BMW M Motorsport and Team WRT with 4 BMW at Imola

WECHyperCar

Apr 15

BMW M Motorsport and Team WRT prepared intensively for the "6 Hours of Imola" (ITA) next weekend on the official test day. The aerodynamically revised BMW M Hybrid V8s completed 345 laps, while the two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs completed a total of 310 laps during Imola’s WEC Prologue.

Two drivers per hypercar

Kevin Magnussen and Raffaele Marciello as well as Robin Frijns and René Rast took turns in the two BMW M Hybrid V8s of BMW M Team WRT. While the #20 crew was able to complete its test programme without any problems, the engine of the #15 had to be changed in the morning due to a technical problem for safety reasons. In the afternoon, Magnussen and Marciello made up some of their test work despite the changeable weather. Dries Vanthoor and Sheldon van der Linde are competing in the third race of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship season at Long Beach at the same time and will therefore not be on the Imola grid.

Robin Frijns was fastest of BMW M hypercar driver yesterday with a 1:31.709 in #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 which was the fourth overall of the day’s combined sessions still more than half second slower than Fuoco’s Benchmark of the day.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Imola 2026. BMW M Team WRT’s #20 BMW M Hybrid V8

René Rast (BMW M Team WRT, #20 Shell BMW M Hybrid V8): "We can be satisfied. Of course, it was a bit difficult with the changeable weather, which affected our plan. But we completed our programme and can certainly take a few things away with us. And then we'll see where we stand at the weekend."

Kevin Magnussen was eighth of the day with a 1:32.204 in sister #15 BMW M Hybrid V8.

Kevin Magnussen (BMW M Team WRT, #15 BMW M Hybrid V8): "We drove a good number of laps – both in the wet and in the dry – and I have the impression that we have learnt a lot and gathered important information for the weekend. Nevertheless, it's difficult to make a prediction after this test. The Ferraris are very fast, but apart from that, we are right up there."

Inception design and numerous partners

As in 2025, the #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 will sport the Inception design in the iconic BMW M colours. The sister car will race in the Inception design in the colours of Premium Technology Partner Shell. BMW M Motorsport is also delighted to have the support of numerous strong partners: Akrapovič, Champion, XPEL, H&R, OZ Racing, KYB and PUMA. Champion is expanding its involvement in the FIA WEC in the third year of the collaboration and is supplying BMW M Team WRT with high-performance racing spark plugs and ignition coils as a technology partner. KYB supports BMW M Team WRT both in the IMSA Series and in the FIA WEC.

📷 © Luc Warnotte at Imola 2026. From left to right: #15 BMW M Hybrid V8 with iconic BMW M colours, #20 BMW M Hybrid V8 in the colours of Premium Technology Partner Shell.

Two BMW M4 GT3 Evo

In the LMGT3 class, Team WRT will compete with two BMW M4 GT3 EVOs. In the #32 car, BMW M works driver Augusto Farfus, Sean Gelael and Darren Leung celebrate their reunion in the FIA WEC after a one-year break. BMW M works driver Dan Harper, Parker Thompson and Anthony McIntosh will take turns in the car #69, which will be given a new, unique design for each race.

Silver rated Parker Thompson was the fastest of BMW M4 drivers during the prologue with a 1:42.959 driving #69 BMW M4 LMGT3 Evo, only 0.261 second from the days’s benchmark in LMGT3 category.

Augusto Farfus (Team WRT, #32 BMW M4 GT3 EVO): "Despite the track being wet in parts, we were able to cover all the test areas we had set out to and got what we wanted. We are in strong shape – as a team and as a driver trio. I'm really looking forward to driving with Darren and Sean again. It feels like coming home. Even though we didn't drive together last year, we spent a lot of time together. It's great to be able to pick up where we left off. The last time we raced here together we won, so we're hoping for a clean and good race with a good result. When you compete in a world championship with a team like WRT and these team-mates, the aim has to be to win races and become champions. We are up for that challenge."

Dan Harper (Team WRT, #69 BMW M4 GT3 EVO): "It was a good test in different conditions. The car feels very good and we are very pleased with the start to the week. It was nice to drive with Anthony, Parker and Team WRT in the Asian Le Mans Series over the winter. In a way it's been our pre-season and it helps that it's been a successful one. I'm really looking forward to my first race in the WEC, the track suits our car and we're ready to go. Anthony's idea of having a different livery for each race is really nice and something I've never experienced before. The designs look fantastic. I'm happy to be a part of it – also because they are always based on the past and thus bring back a piece of history. It's also nice for the fans." Souce: BMW

BMW M Motorsport and Team WRT with 4 BMW at Imola

Two drivers per hypercar

Inception design and numerous partners

Two BMW M4 GT3 Evo

Ferrari on top of Imola's WEC Prologue