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Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann to start at the Daytona and Sebring in the BMW M Hybrid V8 in 2023.
Fri Oct 07 18:40:31 CEST 2022 Informação à Imprensa
During a media forum ahead of this weekend’s DTM finale in Hockenheim, BMW M Motorsport unveiled initial details of the future race programme for BMW M works drivers Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann. Both drivers will be involved when the BMW M Hybrid V8 makes its debut in the GTP class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the 24 Hours of Daytona in January and will also compete at the 12 Hours of Sebring in March 2023.
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Munich. During a media forum ahead of this weekend’s finale of
the DTM season in Hockenheim (GER), BMW M Motorsport unveiled
initial details of the future race programme for BMW M works drivers
Sheldon van der Linde (RSA) and Marco Wittmann (GER). Both drivers
will be involved when the BMW M Hybrid V8 makes its debut in the GTP
class of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship at the 24 Hours
of Daytona (USA) in January and will also compete at the 12 Hours of
Sebring (USA) in March 2023. This means that all three of the BMW M
works drivers currently racing in the DTM will be incorporated in
the new LMDh programme. Philipp Eng (AUT) had previously been
announced as one of the four regular drivers who will contest the
full IMSA season.
Van der Linde and Wittmann already have experience of
both racing in the IMSA series and the BMW M Hybrid V8. For example,
both lined up in Daytona at the start of this season in the MOTUL BMW
M4 GT3 for BMW M Team RLL. The two drivers have also been involved in
testing the new BMW M Hybrid V8 on several occasions, Wittmann most
recently this week in Road Atlanta (USA).
A few weeks ago,
Philipp Eng, Connor De Phillippi (USA), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Nick
Yelloly (GBR) were presented as regular drivers of the two BMW M
Hybrid V8 for the 2023 IMSA season. As well as van der Linde and
Wittmann, IndyCar driver Colton Herta (USA) will also be in action in
Daytona.
“Racing in America is always very special. I am
proud to be part of the LMDh programme next year,” said van der Linde.
“Daytona is a fantastic race with an incredible history. I am looking
forward to appearing there for BMW M Team RLL for the second time in a
row. The fact that we will be aiming for overall victory this time
makes the events at Daytona and Sebring all the more
exciting.”
“I am really looking forward to racing in the
IMSA series again next season, and to being involved in classics like
the 24 Hours of Daytona and the 12 Hours of Sebring,” said Wittmann.
“I have done a few days of testing in the BMW M Hybrid V8 and am
thrilled to be part of a project like this. The car has a lot of
downforce, a lot of power, no driver aids like ABS – a real prototype.
It will be cool to support the four regular IMSA drivers.”