Having made history at Spa-Francorchamps last month, Sheldon van der Linde says BMW M Team WRT is ‘in the best possible spirit’ going into next weekend’ 24 Hours of Le Mans (10-14 June), as the Bavarian brand targets its first outright podium finish in the twice-round-the-clock contest in almost three decades.
BMW’s seminal Spa success with its updated M Hybrid V8 Hypercar – the #20 entry piloted by van der Linde, René Rast and Robin Frijns leading home the sister #15 car crewed by Kevin Magnussen, Dries Vanthoor and Raffaele Marciello in the Ardennes – vaulted the marque to the top of both the Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ title tables in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
What’s more, the timing of the result – just five weeks ahead of Le Mans – has filled the Belgian-based WRT outfit with confidence as it approaches the biggest race of the season, in which the M Hybrid V8 has yet to place higher than 17th in two previous appearances. BMW’s lone trip to the rostrum in the event’s top class dates back to its famous triumph in 1999.
The #20 prototype will take to the track at La Sarthe sporting a fresh look, created in tandem with the team’s Premium Technology Partner, Shell. The red, yellow and white colour scheme stands for ‘100% Power, Always at Your Command’, with the aim of carrying van der Linde, Rast and Frijns through the notoriously unforgiving night in northern France and all the way to the chequered flag.
“Our car looks incredible in its special livery,” enthused 27-year-old BMW factory driver van der Linde, FIA WEC’s first South African race-winner. “It reminds me very much of my DTM car in 2024. I’ve had so much success together with Shell in the DTM, and it felt like history repeating itself with the Spa victory in a Shell car. This livery for Le Mans is another milestone in our partnership.
“Momentum is gold in motorsport, and that’s what we have right now. I expect our updated BMW M Hybrid V8 to be a big asset in terms of performance, especially around a track like this. Everyone is super-motivated and in the best possible spirit going into the event. We hope to be able to convert that into our first Le Mans podium – and maybe even fight for the win.”
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