Frijns Signs BMW Factory Contract

Robin Frijns has joined BMW as a factory driver and will be involved in Team WRT’s testing of the manufacturer’s LMDh car ahead of its FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar program next year.

The 31-year-old Dutchman currently drives for WRT in the LMP2 class and will continue his association with the Belgian squad as part of his new factory-contracted role.

Frijns was formerly an Audi Sport works driver until this year and won several accolades with WRT, including the 2018 Bathurst 12 Hour and the 2017 Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Sprint Cup title, during that stint.

He also won the 24 Hours of Le Mans LMP2 class two years ago alongside WRT co-drivers Ferdinand Habsburg and Charles Milesi, en route to sealing the WEC title.

BMW has stated that Frijns’ race program will be “decided at a later date” although his involvement in testing of the BMW M Hybrid V8 and his prototype racing background with WRT point towards a potential involvement in the Hypercar lineup.

“With his versatility and wealth of experience in prototype racing, Robin Frijns is a fantastic addition to our squad of works drivers,” said BMW M Motorsport director Andreas Roos.

“He will initially be involved in the test program with the BMW M Hybrid V8 for WEC.

“He knows the team and the race series very well and can certainly make a valuable contribution to a successful preparation for the 2024 season.

“A glance at his previous successes shows that Frijns is also an extremely good GT driver. However, we will make a decision regarding any possible race outings at a later date.

“First of all, we are very pleased to have him with us in the BMW M Motorsport family.”

In addition to his sports car racing involvement, Frijns recently completed his seventh season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, although his campaign with the ABT Cupra team was impacted by a wrist injury in the early stages.

The first steps in Frijns’ open-wheel career were taken with BMW in the manufacturer’s single-make series, which he won in 2010.

“It is fantastic to return to BMW M Motorsport after so many years – the place it all started for me in Formula BMW Europe,” said Frijns.

“I am looking forward to the new challenges, which will include being part of the test program for the WEC entry in 2024 with the BMW M Hybrid V8.

“The prospect of driving this car and, in doing so, becoming part of a new golden era of motor racing is great motivation.”

BMW’s factory driver pool now stands at 22 members, with Frijns being the latest to join this year along with Rene Rast, Maxime Martin, Dries Vanthoor, Charles Weerts, Dan Harper, Max Hesse, Neil Verhagen, Colton Herta and Valentino Rossi.