WRT to Run BMW M4 GT3s in Bathurst 12H, GTWC Europe

BMW M Motorsport has confirmed that Team WRT will embark on a “double program” with the BMW M4 GT3, competing in Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS and selected Intercontinental GT Challenge powered by Pirelli races next year.

As previously reported, the Belgian squad is switching to BMW after 13 years with Audi and will run the Munich-based manufacturer’s GT3 car before adding an FIA World Endurance Championship Hypercar program with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in 2024.

Next year’s IGTC campaign will start with a two-car entry at the Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour using a crew of drivers from BMW’s recently-announced factory roster.

That effort will bring BMW back to the Australian enduro for the first time since 2020, and will also mark the first appearance of the M4 GT3 at Mount Panorama.

WRT team principal Vincent Vosse told Sportscar365 last month that the team will race “where you expect us to be”, hinting at some IGTC outings.

The first of those races has now been confirmed, along with the team’s already-known maiden race with BMW at the Hankook 24 Hours of Dubai with a two-car stable.

WRT will also tackle the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa IGTC round, which also forms part of the GTWC Europe Endurance Cup season.

“Since the announcement of the partnership with BMW M Motorsport early August, we have relentlessly prepared for this new chapter in Team WRT’s history,” said Vosse.

“New beginnings entail a lot of work as you need to discover, learn and adapt to new cars, new procedures and build new relationships, but everything has run smoothly, we feel tremendously excited and motivated and grateful to BMW M Motorsport for their trust.

“The real challenge is about to start, as one month from now we will be racing for the first time with the BMW M4 GT3 in Dubai before our official debut as BMW M Team WRT in Bathurst one month later.”

Multiple Pro Teams Set for Endurance Cup

BMW’s presence in the top category of GTWC Europe Endurance Cup is set to increase next year, with the confirmation that ROWE Racing will continue in addition to the arrival of WRT.

ROWE, which is run by Motorsport Competence Group, will race in the Endurance Cup and the Nürburgring 24 with two factory-supported cars in each competition.

The German squad introduced the M4 GT3 to GTWC Europe this year as a two-car operation, which included an entry for the BMW Junior Team.

“I am confident that we will be able to exploit the full potential of the BMW M4 GT3 in the car’s second season, and that we will be back challenging for victory at these iconic racetracks,” said ROWE team principal Hans-Peter Naundorf.

“We will also be targeting the Endurance title in the GT World Challenge Europe in 2023. These are the expectations of ROWE Racing and BMW M Motorsport, and what we work towards every day.”

ROWE will be joined at the Nürburgring by Team RMG, which was the factory development partner for the M4 GT3 and also ran the Junior Team entry in the N24 and NLS.

“On the team side, we are continuing our collaborations, which have grown over many years, including with BMW M Team RLL, BMW M Team RMG and ROWE Racing,” commented BMW M Motorsport director Andreas Roos.

“Of course, we also plan to continue with our DTM champion team Schubert Motorsport, although we weren’t able to fix anything yet due to the current DTM situation.

“We also welcome BMW M Team WRT as a new BMW M Motorsport team. We are facing some exciting sporting challenges in 2023 and the years to come, for which we need the best teams and drivers.

“After all, the goal is to add to the success story of the BMW brand in motor racing.”