BMW has confirmed two of the key highlights of its LMDh programme, the livery of its BMW M Hybrid V8 and its driver line-up for its IMSA debut. Colton Herta joins Augusto Farfus, Connor de Phillippi, Nick Yelloly and Philipp Eng.
BMW Motorsport is ready for action. The German firm has unveiled two of the last remaining ingredients of its LMDh program and the countdown begins for its debut in the GTP category of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The BMW M Hybrid V8 already has an official livery and driver line-up to be at your command.
The presentation of the official livery of the BMW M Hybrid V8 It has been carried out in an act that has taken place at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles in which the leadership of BMW Motorsport and those responsible for the BMW M Team RLL have participated, a structure that will put the two LMDh of the brand on track in the 2023 IMSA season. The final livery has been the work of BMW Group Designworks under the leadership of Michael Scully.
Augusto Farfus, Connor de Phillippi, Nick Yelloly and Philipp Eng are BMW’s full-time drivers for the 2023 IMSA season
The impressive livery of the BMW LMDh is built from a huge repeating ‘M’ in abstract triangular pattern in which the traditional colors of the brand are combined. Blue, black and white tones refer to the BMW logo, although they combine perfectly with all other blue and red tones linked with BMW M. Different parts of the prototype will maintain their original carbon fiber finish.
Beyond colors and aerodynamic design, the BMW M Hybrid V8 has a unique front end with characteristic BMW kidney grilles, separated by inverted ‘Y’ aerodynamic solution. And we say unique not because of its very recognizable shapes, but because of the use of new technology lighting to enhance the grille. Instead of using LED lighting, the prototype features in this area nanoactive fiber optic illumination activated by laser.
Loading tweet…
1573129225846005762
Top tier lineup
The BMW M Hybrid V8 has a propellant based on the P66/3 engine used by the German firm in the DTM between 2017 and 2018. It is a power unit that offers 640 hp of power and 650 Nm of maximum torque. Maximum revolutions per minute (RPM) is limited to 8,200. A solvent heart that will give life to an LMDh prototype that already has its first confirmed pilots.
Following the usual competition model at IMSA, the Munich brand together with Team RLL has appointed a total of four fixed pilots to compete in its two prototypes. The chosen ones are Augusto Farfus, Connor de Phillippi, Nick Yelloly and Philipp Eng, although it has not been confirmed how they will be paired. All of them are pilots with a long history at a general level and as official BMW pilots.
cha! Colton Herta appeared
While the choice of full-time pilots offers no big surprises, the inclusion of Colton Herta as a support driver in the endurance tests has been more unexpected. The American pilot will act as third pilot in one of the brand’s LMDh prototypes at the 24 Hours of Daytona. The rest of the endurance drivers for the opening round of the championship will be announced at a later date.
It does not specify BMW, however, if the signing of Herta implies his participation exclusively in Daytona or if the IndyCar driver will also compete with the brand in Sebring or in the rest of the rounds of the IMSA Michelin Endurance Cup. Be that as it may, Herta will be an official BMW driver at IMSA due to the apparent impossibility of landing in Formula 1 next year.