Big cheers in Fuji! BMW M Crew WRT celebrates first podium for the BMW M Hybrid V8 in FIA WEC.
September 15, 2024
Fuji. Sensational Sunday for BMW M Crew WRT in Fuji (JPN)! Within the seventh and penultimate race of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) season, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 achieved the primary general podium for BMW M Motorsport within the historical past of the World Endurance Championship. Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER) first celebrated second place collectively on the rostrum after which with your entire crew, which did an ideal job over the weekend. There was additionally a champagne bathe within the LMGT3 class. Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi (ITA) topped off a spectacular comeback from twelfth on the grid to 3rd place on the rostrum.
The BMW M Hybrid V8 impressed on the foot of Mount Fuji within the observe periods and achieved the perfect time of the day on Friday. In qualifying, Vanthoor then secured the perfect begin place for the hypercar thus far with third place in automobile #15. Within the race, Wittmann improved to second place in the beginning, which he and his fellow drivers managed to carry onto till the end with a flawless efficiency. The beforehand finest season consequence for the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 was sixth place at Imola (ITA). This time, Robin Frijns (NED), Ren Rast (GER), and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) weren’t fortunate. As early because the second lap, Rast needed to keep away from an accident in flip one and was hit by particles, which broken the entrance so severely that it needed to be modified. That price two laps and any likelihood of a prime consequence, though the tempo of automobile #20 was superb.
Within the LMGT3 class, each BMW M4 GT3s managed spectacular comebacks after disappointing qualifying periods from twelfth and sixteenth on the grid. At instances, each autos had been heading in the right direction for the rostrum. Finally, the crew of automobile #46 celebrated third place, whereas within the #31 BMW M4 GT3, Augusto Farfus (BRA), Sean Gelael (INA), and Darren Leung (GBR) completed tenth after an unprovoked collision and reducing tempo in the direction of the tip of the race.
Feedback after the 6 Hours of Fuji:
Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): A mega weekend for us at Fuji! First podium for BMW M Crew WRT and the BMW M Hybrid V8 in our debut season in FIA WEC merely improbable. Congratulations to the crew of automobile #15 and the drivers Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, and Marco Wittmann! After already having the tempo to compete on the entrance at COTA, the BMW M Hybrid V8 right here at Fuji has proven from the primary lap that it’s able to a prime consequence. That we might safe second place and thus the rostrum this time makes me extremely joyful for everybody who has invested loads of work into this venture. I wish to thank them very a lot. Sadly, automobile #20 was very unfortunate right here and had no likelihood of a superb consequence after the early incident. On the LMGT3 facet of the storage, we skilled a improbable race. After qualifying didn’t go optimally, each vehicles had nice races and made up many positions. Congratulations to Ahmad Al Harthy, Maxime Martin, and Valentino Rossi on the rostrum! Sadly, automobile #31 fell again on account of an unprovoked collision whereas in a superb place.
Vincent Vosse (Crew Principal BMW M Crew WRT): Lastly! We now have lastly arrived the place we wish to be. With the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, we had been totally engaged all weekend. It is an unbelievable feeling. Everybody did an distinctive job. I’m overjoyed for the crew, which has been giving their all for this venture for a yr and a half. Now we have now reaped the deserved reward. The consequence offers everybody a lift. Sadly, automobile #20 had an unavoidable contact. In any other case, each vehicles would have been on the identical tempo. Within the LMGT3 class, we did not have the quickest automobile, however we had been capable of work a little bit of magic when it comes to technique. The drivers and the crew gave a superb efficiency, and now to face on the rostrum, we did not dare to dream of that in the beginning of the weekend.
Raffaele Marciello (BMW M Crew WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 2nd place): It is nice for the venture and everybody at BMW M Motorsport to have secured the primary Hypercar podium in WEC, particularly for Vincent Vosse and Andreas Roos, who pushed so laborious. We have seen progress all through the season. After Austin, we thought this monitor may not be the perfect for us, however the enhancements we made paid off. It is a massive increase for us drivers and the crew. It is not simply in regards to the podium it is about with the ability to compete on the entrance and carry out nicely. That is an ideal feeling.
Dries Vanthoor (BMW M Crew WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 2nd place): An unbelievable race. The primary podium for BMW M Motorsport in FIA WEC is a improbable achievement. It is a very particular second for everybody who has labored so laborious on this venture. Contemplating the place we began this season, and now seeing the place we stand, it is large progress. Second place is nice, however we’re not fairly the place we wish to be but that is a victory.
Marco Wittmann (BMW M Crew WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 2nd place): It is an ideal feeling for us drivers, for your entire crew, and for BMW M Motorsport. That we have now now achieved our first WEC podium with this venture is improbable. We gave sturdy efficiency all through the weekend in observe in addition to in qualifying and had a superb tempo within the race. We drove flawlessly and had a profitable begin. the place we began and the progress we have made, we are able to actually be proud. The primary podium feels extremely good, and your entire crew has executed a improbable job. I am tremendous joyful. Now we wish to obtain a equally sturdy lead to Bahrain to conclude the season.
Ren Rast (BMW M Crew WRT, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, DNF): There was an incident in flip 1 in lap two. I attempted to keep away from it and went straight on. In some unspecified time in the future, elements flew onto my automobile I believe even a rear wing from a Porsche and that tore off the flicks on the entrance. One thing additionally broke beneath the automobile. Consequently, we misplaced time as a result of we needed to change the nostril which took two laps. That virtually ended the race for us. However, the second place for the venture, Crew WRT, and BMW M Motorsport is a large success. The tempo was there in each vehicles. I am completely thrilled for everybody, particularly for Vincent Vosse and Andreas Roos, and for all these working within the background who’ve invested a lot time over the previous months. It feels actually good.
Valentino Rossi (Crew WRT, #46 BMW M4 GT3, third place): We’re so joyful! It feels superb after our DNF in Austin two weeks in the past. This race was laborious however Ahmad, Maxime and I did a improbable job in our stints and our crew made as soon as once more the right technique and the right pitstops. It’s our second podium this season and we’re very joyful!
Augusto Farfus (Crew WRT, #31 BMW M4 GT3, tenth place): Tough race for us. We misplaced tempo and we are going to examine what occurred precisely. We couldn’t combat for a greater consequence and sadly the championship is gone. Lets now combat for the vice-championship title!