‘Tis the season—or ’tis the start of the season—for IMSA racing teams. In fact, the IMSA racing season just kicked off this past weekend with the aptly named Roar Before the 24 at Daytona International Speedway. And right on its heels is the Rolex 24, the highlight of a weekend boasting a docket that now includes the BMW M Endurance Challenge along with the aforementioned Rolex 24.
Turner Motorsport will have six cars racing at Daytona, including their M4 GT3s, seen here in April 2022 at Laguna Seca.
But it’s also the season for a lot of fun for fans. Even if you might not be a fan of racing (yet!), there is plenty to enjoy at the Daytona International Speedway this coming weekend. And the BMW CCA will be there in many capacities, including bringing you all the fun through a variety of channels. Stay tuned to bimmerlife.com and to BMW CCA’s Instagram and Facebook for updates throughout the weekend!
The Hybrid V8 made its racing livery world premier at the Petersen Museum in September and kicks off its racing career this month in Daytona.
This is an exciting time for BMW fans, whether you like racing or not. First, do you like your power in the form of a race car or SAV? The Hybrid V8 makes a significant splash this coming weekend powering the new GTP car as well as the XM Safety Car. The SAV will have the newly developed plug-in hybrid system producing 653 horsepower.
Connor De Phillippi has driven the last BMW GTP car, the V12 LMR, and will be behind the wheel in the Hybrid V8 at Daytona.
The Hybrid V8-powered LMDh car is BMW’s first entry in the revived GTP class since the LMR V12 that won Le Mans. It garnered considerable attention at the Roar Before the 24 and is certain to be a highlight this weekend.
Drivers Connor DePhillippi, Nick Yelloly, Colton Herta, and Augusto Farfus are hoping to point the way at Daytona.
If you’re still enjoying the non-hybrid M power cars, but would like one with more seats than the race car, BMW has something for you. The weekend’s action starts early with Friday’s global premier of the new BMW M3 CS. According to BMW, “BMW M is adding an exclamation mark to the field of road-legal high-performance cars with a special twist especially for racing yet again.”
Auto Technic will have a new M4 GT4 in the BMW M Endurance Challenge. (Photo by Sam Cobb, courtesy of BMW)
If you want to see the new G82 M4 GT4, you’ll have plenty to watch later on Friday. Turner Motorsport, Stephen Cameron Racing, AutoTechnic Racing, and Fast Track Racing will all be running them in that day’s BMW M Endurance Challenge. The race, with 42 GS and TCR entrants, kicks off the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge Season.
We’ll be bringing you the action from the track all weekend, like the fast-acting team from Turner Motorsport seen here from 2020 in Daytona.
On Saturday, the 61st Rolex 24 at Daytona will feature an apropos number of cars—61—the largest field since 2014. Among those will be two BMW Hybrid V8s wearing the U.S.-familiar numbers 24 and 25, M4 GT3 entrants in GTD from Turner Motorsport and Paul Miller Racing, and new for this year, a Turner Motorsport M4 GT3 car running in the GTD Pro class.
The BMW CCA corral and hospitality tent provide a great central point for many members. (Photo by Esteban Valentin)
The BMW CCA hospitality tent and corral will be popular places for many members this coming weekend. Stay tuned for visits with guests there as well as short interviews with drivers and team members, as well as coverage of these races and events. Leave us a comment below telling us what you’d like to see!—Kyle van Hoften
[Photos by Kyle van Hoften and as credited.]