BMW M8 GTE

BMW M8 GTE
BMW M8 GTE, run by BMW Team MTEK, at the 2018 6 Hours of Silverstone race
CategoryLM GTE (FIA WEC)
GTLM (IMSA WTSC)
ConstructorBMW
Designer(s)Michael Scully (Head of Design, BMW Motorsport)[1]
PredecessorBMW M6 GTLM
SuccessorBMW M4 GT3
Technical specifications[2]
ChassisCarbon-fibre monocoque with safety roll cage
Suspension (front)Pushrod with double wishbones coupled with ZF Sachs dampers
Suspension (rear)Same as front
Length4,980 mm (196 in) excluding rear wing
Width2,224 mm (88 in)
Height1,212 mm (48 in)
Wheelbase2,880 mm (113 in)
EngineBMW P63/1 3,981 cc (243 cu in) 90° V8 twin-turbocharged, front-mid engine, rear-wheel-drive, longitudinally mounted
TransmissionXtrac[3] 6-speed sequential semi-automatic paddle-shift
Power600 PS (441 kW; 592 hp) at 7,000 rpm (estimated)[3]
Weight1,250 kg (2,756 lb) including driver
FuelTotal Excellium Endurance Ethanol E20[4] (FIA WEC, 24 Hours of Le Mans) and VP Racing Fuels (WeatherTech SportsCar Championship)
LubricantsShell Helix Ultra/Pennzoil Ultra
BrakesBrembo carbon brake discs with 6-piston calipers and pads
TyresMichelin Pilot Sport
Competition history
Notable entrantsGermany BMW Team MTEK
United States BMW Team Rahal Letterman Lanigan
Notable drivers
Debut2018 24 Hours of Daytona
First win2018 Oak Tree Grand Prix
Last win2020 TireRack.com Grand Prix at Road Atlanta
Last event2021 Petit Le Mans
RacesWinsPolesF/Laps
37 (IMSA SportsCar)
8 (FIA WEC)
5 (IMSA SportsCar)
0 (FIA WEC)
2 (IMSA SportsCar)
0 (FIA WEC)
3 (IMSA SportsCar)
0 (FIA WEC)
Constructors' Championships0 (IMSA SportsCar)
0 (FIA WEC)
Drivers' Championships0 (IMSA SportsCar)
0 (FIA WEC)

The BMW M8 GTE is an endurance grand tourer (GT) car constructed by the German automobile manufacturer BMW. It was developed in late 2016 and made its competitive début in IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and the FIA World Endurance Championship for the 2018 season, and thus marking BMW Motorsport's return to 24 Hours of Le Mans after a six-year hiatus.[5] The M8 GTE, which replaced the ongoing BMW M6 GTLM at the end of the 2017 season, is based on the BMW M8. The car was unveiled on 12 September 2017 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, Germany.[6]

Development

BMW began the development, design, and construction of the M8 GTE in mid-2016. The first chassis was assembled in June 2017, with the first vehicle completed in July. The M8 GTE is the first car manufactured by BMW Motorsport from the ground up as a LM GTE homologated vehicle, rather than based on an existing design.

Technical features

The BMW M8 GTE programme utilizes several cutting-edge technologies and concepts, such as Additive Manufacturing[7] for rapid prototyping of components, as well as a transaxle, integrating the transmission, driveshaft, and axle assembly into a single unit, balancing mass front to rear.

The M8 GTE is powered by a front-mid mounted BMW P63/1 turbocharged V8 engine, the motorsport variant of the S63 motor found in roadgoing BMW models such as the F90 M5, as well as the BMW 8 Series (G15).

