“You’re running out of time”

(Motorsport-Total.com) – When will BMW celebrate its first victory in the World Endurance Championship (WEC)? The people of Munich believe they have “all the ingredients” for this, but they still need time to achieve initial success. “Time is the only thing you can’t buy and you’re always running behind,” says BMW Motorsport Director Andreas Roos, referring to the late decision in favor of the WEC.

In last year’s US IMSA SportsCar Championship, BMW had a chance to finish second in the race and even its first victory a little later. “That also showed how much motivation there was to make up the gap little by little and get closer,” Roos said.

But: In the World Endurance Championship the competition is stronger, both in quality and quantity. At the WEC opener in Qatar, the best-placed BMW, the M Hybrid #20 of Sheldon van der Linde, Rene Rast and Robin Frijns, only finished twelfth, but dropped to tenth due to Peugeot not being followed by Cadillac on points.

Frijns: “We are starting from scratch, so to speak”

Factory driver Frijns expected that it would not be easy for BMW. “I’ve actually driven the LMP2 class for the last three years, but now we’re starting from scratch,” says the Dutchman. “We are still new in the business at the moment, even though BMW was racing in IMSA.”

“But you can’t compare the two programs because in IMSA we are limited by fuel and not by time like we are here,” says Frijns, recalling the differences between IMSA and WEC. “So it’s a little bit different kind of race.”

“Still, we weren’t easy in Qatar, but that was expected. If I go into the championship and win once (then there’s something wrong). So we’re working hard at the back and hopefully we’ll win. We’ll have a better weekend.”

The next steps on BMW’s agenda are “general development in the software behind to learn how the car works,” Frijns added. Motorsport-Total.com. “So we’re still looking for the direction we need to work on the setup and the software.”

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In Qatar, BMW was only able to score by chance Grow

BMW has no drying experience

In Qatar, Porsche had an advantage because they were “more stable and could control the tires better.” Something that BMW has not yet been able to figure out because the Munich-based company has no experience. “So the Qatar race was one of those races where we were able to collect a lot of data and make progress from that. And I think the tires will be less here in Imola than in Qatar.”

The tire plays a big role in Italy because the wear is higher than at the beginning of the season. “So we have to see if we can learn from Qatar and what we have done in this phase and we have to continue to develop and work hard,” said Frijns.

In addition, BMW was unable to test as planned during the winter months. “Our test program in the winter or last year for this season was affected because of the weather,” Rast said in an interview with Motorsport-Total.com.

All this puts BMW back on track on the way to its first WEC victory. “I don’t want to say that’s the reason, but we weren’t very lucky with the weather and we didn’t do many dry rides.”

That’s why every dry test “helps a lot in taking the next step,” recalls the active BMW driver. “Even if it’s about driver comfort or more stability in the car, that helps. We just need more time and more testing to reach this level.”

LMDh victory important light of hope

Porsche’s LMDh win in Qatar also gives BMW hope, because the M Hybrid V8 uses the same rear axle system as the rival Porsche 963. “We have all the ingredients we need,” smiles BMW Motorsport Director Roos. “But whether we can get everything from these ingredients is the question.”

“Qatar was definitely not what we expected or hoped for, because in general we want to be at the front and win the race,” said Roos. “But we are also realistic enough to know that there are other very powerful producers who also know how to do it.”

The motorsport boss admits that BMW has “worked hard” since the race in Qatar, although “other manufacturers are also stepping on the gas”. The last time BMW competed in the top sports car class was 25 years ago, recalls Roos. “That’s why I say, you have to get everything together and get your act together.”

Cooperation with WRT “very good”

In the WEC, two BMW M Hybrid V8s from WRT are used, while Rahal Letterman Lanigan (RLL) is responsible for the IMSA program in America. According to Roos, the fact that there are two different operating teams is not a disadvantage because there is “very clear exchange between the teams”.

“We take everything we find in America here and everything we find here we always take to America,” reveals the BMW Motorsport boss. Motorsport-Total.com. It is an advantage that the cars are “99 percent the same”.

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BMW also uses the M Hybrid V8 in America Grow

However: “Qatar certainly didn’t go the way everyone wanted, but it was our first race in the championship,” recalls BMW’s sporting director of the opening WEC. “It was also the first time for WRT to use the cars in a racing environment. We learned a lot, but we still have a lot to improve.”

WRT team boss Vosse: “It takes time”

The partnership with WRT is “going very well,” says Roos. “I think we are very good with them, we have already proven that in the past they can do motorsport at a high level and they have also been successful.”

WRT boss Vincent Vosse also sees BMW’s project on the right track. “When you entered the field during the race in Qatar, it was a normal race, nothing exciting,” the Belgian said. Motorsport.com. “The drivers didn’t complain about the car, not that we had any major problems. I have to say that’s part of the process.”

“Penske is a good example, they had problems in the first three or four races (2023),” recalls Vosse of last year’s WEC season, when Porsche was unable to win. “We said that this is not what we expected from Porsche and Penske. This proves that it takes time.”