24H Dubai - BMW M Team WRT enjoys successful debut with the BMW M4 GT3

After a thrilling finish, the #7 BMW M4 GT3 took the chequered flag in first place. This was the first win for the BMW M4 GT3 in a 24-hour race and BMW’s first triumph at the 24H Dubai since Schubert Motorsport’s success in 2011. Third place for the #46 BMW M4 GT3 rounded off a successful weekend for BMW M Team WRT. The outing in Dubai was organised privately by BMW M Team WRT, in order to prepare for the first official appearance with BMW M Motorsport, the “Bathurst 12 Hours” (AUS) in three weeks.

“I am thrilled that we won our first race with BMW M Motorsport”, Dries Vanthoor said. “That race was not easy for us, the Porsche was always there. However, we made good calls during the Code 60 phases and came out on top in the end. The BMW M4 GT3 ran smoothly, the drivers, team, support from BMW M Motorsport – everything was super. It was a nice start and we now obviously hope that we will go on to claim many more victories.”

Alternating at the wheel of the victorious #7 car were BMW M works drivers Jens Klingmann (GER) and Dries Vanthoor (BEL), alongside Mohammed Saud Fahad Al Saud (KSA), Diego Menchaca (MEX) and Jean-Baptiste Simmenauer (FRA). This was Klingmann‘s first victory in a 24-hour race. He was closely involved in the development of the BMW M4 GT3 from the beginning and with his experience of the car, he was able to offer great support to the team in Dubai. The #46 car was driven by BMW M works drivers Valentino Rossi (ITA), Maxime Martin (BEL) and Max Hesse (GER), together with Timothy Whale (GBR) and Sean Gelael (IDN), who was contesting his first race in a GT3 car. For nine-time motorcycle world champion Rossi, it was the first podium with WRT.

Starting from sixth on the grid, the #7 BMW M4 GT3 soon found itself involved in the battle for the lead and, for long stretches of the race, was running in first place. However, the race was destined for a really exciting finish. After numerous Code 60 phases, the #7 car entered the final half an hour in second place. Thanks to a perfect strategy, Vanthoor was able to regain the lead and complete a stunning victory for BMW M Team WRT.

The crew of the #46 car, which started from eighth place, also established itself in the top three early in the race, however it dropped back down the field after two and a half hours, when the car spun into the crash barriers on a circuit that had become slippery due to liquid on the track. After a short check-up in the garage, car #46 was able to rejoin the race and set about working its way back through the field and onto the podium. After 24 hours of racing, Rossi came home in a comfortable third place.

Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport: “It was a fantastic race debut for BMW M Team WRT with the BMW M4 GT3. Congratulations on the victory and third place. Vincent Vosse’s team did an outstanding job and familiarised itself superbly with the car, the drivers were fast and flawless, and our BMW M4 GT3 ran like clockwork. This success made the 24H Dubai the perfect dress rehearsal for the team ahead of its first official outing with BMW M Motorsport, the 12 Hours of Bathurst in three weeks. However, I am also delighted with the successful start for our new BMW M4 GT4 in its debut season. Both cars finished on the podium in the GT4 class after 24 hours of racing. That shows how competitive our new customer race car is already.”

Vincent Vosse, Team Principal BMW M Team WRT: “The race went quite smoothly. We did not expect that after qualifying as we were missing a bit of pace but with the drivers and the crew we were able to have a great strategy. That helped us to put the #7 car in the lead and then to manage the window of the strategy. That is the most important thing here to be able to win. The car was very strong, it ran trouble-free. The #46 had a small contact at the beginning of the race, otherwise I think they would have fought with car #7. To get familiar with the car in race conditions is important. We knew that it is possible to win if the car can make it to the end, if we don’t do mistakes, if we don’t get penalties. There was some strong opposition – but they did mistakes and we tried to avoid them. It was the right decision to participate in the race instead of continuing to test. The race went well and we learnt a lot.“