While there has been some criticism of the feline-like snout, timing and scoring doesn’t care what the car looks like… Click to Enlarge.
Mike Krack the head of BMW M Motorsport is leaving the company at his request and moving to Aston Martin Formula 1 as team principal. Andreas Roos will take over responsibility for the motorsport activities of BMW M on 1 February, BMW said today. Roos with two decades of experience in motor racing and has led a variety of projects during his career.
BMW M Motorsport is in the midst of a LMDh project for the 2023 season (see AutoInformed.com on IMSA – Porsche Virtually Shows LMDh Car), as well as its ambitious racing plans for the coming year. BMW Team RLL, which has been celebrating podiums with BMW M Motorsport since 2009, will compete in two LMDh* prototypes as of 2023, which will be called BMW M LMDh. Alongside the LMDh test program, BMW Team RLL will field two BMW M4 GT3s in the new GTD Pro category during the 2022 IMSA season.**The transition will be one to watch as it is not without extreme challenges.
“This was not an easy decision for me,” said Krack. “I have spent a large portion of my professional life at BMW and have grown incredibly fond of the brand and my colleagues over all these great years. I would like to say thank you for everything we have achieved together through the many different projects. However, it has always been a dream of mine to return to Formula 1 one day – and now I have been given the chance to do that.”
“We would like to thank Mike Krack for his passion and dedication across the motor sport portfolio of BMW and BMW M,” said Franciscus van Meel, CEO of BMW M GmbH. “He has demonstrated his wholehearted commitment to motor sport in various roles within our company… he took some important decisions over the past year aimed at securing a successful future for our motor sport projects. He has now been given the chance to fulfil a career dream and we do not want to stand in his way. We would like to wish Mike every success in his future endeavors.”
The BMW CEO also added that Roos has also held senior management positions in international motor sport for many years and his vast experience makes him the ideal appointment at the helm of our racing involvement. With Andreas on board we are in the best possible shape to enjoy an exciting future pursuing ambitious goals with our new BMW M4 GT3 and LMDh project. We are looking forward to enjoying great success together.”
*LMDh – The Confusing Le Mans Top Classes
The top class in the FIA World Endurance Championship this year, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is Hypercar. Two types are eligible: LMH (Le Mans Hypercar starting in 2021) and LMDh (Le Mans Daytona h starting in 2023). In 2023, both types of cars will race together in the FIA WEC and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Therefore, they will be seen at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
In 2023, constructors having voted to follow the LMDh regulations to compete in the Hypercar class. In LMDh there will be four chassis manufacturers: Dallara, Multimatic, Ligier and ORECA. The engine, bodywork and hybrid system will come from the automaker in a move to save what has become an absurdly expensive class of racing.
** BMW M Team RLL line-up for the season opener of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship 2022 is set. At the new BMW M4 GT3’s debut in the also-new GTD PRO category, two strong quartets of BMW M works drivers will be doing battle for the podium. In the #25 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3, Connor De Phillippi, John Edwards (both USA), Augusto Farfus (BRA) and Jesse Krohn (FIN) will take turns at the wheel; in the #24 car, Philipp Eng (AUT), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Marco Wittmann (GER) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) will be in action. Turner Motorsport is fielding a BMW M4 GT3 with the drivers Bill Auberlen, Robby Foley, Michael Dinan (all USA) and Jens Klingmann (GER) in the GTD class.
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