BMW M4 GT3 EVO Set for Customer Debut in 24H Dubai

The BMW M4 GT3 EVO looks set to make its customer racing debut in the Michelin 24H Dubai in January, with Century Motorsport and Team WRT in the frame to enter the Munich manufacturer’s updated GT3 challenger at the event.

BMW unveiled its EVO version of the M4 GT3 at the Nürburgring 24 in May and recently completed a test outing at the Nordschleife ahead of the NLS ADAC Ruhr Cup.

Reigning British GT champions Century Motorsport recently became the first team to publicly confirm its purchase of the updated car, announcing plans to continue its seven-year association with the brand in the process.

In addition to a planned continuation of its dual effort in the British GT Championship and Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS, the Nathan Freke-led stable also stated that it plans to ‘selected Middle Eastern races’ like the 24H Dubai as well as the Gulf 12 Hours.

“It is great to be continuing our relationship with BMW, we have had a lot of success with the M4 GT3 and we are sure the EVO kit is going to give us that competitive edge,” said Freke.

“British GT has been a successful main stay for Century Motorsport and we are hungry to win another GT3 championship whilst also becoming regulars in Fanatec GT World Challenge.

“We have enjoyed our time so far in this new series and are keen to make our mark on the global stage.”

While Freke told Sportscar365 that the plan is to run the current-spec M4 GT3 at the latter event on Dec. 15, it will look to contest the 20th edition of the 24H Dubai with the new car.

This would mark the car’s global customer racing debut, as Creventic’s flagship event takes place two weeks before the Rolex 24 at Daytona.

The British squad currently has a pair of M4 GT3s entered for the event, although Freke indicated it is currently unlikely that both of the cars will run to EVO specification in Dubai.

That’s because one of the cars entered in Dubai will compete in December’s Gulf 12H before it has to be transported from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, meaning the team would have to complete the EVO upgrade away from its Warwickshire base.

BMW M Motorsport boss Andreas Roos told Sportscar365 that the M4 GT3 EVO is due to be rolled out to customers in November, thus making the car available for teams that wish to race it in Dubai.

In separate correspondence with Sportscar365, a Creventic spokesperson outlined that the updated car will be eligible for entry in the event once the homologation process, which is due to start in September, has been completed.

Roos has previously floated the idea of racing the M4 GT3 EVO in pre-homologation form, potentially in the SP-X class of the NLS.

In addition to a confirmed bid by Century, three-time event winners Team WRT are also considering a return to the Dubai enduro to race with the EVO-spec car.

The Belgian squad went absent from this year’s edition as it withdrew a two-car effort following the event’s two-week postponement from the original date to the end of January. It marked the first time since 2015 that it wasn’t on the grid for the Middle Eastern enduro.

Team principal Vincent Vosse told Sportscar365 that WRT is evaluating a return to the 24H Dubai, although he noted it is “not fixed yet.”

“We normally do it,” Vosse said. “[This year] we had this issue with timing and we had to withdraw. But that not should not happen [next] year.

“We always go to Dubai. We like the atmosphere. It gives us the opportunity to try some new drivers. We always like to go to Dubai.”

Should the team commit to an event return, Vosse has indicated that it will be the first time that WRT races the new-for-2025 M4 GT3 EVO.

“If we do Dubai, we will run the car there for the first time if it it’s available,” he said.

Vosse hinted that WRT is likely to significantly refresh its current fleet of M4 GT3s, which currently consists of seven cars.

“Four of those cars will get an upgrade,” said Vosse. “And we are checking what we do, we probably buy two new ones. But it’s not completely fixed yet. Still under negotiation.”

Pure Rxcing, Heart of Racing by SPS Additions Boosts GT3 Grid to 35 Cars

The grid for the 20th edition of the 24H Dubai continues to grow as more teams sign up, with Pure Rxcing and Heart of Racing by SPS the latest to join.

The two teams feature on a renewed entry list issued on Wednesday, both entering a one-car effort.

Pure Rxcing fields the No. 77 Porsche 911 GT3 R, while Heart of Racing returns with the No. 27 Mercedes-AMG GT3 Evo.

Further additions in other classes have pushed the grid to 82 cars, exceeding the 80-car entry seen for the 2022 race. It marks a significant uptick in entries compared to the last two years, when the event attracted 53 and 55 cars, respectively.