FIA WEC: BMW M Team WRT claims another podium at Fuji - #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO wins in LMGT3.

Fuji. BMW M Team WRT celebrated its fifth podium of the season at the sixth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC). Kevin Magnussen (DEN), Raffaele Marciello (SUI) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL) finished third in the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 at the 6 Hours of Fuji (JPN) after a flawless performance. In the LMGT3 category, the Team WRT #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO claimed victory after BMW M works driver Augusto Farfus (BRA) delivered an outstanding drive in the closing stages to fight his way from sixth place to the win.

After qualifying was cancelled due to heavy rain, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 started the race at Fuji Speedway from 14th on the grid. Thanks to flawless performances from Magnussen, Marciello and Vanthoor, combined with a strong strategy, the trio worked its way into the top ten step by step. A safety car period in the final hour then moved BMW M Team WRT into podium contention, with Vanthoor eventually bringing the car home in third place for car #15’s third podium of the season.

Their teammates, meanwhile, leave Fuji with a difficult weekend behind them. The #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8 of René Rast (GER), Robin Frijns (NED) and Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) dropped well down the order after several contacts through no fault of their own after almost two hours and eventually finished 13th. Rast and Frijns, who travelled to Fuji as the championship leaders, now occupy third place in the drivers’ standings, directly ahead of Magnussen and Marciello. BMW M Motorsport retained second place in the manufacturers’ standings.

Darren Leung (GBR) and Sean Gelael (INA) quickly brought the #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO from 14th on the grid into the fight for the LMGT3 podium positions. The final safety car period initially dropped Farfus back to sixth place, but the Brazilian delivered a brilliant finish and led Team WRT to its second LMGT3 victory of the season with a series of spectacular overtakes. The sister car had triumphed at Imola.

The #69 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, meanwhile, endured a bitter Sunday at Fuji. Dan Harper (GBR), Parker Thompson (CAN) and Anthony McIntosh (USA) led the LMGT3 category at one point, but after the final safety car period and an unfortunate pit stop, they ultimately had to settle for sixth place.

Quotes after the race:

Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “Overall, it has been a difficult weekend. After qualifying was cancelled, we did not have ideal starting positions with either of the two Hypercars. Nevertheless, we managed to work our way forwards in the race. Car #20 also made strong progress, but was then dropped well down the order by several contacts through no fault of its own, which is a great shame. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 drove a very strong race. To make it onto the podium from such an unfavourable starting position is an impressive achievement, and I am very pleased with it. We have now lost some ground in the championship, but we will keep fighting. Everything is still open. We are absolutely delighted with car #32’s LMGT3 victory. It was a very well-deserved success, and it is really great to see the BMW M4 GT3 EVO back in the winner’s circle.“

Vincent Vosse (Team Principal BMW M Team WRT): "It was a tough weekend as usual here at Fuji. Starting far back with the Hypercars put us on the backfoot, of course. Unfortunately, we had contact with car #20, which put us one lap behind. We came back, but we were too far off as we had lost too much time. Great strategy from car #15, great drive from the drivers, and finally we got to P3. Considering where we started, that looks very good. In LMGT3, we had a very strong race until the last pit stop, where we had an issue which made us lose time on both cars. But then we had a flying stint from Augusto, who drove from P6 to the lead. That was an incredible drive. Thanks to him for giving us the victory."

Kevin Magnussen (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 3rd place): "It is a great result for us. The great work of the pitwall and the pitstop crew made the difference today. We didn’t have the pace to finish on the podium, but we still did. We kept it clean all race, so it was a great job by the team today and congrats to everyone."

Sheldon van der Linde (BMW M Team WRT, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, 13th place): “It was a difficult day for us. We were at the wrong place at the wrong time today. We would have had the pace to at least be in the top ten and score some points. That’s why this one really hurts. To lose the lead in the championship for Robin and René is a shame. But the to upcoming races should be good for us so we hope to bounce back stronger than today. We have an awesome team around us and we will be back.“

Augusto Farfus (Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Victory LMGT3): "Every time it looked good for us, the safety car came at the wrong time, and we ended up dropping back before making our way back up. Then, finally, in the last stint, we had another stop that didn’t go our way, but I managed to get through the traffic pretty quickly. I am extremely happy."

Darren Leung (Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Victory LMGT3): "It has been a really difficult year for us so it is very satisfying and a relief to get this result. So many people deserved more than what we have got this year so far. To finally have something come our way is amazing. Thank you to everyone, and especially to my teammates, who did an incredible job."

Sean Gelael (Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, Victory LMGT3): "I am super happy with everyone. We made a lot of improvements at COTA and we were persistent in working hard. It wasn’t easy today, but in the end, everything came our way. Hopefully, we can continue this momentum."

Dan Harper (Team WRT, #69 BMW M4 GT3 EVO, 6th place LMGT3): “I have really enjoyed the weekend. It is a cool track, a cool place and probably some of the best fans in WEC - it really has been a pleasure. The result didn’t go our way. The whole race was a bit of a rollercoster, we went to the front and the back – and then to P1 with a lucky VSC. But at the last pitstop there was chaos and it didn’t go our way. Big congratulations to the sister car and the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 for the podium.“