BMW M Motorsport has confirmed as expected that BMW Team RLL will campaign the M4 GT3 in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship the GTD Pro class in 2022, as well as the LMDh prototype in the 2023 season. Drivers have yet to be announced for the 2022 season.
It was initially stated in the press release that BMW Team RLL will field a pair of M4 GT3s in the 2022 season, but in an interview on Sportscar365, BMW M Motorsport head Mike Krack said that two M4 GT3s are only confirmed for Daytona and Sebring, and that there may be only one car entered for the full season.
The reason for a possible single-car entry in GTD Pro after Sebring is to focus on preparations for the LMDh program in 2023, which will be a two-car entry. “We will start [the season] with two,” Krack told Sportscar365. “Then we’ll see. Since we’re doing the build of the LMDh together, we’ll see. “We want no compromise with LMDh. We will decide depending on when we will need Bobby’s people in Italy and the racing program will have to be adjusted accordingly.”
Krack mentioned Italy because that’s where Dallara is located, BMW M Motorsport’s partner responsible for designing and building the LMDh chassis. BMW Team RLL has run BMW M Motorsport programs in the U.S. since 2009, and Team Principal Bobby Rahal is excited about the next two years. “For me personally and professionally this is a dream come true,” said Rahal. “Now to first run a brand-new car like the BMW M4 GT3 and after that make the next step with BMW Team RLL to race for overall wins in the LMDh class is a direction we definitely wanted to go. I’m so pleased, so proud, so thankful that we’ll be able to do it together with BMW M Motorsport.”
In addition to the BMW Team RLL GTD Pro entry, Turner Motorsport will have an M4 GT3 entry in the GTD Pro-Am class with Bill Auberlen and Robby Foley, with Michael Dinan (who raced an M6 GT3 in the SRO World Challenge series for Turner last year) joining them for the four longer endurance races. There will also be at least one other team who will be entering an M4 GT3 in the GTD Pro-Am class, with an official announcement on that expected soon.—David Haueter
[Photos courtesy BMW Motorsport.]
