BMW Team RLL Confirmed for 2016 with BMW M6 GTLM

BMW Motorsport has formally confirmed the BMW M6 GTLM will race in North America in 2016, and will continue with BMW Team RLL into the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.

The M6 GTLM model joins the new M6 GT3, which will contest race events and series with FIA GT3 regulations as of next season.

“Using the basis of our new BMW M6 GT3 to develop a car for the WeatherTech Championship was a logical step,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt.

“The BMW M6 GTLM has all the essential ingredients to thrill fans in the USA and Canada. We are keen to continue our works commitment on the other side of the Atlantic at the highest level since the WeatherTech Championship is a fantastic stage with a high quality field and legendary venues. We feel right at home there.”

Ludwig Willisch, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America, LLC, added: “Success in motor racing helped us prove The Ultimate Driving Machine claim in North America 40 years ago and continues to be an important part of the BMW marketing strategy to this day.

“As the largest market for BMW M in the world, we are eager to delight our fans with the BMW M6 GTLM in the 2016 WeatherTech Championship.”

Bobby Rahal, Team Principal of BMW Team RLL said, “A new car, a very competitive field and the 100th anniversary of BMW means 2016 will be an exciting year.

“I am thrilled that RLL will continue to represent BMW’s motorsport program in North America for an eighth season. The M6 GTLM will be the third model we have raced since 2009 (M3 (2009-2012); Z4 (2013-2015) and we look forward to the challenge.”

BMW Motorsport engineers derived the BMW M6 GTLM from the BMW M6 GT3, and the BMW M6 GTLM took part in the official Balance of Performance tests performed by IMSA for GTLM homologation alongside GT3 testing by the FIA and ACO in Ladoux, France.

Subject to final approvals by IMSA, based in North America, the BMW M6 GTLM is expected to race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2016.

Like the GT3 version, the car is powered by a lightly modified version of the V8 production engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology from the BMW M6 Coupé.

In the previous three seasons, BMW Team RLL contested the American Le Mans Series and the United SportsCar Championship with the BMW Z4 GTLM and celebrated five victories and an additional 15 podiums to date.