BMW Motorsport has a defined plan and the development of its LMDh is divided into several very marked stages. The first was the track debut of its BMW M Hybrid V8, a task completed with the Varano shakedown. The second involves completing two long-term tests in Europe and the third face the last phase of evolution of the prototype on US soil. And with infinite precision, BMW has started the second chapter of the development of its prototype with a five-day test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Four official BMW drivers have carried the weight of this test on the Catalan trackbeing the first time at the wheel of this prototype for three of them. Augusto Farfus, Marco Wittmann and Nick Yelloly have had their first kilometers over the BMW M Hybrid V8, while Sheldon Van der Linde has returned to his command after being one of two drivers – the other being Connor De Phillippi – to drive the brand’s LMDh at its shakedown in Varano.
Nevertheless, these five pilots would not have been the only ones to roll with the BMW prototype. Although those responsible for the German manufacturer’s LMDh project have not commented, there are reports that indicate that between the Varano shakedown and this test in Barcelona the team has completed another short test at the small circuit of Vairano di Vidigulfo -not to be confused with Varano itself- in which the members of the BMW Junior Team will take part, which allowed Dan Harper, Neil Verhagen and Max Hesse to have their first experience with a prototype of these characteristics.
Be that as it may, the only thing confirmed is that the BMW M Hybrid V8 has rolled for a total of five days in Barcelona, from Monday to Friday, without notable setbacks, so the brand has been able to follow the planned work plan. In fact, spokesmen for BMW Motorsport have pointed out that the test at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has served to have a better understanding of the vehicle, fine-tune reliability by correcting some minor issues and take a step forward in terms of performance.
The visit to Barcelona draws the first test of the BMW M Hybrid V8 in an FIA Grade 1 circuit, but it will not be the only test that the brand plans to do in Spain. In fact, if the plan goes according to plan, BMW’s LMDh will roll at the MotorLand Aragón circuit in the near future, in a test similar to the one completed in Barcelona and that will serve to close the second phase of the schedule drawn by the brand. Afterwards, the first BMW LMDh prototype will be flown to the United States for further testing.
Photos: BMW Motorsport