BMW Confirms M8 GTE for 2018 Debut

Photo: BMW

BMW has confirmed that its 2018 GTE contender will be based on the new M8 model, as the German manufacturer ramps up for a dual championship factory GT program next year.

A fully camouflaged, early prototype of the production car (pictured above) was unveiled during a driving event at the Nürburgring on Saturday, ahead of this afternoon’s 24-hour race.

It comes just days after images of the new 8-series concept were released ahead of its formal launch.

“The BMW M8 GTE development program for our Le Mans comeback is in full swing,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.

“Developing a new racing car is always exciting, and in the case of the BMW M8 GTE the anticipation is that much greater still.

“We can’t reveal any pictures yet, but I can promise you that the BMW M8 GTE will look spectacular.” 

Specifications for the production or race car have not yet been released but it’s believed to feature either a twin-turbocharged V8 or V12 engine, the latter, however, which would not likely be suitable to the GTE regulations.

Marquardt said they are planning an initial roll out “for the first half of this year” with intentions to give the M8 GTE its competition debut in January’s Rolex 24 at Daytona.

Former BMW DTM squad MTEK will run two cars in the GTE-Pro class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, including at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

A continued factory program in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is also confirmed, which has been run by longtime factory partner Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing.

RLL currently campaigns a pair of IMSA-homologated M6 GTLM cars based on BMW’s GT3 car.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John