BMW announced its entry into IMSA's GTP class in June 2021. Three months later the company confirmed Dallara as chassis supplier, making BMW the first manufacturer in the LMDh era to partner with Dallara. A partnership with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (Team RLL) to campaign the cars in IMSA was announced in November 2021, continuing a relationship that began with the BMW M3 GT2 in 2009. In August 2022, BMW announced it would also contest the FIA World Endurance Championship with Team WRT.
The car's exterior was designed by Michael Scully (Global Automotive Director, BMW Designworks), Hussein Al-Attar (Lead Exterior Designer), Maurizio Leschiutta (Project Leader, LMDh), and Ulrich Schulz (Head of Drivetrain Design).
The BMW M Hybrid V8 is built around a carbon-fibre monocoque derived from an LMP2 platform. Power comes from the BMW P66/3, a 3,999cc 90-degree twin-turbocharged V8 with 32-valve DOHC architecture, producing 477 kW from the combustion engine alone and 500 kW combined with the hybrid system. The standardised electric motor is a rear-mounted 50 kW unit supplied by Bosch. Transmission is a seven-speed sequential Xtrac P1359 unit. Minimum weight is 1,030 kg. The engine is a development of the unit used in the BMW M4 DTM during 2017 and 2018, paired with standardised hybrid components from Williams Advanced Engineering, Bosch, and Xtrac.
The M Hybrid V8 made its global racing debut at the 2023 24 Hours of Daytona with Team RLL. Both cars suffered technical problems related to the hybrid system, brakes, and electrics, though the No. 24 car finished within the top six. At the 2023 Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen, the No. 25 car fought for the lead against the No. 6 Porsche, with Connor De Phillippi taking the lead in the closing stages but ultimately crossing the line behind the Porsche. A post-race penalty against the Porsche for illegal skid block wear handed the No. 25 BMW the win — the M Hybrid V8's maiden victory and BMW's first sports prototype win since Silverstone in 2000. Further IMSA podiums followed at the 2023 Chevrolet Grand Prix and the 2023 IMSA Battle on the Bricks.
BMW officially joined the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2024, operated by Team WRT with two Hypercar-class entries: the No. 15 car (Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann) and the No. 20 car (Robin Frijns, René Rast, Sheldon van der Linde). BMW's return to Le Mans marked the first time the German manufacturer had competed in the race's top class in 25 years. Ahead of the 2024 Le Mans, the No. 20 car was decorated as the 20th BMW Art Car, using the painting Everywhen by Ethiopian-American artist Julie Mehretu. The team's first WEC podium came at the 2024 6 Hours of Fuji, where the No. 15 crew finished second overall.
In IMSA, the 2024 season produced a 1-2 finish for Team RLL at the Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway — the M Hybrid V8's second outright victory.
Kevin Magnussen joined the WEC programme in 2025, competing in the No. 15 car alongside Marciello and Vanthoor. In IMSA, Dries Vanthoor secured four consecutive pole positions between the season-opening Daytona and the fourth round at Laguna Seca. The No. 20 WEC crew equalled the car's best championship finish, placing second at the 2025 6 Hours of Imola. In July 2025, BMW announced it would end its partnership with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing at the close of the season. An updated version of the M Hybrid V8 for 2026 was also revealed, featuring a new front splitter, a smaller kidney grille, improved aerodynamics, and revised track lights with M yellow accent details.
In 2026, Team WRT carried the full BMW programme in both WEC and IMSA. Committing to an alternate strategy after a poor qualifying performance, the No. 20 car of Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde won the 2026 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps — BMW's first victory in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The No. 15 car finished second, giving BMW a 1-2 result.
Through the 2026 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the BMW M Hybrid V8 had contested 50 races, recording 4 wins, 15 podiums, 5 pole positions, and 1 fastest lap across both the IMSA SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship.
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