The relationship between Team MTEK and BMW is ending. The team ran for BMW in DTM in the 2013–2015 seasons, then moved to GT racing for the marque, spent a season developing the M8 GTE, and then ran the new car for BMW in the 2018–2019 World Endurance Championship.
In May 2019, BMW announced that the June season finale at Le Mans would be its last race in WEC, and that afterward it would focus its efforts with the M8 GTE on its IMSA program.
Until recently, Team MTEK anticipated that another opportunity with BMW would materialize. Now, with no new assignment in the offering, team principal Ernest Knoors has indicated that the team is looking for other opportunities. He told Autosport that, “We have completed our contract with BMW and are now looking for other opportunities. Our preferred option is to stay in the WEC, and there are several opportunities across all the classes, but it is a bit too early to comment. We may know a bit more at the end of the year.” Autosport indicates that the team has closed its Munich headquarters, and that it will set up shop in the Netherlands, Knoor’s home country.
BMW Team MTEK’s best finish in WEC was second overall for Nick Catsburg, Martin Tomczyk, and Alexander Sims in the 1000 Miles of Sebring in March.—Brian Morgan
[Photo courtesy BMW Motorsport.]
