BMW M Team WRT Secures First Overall Podium at Le Mans Since 1999 with Second-Place Finish
In an exciting 24-hour race, BMW M Team WRT claimed second place at Le Mans, marking BMW M Motorsport's first overall podium since 1999.
- 2nd place
- 10.9 seconds
- 27 years
What Happened
BMW M Team WRT achieved its first major success at the 24 Hours of Le Mans on its third attempt. The #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde, finished second overall, just 10.9 seconds behind the winning Toyota. This is the first overall podium for BMW M Motorsport since its victory with the BMW V12 LMR in 1999. The team had also secured pole position during qualifying with the #15 car, but that car retired early due to a collision and technical defect.
“We have worked for years to be successful at Le Mans again, and now we have reaped the reward with second place. It was an incredibly exciting race. For us, it was a rollercoaster ride, but in the end, to finish second just ten seconds behind is a fantastic achievement.”
10.9 seconds
after 24 hours of racing
Why this matters
This result ends a 27-year podium drought for BMW at Le Mans, demonstrating the competitiveness of the BMW M Hybrid V8 and the team's progress since returning to top-level endurance racing.
Terms in This Story
- Overall podium
- A top-three finish in the overall race classification, not just within a class.
- Pole position
- The first starting position in a race, awarded to the fastest qualifier.
- LMGT3
- A class for GT3-spec race cars at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
- Hybrid V8
- A powertrain combining a V8 engine with an electric motor for improved efficiency and performance.
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