Mostert to Complete BMW Lineup at Petit Le Mans

Photo: BMW

Virgin Australia Supercars ace Chaz Mostert is set to make his U.S. racing debut, having been called up by BMW for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season-ending Motul Petit Le Mans.

The 26-year-old Australian is expected to join John Edwards and Jesse Krohn in the No. 24 Team RLL-run BMW M8 GTE, as part of a busy global weekend for the German manufacturer, which has factory entries the FIA World Endurance Championship and DTM also in action.

Mostert, who claimed pole in February’s Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour, has taken part in selected races in BMW M6 GT3s in recent years although will make his first start in the new-for-2018 M8 GTE.

“It’ll be pretty cool. I’ll obviously be thrown massively in the deep end there, so I’m not really sure what to expect,” Mostert told Supercars.com.

“But BMW as a group and their drivers, they’re so helpful getting you up to speed.

“No doubt if I get enough laps in the car and use their guidance, hopefully we can have a good, solid weekend.”

Both Tom Blomqvist, who completed the No. 24 car’s lineup in last month’s Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen and Nicky Catsburg, who was in the car for the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, will be at Fuji Speedway for the WEC race that weekend.

Augusto Farfus, who completed the team’s lineup at Daytona, meanwhile, will be on DTM duty in Hockenheim, leaving few logical options for the third seat.

It’s understood the 18-year-old Colton Herta, who has tested with the Bobby Rahal-led operation, will remain as the team’s reserve driver for the race. 

Bill Auberlen, meanwhile, will return to the sister No. 25 BMW for Petit Le Mans, alongside Connor De Phillippi and Alexander Sims, as part of his reduced Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup-only program with the factory team.

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