BMW M Motorsport has recently expressed their continued commitment to racing the M Hybrid V8 prototype in the IMSA GTP class here in the US as well as the FIA WEC Hypercar class and have been busy working on an upgraded car for the 2026 season.
The most obvious visual change to the 2026 car is an updated exterior design featuring a new front end with a smaller grill. The exterior design is all about optimizing aerodynamics and improving cooling and the updates for 2026 are the result of data collected during previous race outings in both IMSA and WEC. The grill on the 2026 car is still prominent, but is a lot smaller than the 2025 car, and the front splitter is significantly more bowed than the current car. BMW says the new splitter optimizes airflow.
The front grill will retain the “BMW Iconic Glow” contour lighting, which also seemed to stop working in the longer endurance races. It’s hard to tell a difference in the pictures, but BMW says the front headlights have been redesigned as well.
The changes to the car, which are still subject to final homologation, were done working closely with chassis partner Dallara. “Since we began racing in the IMSA series in 2023 and the FIA WEC in 2024, we have learned a great deal about our BMW M Hybrid V8,” said Head of BMW M Motorsport Andreas Roos. “After optimizing the brakes for the current season, it is now time for an aerodynamically improved version of the car. With these updates, we are responding to the insights gained from our previous race outings. Following the tests we’ve already conducted, we are confident that the changes to the BMW M Hybrid V8 will allow us to compete more consistently at the front on all types of tracks, taking another step toward the top.”
The updated car has been going through private test sessions so far and will make its public debut during joint test sessions after the FIA WEC race at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas (September 6-7, 2025). The first race for the updated car will be the IMSA Rolex 24 at Daytona in late January 2026. BMW M Motorsport has yet to officially announce that BMW M Team WRT will be running the IMSA program next year and have not yet confirmed if they will be competing in the full IMSA season or just the longer Michelin Endurance Cup rounds.
—David Haueter
[Photos courtesy BMW]