BMW M Team WRT locks in 2026 Hypercar line-ups for IMSA and WEC
BMW M Team WRT confirms unchanged 2026 BMW M Hybrid V8 crews for WEC and reshuffled IMSA pairings, plus first LMGT3 names, as its dual Hypercar programme takes shape.
The year is not over yet, but BMW M Team WRT and BMW M Motorsport have already moved on to 2026. IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship, keeping the same eight works drivers that carried the BMW M Hybrid V8 through 2025 and reordering them for a new chapter in North America.
It comes as WEC heads into another packed season with 18 Hypercars and a full LMGT3 grid. For BMW and WRT, the message is simple. Keep the technical base stable, rely on known quantities in the cockpit and build consistency across two major programmes.
IMSA: familiar faces, fresh pairings
From 2026, BMW M Team WRT will take over the GTP effort in IMSA from BMW M Team RLL, running two BMW M Hybrid V8 entries, numbered 24 and 25. The driver roster is unchanged, but the sprint pairings have been reshuffled.
Car #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 (IMSA GTP)
- Sheldon van der Linde and Dries Vanthoor as the regular pairing
- Robin Frijns is joining for the endurance rounds
- René Rast added as the fourth driver for the Rolex 24 at Daytona
Car #25 BMW M Hybrid V8 (IMSA GTP)
- Philipp Eng and Marco Wittmann as the full-season duo
- Kevin Magnussen as the extra endurance driver
- Raffaele Marciello is completing the crew at Daytona
The adjustment in pairings gives WRT two balanced crews with clear reference points while the team builds up its new base in Kannapolis, North Carolina. It is a considered approach rather than a wholesale change.
FIA WEC: Hypercar trios stay exactly as they are
In WEC, continuity is absolute. The same two cars and the same six drivers will contest the 2026 world championship, operating from WRT’s new site in Bierset, near Liège.
Car #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 (FIA WEC Hypercar)
- Kevin Magnussen
- Raffaele Marciello
- Dries Vanthoor
Car #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 (FIA WEC Hypercar)
- Robin Frijns
- René Rast
- Sheldon van der Linde
Both trios already cover a wide range of prototypes, GT and single-seater experience. Keeping them together means the team can push straight on with the details that tend to decide long races in Qatar, Imola, Spa and Le Mans.
LMGT3: Darren Leung and Anthony McIntosh begin the 2026 roster
WRT has also confirmed the first pieces of its FIA WEC LMGT3 programme with the BMW M4 LMGT3 EVO. Two Bronze-graded drivers are already signed.
- Darren Leung, a returning WRT driver and former Bronze champion in GT World Challenge Europe Sprint Cup
- Anthony McIntosh, an American with titles in Lamborghini Super Trofeo North America and Italian GT Sprint Am
Both bring solid grounding for WEC’s Pro-Am structure, where Bronze performance remains a defining factor in strategy and results.
Valentino Rossi steps away from the WEC programme
One notable change for 2026 is that Valentino Rossi will not be part of the WEC plan. BMW M Team WRT in 2025 and had been linked with a more extended stay. BMW has chosen to continue with its existing Hypercar and LMGT3 groups, leaving no room for him to extend his WEC run.
Rossi is expected to remain active in GT racing with BMW, focusing on sprint and endurance GT3 events. His exact programme for 2026 has not yet been confirmed. His WEC season may prove to be a single chapter, but his connection to WRT and BMW remains strong, and he is likely to continue as a visible part of the brand’s GT portfolio in Europe.
Where this fits in the wider story
The strategy aligns with the direction taken by other major manufacturers at the forefront of modern endurance racing. Ferrari, Toyota and Porsche have all invested in long-term programmes built around stable driver groups. BMW is doing the same, although it stands apart by placing both its IMSA and WEC entries with the same team. That creates a clear technical link between two major championships with very different demands.
The goals for 2026 are direct.
- Convert prototype podium pace into regular wins.
- Build LMGT3 crews capable of fighting for titles once the full line-ups are revealed.
- Use continuity to stay ahead of Balance of Performance swings and the compressed world championship calendar.
WRT has taken careful steps since joining BMW’s prototype project. The 2026 plan keeps that arc steady as the team pushes deeper into the sharp end of both championships.
