BMW Team RLL will be responsible for running the BMW M6 GTLM in the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship BMW Motorsport confirmed today.
“Using the basis of our new BMW M6 GT3 (above) to develop a car for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship was a logical step,” said BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “The BMW M6 GTLM has all the essential ingredients to thrill fans in the USA and Canada. We are keen to continue our works commitment on the other side of the Atlantic at the highest level since the WeatherTech Championship is a fantastic stage with a high quality field and legendary venues. We feel right at home there.”
Ludwig Willisch, Chairman and CEO of BMW of North America, LLC, added: “Success in motor racing helped us prove The Ultimate Driving Machine claim in North America forty years ago and continues to be a part of the BMW marketing strategy to this day. As the largest market for BMW M in the world we are eager to delight our fans with the BMW M6 GTLM in the 2016 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.”
BMW Motorsport engineers derived the BMW M6 GTLM from the BMW M6 GT3, and the BMW M6 GTLM took part in the official “Balance of Performance” tests performed by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) for GTLM homologation alongside GT3 testing by the FIA and ACO in Ladoux (FR). Subject to final approvals by IMSA, based in North America, the BMW M6 GTLM is expected to race in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2016. Like the GT3 version, the car is powered by a lightly modified version of the V8 production engine with M TwinPower Turbo Technology from the BMW M6 Coupé.
The 2016 season then follows on from three seasons where BMW Team RLL has contested the American Le Mans Series and the United SportsCar Championship with the BMW Z4 GTLM celebrating five victories and an additional 15 podiums to date.
