BMW M Motorsport: New Ambitions and Old Rivalries

BMW M Motorsport enters summer 2025 with an air of focus and a sense that something is building. From the FIA World Endurance Championship to IMSA, the Nürburgring 24 Hours, and the formidable 24 Hours of Spa, there is more to this season than routine development. The aim: disrupt the usual German order and collect silverware where it matters.

WEC: progress in the shadows of giants

In the FIA World Endurance Championship, BMW M Team WRT is methodically closing the gap. At Spa-Francorchamps, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, with Sheldon van der Linde, Robin Frijns and René Rast, took sixth place. The #15 entry, driven by Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor and Marco Wittmann, finished eleventh.

Neither car threatened the podium, but the atmosphere is one of steady progress. ‘We have made significant progress, but the Le Mans test day will be decisive for our preparations,’ said Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport. Team principal Vincent Vosse described Spa as ‘a crucial preparation step’ for Le Mans, highlighting that every kilometre is a step towards greater consistency.

There is experience across the squad, but BMW is still searching for that breakthrough weekend. Whether their momentum at Spa translates into genuine Le Mans competitiveness remains to be seen. For now, Porsche Penske Motorsport, Toyota and Ferrari continue to set the pace, but BMW’s sense of purpose is becoming more visible.

IMSA: GT3 excellence and GTP patience

Across the Atlantic, results in IMSA’s WeatherTech SportsCar Championship mirror the European story. At Laguna Seca, BMW M Team RLL finished sixth and eighth in GTP. These are not headline results, but neither do they represent regression. Progress in the GTP project has been gradual, perhaps slower than some had hoped, but there is no panic.

BMW is already making its mark in GTD Pro. Paul Miller Racing claimed a class win with their #1 BMW M4 GT3, driven by Madison Snow and Bryan Sellers. Turner Motorsport managed a strong fourth in GTD. ‘The win by Paul Miller Racing highlights the strength of our customer racing programme. It’s a fantastic result for everyone involved with the BMW M4 GT3,’ Roos observed.

BMW’s GT3 form is a quiet statement against Porsche, Mercedes-AMG and Lexus, whose customer teams have traditionally been strong in the US. The Bavarian marque’s ability to win with customer squads reinforces the depth of their GT3 platform, something the competition will have noticed.

Nürburgring: method over mayhem

The Nürburgring 24 Hours is always a focal point for BMW. This year’s preparation has been clinical. In the second qualifying race, BMW M Team RMG and its #72 BMW M4 GT3, with Dan Harper, Max Hesse and Charles Weerts, took victory. ROWE Racing and other BMW teams also showed well in the timesheets, proving this is no one-car effort.

Roos remarked: ‘The positive qualifying races at the Nürburgring give us confidence that we are well-prepared for the 24-hour challenge.’ If there is a theme to BMW’s approach, it is readiness and depth—an antidote to the chaos that the Nordschleife can produce.

Porsche and their Manthey EMA squad are always contenders here, while Mercedes-AMG fields powerful line-ups with GetSpeed and HRT. Audi’s presence is reduced to customer entries, but they still pose a threat. BMW, however, seems poised to seize on any slip from its rivals.

BMW’s multi-car charge: aiming for endurance glory at Spa

BMW’s ambitions at the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa are not subtle. The marque will field a record eleven BMW M4 GT3 entries in 2025, equalling Mercedes-AMG and Porsche for grid presence. Few brands can boast BMW’s history at Spa; twenty-five outright victories to date, and the current campaign shows every sign of aiming for number twenty-six.

Key teams and drivers

• Team WRT: Three cars in the Pro category
  • #31: Sheldon van der Linde, Dries Vanthoor, Marco Wittmann
  • #32: Kelvin van der Linde, Charles Weerts, Ugo de Wilde
  • #46: Kevin Magnussen, René Rast, Valentino Rossi
• ROWE Racing: Two Pro entries
  • #98: Philipp Eng, Marco Wittmann, Nick Yelloly
  • #998: Augusto Farfus, Dan Harper, Max Hesse

These line-ups mix proven winners with new names, reflecting BMW’s intent to blend experience and youth for maximum effect.

Recent performance and 2025 outlook

Last year, Team WRT’s #32 car scored a podium, showing the team can master Spa’s unique demands. ROWE Racing’s #998 car led for long stretches, proving that BMW’s strategy is working.

For 2025, the approach is comprehensive: multiple cars, deep driver talent and a renewed focus on outright speed and reliability. With all the major German manufacturers in attendance, Spa will be a true test. BMW is not just attending, they are targeting the win.

Are BMW ready to deliver?

BMW’s story in 2025 is not one of dominance, but of genuine, sustained improvement. In WEC, they are closer to the front, but not yet the benchmark. In IMSA, the GT3 platform delivers wins, if not always in the headlines. At the Nürburgring, their preparation is sharper than ever. At Spa, their intention is clear: throw numbers, talent, and expertise at the world’s biggest GT3 race and chase another famous win.

The LMDh project will need more time, but the building blocks are there. The driver roster combines proven champions with fresh faces. The teams have the resources and focus to capitalise if rivals falter.

It is not a flawless campaign; there are still races where BMW is an outsider. However, in a season where progress matters as much as the final result, BMW’s approach deserves credit.

BMW’s supporters have cause for optimism. This might not be the year everything falls into place, but the groundwork is being laid for something special. If silverware does come, it will be hard-earned and, for once, not a total surprise.