BMW Undecided on Number of Full-Season GTD Pro Cars

Photo: BMW

A two-car full-season effort in the GTD Pro class for BMW Team RLL is unlikely according to head of BMW M Motorsport Mike Krack, who said there will be “no compromise” on the team’s involvement in developing the manufacturer’s LMDh program.

Announced last weekend, the Bobby Rahal-led operation will start the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season with a pair of BMW M4 GT3 cars in the new-for-2022 class, although only one car is currently expected to contest all ten rounds.

This is because of the ramping up of Team RLL’s presence in the development the BMW M LMDh, which it will campaign in 2023.

Krack confirmed there will be two factory GTD Pro entries on the grid for both the Rolex 24 at Daytona and Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring but is currently undecided for the rest of the championship.

“We will start [the season] with two,” Krack told Sportscar365. “Then we’ll see. Since we’re doing the build of the LMDh together, we’ll see.

“We want no compromise with LMDh. We will decide depending on when we will need Bobby’s people in Italy and the racing program will have to be adjusted accordingly.”

When asked if RLL’s presence in the GTD Pro class will only be for a single season, Krack reiterated that “RLL’s focus is LMDh.”

Krack, however, wouldn’t rule out seeing another team compete in GTD Pro, even if it goes against BMW’s policy of its factory squad racing against its customers in the same class.

“The teams can always decide to go into Pro. If any customer decides to go to Pro they can choose to do so,” he said.

“Maybe we have to do an exception if someone does it. Our ideas are clear but there will maybe be some exception at times.

“If Will [Turner] signs two pro [drivers] and he decides to move to GTD Pro, we cannot stop him. It’s not 100 percent in our control and that’s fine. If they choose to do so, it’s OK.”

Krack said next year will be an important year for the M4 GT3 in its global launch, with what Sportscar365 understands will include at least two customer entries in GTD.

“We want to use [2022] to introduce it properly,” he said. “It’s an important market, it’s a new car, so I think you need to show it. We have a unique opportunity with GTE gone to present this car properly now.

“Yes it’s opportunistic to bridge this gap [to LMDh]. But on the other hand if we didn’t have that, we need to show the car and bring the car here. 

“We have worked together a lot with IMSA on the future of GT with GTLM gone. You cannot participate [in meetings], encourage [the creation of the class] and then you don’t come.

“This is not professional. If you commit and do this, then you have to also be there.”

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