Three-time 24 Hours of Spa winner ROWE Racing will expand back to running a pair of BMW M4 GT3 Evos for this year’s GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup.
The German squad, which unveiled its new livery last week, has traditionally fielded two cars, but downsized to one entry last season, a change which has been reversed for 2026.
Its #98 M4 GT3 Evo will be driven by BMW M factory drivers Augusto Farfus, Raffaele Marciello and Jake Dennis, and contest the Pro class.
Farfus and Marciello both competed for the team last season, winning at the Nürburgring and finishing fourth in the drivers’ championship alongside Jesse Krohn. Outside of SRO competition, this trio and Kelvin van der Linde also won the 24H Nürburgring with ROWE.
“I am very happy to race again with ROWE Racing,” Marciello commented.
“Last year, we had a very strong season, won at the Nürburgring, stood on the Barcelona podium – and also triumphed together at the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. So it’s very nice to compete again with ROWE Racing and Augusto and Jake in the GT World Challenge Europe. I am sure we have a strong package and will fight for the championship.”
Dennis, meanwhile, is set to take on his first full Endurance Cup campaign since 2019, with no clashes currently scheduled between Formula E and the five-round series. The Briton, a race winner with R-Motorsport at Silverstone in 2018, has competed part-time for BMW M customer team Paradine Competition for the past two seasons.
The sister #998 BMW will be driven by Jens Klingmann, Ugo de Wilde and Tim Tramnitz, and compete in the Gold Cup.
Klingmann joins ROWE having competed for fellow BMW outfit Team WRT for the past two years, claiming an upset overall win aboard a Bronze Cup entry at Monza in 2024, and finishing as runner-up in the Gold Cup drivers’ championship last season.
“The GT World Challenge Europe is definitely one of the strongest GT racing series in the world. After two great years with Team WRT, I am now looking forward to switching to ROWE Racing, another top team from BMW M Motorsport,” Klingmann said.
“With my two young and very fast teammates, Ugo and Tim, we have a strong line-up together. I hope I can also be available as a kind of mentor with my experience. I am very happy that we can compete together in the GT World Challenge Europe.”
The #998 BMW, as it has done in the past, is once again supporting the development of the next generation of BMW M factory talent. 21-year-old Tramnitz is BMW’s newest works driver, and is making his sportscar debut this season, whilst second-year BMW M factory driver De Wilde joins ROWE having raced for WRT last year.
The Belgian won on debut at Paul Ricard on his way to third in the Endurance Cup drivers’ championship, whilst also playing a key role in Kelvin van der Linde and Charles Weerts’ season-long GT World Challenge Europe drivers’ title.
Team principal Hans-Peter Naundorf commented: “This year, we are approaching the GT World Challenge Europe season with a different strategy and have set new goals. After further strengthening and restructuring our team, we are not only focusing mainly on the big season highlight at the 24 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, but also aiming for the overall standings in the Endurance Cup.”
BMW M Motorsport has also confirmed the remainder of its customers for the 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season, with the previously announced Paradine Competition and Team WRT efforts joined by two more teams.
Century Motorsport will compete with a single car in the Endurance Cup, whilst series newcomer KPX Motorsport will run in the Sprint Cup.
The 2026 GT World Challenge Europe season begins at Circuit Paul Ricard on 10th to 11th April 2026.
Images courtesy of ROWE Racing and SRO/JEP
