BMW Confirms Evo Joker Usage for M Hybrid V8 Aero Update

BMW M Motorsport boss Andreas Roos has confirmed the German brand will use an Evo joker as part of the aerodynamic update on its M Hybrid V8, which was implemented with the aim of improving drivability and consistency.

A revised version of the Dallara-chassised LMDh car, notably featuring a smaller kidney grill and redesigned headlights, broke cover late last month during a test at Circuit Paul Ricard ahead of a debut in 2026.

At the time, BMW’s statement announcing the changes did not clarify whether or not the update constituted the use of an Evo joker, but Roos confirmed to Sportscar365 that that has been the case.

“Yes, the update on the car definitely involves a joker,” Roos said.

This marks the second time that the Munich manufacturer has publicly confirmed Evo joker usage, as the first use of its five allotted upgrades came as part of an update to the car’s brakes ahead of the current season.

Roos outlined that it is not yet clear how many jokers will be used as part of the aerodynamic updates, stating that that remains “up for discussion.”

“It’s for sure up to the final homologation of the car,” he said. “This is the normal topic where we go through now with governance and then discuss.”

Roos explained that BMW carried out the aerodynamic update with the aim of improving the drivability and consistency of the M Hybrid V8, with handling in dirty air also understood to be an area of focus.

“Clearly when you race a car in the third season, you realize at one stage where you can improve,” said Roos.

“At the beginning, when we I started, I always said there is no need for us to take a joker because at the end we don’t extract everything right now from the current package we had.

“This is why I always said [that] first we have to know that we nearly extract everything from what we had.

“I think we came to a point now where we more or less understood how the car works and and what we can improve.

“Already with the first joker, the main topic was to improve drivability and consistency of the car for the drivers.

“This we did with the brakes and now basically the update of the car is going exactly in the same direction.

“The target was at the end to give the drivers a more consistent and predictable car in the corners and [under] braking. This is why we did the update.

“It’s like with the brakes, it’s not that the car is because of this five seconds quicker or two tenths quicker or whatsoever.

“It’s more about drivability and predictability. And this was the same topic.”

Roos indicated that the areas affected by the upgrade will go beyond just a change to the car’s front end.

“We did also an improvement on the cooling side,” said Roos.

“But also this is part of the whole thing, because when you change a bit of airflow in the car, this is affecting also your cooling.

“There we did also a bit of an update, also to improve handling and everything, but this is all part of the whole Evo update.”