FIA WEC: #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 finishes in the points at the Lone Star Le Mans in Austin.

BMW M Team WRT’s two BMW M Hybrid V8s finished eighth and twelfth at the Lone Star Le Mans in Austin, marking a difficult start to the second half of the FIA World Endurance Championship season. The #15 and #20 cars, driven by Robin Frijns, René Rast, Kevin Magnussen, Raffaele Marciello, and Dries Vanthoor, faced challenges in extreme heat and humidity, failing to match their earlier podium performances. Despite the setback, Frijns and Rast retained their lead in the drivers’ standings after Toyota’s #7 car retired late in the race.

The LMGT3 class proved equally challenging for BMW M Team WRT, with both BMW M4 GT3 EVOs encountering early issues. Car #69 suffered a puncture and cockpit smoke after a minor collision, forcing an emergency pit stop and a stop-and-go penalty, yet recovered to finish eleventh. Car #32 faced a lengthy repair due to a faulty sensor and a track limits penalty, ultimately placing sixteenth. The team’s struggles in Texas contrasted with their strong results before the summer break.

BMW M Motorsport head Andreas Roos acknowledged the disappointing outcome, citing the team’s inability to match their prior pace and deliver flawless performances. He noted that while the points scored were modest, the retirement of Toyota’s leading car provided a tactical advantage in the standings. Team Principal Vincent Vosse described the weekend as tough, emphasizing the crew’s efforts despite the lack of pace in the Hypercar class and the absence of points in LMGT3.

Drivers reflected on the challenges, with Dries Vanthoor and Robin Frijns attributing the result to a lack of pace and minor pit stop issues. Dan Harper and Sean Gelael highlighted the impact of technical problems and punishing conditions, expressing frustration over lost opportunities. The team now turns its focus to the next race in Fuji, aiming to address the issues that hindered their performance in Austin.