25 victories in 100 years: BMW M Motorsport has an impressive history of success at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps (BEL). At the anniversary of the endurance classic, four BMW M4 GT3s are competing in the Pro category to achieve the 26th triumph for the BMW brand. For ROWE Racing, the #98 BMW M4 GT3, and the driver trio of Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER), and Nick Yelloly (GBR), the goal is to repeat last year’s victory. BMW M Team WRT celebrates its home race in the Ardennes with cars in special designs. As part of the supporting programme, BMW M Motorsport will display winning cars from the past.
In total, the two BMW M Motorsport teams competing in the Pro category have already achieved five Spa victories – ROWE Racing three (2016, 2020, 2023) and BMW M Team WRT two (2011, 2014). While ROWE Racing is focused on defending its title, BMW M Team WRT aims to end a long dry spell at its home race and celebrate the first victory with the BMW M4 GT3 at one of the major endurance classics.
The trio that was victorious in 2023 remains unchanged. The cockpit of the ROWE Racing #98 BMW M4 GT3 will be shared by Eng, Wittmann, and Yelloly. The sister car with the #998, in the design of BMW M Motorsport partner MultiBank Group, will be driven by Augusto Farfus (BRA), Dan Harper (GBR), and Max Hesse (GER). These three won the season opener of the Fanatec GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup in Le Castellet (FRA) in April and head to the Ardennes leading the overall standings.
For BMW M Team WRT, as in 2023, Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor, and Charles Weerts (both BEL) will race in the #32 BMW M4 GT3. In the number 46 car, Raffaele Marciello (SUI), Maxime Martin (BEL), and Valentino Rossi (ITA) will take turns. The two cars in the Pro category will feature a special design to commemorate the event’s 100th anniversary. The team is fielding a third car in the Bronze category. The #30 BMW M4 GT3 will be driven by BMW M works driver Jens Klingmann (GER), Ahmad Al Harthy (OMA), Sam De Haan (GBR), and Calan Williams (AUS). In the Team Century Motorsport #991 BMW M4 GT3, which is also starting in the Bronze class, BMW M works driver Connor De Phillippi (USA) will race with Pedro Ebrahim (BRA), Darren Leung, and Toby Sowery (both GBR).
The 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps starts on Saturday at 16:30 CEST. Ahead of the race, BMW M Motorsport and BMW Group Classic will present some historic winning cars during the traditional parade into the town of Spa, giving fans a glimpse of a BMW 635 CSi, a BMW 3.0 CSL and a BMW 1800 TI/SA.
