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Hope you're all doing great! The premium partner of iQOO, BMW M, has made history at the Fuji FIA WEC, setting new records and dominating the racetrack. Sounds exciting, right? Let’s dive into the details!

A thrilling race weekend at Fuji Speedway has delivered BMW M Team WRT’s first-ever overall podium in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC)! In the seventh and penultimate race of the season, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, and Marco Wittmann, secured a remarkable second place, marking a significant milestone for BMW M Motorsport in its debut WEC season.

The Journey to Podium: BMW M Team WRT has been making steady progress all season, and the Fuji race was a culmination of their relentless hard work and determination. Here’s a breakdown of the key moments:

Practice Sessions: The BMW M Hybrid V8 showed strong pace throughout, impressing everyone at the foot of Mount Fuji. The team achieved the best time of the day on Friday, which set the tone for a great weekend.

Qualifying: Dries Vanthoor secured a solid third place in qualifying for car #15, marking the best starting position for the BMW Hypercar this season.

Race Day: Marco Wittmann pushed the #15 car to second place right from the start, and the trio maintained that position with a flawless drive till the very end. A perfect blend of strategy, skill, and teamwork led them to this spectacular podium finish, making history for BMW in the WEC.

BMW M Hybrid V8 (#15) - 2nd Place Finish:

Raffaele Marciello, Dries Vanthoor, and Marco Wittmann drove brilliantly, holding off fierce competition to cross the finish line in second place. The #15 car had previously secured the season’s best finish at Imola with a sixth-place result, but Fuji marks their first overall podium, a testament to the massive strides they’ve made this season.

BMW M Hybrid V8 (#20) - Unfortunate Luck:

While the #15 car celebrated, the #20 BMW M Hybrid V8, driven by Robin Frijns, René Rast, and Sheldon van der Linde, had a tough race. On just the second lap, René Rast had to avoid an accident, but debris caused severe damage to the front of the car. This led to an early pit stop for repairs, costing them two laps and any chance of a top finish, though their pace was impressive throughout the race.

LMGT3 Class - Comebacks Galore! It wasn’t just the BMW Hypercars that impressed in Fuji. In the LMGT3 class, the BMW M4 GT3 cars also made significant comebacks:

Car #46: Piloted by Valentino Rossi, Ahmad Al Harthy, and Maxime Martin, the #46 BMW M4 GT3 charged from 12th on the grid to finish in 3rd place, earning a spectacular podium after a well-executed race strategy and flawless pit stops.

Car #31: Despite early promise, the trio of Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael, and Darren Leung in the #31 BMW M4 GT3 faced an unprovoked collision and gradually lost pace towards the end of the race, finishing in 10th place.

Driver and Team Reactions:

After this incredible race weekend, here’s what the drivers and team had to say:

Raffaele Marciello (#15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 2nd place):

“It’s fantastic to secure the first Hypercar podium for BMW M Motorsport. It’s a huge moment for everyone who has worked so hard on this project. The progress we’ve made since the start of the season is amazing, and this podium is a big boost for us and the team.”

Dries Vanthoor (#15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 2nd place):

“This podium is a great achievement for BMW M Motorsport in its debut season in FIA WEC. The team has worked tirelessly, and this second-place finish shows just how far we’ve come. We’re proud, but we still want to push for a win!”

Marco Wittmann (#15 BMW M Hybrid V8, 2nd place):

“To stand on the podium for the first time with this car and this project is an incredible feeling. We executed the race perfectly, from practice to qualifying and the race itself. I’m really proud of the team’s effort and can’t wait to see what we can achieve in Bahrain to close out the season on a high.”

Valentino Rossi (#46 BMW M4 GT3, 3rd place in LMGT3):

“We’re thrilled with the podium! After the disappointment in Austin, this result feels even better. The whole team did a fantastic job, and our strategy and pit stops were on point. It’s our second podium of the season, and we’re really happy!”

A Milestone Moment for BMW M Motorsport: This podium marks a new chapter for BMW M Motorsport as they continue to prove their mettle in the world of endurance racing. With just one race left in the season, all eyes are now on Bahrain, where the team will look to build on their success and push for more top results.

A weekend full of excitement and achievement for BMW M fans, and there’s still more to come! Let’s cheer for an even stronger finish at the WEC finale in Bahrain.

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