-2011 - Eleven years after that victory at the 24 Hours, BMW returned to Le Mans, in GT this time, with the M3 E92. In 2011, Andy Priaulx, Joey Hand and Dirk Müller helped the marque claim the third step on the LMGTE Pro podium, the year the class was created.
2016 - The year of its 100th anniversary, BMW announced its return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans and its involvement in the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) for the 2018 season.
2017 - BMW presented the M8 GTE, set to represent the Bavarian manufacturer in the 2018/2019 Super Season of the World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC), which includes the next two editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