Competition History

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Complete IMSA SportsCar Championship results
Year Entrant Class Drivers No. Rds. Rounds Pts. Pos.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2018 United States BMW Team RLL GTLM United States John Edwards
Finland Jesse Krohn
Netherlands Nick Catsburg
Brazil Augusto Farfus
United Kingdom Tom Blomqvist
Australia Chaz Mostert
24 All
All
1-2
1
6
12
DAY
7
SEB
7
LBH
5
MOH
7
WGL
8
MOS
8
LIM
8
ELK
8
VIR
3
LGA
4
ATL
3
278 8th
United States Connor De Phillippi
United Kingdom Alexander Sims
United States Bill Auberlen
Austria Philipp Eng
25 All
All
1-2, 6, 12
1
DAY
9
SEB
2
LBH
8
MOH
2
WGL
7
MOS
7
LIM
7
ELK
6
VIR
1
LGA
1
ATL
4
304 6th
2019 United States BMW Team RLL GTLM United States John Edwards
Finland Jesse Krohn
Australia Chaz Mostert
Italy Alex Zanardi
Austria Philipp Eng
24 All
All
1
1
2, 12
DAY
9
SEB
4
LBH
8
MOH
6
WGL
5
MOS
2
LIM
8
ELK
8
VIR
8
LGA
2
ATL
9
279 7th
United States Connor De Phillippi
United States Colton Herta
Austria Philipp Eng
Brazil Augusto Farfus
United Kingdom Tom Blomqvist
25 All
1-2, 12
1
1
2-4, 6-12
DAY
1
SEB
7
LBH
7
MOH
4
WGL
7
MOS
4
LIM
7
ELK
5
VIR
7
LGA
5
ATL
3
293 6th
2020 United States BMW Team RLL GTLM United States John Edwards
Finland Jesse Krohn
Brazil Augusto Farfus
Australia Chaz Mostert
24 All
All
1, 9, 11
1
DAY 1
1
DAY 2
6
SEB 1
5
ELK
3
VIR
6
ATL 1
3
MOH
4
CLT
2
ATL 2
3
LGA
4
SEB 2
3
319 2nd
United States Connor De Phillippi
Canada Bruno Spengler
United States Colton Herta
Austria Philipp Eng
25 All
All
1, 9, 11
1
DAY 1
5
DAY 2
4
SEB 1
4
ELK
6
VIR
2
ATL 1
1
MOH
3
CLT
3
ATL 2
6
LGA
5
SEB 2
4
313 4th
2021 United States BMW Team RLL GTLM United States John Edwards
Brazil Augusto Farfus
Finland Jesse Krohn
Germany Marco Wittmann
24 1-2, 5, 12
1-2, 5, 12
1, 9, 11
1
DAY 1
6
DAY 2
3
SEB
3
BEL
WGL 1
2
WGL 2
LIM
ELK
LGA
LBH
VIR
ATL
3
1336 4th
United States Connor De Phillippi
Austria Philipp Eng
Canada Bruno Spengler
Germany Timo Glock
25 1-2, 5, 12
1-2, 5, 12
1, 9, 11
1
DAY 1
5
DAY 2
5
SEB
2
BEL
WGL 1
3
WGL 2
LIM
ELK
LGA
LBH
VIR
ATL
5
1251 5th
Sources:[8][9][10][11][12]

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

(key) Races in bold indicates pole position. Races in italics indicates fastest lap.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results
Year Entrant Class Drivers No. Rds. Rounds Pts. Pos.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2018-19 Germany BMW Team MTEK LMGTE Pro Netherlands Nicky Catsburg
Germany Martin Tomczyk
Austria Philipp Eng
United Kingdom Alexander Sims
81 All
All
2,8
6
SPA
8
LMS
11
SIL
5
FUJ
7
SHA
9
SEB
2
SPA
9
LMS
13
114 5th
Portugal António Félix da Costa
United Kingdom Tom Blomqvist
Brazil Augusto Farfus
United Kingdom Alexander Sims
Canada Bruno Spengler
Finland Jesse Krohn
82 All
1, 4-5
2-3, 6-8
2
6
8
SPA
5
LMS
RET
SIL
RET
FUJ
2
SHA
11
SEB
7
SPA
4
LMS
10
Sources:[12][13]


References

  1. ^ Boeriu, Horatiu (19 March 2018). "Interview with BMW Motorsport designer Michael Scully on the new BMW M8 GTE: "It's the most elemental, determined race car we have ever built."". BMW. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
  2. ^ "#MISSION8 - BMW M8 GTE Technical Specifications". bmw-motorsport.com. bmw-motorsport.com. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  3. ^ a b Schrader, Stef (28 January 2018). "All of The Cool Little Details On The BMW M8 GTE That Debuted At Daytona". Jalopnik. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
  4. ^ "FIA WEC Secures Five Year Total Deal". sportspromedia.com. sportspromedia.com. 20 April 2017. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  5. ^ "BMW to enter WEC from 2018". fiawec.com. fiawec.com. 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
  6. ^ "BMW Unveils M8 GTE at Frankfurt Auto Show". sportscar365.com. sportscar365.com. 12 September 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2017.
  7. ^ "#MISSION8 | BMW Motorsport". www.bmw-motorsport.com. Retrieved 5 July 2018.
  8. ^ "2018 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. 15 October 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  9. ^ "2019 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. 15 October 2019. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  10. ^ "2020 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. 17 November 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  11. ^ "2021 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Points - Official.pdf" (PDF). results.imsa.com. 16 November 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2024. Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  12. ^ a b "Complete Archive of BMW M8 GTE". Racing Sports Cars. pp. 1, 2, 3. Archived from the original on 21 April 2023. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Season 2018-19 Results". FIA World Endurance Championship. Archived from the original on 12 August 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2024.

Media related to BMW M8 GTE at Wikimedia Commons