DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – BMW M Motorsport will have a new look and a new team fielding its BMW M Hybrid V8 in the 2026 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class.
In late August, BMW M Motorsport confirmed a visual set of changes as part of a revised design to the BMW M Hybrid V8, as it is set for its fourth season of competition.
During this weekend’s FIA World Endurance Championship event at Circuit of The Americas, BMW M Motorsport’s top racing official has indicated its intent to run a full-season in GTP next year when speaking to longtime sports car media outlet SportsCar365. BMW M Motorsport ends its 17-year partnership with BMW M Team RLL at the end of this year, which dates to 2009.
Per BMW, on the revised GTP car: visually, the most striking change to the BMW M Hybrid V8 will be its front end. An adjusted splitter optimizes airflow, while the BMW kidney grille will be slightly smaller but will retain its unique BMW Iconic Glow contour lighting, making the car an unmistakable highlight in the dark. Additionally, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will receive new headlights.
The aerodynamic updates offer two key advantages. Firstly, they ensure that the BMW M Hybrid V8 performs more consistently across all track layouts. Analysis of past seasons in the FIA WEC and IMSA series revealed strengths and weaknesses, and the updates aim to eliminate those weaknesses. Secondly, the revised airflow around the car improves cooling efficiency.
The development of the aerodynamics, from CFD calculations to the manufacturing of parts, was carried out in close collaboration between BMW M Motorsport engineers and chassis partner Dallara. Following private test sessions in recent weeks, the BMW M Hybrid V8 will make its first public appearance immediately after the aforementioned FIA WEC race this weekend in Austin during a joint test at the Circuit of the Americas. Subject to final homologation, its first race will be the Rolex 24 At Daytona at the end of January 2026.
Andreas Roos, Head of BMW M Motorsport, has made positive public comments to the about its future in IMSA’s GTP.
“I am very pleased that we will continue our successful Hypercar program long-term in both the FIA WEC and the IMSA series. As part of our future planning, we have decided to pursue our goals with a revised setup and not extend the contract with BMW M Team RLL for race operations in the IMSA series. I want to thank Bobby Rahal and his team for 17 fantastic years,” Roos said about the team change away from RLL and to its new service provider, which will be announced officially at a later date.
About the car change, he noted: “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. A big thank you to everyone involved for their hard work.”
BMW M Team RLL is still keen to end 2025 on a high, having gone 1-2 in the most recent IMSA GTP race at Road America in August with Phillip Eng and Dries Vanthoor on top in the No. 24 BMW M Hybrid V8. Eng and Jesse Krohn also won the TireRack.com Battle on the Bricks at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last September.
Photo courtesy of BMW M Motorsport