Consistency is priority for BMW M Motorsport
BMW M Motorsport relies on consistency for the line-ups of its two Hypercar programmes in the FIA World Endurance Championship (FIA WEC) and the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (IMSA Series) in 2026. The same eight BMW M works drivers will take the wheel of the four BMW M Hybrid V8s as in 2025. However, there will be a change in the regular driver pairings in the IMSA Series.
Eight BMW M works drivers
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Fuji. Both BMW M Hybrid V8 at 6 Hours of Fuji.
The eight drivers for BMW M Motorsport’s works programmes in the FIA WEC and IMSA Series in 2026 are once again: Philipp Eng (AUT), Robin Frijns (NED), Kevin Magnussen (DEN), Raffaele Marciello (SUI), René Rast (GER), Sheldon van der Linde (RSA), Dries Vanthoor (BEL), and Marco Wittmann (GER). As in the previous year, Vanthoor and van der Linde will undertake double duty as regular drivers in both race series. Eng and Wittmann will return for another full season in North America, where BMW M Team WRT will take over operations from BMW M Team RLL. Starting in 2026, the Belgian team will compete with the BMW M Hybrid V8 in both the FIA WEC and IMSA Series.
Lots of changes in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship
In North America, BMW M Motorsport will race with an updated car and a new team in the IMSA Series as BMW M Team WRT will take over operations from BMW M Team RLL.
There will also be a swap in driver pairings. Regular drivers in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 will be Vanthoor and van der Linde. They will be supported in endurance races by Frijns and Rast. In the #25 car, Eng and Wittmann will contest the full season together. They will be joined by Magnussen and Marciello for endurance races.
#24 BMW M Hybrid V8
Philipp Eng and Dries Vanthoor had a decent 2025 season ending fourth the Drivers Weathertech Sportscar Championship after a win at Road America, a P3 at Long Beach and Laguna Seca, a P4 at Daytona (with Marciello and Magnussen) and Indianapolis, a P5 at Detroit, a P8 at The Glen, finishing with a P9 at Motul Petit Le Mans.
📷 © IMSA. BMW M Team RLL has secured the first victory of the season for the BMW M Hybrid V8 at Road America with Philipp Eng and Dries Vanthoor triumph in the #24 car. Their teammates in the #25 car, Sheldon van der Linde and Marco Wittmann, completed the one-two finish by securing second place.
For the 2026 season, Sheldon van der Linde will replace Philipp Eng in the #24. Robin Frijns will be the third driver for Endurance and René Rast, the fourth driver at Daytona instead of #25 last year.
📷 © BMW Group. Regular drivers in the #24 BMW M Hybrid V8 will be Vanthoor and van der Linde.
IMSA Series, #24 BMW M Hybrid V8:
Sheldon van der Linde (RSA)
Dries Vanthoor (BEL)
Robin Frijns (NED), Endurance
René Rast (GER), 24h Daytona
#25 BMW M Hybrid V8
in 2025, #25 Marco Wittmann and Sheldon Van der Linde had less success than their teammates with P2 Road America (double for BMW), P4 Laguna Seca, P5 Sebring (with Robin Frijns) and Long Beach, P6 at Indianapolis, P7 at Detroit and Daytona with René Rast and Robin Frijns.
📷 © Luc Warnotte. Marco Wittmann and Sheldon Van der Linde ended Sebring (with Robin Frijns) in P5 (left). Together with René Rast and Robin Frijns they finished seventh at Daytona.
In 2026, Marco Wittmann’s full season co-driver will be Philipp Eng (instead of Van der Linde). Obviously, Kevin Magnussen (Endurance) and Raffaele Marciello (24h Daytona) will no longer be third and fourth drivers in #24 but well in #25.
📷 © BMW Group. In the #25 car, Eng and Wittmann will contest the full season together.
IMSA Series, #25 BMW M Hybrid V8:
Philipp Eng (AUT)
Marco Wittmann (GER)
Kevin Magnussen (DEN), Endurance
Raffaele Marciello (SUI), 24h Daytona
Unchanged line-ups in FIA WEC
In FIA WEC, the driver line-ups for both cars remain unchanged. The #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 will be shared by Magnussen, Marciello, and Vanthoor. In the #20 car, Frijns, Rast, and van der Linde will alternate.
#15 BMW M Hybrid V8
Poor season for #15 with Kevin Magnussen, Raffaele Marciello and Dries Vanthoor. After starting the season with a P4 at Qatar 1812 scoring 18 points, they scored 8 points at Imola with a P7. M and R scored an additional 1 point at Spa-Francorchamps with a P10. For the rest of the season, they never reached the top 10 ending 20th in the Drivers Championship with 27 points.
📷 © Luc Warnotte at Lusail. P4 for #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 at Qatar 1812.
FIA WEC, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8:
Kevin Magnussen (DEN)
Raffaele Marciello (SUI)
Dries Vanthoor (BEL)
#20 BMW M Hybrid V8
René RAST and Sheldon VAN DER LINDE had a better season than their teammates ending 9th with 47 points in BMW M V8 Hybrid #20. Best result was a P2 at Imola. Their co-driver Robin Frijns didn’t participate to the São Paulo race where RAST and VAN DER LINDE scored a P5 with Marco WITTMANN.
📷© Luc Warnotte at Imola. P2 for René RAST and Sheldon VAN DER LINDE in BMW M V8 Hybrid #20.
FIA WEC, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8:
Robin Frijns (NED)
René Rast (GER)
Sheldon van der Linde (RSA)
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